Bethel Quality Elk Draw - Buyer Beware!

[Goldy79]

I just got home from a 10 day hunt and could not be more disappointed with the quality elk tag I drew for the Bethel unit. "Lower than average hunter numbers"... what a joke. There was a pickup around every corner and we were bumping into hunters in every place we had scouted. We had two people set up tree stands withing 50 feet of our stands that had been up before the season opened. There were bulls to be had but with all the pressure we could never get one to stand still. We also encountered some of the ultimate road hunters... lawn chairs strapped down to the truck bed with a guy riding with an arrow nocked. Quite a few folks treating the unit like their private 4X4 park....

If you want a quality hunt avoid this unit.

[MLBowhunting]

Sorry it didnt go as planned.  Google earth that area and find some thick nasty and go there.  No pressure and no roads.  Go get your bull.

[bobcat]

With only 37 quality permits, and no antlerless permits at the same time, I also would have thought the area would be relatively un-crowded. How far off the roads did you get?

From last year's statistics it definitely doesn't appear to be an easy hunt. Out of 35 permits issued there was only one elk reported to be killed.

You still have five days of the season left to hunt. You haven't given up already, have you? The best of the season is yet to come.

[northcoast]

You coming back to hunt it this year? I know where a bull is that hasnt been shot yet. He is not big, but it is meat in the freezer.  There wasnt too many hunters that I saw between redrock and microwave the last week. Only ones really were along the 1500 between the road to timberwolf and cash prarie.

 

There is a nice 7x7 and a 5x5 right by Microwave.



I'll be camping just west of Cash Prairie from Friday to Sunday if you want to stop by and get more specifics.

[jackelope]

With only 37 quality permits, and no antlerless permits at the same time, I also would have thought the area would be relatively un-crowded. How far off the roads did you get?

From last year's statistics it definitely doesn't appear to be an easy hunt. Out of 35 permits issued there was only one elk reported to be killed.

You still have five days of the season left to hunt. You haven't given up already, have you? The best of the season is yet to come.

Some good points here. You're in one of the most popular elk areas in Washington state. I would go in fully expecting crowds and everything else you described except the lawnchair thing....that's a little crazy.
Did you cover some ground or just sit in tree stands? Get off the roads a little? There's good country in there to get away from people.  You've still got time if it's in the cards for you. The late part of the season will be the best.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

No nothing about you or physical condition. Get in the deep nasty and your luck will turn....  If you have to be close to roads then yes it is no secret about what you witnessed....

[Goldy79]

With only 37 quality permits, and no antlerless permits at the same time, I also would have thought the area would be relatively un-crowded. How far off the roads did you get?

From last year's statistics it definitely doesn't appear to be an easy hunt. Out of 35 permits issued there was only one elk reported to be killed.

You still have five days of the season left to hunt. You haven't given up already, have you? The best of the season is yet to come.

I got off the roads at least a mile but still ran into people... I got into some deep stuff as well but I think the bulls were getting really pressured. I was able to get one to come in to range but it spooked when another hunter started walking in about 50 feet off of my left shoulder. I couldn't escape the "competitive" feeling and booked it to a neighboring unit... didn't see another hunter in the field even once.  Filled my tag and I'm picking up my meat this week. I hunt for the experience and once I was out of the Bethel I really enjoyed it. Even got both of my son's in the field a few times to see all the Elk. Successful Elk season for sure! Now it's time to fill that deer tag.

[Practical Approach]

With only 37 quality permits, and no antlerless permits at the same time, I also would have thought the area would be relatively un-crowded. How far off the roads did you get?

From last year's statistics it definitely doesn't appear to be an easy hunt. Out of 35 permits issued there was only one elk reported to be killed.

You still have five days of the season left to hunt. You haven't given up already, have you? The best of the season is yet to come.

WDFW harvest report is very inaccurate.  Reporting rates are probably around 60%. 

[jackelope]

With only 37 quality permits, and no antlerless permits at the same time, I also would have thought the area would be relatively un-crowded. How far off the roads did you get?

From last year's statistics it definitely doesn't appear to be an easy hunt. Out of 35 permits issued there was only one elk reported to be killed.

You still have five days of the season left to hunt. You haven't given up already, have you? The best of the season is yet to come.

I got off the roads at least a mile but still ran into people... I got into some deep stuff as well but I think the bulls were getting really pressured. I was able to get one to come in to range but it spooked when another hunter started walking in about 50 feet off of my left shoulder. I couldn't escape the "competitive" feeling and booked it to a neighboring unit... didn't see another hunter in the field even once.  Filled my tag and I'm picking up my meat this week. I hunt for the experience and once I was out of the Bethel I really enjoyed it. Even got both of my son's in the field a few times to see all the Elk. Successful Elk season for sure! Now it's time to fill that deer tag.

I'm so confused right now.

[curtdiesel]

Goldy,

So you basically gave up your quality Bethal tag and went into Rimrock, Nile, or Bumping and took a cow or spike?  I have a cousin and friend who also both drew Bethal Quality archery tags and have yet to fill them.  I helped my cousin scout one day though and know his trail cameras were not nearly as far from the road as mine would have been.

[Goldy79]

I did. I started hunting about 4 years ago and only have the holiday week available to take off of work... I'd still be over there if I didn't need to be this side of the mountains. When I reviewed the regs I thought that the Bethel would be a good draw because I'm used to the terrain and the hunter numbers would be low. The terrain is the same but it was packed.

I'm not lazy... I used a pedometer and walked about 7 miles a day on average. I almost feel that the quality draws are only useful if you hire an outfitter... am I off base here? I'm DIY for now, not only because of the expense but I want to improve my skills on my own.

[270Shooter]

The bethel unit is pretty big and with 37 tags I wouldn't expect to see many hunters, were you hunting right off the 1500 rd area? That is a very popular camping area and lots of people from naches and Yakima go up there and mess around in that area. I'd probably focus on the north side of the unit or even down lower in the sage brush just above the feeding station.

[Fish4Fun]

We have rifle hunted the Bethel for over 40 years, I say you gave up to easy on a good tag. Even during rifle season we don't see hunters in some of our places. Just need to learn the area better, then you will not compete with the others as much and will be in elk all the time.

[curtdiesel]

Good job on getting an Elk, even if it wasn't the bull you wanted.  At least you will be eating Elk Steaks and burger this winter.  Got pics of the Cow or Spike?

[Goldy79]

The bethel unit is pretty big and with 37 tags I wouldn't expect to see many hunters, were you hunting right off the 1500 rd area? That is a very popular camping area and lots of people from naches and Yakima go up there and mess around in that area. I'd probably focus on the north side of the unit or even down lower in the sage brush just above the feeding station.
[/quote

I was working the Northeast side of the unit primarily... trying to avoid the 1500 road traffic. We also found several great areas (occupied) near the Wilderness border at the top of the ridge.