Never hunted elk before... where do I start?

[Mr Mykiss]

The good news for you (and I truly mean this) is that you're starting your quest for elk knowledge with about 359 days until next elk season, tons of time to learn. I'd say shed hunt, buy 3 trailcameras, hike in September and August when you're not playing with trailcameras to learn the area(s) you might be hunting... keep us informed.

[James]

The best time to scout is during the season; so I would say your timing is prefect for next year.  Grab a tag, take some time off work, and go hiking with your gun now.

[stryker]

so I have never hunted elk, so i dont know where I should tag for east or west, and where to go. Im not trophy hunting this year just meat hunting, so time to ask you guys for advice. i would prefer west side but if the east side is much easier/better chances then tell me 

Im kinda in the same boat except, this year is the first time in 29 years since I have hunted. Gates...? What the hell? 30 years ago you could go anywhere.

Finances didnt allow for the rifle till very recently so late start. As Mr Mykiss put it "359 days until next elk season". Thats how my deer season is going. Scouting with a tag and a rifle and an 11 year old.

Hell yea I want to get one, but the adventure and sharing/teaching? with lil dude is half of it. Was gonna do Elk but once I realized I cant even find a deer... 

I guess I'll be out hunting/scouting durring late season.

358.5 more days...

[Kc_Kracker]

The good news for you (and I truly mean this) is that you're starting your quest for elk knowledge with about 359 days until next elk season, tons of time to learn. I'd say shed hunt, buy 3 trailcameras, hike in September and August when you're not playing with trailcameras to learn the area(s) you might be hunting... keep us informed.

nope, i have 4 days to the start of elk season, and I had s spot picked out but its not open i guess so on to plan B, scout n hunt at the same time. I have seen more elk this season than BT thats for damn sure!!   

stryker, yes property has been sold since 30 years ago, locked gates, all over 

[washelkhunter]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

[Kc_Kracker]

yep thats the plan.

[netcoyote]

PM sent

[762Armo]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

Quick question, when looking at GMUs and what not online and trying to find a place to go hunting, how can you tell in which areas have closed gates, and closed roads and where they are?

[Bookworm007]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

Quick question, when looking at GMUs and what not online and trying to find a place to go hunting, how can you tell in which areas have closed gates, and closed roads and where they are?

Pretty much you have to go drive up there and check it out. You can get a clue by looking at landownership. Pretty much all timber company land is gated, but sometimes the gates open for hunting season. I guess you could call to find out but the most reliable info comes first hand. DNR land generally has access on main thru fares but side roads get gated, but national forest land is open lots of times. As my father puts it I am a "mountain goat" so I tend to like hiking 4 miles in just to get away from other hunters. It gets a little interesting after you shoot something but thats part of the experience right? 

[762Armo]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

Quick question, when looking at GMUs and what not online and trying to find a place to go hunting, how can you tell in which areas have closed gates, and closed roads and where they are?

Pretty much you have to go drive up there and check it out. You can get a clue by looking at landownership. Pretty much all timber company land is gated, but sometimes the gates open for hunting season. I guess you could call to find out but the most reliable info comes first hand. DNR land generally has access on main thru fares but side roads get gated, but national forest land is open lots of times. As my father puts it I am a "mountain goat" so I tend to like hiking 4 miles in just to get away from other hunters. It gets a little interesting after you shoot something but thats part of the experience right? 

Where do I look to find who owns the land?

[bear hunter]

Just get out and Hunt. I just bagged a nice spike in manstash unit 340 Saturday on the opener. I learned how to hunt by just getting maps out and calling the game dept. Lots of driving and hiking through the woods just seeing animals then looking to see if the units are open to hunt. Try 340,342,336,329,328. All units around these areas have elk just get out and hunt GOOD LUCK

[stryker]

I went to the DNR and WDFW websites and started digging around in their archive of PDF maps. DNR Land, WDFW Land, State and National Forest boundries, Land Trusts.
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_trustlands_map_nu2.pdf

Part of my search included 'what pass I need' to park at any given location.
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_discover_pass_statewide_map.pdf

I also used the county parcel viewer to check ownership of an area I might be interested in after. I also do some scouting on Google Maps. They show property lines when you zoom in close enough on the map in MAP mode.
http://www5.kingcounty.gov/iMAP/viewer.htm