Northeast WA Elk behavior

[shredder4286]

I've been talking to a few hunters in the Stevens/Ferry/Pend Orielle county area, and it sounds like there's quite a few pockets of elk scattered around all over up here. Groups of 30-50 elk that roam around areas of little to no variation in elevation seem to be the norm.

Do these herds go through the same migration patterns throughout the year that elk in say, Montana or Colorado do?

Does their rut affect them the same way it would in a bigger herd of several hundred?

Just wondering about those few things as I look forward to this fall. To anybody who lives/hunts the area that knows about the elk behavior up here- I'd be interested to hear your comments.

[huntnnw]

elk in these parts are where you find them..yes they have places they frequent and tend to hang, but everyone who hunts these parts is tight lipped. Ive never seen more than 17 elk in a herd NE WA during hunting season..they are usually in herds of 4-9..the only places I have seen them in largers groups is south of spokane

[ghosthunter]

There are no elk in the NE.




(You can thank me later KFhunter)

[Hangfire]

North of Spokane, the elk are very scattered in little bunches and hunted heavily by locals, in road closured areas, often steep country.  The NE corner has little area with out elevation change. Most groups are less than 10 but in winter/spring I have seen more than 40 together in a farm field. Not a place to hunt for high percentage elk hunting. A friend of mine has had a any elk permit the last two years. He saw elk one time. I went with him two times with snow on the ground, we never found a elk track. More moose than elk.

Near where I live two cows showed up last May. The land owner said he had lived there since 1938 and that was the first elk he had seen. In June it was two cows and two calves. In the early archery season one cow was shot and not found. I found the cow carcass in late buck. One calf was hit by a car. The elk haven't been seen since.

[WAcoyotehunter]

During the rut I have never seen a group of more 12 animals.  Elk winter range and summer range is less a difference of elevation than it is cover, and aspect.  Elk will use the dark thickets for food/cover. 

They are scattered all over the area.  When you find elk, if you keep from spooking them, you can dog them in a fairly small area during a hunt.

[Austrian Hunter]

I hunt elk up NE the last six years.  It used to be really good and killed bulls opening day the first two years.  The last four I did not see and elk, they are all gone lol.  We did see cows in the Spring for the first time in town of Elk, WA.  The landowner was shocked and said never had he seen elk in elk, lol. 

[KFhunter]

The wolves chased them out the country or ate them.

This winter every elk track I came across had wolf tracks following them or parallelling them 100 yards away.

[smartazz171]

My dad and I hunt up there every year, everyone is tight lipped because if you find a herd, almost every year they have a good chance at being back in the same spot.  So because the herds are hard to find, that spot becomes your old' reliable spot.  Last year we talked to some boarder agents that said they've seen elk less frequently in the normal spots because of wolves.  They said the wdfw have really underestimated the amount of wolves in the area.  They've seen/ heard twice as many wolves patrolling then 3 years ago.  Advice: scout like crazy.  Find a herd and keep looking for another. You never know how long one spot will be productive.  My spot has been productive for 5 years every year.  That could change this year, and I have yet to find a second spot.  I hope that will change this year.

[dromero]

I've hunted the NE corner for approx. 6 yrs. Spend alot of time with boots on the ground behind the gates and you'll find elk. The biggest group I've seen in 4 yrs was 18 with two spike bulls and one raghorn 5pt "herd bull". Typically you see groups of 2-5 elk. Units get pounded with the general rifle, archery is alittle better. Be prepared to share any elk you find with other hunters, more hunters than elk but you do have the opportunity to shoot branch antlered bulls OTC archery. Lot's of moose and bear. Also the best piece of advice would be find multiple spots that the elk frequent, they tend to swap drainages multiple times in a season/week, find the 4-6 spots they like and figure out which one they will be in when season opens. Some years there are elk, some years there aren't. Be prepared to put in 5-6 scouting weekends and not find elk come the season. Play the wind and thermals, dodge other hunters, be prepared for a wicked pack-out if you get anything down. Also if you think you can out hike/ride/walk other hunters the units aren't big enough, you will see other hunters no matter what season.

[NWBREW]

Also if you think you can out hike/ride/walk other hunters the units aren't big enough, you will see other hunters no matter what season.

There are a lot of other hunters but more times then not I see no other hunters where I go. Boot time CAN help in getting to areas to hunt by yourself. I know this to be a fact. Typically see only small herds of 4-10 elk though. They are spread thin. I've been doing the NE elk hunt for 20+ years.

[dromero]

I didn't answer your questions very well lol. In my limited experience up there I have found that the elk will stay in an area even when the snow gets knee+ deep, although I have heard they will move onto lowland farm areas. The rut is hit or miss, some years bulls are vocal, some years they are not. My best luck has been cow calling. Bugling has only gotten me other hunters. Alot of it depends on the weather, usually still too hot during the archery season for good rutting action. So that leaves sitting on wallows. The problem here is that there are too many water sources for the length of the season, the bulls will usually use several different wallows in a drainage/s, making it difficult to pattern them before the season ends.

[dromero]

NWBEW, I too have hiked into drainages I thought would be "safe" from hunting pressure but usually I find boot tracks, or other hunters. I have found drainages w/o hunting pressure, but no elk sign. In my limited experience. Still looking for those Honey holes though!!!

[NWBREW]

Well, when you find a elk honey hole let me know... I am still looking as well. 

[dromero]

Ha Ha I figured it would already have your boot tracks in it!!!

[shredder4286]

There are no elk in the NE.

           

The elk haven't been seen since.

The wolves chased them out the country or ate them.

everyone is tight lipped

That's about what I expected to hear. I'm not easily discouraged, though.

 

Bugling has only gotten me other hunters

Well, that's the thing. If the elk aren't used to bugling back and forth between bulls, and a hunter goes out there and starts bugling, it'll more likely scare them off than attract them.

Also if you think you can out hike/ride/walk other hunters the units aren't big enough, you will see other hunters no matter what season.

Yeah, but what's the difference between cramming in with other hunters in small units here, or going down to the blue mountains and cramming in there? More elk, of course. Just a longer drive...

(and here come the urges to hunt walla walla and yakima)