Margaret Unit to be opened to everyone??????? Is this true?

[X-Force]

I know i joked about opening these 2 areas up for general access but it would be a shame to lose trophy permits. unless the state would let us in to areas like Green River and Cedar River. 

[saudog]

Hey Opportunist, is there a way I can fill out that survey?  Where is it located?  I don't want them messing with the old Marble unit.  I like your idea about expanding the Toutle.  Also, why don't they just consider offering more permits to be drawn?

[bowsandhose]

every GMU should be a bull elk draw 

[waoutdoorsman]

every GMU should be a bull elk draw 

good gravy! 
now it wouldnt be bad if it was done "right" and a hunter would not have to wait 10-20 years to get drawn like the current system. But the way this state does things the hunting oppurtunity would be greatly diminished, and may be the beggining of the end of public hunting oppurtunity 

I just like getting out and hunting, but if we go to permit only method which many seem to support, the oppurtunity for the average joe to get out and enjoy hunting will be denied!

I think given the state we live in and the way things are run, we would be comitting public oppurtunity suicide.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

as much as I hate for that to happen, the fact is the st helens herd is to big and this is the wdfw way of thining it out....

[Huntbear]

Then create more permit hunts for the area, but do not open it to the whole hunting population.  I think that if the state just managed the herds better, including access to timber company lands, and adding more cow permits, that will take care of most of the problem.  Maybe make more cow permits open to new hunters, youth, disabled, etc.....

The Margaret unit has been my dream hunt in Wa. state.  To get a shot at a fully mature Rosie.  I would just be sick if it turned into a unit full of nothing but raghorns and herds of cows.

[waoutdoorsman]

The Margaret unit has been my dream hunt in Wa. state.  To get a shot at a fully mature Rosie.  I would just be sick if it turned into a unit full of nothing but raghorns and herds of cows.

Same here, i think as long as i have been alive it has always been a permit unit and it should stay that way-it is one of those dream units for sure.

i feel like i should clarify for my previous post, i was referring to what i feel would happen if all the gmu's went to permit only under the currents system is all, i would be worried that only the extremely rich and extremely lucky would get to experience a hunting trip in this state if we went to that system. sorry guess i wandered off track, my bad.

now back on track, yeah if margaret was to be opened to everyone it would be bad news, i like the suggestion to open up more cow permits to disabled etc, that would be great for sure.

[bowsandhose]

the days of old are gone in the margaret the elk are over crowed with lack of food show me a big old rosie who was taken out of there in the last 5 yrs

[Huntbear]

My brother knows a guy in Castle Rock that took a huge 6x6 out of there 2 years ago.  I have hiked in there on occasion, and seen some very nice 6x6 and even 7x7 bulls.  One guy I talked to last year, turned down 3 6 pt. bulls opening weekend trying for the big 7.

[bowsandhose]

show me a big old rosie who was taken out of there in the last 5 yrs

IE pics
i have not seen a good bull pic out of there as of late so if you have some lets see and i will stand corrected.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

I also agree the toutle on the west side is still your best permit draw for a big rosie, not to mention there are lots of open season units that have HUGE Bulls, I called in a 280+ 6x6 on public land for my buddy this year.. they are out there... I also talked to guy that got a margaret tag this year and in a week shot a small 5x5.... he said its not what it used to be.. sad but true.......

[bowsandhose]

I called in a 280+ 6x6 on public land for my buddy this year..

did he get it?

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

sadly no, it held up at 18yrds! behind a jack pine then the wind shifted!! he came over 250yrds to that cow call

[cld40]

so the toutle unit is a better quality unit present day than the Margaret? i moved here 2.5 yrs ago from Utah and immediately put in for the Margaret, and toutle, in this order, have yet to draw but maybe i should be changing the order for '09,  i hunted by mt Adams this year and had a blast i never saw any huge bulls but my friend and i were in them nearly the whole two weeks, we had them all over finally got a nice 5x5 not a wall mounter but he was a lot of fun... that is what interests me, i would like a big one but  the action is what i am drawn to, we had a fun year i would take it every year.. i would have liked to have drawn my bow, but, oh so close, maybe next year......

elk are awesome!!!!!

[bowsandhose]

if you like elk why would you leave Utah??