Eastern Washington Elk

[mdbuck5x5]

So what about the guys that bust tail to kill nice bulls every year ? They just kinda get the shaft until they draw a tag because the road hunters can't seem to fill a tag ? If wa goes draw only on the west side il be going to oregon..don't limit my hunting oppertunities just cuz other people can't manage to find elk 

Sorry if that seemed like a jab at road hunters but they have got to be the majority of folks who don't fill tags

  

[bobcat]

So what about the guys that bust tail to kill nice bulls every year ? They just kinda get the shaft until they draw a tag because the road hunters can't seem to fill a tag?

They wait their turn like everybody else. Same as in all the other states that elk hunting is by draw only.

[kentrek]

So what about the guys that bust tail to kill nice bulls every year ? They just kinda get the shaft until they draw a tag because the road hunters can't seem to fill a tag?

They wait their turn like everybody else. Same as in all the other states that elk hunting is by draw only.

Why should I have to wait again ? Cuz "some people" are not having what they want even tho what they want is out there an all they gota do is go get it.....that's why I'm not gona be allowed to kill trophy bulls every year ??

Just ranting nothing personal...

[Button Nubbs]

So what about the guys that bust tail to kill nice bulls every year ? They just kinda get the shaft until they draw a tag because the road hunters can't seem to fill a tag?

They wait their turn like everybody else. Same as in all the other states that elk hunting is by draw only.

Why should I have to wait again ? Cuz "some people" are not having what they want even tho what they want is out there an all they gota do is go get it.....that's why I'm not gona be allowed to kill trophy bulls every year ??

Just ranting nothing personal...

logical aint it... If I cpuldnt chase branch bulls every year I'd be completely done with the state.

[pashok23]

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.

[LarMar14]

If you don't like hunting spikes in eastern washington, then why not stay on the westside and hunt branched bulls? Thats why you get a choice right? 

[pendoreilleadventures]

How come people always say that the big bulls need to breed the rag horns and spikes have the same genes as the big boys...doesn't matter age or antler size bulls genetics are there day one.

Sent from my C6750 using Tapatalk

[norsepeak]

How come people always say that the big bulls need to breed the rag horns and spikes have the same genes as the big boys...doesn't matter age or antler size bulls genetics are there day one.

Sent from my C6750 using Tapatalk

You are correct, the genetic material is there from day one.  The notion of the "big bulls" doing the breeding was from a time when natural selection was the law of the land.  It isn't anymore.  It used to be the biggest, baddest, smartest bulls would be the ones to survive the predators and be the most desirable for breeding to pass on the genes and traits that allowed them to survive.  It doesn't apply anymore because the human predator is not limited by their cunning or fitness like a four legged predator would be.  We can nail a big bull from across a canyon that might have survived many years just dealing with four legged predators.  So now even though "raghorns" are doing a majority of the breeding, it doesn't effect the genetic makeup of the heard too badly.  Yeah it's not ideal, but it's what we have.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

So what about the guys that bust tail to kill nice bulls every year ? They just kinda get the shaft until they draw a tag because the road hunters can't seem to fill a tag ? If wa goes draw only on the west side il be going to oregon..don't limit my hunting oppertunities just cuz other people can't manage to find elk 

Sorry if that seemed like a jab at road hunters but they have got to be the majority of folks who don't fill tags

  

It is funny to me how I hear about crowding, but never see other hunters back in behind closed gates.
I met a guy from Wisconsin who wanted to harvest a Roosevelt with his longbow (he made himself).
After looking at harvest reports, picked the unit I hunt.
Came out in 2011 and hiked in one of the gates near our camp, and got into some Elk but was unable to harvest one.
Came back this year with a mountain bike, rode into same area and shot a decent 5pt on second day of season.
Commented on how he was surprised that he did not see any other hunters.
Then I overheard another hunter comment on how "lucky" he was, but this hunter rarely got more than a mile from camp, or spend more than an hour or two in the woods.
I am always amazed at how many "Elk Hunters" I meet who spend more time riding around in their trucks than actually hunting, and complaining that there are no elk.
And the areas that they do get out of their trucks, is because one jumped the road in front of them.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

How come people always say that the big bulls need to breed the rag horns and spikes have the same genes as the big boys...doesn't matter age or antler size bulls genetics are there day one.

Sent from my C6750 using Tapatalk

You are correct, the genetic material is there from day one.  The notion of the "big bulls" doing the breeding was from a time when natural selection was the law of the land.  It isn't anymore.  It used to be the biggest, baddest, smartest bulls would be the ones to survive the predators and be the most desirable for breeding to pass on the genes and traits that allowed them to survive.  It doesn't apply anymore because the human predator is not limited by their cunning or fitness like a four legged predator would be.  We can nail a big bull from across a canyon that might have survived many years just dealing with four legged predators.  So now even though "raghorns" are doing a majority of the breeding, it doesn't effect the genetic makeup of the heard too badly.  Yeah it's not ideal, but it's what we have.

I also have witnessed spikes and raghorns doing the breeding while the herd bull is chasing off other raghorns and spikes than actually breeding himself.
High bull/cow ratios improve genetic diversity, large bulls only demonstrate what genes are available.

[soccerftw123]

So what about the guys that bust tail to kill nice bulls every year ? They just kinda get the shaft until they draw a tag because the road hunters can't seem to fill a tag ? If wa goes draw only on the west side il be going to oregon..don't limit my hunting oppertunities just cuz other people can't manage to find elk 

Sorry if that seemed like a jab at road hunters but they have got to be the majority of folks who don't fill tags

  

It is funny to me how I hear about crowding, but never see other hunters back in behind closed gates.
I met a guy from Wisconsin who wanted to harvest a Roosevelt with his longbow (he made himself).
After looking at harvest reports, picked the unit I hunt.
Came out in 2011 and hiked in one of the gates near our camp, and got into some Elk but was unable to harvest one.
Came back this year with a mountain bike, rode into same area and shot a decent 5pt on second day of season.
Commented on how he was surprised that he did not see any other hunters.
Then I overheard another hunter comment on how "lucky" he was, but this hunter rarely got more than a mile from camp, or spend more than an hour or two in the woods.
I am always amazed at how many "Elk Hunters" I meet who spend more time riding around in their trucks than actually hunting, and complaining that there are no elk.
And the areas that they do get out of their trucks, is because one jumped the road in front of them.

Thats not my problem i got into many elk at bow range this year only problem is cant find a spike, had bulls and cows in bow range

[stuckalot]

If you want to finish off sport hunting in this state in a generation or two, go permit only. It is difficult enough to recruit new hunters into our ranks, try doing it when they may only get to hunt once every 4-5 years! While it may not be representative of the hunt wa community there are many many people whose hunt success is not based on how many or how big an animal they harvest. It is the time spent each year in the field with family and friends. Despite a low success rate growing up that one week in the fall was the most cherished of the entire year for me.  Had I only had one or two opportunities over that time I would have moved on to something else. While fewer hunters may seem like a great idea it will be the death of our sport.

As far as spike rules go there are actually many sound reasons for it. Primarily the very high natural mortality rate for calves and spikes. If sustainability is the goal for a herd harvesting spikes and calves has the least impact on the heard because many of them will die any way.

[sakoshooter]

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!

Agreed

[kerrdog]

Lets do away with scopes and high power rifles. (except for the old and disabled)    Actually I'd never want to impose my opinion on others.  But that would work, right? Bow and Muzzleloader only.  

[bobcat]

Several other states (including Oregon) have permit only hunting for deer/elk, and it hasn't stopped kids from hunting in those states.

I have to ask- why is it that a system like that works in other states but some people insist it can't work here?

I've asked this question before and never have heard any reasonable answers.