Eastern Washington Elk

[scoyoc5]

 

[gunnarnewt]

It all comes down to this point... Would you rather be able to hunt ANY bull every 3 or so years, OR wait 15 years and chase the 7 spikes that are available. I would rather hunt any bull than just look for the needle in the haystack..... Again, my 

[buck man]

Living in the far north east corner of the state is a blessing during elk season! But we don't have the numbers the Yakima area does. What. We do have is escape cover.  Animals can live long enough to grow big.

I used to hunt the observatory, cowichee, and manastash units. The hunting has gone down hill dramatically in the last 15 years. I don't think the spike only ruling is the reason for the decline. Its too many hunters and too many predators, and I am sure poaching and tribal hunting play a role too.

I think the only thing that will bring back our herds are permit hunts period!
 If we go to a system like Utah. You have the vast majority of the state is permit hunting only. However there are huge units that are general hunting. These units tend to be extremely rugged and have good escapement. If you don't draw you hunt there. Yes they get crowded but they also hold good elk numbers. I know cause I have 10 points in Utah and still bull hunt any year I want. I usually kill a bull every year I go there.

We need to rethink how we manage our herds in this state. You may not be able to hunt elk every year if we go to a lottery system, but we could greatly increase the quality of the hunt if we did. Going to a permit system does not give the "antis" more ammo. It gives the herds a chance to grow again.

Oregon also has it figured out. A few general units, but bow hunters can hunt any draw unit for rifle with no lottery. I do it every year. Their blue mts. Are no different than ours......except they have elk in theirs!!

[kentrek]

I think its fine the way it is 

  no matter what the state does folks that don't kill something are gona come up with an excuse..management..wolves...indians...people kill trophy bulls in general units ever year...

In my eyes wa is one of the best sleeper states out there

Just stiring the pot

[NoBark]

I think a big part of the problem is that as humans move into wintering areas, the Department lowers the herd size.   Over the years, the yakima herd size goal has been lowered a few times.   I remember when they lowered it from 15,000 to 13,000.  I'm not sure what goal is today, might be lower.  As the number of hunters has diminished so have the herds..  If they kept the goals and told landowners, it part of planting crops on winter range,   the hunting would be better.     Same thing for the St Helens herd.  "Damage Control" is the reason for reducing herd sizes.  That sucks IMHO.

[vandeman17]

Living in the far north east corner of the state is a blessing during elk season! But we don't have the numbers the Yakima area does. What. We do have is escape cover.  Animals can live long enough to grow big.

I used to hunt the observatory, cowichee, and manastash units. The hunting has gone down hill dramatically in the last 15 years. I don't think the spike only ruling is the reason for the decline. Its too many hunters and too many predators, and I am sure poaching and tribal hunting play a role too.

I think the only thing that will bring back our herds are permit hunts period!
 If we go to a system like Utah. You have the vast majority of the state is permit hunting only. However there are huge units that are general hunting. These units tend to be extremely rugged and have good escapement. If you don't draw you hunt there. Yes they get crowded but they also hold good elk numbers. I know cause I have 10 points in Utah and still bull hunt any year I want. I usually kill a bull every year I go there.

We need to rethink how we manage our herds in this state. You may not be able to hunt elk every year if we go to a lottery system, but we could greatly increase the quality of the hunt if we did. Going to a permit system does not give the "antis" more ammo. It gives the herds a chance to grow again.

Oregon also has it figured out. A few general units, but bow hunters can hunt any draw unit for rifle with no lottery. I do it every year. Their blue mts. Are no different than ours......except they have elk in theirs!!

I couldn't have said it better myself

[Button Nubbs]

I think its fine the way it is 

  no matter what the state does folks that don't kill something are gona come up with an excuse..management..wolves...indians...people kill trophy bulls in general units ever year...

In my eyes wa is one of the best sleeper states out there

Just stiring the pot

bingo! Wanna hunt bulls come figure the Westside or ne corner out. You can kill branch bulls every year.

I don't hunt the eastside because I won't hunt cows and spikes. I like the way it is now.

[KopperBuck]

Unfortunately you get a lot of people stick hunting when they probably shouldn't be. While it's nice you can put in for rifle and then buy a general archery afterwards if you don't draw, it makes for irresponsible hunting. I'm not knocking archery, but you get a lot of non-archery guys down here flinging.

There's still a good portion of good elk country down here that has a general second season, spike only, which is going on right now. 

[Roperfive88]

From what I hear before spike only the bull to cow ratio was very low. Now with spike only more bulls survive and the bull to cow ratio has gone up. I like being able to hunt elk every year even if it is just a spikes. If I ever get the opportunity to draw a branch tag I know that there is a very good chance to get a trophy bull. If they put a 5 pt restriction that does not help kill mature bulls. There are a lot of young raghorn bulls that are five points. I see lots of elk where I hunt and even see spikes and our camp has got a few. We have seen a small decline in really big bulls but I feel that is due to giving to many special permits for the area. So why fix it if its working.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I think its fine the way it is 

  no matter what the state does folks that don't kill something are gona come up with an excuse..management..wolves...indians...people kill trophy bulls in general units ever year...

In my eyes wa is one of the best sleeper states out there

Just stiring the pot

bingo! Wanna hunt bulls come figure the Westside or ne corner out. You can kill branch bulls every year.

I don't hunt the eastside because I won't hunt cows and spikes. I like the way it is now.

Oh boy our sleeper state is now awake and everybody will come hunt elk here. 

[300rum]

I would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year. 

[Slenk]

I would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year.

You have that now.

[300rum]

You have the chance to hunt a spike every year. 

What I mean by that is that I could care less about hunting spike's (or killing them) and say I am "elk hunting" or successful or having a "good hunt".  Quality v. Quantity.

Unless your measurement of good Elk hunting is measured by revenue generation, Washington just doesn't come close. 

I would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year.

You have that now.

[Snakeriver10]

I have hunted the Blues for twenty years, my dad for many more than that.  We have both applied for a bull permit in units in the Blues with a combined total of over 50 years, can you guess how many times we have been drawn?  00000000000000000000.  I wouldn't want a permit system just to hunt as others have suggested as the state has a proven track record of not drawing based on points, on years put in for the draw, it's a total joke and a huge money maker to the state. 

The spike unit system has its peaks and its downs.  The main idea behind it I believe was to increase the herd size.  Where I hunt in the blues, (Really close to Oregon and pretty far east) the herd size hasn't increased inside the fence for many many years.  Record book bulls have increased.  Cow numbers haven't.  Number of people poaching has went up though.  Have you ever sat near a road from dusk till dawn and notice how many guys drive into the mountains?  It is an insane amount and there not all there just to see the moon. 

Recently the number of Elk inside and outside the fence has increased though with the elk being pushed from Idaho.  Hopefully in years to come it will become common to see different herds of elk and be able to see a spike every year and not just every 30 years. 

The solution I have would be to shut down the Blues and other spike only units for five or so years and let the herds build up.  Anybody caught in the mountains in that time with a rifle not during a deer season should be accused of poaching to help limit some of the herd lose.  I also wouldn't mind to see the season pushed back a week to give the mountains some time to calm down from deer season. 

[Jonathan_S]

I would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year.

Seriously?  So you'd get to hunt elk like 4-5 times in your life?  Not me.