Eastern Washington Elk

[soccerftw123]

Am i a dumb teenager or are hunters being robbed in Eastern Washington for elk? The true spike rule kills the young stupid ones instead of letting them grow up. I am no Trophy hunter but i would rather take a mature animal instead of a yearling. So i am going to quit hunting Washington until there are better antler restrictions, like 5 point minimum would let a lot more elk survive. Or they change it to the colorado rules where its permit only but there are ample permits and if you can't draw one you can still hunt west side. I just feel like we are getting the short end of the stick for a 45 dollar tag and a ton of money for permit applications. Til then ill be in Oregon. 

[EDT]

I don't know about the "young stupid ones"  talk, but I do agree and I wish eastern Washington was special permit only for all elk.

[Bean Counter]

Several states are draw only for elk, even for residents. The way it should be, IMHO.

[Scottystyle]

Washington should do it just like Oregon IMO. 

[chukar58]

What are the elk restrictions in Oregon for bull elk?

[MHWASH]

The idea behind the spike only rule is that 90% of spikes die annually. Some from hunting, some from just being young and dumb. It's just a fact of life.

I have been hunting the BLues since '96 or '97 and can tell you the spike only rule does not hurt the bull numbers. In my opinion the largest factor on the # of mature bulls are the indians. If you don't believe me take a drive to the Blues in late September and see for your self.

I would also love to see Eastern WA go to a draw only for any antlered elk.

[buglebuster]

I think its fine the way it is 

[Ridgerunner]

You definately won't be elk hunting here in the near future if that is what you are waiting for.

[Axle]

What are the elk restrictions in Oregon for bull elk?

For us? - the restriction is in the price of the tag.  That worked very well for me! 

[Buzz2401]

I don't mind hunting spikes but I do wish they would reduce the number of hunters in the field by going to permit only.

[brutus1]

"Wow" give the anti-hunters ammunition..why not just go to three-point or better and have permits for any elk..that's the direction the game department is heading is anyway. Why make it any easier for them to make easy decisions for us hunters. Think about why they went to this point system in the first place..I was told about twenty years ago this was what their plan was. We need to stick together as hunters and be better stewards of our land and resources.. To many animals are being taken out of season or by other predators...

[gunnarnewt]

I've always been a proponent of the permit only system..... Look what it's done for Nevada and Utah. I could live with that. 

[nw_bowhunter]

If we go permit only you will be sitting on the sideline for along time wishing you could hunt.. Wanting to hunt bulls go to CO, MT, OR, WY, ETC. Be happy that you can hunt each year.

[mdbuck5x5]

If we go permit only you will be sitting on the sideline for along time wishing you could hunt.. Wanting to hunt bulls go to CO, MT, OR, WY, ETC. Be happy that you can hunt each year.

 

Thank you! Somebody with some sense!

[bobcat]

If we go permit only you will be sitting on the sideline for along time wishing you could hunt.. Wanting to hunt bulls go to CO, MT, OR, WY, ETC. Be happy that you can hunt each year.

Not necessarily. It all depends on how they set it up. Oregon is permit only  for most of the east side of the state, for rifle season. For those who don't draw a permit, they can still hunt the archery season. Besides that, it could done in such a way that a person could hunt at least every other year. In the off years, just spend more time hunting bears, coyotes, cougars, birds, deer, etc.

I know I would much rather have a good elk hunt every other year, than a terrible elk hunt every single year. Modern rifle elk season in this state is a total joke. There needs to some kind of limitation on the number of elk tags sold.