The Good and the Bad in the Nanuem

[cbond3318]

The Good:

[scottcrb]

lost ?

[Jonathan_S]

The Bad:


 

[cbond3318]

There are a lot of Elk in the unit, maybe the surrounding burns have located more animals in the Unit, or they are rebounding. Opening morning we found ourselves in a 60 yard stare down with a 5x6 and a tall spike. As the spike turned he had a small kicker on the left side and he walked. The 5x6 ripped off a knarly sounding bugle which was cool and we chased Elk all weekend spotting 2 more 1x2's.

The Bad:
We went back into the hole we found the bull and 1x2 in only to bump the 1x2 from his bed and realized he had taken a round to the front left shoulder. It was very discouraging to not be able to put him down and pack him out. It would have been the right thing to do and we couldn't. It was another great year of hunting and as usual full of the ups and downs.

How do we get rid of the few "True Spike" Unit Rules??

[C-Money]

I was not even excited to hunt up there this year. After letting 1x2s walk, and all the stories of illegal elk killed the last few years, I just went fishing instead. I will take the rifle for a ride in the Quilomene this Saturday, just to say I elk hunted this year.

[cbond3318]

I was not even excited to hunt up there this year. After letting 1x2s walk, and all the stories of illegal elk killed the last few years, I just went fishing instead. I will take the rifle for a ride in the Quilomene this Saturday, just to say I elk hunted this year.

I have been meaning to check out the Quilomene. I will say we saw more branch bulls this year which I would assume is a result of more 1x2's making through which is good to see. I still think the number one problem with a True Spike rule is , as witnessed this year, a lot of 1x2's get shot anyways.

I know this issue has been hammered to death but it is soooo frustrating to get wrapped up in it first hand and witness the bad side of it . Unfortunately, we can only blame ourselves for 1x2's getting shot.

[jstone]

Yep when in dought dont shoot. I love that area.

[elkoholic1]

Yep when in dought dont shoot. I love that area.

 

[rover758]

 

I drew back last year in thick woods on a bull (spike only - thankfully not true spike area).  I saw his right side and it had a nub that questionably could have made him a 1x2 but ....  He never gave me a look at his left side to see if it was slick all the way up.  He didn't even spook.  He simply walked.  Reading your post cbond I know I made the right decision.  God I love hunting with a passion but hate to see (or hear of) wasted animals with as much passion. 

[vandeman17]

I love the Nanuem area. My family has hunted it as well as the other side of 90 for many many years. We own property outside Liberty and I spend time up there each summer. When the spike regulations first came out, they didn't really bother me but I am to the point now that as soon as I burn my points in this state I will be done. We hunted Oregon last year and had a great time. OTC tag, any elk and saw tons of animals. I will miss hunting where my dad and grandpa hunted but its just not worth it anymore. I don't want to wait 15+ years to maybe draw a branched tag when I can hunt them every year in other states. 

[fishingnut71]

that sounds so much like me. its hard to stop hunting where you grew up. that and too many coasties. its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

[Jonathan_S]

that sounds so much like me. its hard to stop hunting where you grew up. that and too many coasties. its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

So...have you ever hunted outside the county/GMU where you grew up?

[fremont]

Fix the 1x2 problem?  Fix elk hunting in general?  Washington State = 100% permit elk hunting. 

[ellensburgpo]

that sounds so much like me. its hard to stop hunting where you grew up. that and too many coasties. its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

So...have you ever hunted outside the county/GMU where you grew up?

[fishingnut71]

not too much. I know the area really well. kinda centimental

[GameHunter1959]

that sounds so much like me. its hard to stop hunting where you grew up. that and too many coasties. its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

You can thank Hancock, Weyco, Simpson, etc. for all the Westside hunters. I live on the Westside and prefer to hunt the Westside. Everything is becoming gated up and pay to hunt. It has become a rich and young mans hunt. Most older hunters cannot afford to pay (fixed income) or hike in miles to get behind the gates. After 35 plus years of elk hunting the Westside, we switched East. Way too many people and plenty of self entitled jerks, who think they own the land. We will probably stop hunting Wa for elk and look out of state. We did get out elk this year, but the overall hunting experience was diminished. 

[robodad]

its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

Disrespectful idiot westside hunters hunting in your woods ?? 

[singleshot12]

its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

Disrespectful idiot westside hunters hunting in your woods ??

It really is what ruined The Nanuem. I feel for the locals. The Nanuem really was a sacred hunting ground for a worthy few. It only took a handful of westside road hunter idiots and their big mouths to ruin it in just a couple years.

[cbond3318]

its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

Disrespectful idiot westside hunters hunting in your woods ??

Pretty sure looking at the wound in the shoulder of that 1x2 that it came from a westsiders rifle
Just kidding, I really could care less where someone is from and where they travel to hunt. Hell , I am living here in Sunriver Oregon and traveled NORTH to the Nanuem!!
But I will tell you what, if I ever come across a wet side elk in MY east side unit he is gonna be in for it!! Some lines just don't get cross friends!

[vandeman17]

I will never claim an area to be "mine" or "ours" just because a person lives there but I do understand where he is coming from. I think it is more of an eastside thing because more people go west to east then west to east.

I grew up in western washington and became an eastside guy 4 years ago so my attachment to the area is that my family is from the area and I still have family in Thorp and have family that owns property in the Taneum. Some of my grandpa's favorite stories and my dad's favorite stories are those that took place up in those hills. Even when I was little, we would take drives up there and you could see the love of it when my Gramps would point out things. He himself would talk about how it was starting to get overrun by out of towners. The last few times I have been in there, it has broke my heart to see every turnout with a camp, every hillside with orange all over and then the aftermath of garbage and junk. I know its not all westside people there and also leaving garbage but it still sucks none the less.

[runamuk]

its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

Disrespectful idiot westside hunters hunting in your woods ??

It really is what ruined The Nanuem. I feel for the locals. The Nanuem really was a sacred hunting ground for a worthy few. It only took a handful of westside road hunter idiots and their big mouths to ruin it in just a couple years.

umm arent you from the wetside    I am not sure what I am guess I am a wetsider but I have no hometown no place to hunt that I grew up hunting I tend to hunt close to where I live so I can go there in the off season as well.  I live in the burg so I hunt the Naenum its the only place I have spent much time the last 3 years.  I spend more time in there usually during the off season but being a sort of placeless person I do wonder if I am also one of those dread wetsiders, had a real piece of work intimidate me over deer season ... I guess female alone looks a like a good target to be a jerk to when you are a 60 something man with your 20 something kids and your fancy spotting scopes and tough guy attitude and stuff.  That is what ruins it for me mean people and idiots who use riflescopes like binos.

[singleshot12]

its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

Disrespectful idiot westside hunters hunting in your woods ??

It really is what ruined The Nanuem. I feel for the locals. The Nanuem really was a sacred hunting ground for a worthy few. It only took a handful of westside road hunter idiots and their big mouths to ruin it in just a couple years.

umm arent you from the wetside    I am not sure what I am guess I am a wetsider but I have no hometown no place to hunt that I grew up hunting I tend to hunt close to where I live so I can go there in the off season as well.  I live in the burg so I hunt the Naenum its the only place I have spent much time the last 3 years.  I spend more time in there usually during the off season but being a sort of placeless person I do wonder if I am also one of those dread wetsiders, had a real piece of work intimidate me over deer season ... I guess female alone looks a like a good target to be a jerk to when you are a 60 something man with your 20 something kids and your fancy spotting scopes and tough guy attitude and stuff.  That is what ruins it for me mean people and idiots who use riflescopes like binos.

Yes but I hunted it before it got ruined and had notta no part in the exploitation and the trashing. Sad to see it happen. I miss it up there.

[cbond3318]

I will never claim an area to be "mine" or "ours" just because a person lives there but I do understand where he is coming from. I think it is more of an eastside thing because more people go west to east then west to east.

I grew up in western washington and became an eastside guy 4 years ago so my attachment to the area is that my family is from the area and I still have family in Thorp and have family that owns property in the Taneum. Some of my grandpa's favorite stories and my dad's favorite stories are those that took place up in those hills. Even when I was little, we would take drives up there and you could see the love of it when my Gramps would point out things. He himself would talk about how it was starting to get overrun by out of towners. The last few times I have been in there, it has broke my heart to see every turnout with a camp, every hillside with orange all over and then the aftermath of garbage and junk. I know its not all westside people there and also leaving garbage but it still sucks none the less.

That's everybody though, has absolutely nothing to do with Eastside Westside, plus someone has a license plate border from Issaquah and now the whole mountain is described as infested with shameful westsiders. I feel this way about seeing anybody in the same area I hunt.

[bobcat]

It's public land, get over it. Anybody can hunt there. If we want less hunters in certain units we need a permit only system instead of the current system we have. If people want a place all to themselves that nobody else can hunt, they need to buy their own land. This eastside versus westside mentality really irks me.   

[Alchase]

I had a funny conversation while deer hunting up in Winthrop this year. I was talking to a hunter who said he was camped in an area that I use to camp in.
He said:
 "I switched camp grounds because to many westsiders were coming over here and ruining our hunting on the east side".

I asked asked him where he is from and how long he has been hunting here?

He replied: "I live in East Wenachee, and started coming up here four years ago, you?"

I replied "I live in Puyallup, and I started hunting here twenty six years ago".

I think the irony was lost on him, LOL

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

When you have a mega tropalis only 2hrs from some awesome elk hunting what do you thinks gonna happen? Exactly what has been happening up there for a long time. The only solution is to block of I-90 so they can't get there...   Then make all elk hunting east side of the Crest trail permit for east side residents only....

[cbond3318]

Do you think it is such an obvious issue to people because you have to declare East or West?  It doesn't seem to get as much publicity when it comes to deer. For the record in 2011 I killed a BT on Whidbey Island and in 2012 killed a Muley near Asotin. How do the guys in the Northwest Corner feel? They get everybody!!

[GameHunter1959]

its so ridiculous at how many idiots are in our part of the woods. they are like a big bee hive that just got swatted. they are everywhere. no respect.

Disrespectful idiot westside hunters hunting in your woods ??

Goes back to that "self entitled" thing I mentioned above. Typical...

[fremont]

I'm sure all of the krap that I pick up & pack out after a day in the field all come from Wetsiders.

[Jonathan_S]

I'm sure all of the krap that I pick up & pack out after a day in the field all come from Wetsiders.

You are ignorant.

[X-Force]

I'm sure all of the krap that I pick up & pack out after a day in the field all come from Wetsiders.

 
I just wish I left more so you could feel even more self assured and righteous

[jrod]

I'm sure all of the krap that I pick up & pack out after a day in the field all come from Wetsiders.

 
I just wish I left more so you could feel even more self assured and righteous

There's a true coastie !!! 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

This thread I'm sure is off topic now with the west/east battle. This probably should be brought up again in Off Topics and it can be battled out there. Its the politics of this state is why it is devided down the Crest trail. Blue on the west and RED on the east. You vote RED on the west you will never get no where. You vote RED on the RED side you still don't get no where. Way to many BLUES voting in King County....... There are a lot of good people on the west side which need to see the light and get out and come to the dark side before you to vote blue.....