Elk Near Spokane

[miah]

grass grows like a city park in some areas

[caseyv21]

the grass grows great, its just so thick and there's a lot more predators up here than down in yakima

[bullseeker]

I have hunted way up North the past few years. I have seen small number of Elk. But am starting to see more. In one area they have burned the timber sale areas and it does seem to help with the brush. But I think we over look our winters we have. Just because we get a few feet of snow down here around Spokane doesn't mean they get the same. I know the area I hunt gets atleast 10 feet plus snow and the surronding areas get dumped on as well. So with little wintering areas I think the heards stay smaller. Less food = less Elk. But just my

[caseyv21]

yeah thats true, the winters definetly take a toll on the herd

[Mike_D]

I'm an avid hunter of Elk in 113/117, and I've bumped a herd of 8 during turkey season in 07.  I will admit they're a *censored* to find, and I've yet to take one on the east side.  However, this spring during turkey season, I took these photos and counted close to 30 head, just south of Usk.  They are there... its just a matter of putting the miles on the boots.

[Mike_D]

Hmmm... missed a photo...

[pendoreilleadventures]

I have hunted elk in Pend oreille County all my life and there is no shortage of elk I have called in a lot of elk bow hunting the last 10 years. I always hear people complaining that there are not any elk in this area, plain and simple you need to get out of you truck and try doing some hiking and scouting. I have  had trail cam with 18 different bulls on them from pend oreille county I have pasted on god knows how may cows. Now killing them is whole different story. I have shot and missed 4 bulls with my bow over the past 10 years and have had more the 100 close almost type hunts. I know where there are at least 50 different herds with at least 6-10+ elk in them. Just got to know where to look. Through a pack on grab a lot of water and walk.

[SHANE(WA)]

+1 brian , too many people preach they are the mighty hunter, hike in countless miles away from roads. Well I would venture to say 10% of the people who hunt up here actually get out and hunt, not walking a gated rd , I mean get out and climb a ridge with no quad trails or roads. The elk are here, it is as thick as anything you can imagine, it makes covering ground a slow painfull process, it will deter your route it's so thick , I get into spots almost everytime out that u litterally get stuck in brush , back track and go another way. It makes hunting very frusturating. Like brian said connecting on a elk with a bow is a whole different story, I had elk in bow range last year from 21-56 yards for a week straight , I got 1 shot at 7 yards finally , hit a limb I didn't see 

[mossback91]

+1 brian , too many people preach they are the mighty hunter, hike in countless miles away from roads. Well I would venture to say 10% of the people who hunt up here actually get out and hunt, not walking a gated rd , I mean get out and climb a ridge with no quad trails or roads. The elk are here, it is as thick as anything you can imagine, it makes covering ground a slow painfull process, it will deter your route it's so thick , I get into spots almost everytime out that u litterally get stuck in brush , back track and go another way. It makes hunting very frusturating. Like brian said connecting on a elk with a bow is a whole different story, I had elk in bow range last year from 21-56 yards for a week straight , I got 1 shot at 7 yards finally , hit a limb I didn't see 

its more than thick its a fricken jungle

[SHANE(WA)]

yep , then I hear people say well you haven't hunter the westside , well I have, forks area, I will hunt that area anyday over this . The corner here has a forest unique to all of WA there is nothing like it

[PA BEN]

I ran into 25 head turkey hunting back in 95. Unit 121. Any elk. They stayed in the area all summer. The riffle hunters got on them a shot the s#!t out of them. Cows, calf's and bulls.

[bullseeker]

It would be nice to see some restrictions on the elk in the area. maybe just to see if the heards would grow.
And getting off the beaten path is the best way to find Elk. Once they get bumped they just go deeper and deeper.
But that why I like to hunt them..... you have to try just alittle harder each time. keeps the tender foots away!

[SHANE(WA)]

theres really no need for restrictions, the harvest rate is so low. If you have lived around here for the last 20 years and messed with the elk in the corner here, you will have noticed that the elk have quadrupled in size or more, they are begining to really spread out everywhere. There is even more pressure now and the elk are still growing.I do agree some areas around here need some help or transplants, hucklberry range has awesome habitat and there are hardly any elk in it

[bobcat]

You would think if the habitat was that good, the elk would find their way there and multiply. If they haven't then maybe it's not as great for elk habitat as you think it is.   

[SHANE(WA)]

The deal is , the south end of the range is the spokane indian rez, its loaded with elk, there are areas around the border that have elk. but u start heading north and nothing, same terrain, if anyhting more remote and less bothered by people, extensive logging and ag fields in the lowlands.Looks like great terrain, but yet never any sign of elk anywhere