Quality Elk Expectations

[jackelope]

Sitting here at my house I say 340.  When out In the woods 300's start to look like 340's.

Agreed.

I totally think it depends where your permit is for...as in what GMU

[vandeman17]

Sitting here at my house I say 340.  When out In the woods 300's start to look like 340's.

Agreed.

I totally think it depends where your permit is for...as in what GMU

I agree that it depends on where your permit is AND what weapon you have. My standards would drop a little as I went from rifle, to muzzy, to bow. Basically if 340 was my goal with rifle, I would go about 320 muzzy and 300 with bow or something along those lines.

[bow4elk]

Charlie told me when i draw my tag he is going with me and holding my arrows.  He will only give me one when its time to shoot, so however big that is.

Sitting here at my house I say 340.  When out In the woods 300's start to look like 340's.

I've killed a lot of elk but never a big bull.  Called a lot of them in for others, just haven't had lady luck on my side.  All good, so for me it's a personal thing.  I have 14 points going into the draw this year.  I'd like to think I can draw a SE WA permit but time will tell.  If I do, I have to be realistic about the time I have to hunt and other considerations such as hunting solo in hot weather.

So, given I'll have a week to get it done, any bull in the ~320" that provides me a quality shot opportunity is getting a lung job.  But, then again, I'm with Phelps - a 300" bull is a great bull anywhere and they all look bigger in the heat of the moment!  Holding out for a 350-class bull would be my preference but it's all about balancing time constraints and being realistic.  Stressing out about antler size on a hunt isn't high on my priority list 

[bobcat]

Cant eat antlers! Shoot the first leagle elk!

did that in 09.

   How did they taste? What did you do with the meat? Did you eat it too?

[bowhunterty]

340 in the Blues. 300 in other eastside units. Any respectable bulls on the westside.

[boneaddict]

350   I ate my last tag looking for just that.   My freezer was full, so the quality of the hunt was more important to me than the meat.   

[Roperfive88]

Something to think about (I almost lived this last year with my quality deer tag). 

I have killed a lot of deer over the years, however I had never really had the opportunity to hunt trophy mule deer in the rut.  I told myself I would not kill anything less than a 160" buck.  I scouted my but off and saw quite a few really nice deer and a few that were true trophies.  I was hunting with a muzzlelaoder and knew I had a great chance a great buck. 

Well, day one came and the #1 buck I was scouting was shot by another hunter.    On to plan B.  I passed an many bucks that were trophies by my standard...just not 160".  Day 4 of a 6 day hunt came with some unforeseen problems, my water pump on the jeep had started leaking.  It was today or never as I wasn't ready to kill my jeep for a deer. 

I again passed early in the day on some really nice deer.  As the sun was setting fast and the deer activity was picking up I couldn't find a decent buck to save my life.  I was ready to kill any buck at this point and all that went through my mind was...."why did I pass on so many great bucks?"

Well finally I see a small (and I mean small 3pt buck) buck and decide this is the one.  I take the safety off and level the gun.  My buddy who was at my side stopped me at the last second (literally I was about to pull the trigger).  Coming in behind the small buck was the buck I ended up harvesting.  It is the buck in my avatar and is 27 7/8 wide 4x4 with really nice eye guards.  It unofficially scores in the upper 150's (can't remember exactly but I think 157 and change). 

Morel of the story.....I didn't achieve the goal of a 160" buck.  I almost went home is a 70" buck.  I learned a lot from this hunt and am still confused as I was before I started hunt.

If you kill a lesser (score wise) animal early you will not have the opportunity to kill a masher.  But if you don't kill a lesser animal as the opportunity presents itself, you may not kill an animal (or at least have to settle for a dink).

So the only person that can answer the original question is the hunter.   I will never again pass on some of the quality animals I passed on this last year.  I almost went home with a dink and that would have sucked.   I ended up getting real lucky.   

Every buck or bull that you get close to and pass on a shot is a kill in my book. You can't shoot a big ones if you shoot little ones. As for the Elk Score where I hunt my number is 350. It all comes to scouting your area and knowing whats there. You can't hold out for a 400 in bull that is not there.

[coachcw]

350   I ate my last tag looking for just that.   My freezer was full, so the quality of the hunt was more important to me than the meat.   

Agreed Bone . On a hunt acouple of years ago in agood central unit we looked at 75-80 branched bulls and only two where over 350.

[Tbar]

Imo you have no choice but to break this down into regions (SW, SE, Central, and Rainier north). My expectations would be extremely different. In SW I would expect a solid 5 with good mass. SE I would not shoot if it wasn't 340. Central and Rainier north I would set my standard at 300. I know all regions hold larger animals but these would be my expectations. I cannot comment on the OP , as I have little experience in any of those units. I would also throw score away in lieu of anything odd, deformed, or extreme mass.(it would still have to be big)
 I would also agree with many when it comes to 300" animals, they are a trophy by my standards.

[D-Rock425]

Cant eat antlers! Shoot the first leagle elk!

did that in 09.

   How did they taste? What did you do with the meat? Did you eat it too?

you got me.  I meant I shot the first legal elk.

[slim9300]

Charlie told me when i draw my tag he is going with me and holding my arrows.  He will only give me one when its time to shoot, so however big that is.

Sitting here at my house I say 340.  When out In the woods 300's start to look like 340's.

Isn't that the truth. I swore my partner's bull was pushing 320" this year when he shot it at 15 yards. Negative ghost rider. 


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[sakoshooter]

First legal elk either sex makes my mouth water just thinking about all that tasty steak.

[trophyhunt]

As you can tell, many different people with different answers. It's different to each person, everything guys have said all matter in what you think a trophy is. It's really just up to the hunter, which is all that matters. If I ever do get drawn, and if it's in the SE units, I will be looking for a 350 plus bull. On the last day if I see a 300inch bull, well he's going to take a dirt nap. I will feel unsatisfied if I kill one that small after waiting at least 18 years for a quality tag, but I will put everything into it. I'm not in anyway shape or form saying a 300'' bull is small or not very respectful, I'm just saying for me I would be disappointed after waiting soooooooo long to draw. I've killed about 13 bulls and only 2 or just barely over 300.

[mtman]

MY theory was find the biggest one you can before the season. Then hunt for that one, but have back ups.I figured if I couldnt find one before my hunt started I wasnt going to be able to find one on my hunt.

[Mudman]

Scores arent where its at.  Scores are only for comparison to the next one.  Everyone has diferent wants and limits to get there.  If it makes you happy do it.  If you feel you are settling and not getting what you need or want then go home with tag soup.  Let it live for the next guy or next year, it may be larger.  Dont we throw fish back to grow?  Im ok with tag soup.  Happens alot.  If I want a doe, great, meat.  If I decide I have meat and want a trophy, well tag soups most likely.   Follow your heart and enjoy the hunt.