Archery Elk Blue Mountains

[JamesK.]

Coming into the 2013 season trying real hard to make up my mind on which GMU to apply for my quality bull tag. I've done some research  and did spend a week over in the Dayton unit with a friend last year and saw some nice bulls. Any thoughts or opinions?

[jackelope]

How many points?

What style of hunting do you prefer? You can run the gamut down there when it comes to terrain, access, etc.

[Alan K]

You're odds of drawing any of them are slim, pick the one that fits your hunting style best, and cross your fingers! 

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I want the one with the biggest bulls and the flattest land... The one you can drive right up to the 400" bull and shoot it. LOL

[JLS]

I want the one with the biggest bulls and the flattest land... The one you can drive right up to the 400" bull and shoot it. LOL

Those are in the Colockum.

[mdbuck5x5]

I want the one with the biggest bulls and the flattest land... The one you can drive right up to the 400" bull and shoot it. LOL

Well hell just hire a helicopter.....seemed to work for Reichert!    Although the aftermath might not be so nice!

[Mr Mykiss]

I can understand that you're trying to plan your big hunt of a lifetime. But here's how it is. I moved to WA in 2006 since then I've hunted with a guy who's had max points the whole time and has been putting in for the a blues archery tag. He used to say "maybe next year" now he doesn't even plan on drawing. The long and short of it is that you CAN NOT plan on drawing a quality permit tag in WA no matter how many points you have. The truth hurts...

[Bigtine96]

I can understand that you're trying to plan your big hunt of a lifetime. But here's how it is. I moved to WA in 2006 since then I've hunted with a guy who's had max points the whole time and has been putting in for the a blues archery tag. He used to say "maybe next year" now he doesn't even plan on drawing. The long and short of it is that you CAN NOT plan on drawing a quality permit tag in WA no matter how many points you have. The truth hurts...

^ this

I have 13 deer and elk and I still dont plan on drawing anytime soon

[Mr Mykiss]

I crunched some numbers a while back and people with max points have a 10-12% chance of drawing... still better than anybody else but I wouldn't start calling outfitters just yet.

[ellensburgpo]

His website says one day in, six days hunting, one day out for that price it doesn't say anything about less hunting days if there's two of you.

[trophyhunt]

His website says one day in, six days hunting, one day out for that price it doesn't say anything about less hunting days if there's two of you.

I talked to him on the phone before, back when I was certain I was gonna draw. The time is evenly spent between two hunters, it's one guide for 2 hunters for 5000, 2500 a piece. Or you can pay 5000 and go it alone and have the 6 days to yourself. If you have a partner and it's his day to hunt you can still hunt, you just won't be guided that day.

[ellensburgpo]

Gotcha, figured you had talked to him. Thanks for the info.

[JamesK.]

Dang, thanks for all the input guys. Just got home from hunting all day in the Coweeman unit trying to find a cow elk for my dad to shoot and was overwhelmed by the responses on this.  I've got 16 points.... Way over due

[JamesK.]

That sounds like a hell of a deal to me also. It seems like a general consensus to me that nobody guides in the Dayton GMU 162. I have considered the Tucannon unit but in my adventures over there that GMU is much harder to access. Seems to me like the Dayton unit has many roads and a guy can cover it well without horseback.

[jackelope]

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