Archery Elk Blue Mountains

[huntnnw]

AND ODDS are dependant on weapon choice

[trophyhunt]

I would say the dayton has more of the bigger bulls, it seems everyear the more bulls come from the dayton. And yes, the tuc is full of public land. The toughest decision is what weapon to choose, archery has more tags, muzzy has less tags but a better chance at killing something out to 100yds (or more). With 17 points (me) going into it, it makes you think hard about your choice. I just wish they would hurry up and put 50% of the (quality) tags in a 10 points or more category!!!

[Woodchuck]

Access abounds in the Tucannon.. its mostly all public ground.
 

less people as well IMO

[JamesK.]

I do agree on Tucannon being mostly public ground, what I said about access came out wrong. I can't bring myself to put my bow down. Just a hard decision to make. It does seem like there were less people in the Tucannon. I know of guys harvesting monster bulls in both. Keep on scoutin...

[mtncook]

I don't know how I missed the start of this post.   Could it be that last Friday I had a MRI on a knee or that Sunday I took Sas to the ER with her back in a crunching prone only bind?  Actually as most of you I look at this forum at least once per day.

Actually  you guys are pretty much right on.  As of yet we have not had 2 hunters for a quality bull tag in the same camp.  Only 2 hunters have not tagged a bull in our guided camps and those were not because the opportunity was not there. One hunter left early due to cutting his leg and needed some stitches.  It has taken to day 5 to find a bull the hunter would shoot after passing on several in the class that another hunter would tag on day 2. It is hard to pass on a 320 bull that gives you a perfect 20 yard shot.  As I tell all my hunters you will not kill a 350 plus by shooting a smaller one.

If the time comes when 2 hunters choose the camp with one guide I'm certain we will make some adjustments so that both are busy.  The guys I spoke to on the phone or email usually know we are flexible and want every hunter to tag a good bull.

I'm still waiting for some pictures from 2012 to post here,  I have to admit my camera did not make many trips so I'm depending on the hunters to send a few. 

The Dayton unit does not have an Outfitter special use permit issued.  As of late there has been permits issued to the Governors Tag and Raffle tag holders.  They are not allowed to enter my unit or the non commercial Wenaha West.  I feel like I'm abused on this occasionally with all the "scouts" in the area.  These permits are issued for 1 Bull Elk. Permit expires upon the tagging of 1 bull. 

mtncook

[fair-chase]

Sorry to hear about the medical issues. Wish you both the best.

[BLUEBULLS]

I would say the dayton has more of the bigger bulls, it seems everyear the more bulls come from the dayton. And yes, the tuc is full of public land. The toughest decision is what weapon to choose, archery has more tags, muzzy has less tags but a better chance at killing something out to 100yds (or more). With 17 points (me) going into it, it makes you think hard about your choice. I just wish they would hurry up and put 50% of the (quality) tags in a 10 points or more category!!!

You have to be careful when applying for the Dayton permits. Some (not all) of the permits; you cannot hunt the national forest. Most the general hunters hunt spikes there. The big bulls you are referring to are on (private land) Kelly Allens property (attorney out of Spokane). Or Wilber Eaton (farmer) who is a known crook with the game department. Niether will let you hunt. Drive up the North or South Patit Rd. Starveout Rd is another good spot, if you want to see some 400 class bulls in Sept. They hold up there, as they know they are protected, unless the land owners have a special draw tag. I know of a kid from Ellensburg, who drew a raffle tag in 2009. He had permission to hunt the property, but that was only because Scott Raisley (Land Access Mgr. for the Game Department) was working with Kelly Allen to give the kid access as a one time exception because he had a raffle tag. In return Kelly Allen was issued 3 cow permits during the general modern firearm season. Must be nice...

Not really trying to call you out but about 65% of this is false.

[Woodchuck]

  likely more. 
Seems like a reckless statement about Scott. He does an awful lot for folks around here.

[Mr Mykiss]

I love me some Wilbur

[WaHeadhunter]

You have to be careful when applying for the Dayton permits. Some (not all) of the permits; you cannot hunt the national forest. Most the general hunters hunt spikes there. The big bulls you are referring to are on (private land) Kelly Allens property (attorney out of Spokane). Or Wilber Eaton (farmer) who is a known crook with the game department. Niether will let you hunt. Drive up the North or South Patit Rd. Starveout Rd is another good spot, if you want to see some 400 class bulls in Sept. They hold up there, as they know they are protected, unless the land owners have a special draw tag. I know of a kid from Ellensburg, who drew a raffle tag in 2009. He had permission to hunt the property, but that was only because Scott Raisley (Land Access Mgr. for the Game Department) was working with Kelly Allen to give the kid access as a one time exception because he had a raffle tag. In return Kelly Allen was issued 3 cow permits during the general modern firearm season. Must be nice...

Dude. you have no clue what your'e talking about regarding 162 landowners. There are plenty of big bulls above the Tucannon, in the National Forrest and on Bennett land (provided they allow access), and at sometimes during the year they are as low as the Patit Road and even Lewis Gulch road.
You keep rolling Wilbur Eaton under the bus and have not said anything yet about him that is the truth. He's never been convicted of any game violations and never paid any fines. He can be an onery old coot but with some persistence and treating him with some respect he's a landowner that allows guys to hunt.
What do you expect all private land owners to do, just give carte blanche access to their property without somehow having earned the right in someway to ask for the privilege? Showing up the week before hunting season and pulling in the driveway to ask doesn't cut it with most landowners I know regardless of asking for permission to hunt big game,  turkeys or birds or even varmints and it's also not specific to 162 landowners, it most of them anywhere in Eastern WA.

[Mr Mykiss]

You guys should hear the Eaton v. WDFW debate from Mrs. Eaton...you might look at it a little differently.

[257 Wby Mag]

You are right about that, he is a ornery ol gristle! He also wrote me out a permission slip to hunt his ground after just poppin in on him 3 years ago. Perty good ol guy I'd say....

[BLUEBULLS]

Also, the antlerless tags given aren’t trade for “special hunting privileges”, they’re for crop damage. They’re an alternative for crop damage $$ and sometimes they’re not even filled, by choice not chance.

oops, just realized we were thread jacking, sorry.

[WaHeadhunter]

 

[BLUEBULLS]

wow, you must still be holding a grudge from getting denied permission.

Basically, all of the landowners mentioned allow some hunting, some more than others. They have excellent elk habitat and help to keep the herd healthy. If I were them, I wouldn't let you hunt either. I've personally hunted on 2 of the 3 and friends have hunted on the others.