Spring Elk Hunt

[Astocks2622]

I got lucky & drew a very late elk hunt that runs March1-15!  It's an antlerless only archery hunt on farm land near Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.  I have been hunting elk in NE Washington for 6 years, & while I've gotten close, I've never gotten a shot. 
I'm looking for advice as far as differences in hunting elk in the Spring, & how to change up my calling.  I know that bugles will be out of place in the spring, so I'm planning mostly on cow/calf location calls. 
thanks for any help!

[Tbar]

Get ahold of the wdfw. Either an officer or local biologist will bea start. A cow call will still stop them but calling is probably not real effective.  A lost calf (real short and rapid) might work.  It probably goes without saying but this is a controversial time of year to hunt. There is a management side that is often overlooked.  Best of luck.

[Encore 280]

If I had the tag I sure wouldn't be going for a cow for obvious reasons but one of last years calves would sure taste mighty fine. Good luck.

[bobcat]

You're hunting farm land, sounds like you just need to catch a herd feeding in a field. I assume you'll need to be in contact with landowners for permission to hunt, and those people will be your best source of information on where the elk are. Or, like tbar said, the WDFW. It should be an easy hunt. I assume it's a modern firearm permit?

Oh, and by the way, the first day of spring is March 22.

[nwwanderer]

Second Encore, shoot the calf.  Archery only?  Could be tough, already greening up, will not be in any bodies feed yard.

[bobcat]

Oops, I missed that it is an archery hunt. Yeah, not so easy! Maybe ambush them between feeding and bedding areas.

[WSU]

Your best bet will definitely be to ambush them transitioning from feeding to bedding or to find them somewhere you can put a stalk on them.

[xXLojackXx]

Should be easy to find them down low (under 2000'). If it's on farm land it might be even easier. Than just play the wind and their eyes like you would any other time of the year to get in position. I probably wouldn't make a sound. You'll only give away your position.

[Elkrunner]

I would be more worried about getting one and opening it up to a baby elk.  I am not sure I would want to see that.

[vandeman17]

I would be more worried about getting one and opening it up to a baby elk.  I am not sure I would want to see that.

 

[Jonathan_S]

I would be more worried about getting one and opening it up to a baby elk.  I am not sure I would want to see that.

My dad shot a cow elk back in the 80s during a late damage hunt over by Buckley.  Said the fetus was really disturbing and he wished he had shot a calf.

This is going to be a tough hunt   

[Elkrunner]

I have heard of a few horror stories.  Sounds to me that it would be hard to handle.  If I really needed the meat to survive, I guess that would be a different story.   

[BULLBLASTER]

Should be easy to find them down low (under 2000'). If it's on farm land it might be even easier. Than just play the wind and their eyes like you would any other time of the year to get in position. I probably wouldn't make a sound. You'll only give away your position.

since the hunt is by turnbull elevation is of no concern. Its all flat for the most part.  and good luck getting under 2000 feet there.

[jstone]

Just my opinion they should not give spring tags out..

[Jonathan_S]

Should be easy to find them down low (under 2000'). If it's on farm land it might be even easier. Than just play the wind and their eyes like you would any other time of the year to get in position. I probably wouldn't make a sound. You'll only give away your position.

since the hunt is by turnbull elevation is of no concern. Its all flat for the most part. 

I had to too when I read that thinking of the Cheney area.