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) 

[huntnnw]

Guys must be hunting some popular places ., I hunt just south of Spokane all the way to Canada every year and I have run into 1 other bowhunter / muzzy  in the last 10 years .

[Austrian Hunter]

I never run into other hunters, well now I jinks it and probably will this year, lol.  No seriously, that's why I love hunting that corner, I wish archery opener would be later and not Sep 3rd.  It is a hit and miss up there. 

[pendoreilleadventures]

I am local there are elk in very small pockets as the others have said the elk at very hard to find and when you find them you don't tell anyone else. If the word gets out where you find elk locals will swarm the spot I had a honey hole about 10 years ago that had lots of elk. People in my party killed a few elk and the word got out now if you go to hunt that spot there are always 1 or two other people hunting it.  The trick is to get way back off the many roads and put out salt that should get some elk coming in that is if there happens to be elk where you go. I have found spots that I would have though been the most amazing elk hunt spots and never see an elk. So with the Wolves it makes it even harder. But if you do your home work and do a lot of hiking you might findem but it wont be easy. You might get lucky every now and then I hear of guys getting bulls their first time out but not very often.

[shredder4286]

Honestly, the best thing we could all do for the elk herds up here would be to just leave them alone for a few years and kill a bunch of the wolves. Too bad the commies won't let us hunt the boogers here.

We ought to write letters to both the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and our state reps about the situation. It can't hurt.

[huntnnw]

people are already taking care of the wolves in places

[KFhunter]

Honestly, the best thing we could all do for the elk herds up here would be to just leave them alone for a few years and kill a bunch of the wolves. Too bad the commies won't let us hunt the boogers here.

We ought to write letters to both the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and our state reps about the situation. It can't hurt.

 

I'd love to see some proper management with emphasis on herd building.  That would require some work on winter holding areas though. 

[huntnnw]

That started last year with no cow harvest

[KFhunter]

 

I had a cow in my sights that would have just been too easy, stood there looking at me 30 yards away broadside.  I passed.  She had a young one in tow and was probably still wet.

Went without elk meat that year.  (few years back)

[buck man]

That started last year with no cow harvest

That was only for the bow hunters and only in the late season. The dfw still gave out just as many late rifle cow tags for the hunt after late archery. They only took our cow opportunities away.

[pendoreilleadventures]

That started last year with no cow harvest

That was only for the bow hunters and only in the late season. The dfw still gave out just as many late rifle cow tags for the hunt after late archery. They only took our cow opportunities away.

Exactly just another way to screw over archery guys to get more money from special draws

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[NWBREW]

That started last year with no cow harvest

That was only for the bow hunters and only in the late season. The dfw still gave out just as many late rifle cow tags for the hunt after late archery. They only took our cow opportunities away.

  MF used to be any elk but is now any bull. Please explain how this "only screws over the archery guys" when this ruling affects archery, muzzy and MF. Just curious how you come up with that. I have been hunting elk up there for more then 20+ years with different methods and I don't see it as "screwing anyone over". I see it as all user groups paying a price to help the herds. 

[pendoreilleadventures]

That started last year with no cow harvest

That was only for the bow hunters and only in the late season. The dfw still gave out just as many late rifle cow tags for the hunt after late archery. They only took our cow opportunities away.

  MF used to be any elk but is now any bull. Please explain how this "only screws over the archery guys" when this ruling affects archery, muzzy and MF. Just curious how you come up with that. I have been hunting elk up there for more then 20+ years with different methods and I don't see it as "screwing anyone over". I see it as all user groups paying a price to help the herds. 

 Sorry misspoke it late up with a teething two year old. Forgot about muzzy. I am in my late 20's I don't recall an Mf cow tag except in mount Spokane? As for helping the herd id be all for if they took it away for everyone. But to take cows from smokepole and archery but give them to rifle hunters makes no since. 

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[alwinearcher]

That started last year with no cow harvest

That was only for the bow hunters and only in the late season. The dfw still gave out just as many late rifle cow tags for the hunt after late archery. They only took our cow opportunities away.

  MF used to be any elk but is now any bull. Please explain how this "only screws over the archery guys" when this ruling affects archery, muzzy and MF. Just curious how you come up with that. I have been hunting elk up there for more then 20+ years with different methods and I don't see it as "screwing anyone over". I see it as all user groups paying a price to help the herds. 

 Sorry misspoke it late up with a teething two year old. Forgot about muzzy. I am in my late 20's I don't recall an Mf cow tag except in mount Spokane? As for helping the herd id be all for if they took it away for everyone. But to take cows from smokepole and archery but give them to rifle hunters makes no since. 

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Huckleberry was "any elk" for MF for as long as I can remember before the recent change

[NWBREW]

MF up North Stevens county was general any elk. Last year it changed to any bull. They didn't take away and give them to MF in that area, they just changed it to any bull. Unit 111 had cow tags (permits) for MF prior to last year as well. Across the river was any elk for MF archery and muzzy....not anymore. Now it's any bull.
It's all a give and take.  (mostly take)

[huntnnw]

NWBREW I think you meant to say "were paying the price to feed the wolves" 

[boneaddict]

I saw way fewer elk this year than I normally do.  I hope it was just poor timing or bad luck.

[Slenk]

WDFW got to feed the D**N Wolves.

[TommyH]

its a hard hunt, lots of pressue from hunters and wolves.

[buck man]

That started last year with no cow harvest

That was only for the bow hunters and only in the late season. The dfw still gave out just as many late rifle cow tags for the hunt after late archery. They only took our cow opportunities away.

  MF used to be any elk but is now any bull. Please explain how this "only screws over the archery guys" when this ruling affects archery, muzzy and MF. Just curious how you come up with that. I have been hunting elk up there for more then 20+ years with different methods and I don't see it as "screwing anyone over". I see it as all user groups paying a price to help the herds. 

I guess I was referring to the unit I have hunted for the last 15 years. 117. They took all late season cow opportunities away and actually increased MF late cow tags. I am sure it was no fun for you too in 121 to lose your cow opportunities.

The way I see it  we better try to kill as many as we can or the wolves will. Lots of dead critters in 121 now because of them.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I wish they would get rid of the late cow archery hunt in 117... nothing like seeing 500 tons of hay packed into the woods to keep the elk high late into the winter... 

[Elkslayer]

I wish they would get rid of the late cow archery hunt in 117... nothing like seeing 500 tons of hay packed into the woods to keep the elk high late into the winter... 

They already did away with that last year.

[shredder4286]

"HOYT" why would you even consider shooting something else?

Because I don't have $1500 to spend on a bow.

Sounds like what we need to do here is get the WDFW/Satan to do something about the wolf problem here. All the other details just take our focus off the big picture.