A Shot in the Dark

[Alayna]

Hey guys... I have an elk tag that I didn't fill this year and I need some advice. I was told that in certain areas farmers/ranchers are allowed extra tags to control game animal populations on their land. Since I'm new to elk hunting and have never had to do a damage control hunt for deer or anything else I'm not sure how to go about attempting to find someone with such tags. Although hunting is a fun sport for me, I do count on the meat to feed my family and don't really want to see this tag not get filled...

So, I figured this website was as good of a start as any to see if A.) someone out there on this forum has damage control permits for elk and would be willing to let me hunt or B.) if someone knows how I would go about finding people to contact about damage control hunt opportunities.

Thanks!!

[JackOfAllTrades]

Contact the regional game office for the area you're willing to hunt elk...

That said... I don't know many farmers that just hand out damage tags to people they don't know. There are rules too. But a regional office and local game officer may be able to give you some contact information for farm owners that do have trouble. Those people might at least talk to you and provide access to neighboring hunting area.  I have relatives that have damage tags that don't shoot every time they can.

-Steve

[Alayna]

Thank you!!! I'll start there 

[jackelope]

Are you bow hunting?

[Alayna]

I have a rifle tag. Ironically before the season started I wanted to switch my tag to archery but they wouldn't let me because I put in for special tags for rifle.

[Alayna]

Also, I did contact my local wdfw office and the best advice he gave me was to apply for the master hunter program.... I was already interested in the possibility of doing that but it's not something that's going to happen in the next year or two.

[pianoman9701]

Unless you already have a tag that goes late, you're SOL. Without knowing what tag you have, it's hard to know.

You should enroll in the Master Hunter program now if you're interested. They didn't have enrollment last year because the program reached capacity. I expect that'll happen again next year after it does so again. It's well worth it and if you have any free time at night or on the weekends, it's very do-able with some effort. It was a great program for me and really taught me quite a bit about hunting I didn't know that I didn't know. Don't even bother to apply if you have any game-related, litter-related, or felony arrests/convictions.

[stickflngr]

It wont help ya now, but if you do eastside archery elk. Theres a hunt that goes until the 30th of January in elk area 1010 (Dayton), 163 (Morango). Its all private land but theres some school land that Ive hunted a couple times next to the Rainwater indian land. Me and my son will be over there on the 28-29-30th...... Hoping for snow

[Alayna]

Good luck on that hunt!

[stickflngr]

Ill post if we do worth a darn...