Bethel Any Bull

[fishseeker]

Talked to one of the EX hunting partners that drew anybull tags last night. They hunted the first week, saw no branch antlers. One shot a spike, One missed a spike, One watched a spike at 200 yards and wasn't comfortable shooting with a 308.They left at 3:30 am to hunt the last 2 days. They where camping at a Motel in Natches even though one as a nice 24ft. motorhome. Work schedules would not let them hunt the second week.

[MAVsled]

a partner of mine (& hunter in my camp) texted me that he hasn't seen an elk in Bethel for the last 3 days now. I and another huntin partner came home early yesterday after taking our bulls on the first and 3rd day of general season.
total lack of snow in the high country resulted in lack of migratory elk from the backcountry...

heck, we can't complain too much; me taking a 3x3 and he a spike.
Better eating than the paper tag.

[hunt4]

My Dad has been driveing around another old fart that has a any bull tag, I think they have missed one day since it opened and have seen a grand total of...7 Elk and 5 deer.
They have been sitting, stumbling around, driving, and i am sure napping ,
What a year to have that tag
They can not get around very good but still you think they would be seeing somthing.
They told me they have not seen an animal in 4 days

[Head-shot]

... One watched a spike at 200 yards and wasn't comfortable shooting with a 308...

Is the guy inexperienced at shooting or not a good shot?    That .308 would put a hurting on an elk at 200 yds. With the low numbers a lot of people are reporting having to pass up a shot like that just kills me.

[Dry creek]

My father and I just returned from our Bethel big bull permit hunt and lets just say the hunt was crappy! Snow level was around 8,000 feet the hunt needed to be e week longer, but the game department doesn't want you too kill anything! I waited 8 years too draw big bull tag and never seen a branched bull in 15 days!

[NORRISKI2]

Does not surprise me.  I have hunted the area (Naches) GMU 342 for ten years with little success. My father in law used to hunt the area when the season was right starting in early to mid November and you could shoot any bull.  The hunting this year was worse than normal because the season is too early period.   I never leave early with time left in the season, but I did this year.  With the season being to early and spike bull only restrictions I said goodbye to GMU 342 forever.  I'm probably headed out of state next year because I can't see giving my money to WDFW every year to go camping with a gun in summer type weather during elk season.  My father in law has hopes the game department will change it back to the glory days.  I laugh  they have no intention of ever doing that if they still are collecting our money.  Once it is gone you can't get it back!

[logger]

I have hunted bethel for several years now muzzleloading and this year was our last, we had three cow tags the camp above us had eight and we all ate em . plus the 1400 rd. has not been graded since moby dick was a minnow you damn near have to chain your dentures down.

[270Shooter]

Don't hunt the cowiche theres no elk there either

[Aperson]

went out this weekend, nothin...Absolutely nothin, in Lincoln, or the other place right by it at all...Anyone know of any other units that have lots of elk?

[fishseeker]

... One watched a spike at 200 yards and wasn't comfortable shooting with a 308...

Is the guy inexperienced at shooting or not a good shot?    That .308 would put a hurting on an elk at 200 yds. With the low numbers a lot of people are reporting having to pass up a shot like that just kills me.

I don't know the guy that well. Met him last year' don't know he has hunted much or not. I pack a 308 quite often myself and trust me, That would have been a dead elk in a heart beat. I know my gun and myself so I would take the shot anyday!

[Aperson]

Anyone doing anymore elk hunting this week, need to fill my tag...willing to pay gas, id needed(if i can get out of school, and get someone to cover or switch shifts with me can go for a few days).

[logger]

I have never seen an elk in the cowiche not even in greens pocket or the shellneck or red saddle but I did see tracks once on darland mt.and some in reynolds creek.

[Slenk]

Two of my sons and I hunted Bethal, 7 of the 9 days and saw Elk every day.  One 5x5 bull and a couple of spikes the rest cows & calves.But we eat our tags.
Slenk

[logger]

I think some our problem might for once not enough people pushin them around , we  were up on top above the cabin alls we could do was bump em in the thick stuff I cant sneek up on crap so I mostly climbed up in the thick timber and sat.

[robodad]

I cant sneek up on crap

I can't either but I have it sneek up on me before !!