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.

[Jonathan_S]

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

Just curious...why?

Also, remember Bobcat told us that Spring isn't until March 22nd 

[BULLBLASTER]

A november cow is pregnant just like a march cow is. The calf is just far more developed into late winter amd spring. Same end result if the cow is removed. I am not for or against these hunts because i dont kow the science there. I would be inclined to try and shoot last years calf thos as a personel preference. Just so i dont have to encounter a unborn calf.

[Jonathan_S]

A november cow is pregnant just like a march cow is. The calf is just far more developed into late winter amd spring. Same end result if the cow is removed. I am not for or against these hunts because i dont kow the science there. I would be inclined to try and shoot last years calf thos as a personel preference. Just so i dont have to encounter a unborn calf.

Exactly, on all points.

[luvmystang67]

A november cow is pregnant just like a march cow is. The calf is just far more developed into late winter amd spring. Same end result if the cow is removed. I am not for or against these hunts because i dont kow the science there. I would be inclined to try and shoot last years calf thos as a personel preference. Just so i dont have to encounter a unborn calf.

Unborn animals are fairly fascinating though... I mean its a little weird because you're not used to it, but its kind of a neat learning experience.

On the farm we occasionally would cut open the uterus of a dying ewe (disease, dogs, old age, etc) and pull the lambs out to see if we could save them.  Had about a 50% success rate (some of them were a little TOO premature).

[Yankee]

Probably the best instance for using the gutless method to remove the meat?

[gunnarnewt]

Had a friend with a late cow tag (muzzy) and when we cut her open (mid January) you could see the calf's outline in her uterus. To me, it was a little disturbing.    I agree with others, shoot a young one, and enjoy the meat! Good luck.

[tonymiller7]

Get permission to put out salt/mineral and hunt over that.

[jbeaumont21]

Sounds like 2 for the price of 1, who doesn't like veal?  Sorry someone had to go there.

[moocher97]

Well if its an archery farmland hunt find where there feeding in the morning and evening and get in front of them transitioning back into the timber.

[Jonathan_S]

Well if its an archery farmland hunt find where there feeding in the morning and evening and get in front of them transitioning back into the timber.

Much easier said than done in huge, open, flat land where the wind whips and changes direction on a dime.

[Dan-o]

Good luck to the hunter.       

I try not to second guess WDFW because they have a tough job to do and I assume there's a reason for it.

I wonder if these elk are fairly patternable this time of year in this situation (farm land)?

I've shot a few elk off farm land......   yummy.

[trophyhunt]

I just don't get why these damage control hunts are archery when it's open farm land?  Why not just make it any weapon? When I do apply for a cow or meat hunt it's going to be a quick shot to the head.  IMHO .  I'd also be careful to make sure it's not a bull that had dropped his head gear, good luck. 

[Bob33]

I just don't get why these damage control hunts are archery when it's open farm land?  Why not just make it any weapon? When I do apply for a cow or meat hunt it's going to be a quick shot to the head.  IMHO .  I'd also be careful to make sure it's not a bull that had dropped his head gear, good luck.

I believe this permit matches the tag of the hunter that draws it.

[Curly]

Probably the best instance for using the gutless method to remove the meat?

Yeah.  I was going to suggest that too.

[Bob33]

I'd also be careful to make sure it's not a bull that had dropped his head gear, good luck.

Why would he care about that?

[6haase6]

I was thinking the same thing  was also kinda thinking this is an easy answer to the shooting a pregnant cow dilemma.

[bobcat]

I'd also be careful to make sure it's not a bull that had dropped his head gear, good luck.

Why would he care about that?

That's actually a good point. If a bull is without antlers, it's legal with an antlerless permit, and no baby elk inside to worry about. Might be a better option than a calf- more meat. But then again, hunting with a bow, probably have to take what you can get.

[BULLBLASTER]

I think the primary point of these tags is to pressure the animals off of farms and keep the, from destroying crops and not necessarily to reduce numbers.  Though reduction would be a side affect

Good luck!

[Eli346]

Use the gutless method and you won't have to worry about seeing a fetus. I know that would bother me; especially as late as this hunt is.

[coachcw]

Two Fer ! Bring the crock pot !

[Bullkllr]

Two Fer ! Bring the crock pot !

They'd make him buy another tag.

[hogslayer]

I would wait until they are feeding in the middle of a field and have your buddy drive his dirt bike right into the herd.  Then you sit on the back with at least a 12 pack of arrows and start letting them fly.  Should be able to make it happen.  And just gut the thing during the night and you won't have to worry about seeing jr.  You could always close your eye's to. 

[Jonathan_S]

You could always close your eye's to. 

Good call

[RockChuck]

Last year's calf would be very tast! And much easier to drag....

[trophyhunt]

I'd also be careful to make sure it's not a bull that had dropped his head gear, good luck.

Why would he care about that?

i didn't think it was legal to kill a bull w/out antlers on a cow hunt, guess I'm wrong.  I personally would not want to kill a bull or buck w/out antlers, but that's just me.



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[Bob33]

I'd also be careful to make sure it's not a bull that had dropped his head gear, good luck.

Why would he care about that?

i didn't think it was legal to kill a bull w/out antlers on a cow hunt, guess I'm wrong.  I personally would not want to kill a bull or buck w/out antlers, but that's just me.



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There are no "cow" hunts. There are antlerless hunts.

[groundhog]

In my mind it would be a damn shame if someone shot a bull that had already shed his antlers on a antlerless hunt. One less mature bull for breeding and one less for some lucky hunter that draws a bull tag next year. In my opinion we should not have any antlerless hunts after January 31. Good luck on your hunt though, I hope you get a young tender cow or calf.