RTSPRING"S thoughts on the Yakima elk herds.

[PlateauNDN]

   good thread rt.

[Fish4Fun]

I agree RT, you get out of hunting what you put in it. As for changing the way the rules are..... NO, leave them alone as you said. If folks don't like it, go out of state, or what ever you want. For the guys that know the areas, we are just fine with the rules. Might not get a bull every year, but we sure put the effort in trying.

[Whitpirate]

Never a bad time spent in the woods with friends.

I've got some special menus for next year getting developed.

[ctwiggs1]

I do agree that there are herds at every elevation.  This was my first time hunting in the Natches area and although I didn't see any elk, I saw enough sign to know that they are certainly there.  And again, I saw that sign as low as 2000ft and as high as 6500ft.  I put many miles under my boots and what I learned foremost was......... SCOUT SCOUT SCOUT as RTS just said

[Elkrunner]

 

The only part I'm going to disagree with is the part about shooting a spike with a bull permit.  If that guy wants to tag a spike with his bull permit go ahead.  I'm not ever going to tell a hunter what he should or shouldn't shoot with his own tag.  That's his decision and his alone.

[Buzz2401]

I don't think any kind of management is gonna change the old saying that 10% of the guys kill 90% of the elk.  There are tons of elk out there just gotta go get them. 

[rtspring]

The only part I'm going to disagree with is the part about shooting a spike with a bull permit.  If that guy wants to tag a spike with his bull permit go ahead.  I'm not ever going to tell a hunter what he should or shouldn't shoot with his own tag.  That's his decision and his alone.

Some people wait a lifetime to draw a ANY BULL tag!!! Really, would you waste it on a spike??? Then just buy the OTC tag and let others shoot the branched bulls.

1. Your taking away from the general season folks
2. If all you can get is a spike, you as a hunter did not do your job.
3. The purpose of a Any Bull tag is to take branched antlered bulls out of the herd.
4.  Like I have said, if some who drew the any bull tag knew the quality of animals , no way would they shoot a spike..

But to each is his own...

[farmin4u_98948]

Well put  !!!   

[dvolmer]

The only part I'm going to disagree with is the part about shooting a spike with a bull permit.  If that guy wants to tag a spike with his bull permit go ahead.  I'm not ever going to tell a hunter what he should or shouldn't shoot with his own tag.  That's his decision and his alone.

Some people wait a lifetime to draw a ANY BULL tag!!! Really, would you waste it on a spike??? Then just buy the OTC tag and let others shoot the branched bulls.

1. Your taking away from the general season folks
2. If all you can get is a spike, you as a hunter did not do your job.
3. The purpose of a Any Bull tag is to take branched antlered bulls out of the herd.
4.  Like I have said, if some who drew the any bull tag knew the quality of animals , no way would they shoot a spike..

But to each is his own...


I totally agree with this.  If you are a meat hunter then get a cow tag or go after spike.  Big bull tags should be a coveted treasure.  I would pass up 10 spikes and go without before I would waste my big bull tag on a spike.  just my thoughts.

[D-Rock425]

Yeah some guys do wait a life time some guys get lucky and draw quick.  If they really wanted only big branched bulls taken wdfw needs to put a better restrictions on it like a 3pt min then.  Everyone has a fair chance at drawing a tag and just because you and I wouldn't waste a quality tag on a spike doesn't mean someone else can't.  I've never killed a really big bull but I have killed a lot of elk and I'm not sure I would ever change any of those experience for one big bull.  Those guys put there pants on the same way I do.  Sometimes hunting is more than the trophy you put on the wall.

[huntandjeep]

dvolmer /  I would pass up 10 spikes and go without before I would waste my big bull tag on a spike.  just my thoughts.

   Really? You would rather go home without any meat than " waste" your bull tag on a spike. Why would it be a " waste"  to tag a spike. I had Rimrock any bull tag last year and wound up tagging nothing. Had the opportunity to shoot a spike the first 15 minutes of the general opener. Watched him for 2 hours and decided not to shoot because I still had 9 days to find " the bull". Guess what never found it, not for lack of trying . The bulls just weren't where they where when I was there all summer scouting.

[kirkl]

The only part I'm going to disagree with is the part about shooting a spike with a bull permit.  If that guy wants to tag a spike with his bull permit go ahead.  I'm not ever going to tell a hunter what he should or shouldn't shoot with his own tag.  That's his decision and his alone.

Some people wait a lifetime to draw a ANY BULL tag!!! Really, would you waste it on a spike??? Then just buy the OTC tag and let others shoot the branched bulls.

1. Your taking away from the general season folks
2. If all you can get is a spike, you as a hunter did not do your job.
3. The purpose of a Any Bull tag is to take branched antlered bulls out of the herd.
4.  Like I have said, if some who drew the any bull tag knew the quality of animals , no way would they shoot a spike..

But to each is his own...

I guess you could start paying for people's tags and permits and their hunting trip
Costs then you could tell them what they can and can't shoot! Not everyone can get out and hike 12 miles in a day for 9 days straight looking for elk ( I'd like to put a gps on a lot of these people for their real miles)

[rtspring]

Yeah some guys do wait a life time some guys get lucky and draw quick.  If they really wanted only big branched bulls taken wdfw needs to put a better restrictions on it like a 3pt min then.  Everyone has a fair chance at drawing a tag and just because you and I wouldn't waste a quality tag on a spike doesn't mean someone else can't.  I've never killed a really big bull but I have killed a lot of elk and I'm not sure I would ever change any of those experience for one big bull.  Those guys put there pants on the same way I do.  Sometimes hunting is more than the trophy you put on the wall.

Never said anything about trophy hunting, just branched bulls..  I seen three spikes shot on the opener by ANY BULL tag holders??? Wow!!! Why even buy a special permit? 

[rtspring]

The only part I'm going to disagree with is the part about shooting a spike with a bull permit.  If that guy wants to tag a spike with his bull permit go ahead.  I'm not ever going to tell a hunter what he should or shouldn't shoot with his own tag.  That's his decision and his alone.

Some people wait a lifetime to draw a ANY BULL tag!!! Really, would you waste it on a spike??? Then just buy the OTC tag and let others shoot the branched bulls.

1. Your taking away from the general season folks
2. If all you can get is a spike, you as a hunter did not do your job.
3. The purpose of a Any Bull tag is to take branched antlered bulls out of the herd.
4.  Like I have said, if some who drew the any bull tag knew the quality of animals , no way would they shoot a spike..

But to each is his own...

I guess you could start paying for people's tags and permits and their hunting trip
Costs then you could tell them what they can and can't shoot! Not everyone can get out and hike 12 miles in a day for 9 days straight looking for elk ( I'd like to put a gps on a lot of these people for their real miles)

Not into telling anyone what to shoot. Just not sure why some put in the time and money to draw a coveted tag then shoot a spike?  Just dont make sense, last day spike sure! But no way until the last day..   

I think the regs should be changed to branched antlered bull vice any bull..

[Buckmark]

I love how rt went from knowing very little about the elk or hunting them in this area to the elk whisperer...