FIRST TIME ELK HUNTER

[irishevox]

first year for elk no idea where to go. i can hunt east or west just need to buy a tag. i heard there are Elk in Forks ( west side) and in wenatchee ( east)  but i haven't been able to get out scouting... with my 8 1/2 prego wife.... i can;t go far to scout or anything.  I am in Whidbey Isalnd  thanks for the help feel free to PM me what we discuss is between us.

[pianoman9701]

Which season? What dates are you planning to be available to hunt? Will you be carrying the papoose during the hunt? 

[irishevox]

whats a papoose?
and i have no dates plannned yet.  I was gonna buy my tag a few days before iheaded out

[pianoman9701]

pa·poose
paˈpo͞os,pə-/Submit
noun
1.
a type of bag used to carry a child on one's back.

You still haven't said which season/method.

[270Shooter]

What weapon? Do you want the chance at a bigger bull or will a spike work?

[irishevox]

i would prefer a big bull, but if i didn;t have the opportunity i would take a spike.  and i can do modern or archery.. doesn;t matter haven't bought my tag yet

[trophyhunt]

lot of elk in the forks area, if I was starting out I would do archery.  Archery elk in our state is the funnest most exciting way to start elk hunting in my very small opinion.  I personally haven't archery hunted in the dickey unit but have rifle hunted it in the past and saw a ton of elk.  Every weapon has it's pro's and con's, archery the biggest con or negative is the heat.  You must be ready and prepared for getting that meat cooled down, also be ready for the bugs once your elk hits the ground. I would invest in a therma cell, they work! If I was just starting out, archery would be my vote!  Good luck, and don't get sucked in this black hole of WA permit system, stick with the west side archery and hunt Big bulls every year, you don't want to end up like me with 19 years waiting to draw a hunt of a lifetime.  Just go hunt them every year! 

[irishevox]

you have any advice on where to go in Forks?

[trophyhunt]

I would PM nwhunter, he's the man in that area. It's been years for me.

[OuttaplaceChase]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for scouting elk in the goat rocks or near mount adams? I'll be camping with the family at walupt lake and would like to get some leg work in before everyone wakes up.

[270Shooter]

Since it's your first year and you live on the west side I'd also say hunt the west side. The chance for a real nice bull is there and there are plenty of elk. Archery will allow you to hunt in the rut (somewhat) and the bulls should be vocal. Rifle hunting will be totally different as the big bulls will leave the cows and find the deepest thickest hell hole and stay there until someone or something pushes them out. I'd say if you are wanting a more quality expieriance then archery will give you that, you should see and hear elk. Killing one with a bow is no easy task though.

[irishevox]

yeah.  I am pulling back 60lbs... on a PSE Sinister... i am short so heavy weight sometimes causes a hassle.... but 60 should be enough.  would you recommend a blind or recommend spot and stalk

[270Shooter]

60 pounds is plenty as long as your have a good sharp broadhead and you can put that arrow where it needs to go. Id probably go spot and stalk unless you can find a spot where the elk are consistantly moving through. In the rut there isnt much of a pattern though.

[irishevox]

Alot of you are saying archery.  So with archery.  I guess it will be all spot and stalk for me so i can get in range.

[trophyhunt]

I killed my second biggest bull in a tree stand during the later part of archery season.  If they are in the area I like to up in a stand and cow call, too many different situations to really say what's better.