Archery Elk SW WA, or Idaho central?

[Johnb317]

Looking at hunting timberland SW WA for Rosies, or Rocky Mountain in Idaho (3.5 hour hike in country)
Which would you do and why?

Thanks

[Elkpiss]

Idaho hands down....  1.. Bigger bulls.  2.. Not a brush pit and Better Elk Country...  and hell you can kill a wolf taboot!... 

[vandeman17]

I would go Idaho just to get away from the rainforests. I don't mind hunting in thicker timber but I HATE being soaked all the time. 

[kglacken]

I would go Idaho just to get away from the rainforests. I don't mind hunting in thicker timber but I HATE being soaked all the time. 

Usually early season you are not soaked. If anything you get soaked with sweat!
If you can afford Idaho, I say do that. I hunt SW Washington and it is a disappointment. Only reason I still hunt it is because I am 20 and cant afford an Idaho trip. Plus I just feel the need to master hunting my home ground. Idaho will bring bigger bulls and less pressure

[sirmissalot]

Depending on which part of Idaho I'd say your odds of getting into elk in SW washington might be better. Its pretty hard to say though with such general areas. Obviously a lot of it depends on which area you know better. I used to hunt Challis Idaho, we completely quit going due to the lack of elk we were seeing, had quite a bit of help from some friends who were locals too. I sure like that country better over there though, and if you've got horses that's where I'd be headed. 

[6x6in6]

Idaho

[fishngamereaper]

Idaho. Better/longer seasons and in general they overlap with deer seasons. I love central idaho, if you have the money and the legs to do it. 

Of course there is something humbling about stalking big elk through thick timber in a rain storm.... :chuckle:Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Bullkllr]

Never been hunting in Central Idaho, but I'd sat there given that any area that doesn't have fee access and actually has elk in it in SW Washington is likely to be a zoo for the foreseeable future.

[billdo5]

I would go Idaho just to get away from the rainforests. I don't mind hunting in thicker timber but I HATE being soaked all the time. 

Usually early season you are not soaked. If anything you get soaked with sweat!
If you can afford Idaho, I say do that. I hunt SW Washington and it is a disappointment. Only reason I still hunt it is because I am 20 and cant afford an Idaho trip. Plus I just feel the need to master hunting my home ground. Idaho will bring bigger bulls and less pressure

Hunting your home ground can be to your advantage though... Western Washington is fun to hunt as long as you got ur honey holes and no wolves yet... Idaho elk have been slaughtered.

[Broken Arrow]

Depends on what method your talking about. Western WA for archery, for my party, has proven to be an excellent choice the past 10 years with almost no pressure from other hunters and an extremely high success rate. However, you couldn't pay me enough money to hunt those same areas during the general season, fricken joke and a zoo. I would definitely do some more research on Idaho, success rates for  different methods, type of terrain, etc. . Also ask your self what species your used to hunting. Typically Rosies are not going to move that much, so you may need to learn a whole new skill set or at least mind set as to how to hunt Rockies.

[Button Nubbs]

What's all this "bigger" talk? I'm pretty sure the biggest bulls on this site were otc tags this year for rosies/cascade rosies. Hunting closer to home gives you the advantage of being able to spend time to learn the animals and their habits. Your more or less just taking a stab in the dark going to Idaho 

[billdo5]

100% true Ive already been scouting and just last thursday had 4 bulls and 5 cows 20 yards away... Have fun going back and forth to Idaho trying to scout lol...

[billdo5]

Depends on what method your talking about. Western WA for archery, for my party, has proven to be an excellent choice the past 10 years with almost no pressure from other hunters and an extremely high success rate. However, you couldn't pay me enough money to hunt those same areas during the general season, fricken joke and a zoo. I would definitely do some more research on Idaho, success rates for  different methods, type of terrain, etc. . Also ask your self what species your used to hunting. Typically Rosies are not going to move that much, so you may need to learn a whole new skill set or at least mind set as to how to hunt Rockies.

R u hunting with a rifle is that why its a zoo?

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Probably stick with sw wa. until the wolfs get under better control. If it ever happens. The wolfs are not helping Idaho game numbers go up.

[BULLBLASTER]

I say hunt them both!