Best all around unit/area for elk hunting..

[coachcw]

Wow ... what a chatty attitude  about elk hunting !  I couldn't even Imarine missing one year let alone 26. Your obviously  not willing to put your time into a quality hunt and that doesn't  mean a pack in hunt . Calling any bull crappy kinda passes me off . All bulls are  magnificent  .ìf you have 12 points you should have done your homework and spent your time in the field. If your retired I suggest  you spend  some time scouting areas that you like. If you want less crowds I suggest trying to pull a Muzzy tag but may be to much effort ...if you want to at hunt with less people I suggest making a drive to Montana .there's a bunch of old grumpy over there you might get along with.

You're just jealous..... I haven't elk hunted because I had 2, $100,000 trucks to pay for, plus fuel, tires, upkeep, insurance, employees BS, just to name a few. I can go on.

Montana is out because I don't have 12 points there.

Scouting in those areas that everybody has mentioned, is a minimum of 6 + hours away, one way. Just because someone is retired, doesn't mean they can afford to go at the drop of a hat. I have been to everyone of those units that have been mentioned by the way.

Feel better now coachcw ?

No Not really ..... what your talking about is priority's sir and hunting elk isn't one of yours . your expenses you talk about are called overhead and all of us business owners have them .  by the location of your avatar there's no way your six hours from elk but I guess all the bulls in the ne are crappy lil 5x6's. btw Montana is better than a 50% draw for a tag so less than fifty bucks a month give you plenty of quality options . I'm sure that in the past 26 years you haven't taken any vacations or time off and I commend you for being such a hard worker and full filling your responsibility's. If you would of came on here saying that you had done your research and put your time in and shown a different respect for elk I'm sure you would have got different response's  .   

[blackveltbowhunter]

 How big is this 5x6 you speak of? I mean there is a big difference between 250 and 330.    I ask simply to have a reference for what your looking for.

I am of the opinion that any elk is a great one.  The food it provides, and the memories of the hunt are the trophies to me. That said I can understand wanting the opportunity at a "good one" when burning points on a tag, out of state etc.

Given that you have stated your disabled and hunt alone, I am ruling archery season out. Even if you killed one a few hundred yards from a road depending on where it died, just getting it processed and out in September weather seems risky at best, with true nightmare potential.

12 points is nothing to sneer at, but its also far, far from a sure thing, ( nothing in Washington is ) Especially for the blues or similar. Again this is where your definition of a trophy comes into play. Will a 260 bull suffice or are you looking for a 340. Given your parameters, of wanting to stay on the Eastside and having motorized access I think bobcats advice on the Yakima area tags are spot on. Especially if "burning" points is your big motivator. Other options I would consider would be some of the limited access private land tags in the blues, but ALOT of homework needs to be done before applying and be aware that although it may not be high fence, based on my research and reports, it may have a "canned" feel to it. However it does sound like it would meet most of your search criteria.

Also do not cast aside the advice from those mentioning out of state hunts. Many easy to draw or OTC units will rival some of our ten year units. So dont let not having a bunch of points discourage you from applying. The bigger draw for you may well be the ATV access which I have found to be much more liberally applied since there is simply more room in those states to allow it.

Good luck 

 

[Rainier10]

How big is this 5x6 you speak of? I mean there is a big difference between 250 and 330.    I ask simply to have a reference for what your looking for.

I am of the opinion that any elk is a great one.  The food it provides, and the memories of the hunt are the trophies to me. That said I can understand wanting the opportunity at a "good one" when burning points on a tag, out of state etc.

Given that you have stated your disabled and hunt alone, I am ruling archery season out. Even if you killed one a few hundred yards from a road depending on where it died, just getting it processed and out in September weather seems risky at best, with true nightmare potential.

12 points is nothing to sneer at, but its also far, far from a sure thing, ( nothing in Washington is ) Especially for the blues or similar. Again this is where your definition of a trophy comes into play. Will a 260 bull suffice or are you looking for a 340. Given your parameters, of wanting to stay on the Eastside and having motorized access I think bobcats advice on the Yakima area tags are spot on. Especially if "burning" points is your big motivator. Other options I would consider would be some of the limited access private land tags in the blues, but ALOT of homework needs to be done before applying and be aware that although it may not be high fence, based on my research and reports, it may have a "canned" feel to it. However it does sound like it would meet most of your search criteria.

Also do not cast aside the advice from those mentioning out of state hunts. Many easy to draw or OTC units will rival some of our ten year units. So dont let not having a bunch of points discourage you from applying. The bigger draw for you may well be the ATV access which I have found to be much more liberally applied since there is simply more room in those states to allow it.

Good luck 

 

[CAMPMEAT]

Bigger than this.....blackveltbowhunter

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

The Colockum has green dot road system and is very ATV friendly with elk all over the place.

But, it has tons of hunters. I'm looking for behind the gates with keys or a disabled, special area where there are few people. I don't like being around people, not used to it. Haven't lived near a town with more than a thousand people for a long time....maybe that's why I get so grumpy on here at times......

I here you on not seeing people. Why we hunt Idaho.........

[Jonathan_S]

Bigger than this.....blackveltbowhunter

Shouldn't be too hard.  I mean anywhere you can hunt branch antlered bulls there are bulls that big.

I know you know some spots up in your neck of the woods...what's wrong with them?  Especially because 12 pts is far from exceptional 

[Curly]

If you were to get lucky and draw one of the rifle rut hunts like Little Naches you may be able to find a decent bull and not a huge amount of pressure while road hunting.

[bobcat]

Little Naches is going to be a heck of a lot more crowded this year due to the additional 115 permits they added during the October 3-11 time frame. (Youth and over 65)

[TommyH]

I just want to make sure that we are on the same page.

You are looking for the following:
   - 6x6 bull or better
   - Over the counter unit
   - High harvest success
   - ATV access
   - Minimal people, but you will have to be near a road for your ATV

I dream of this place all the time!!!


Still searching for it tho....

[coachcw]

A dink bull bull in one of the units you allready mentioned.

[packmule]

shown a different respect for elk I'm sure you would have got different response's  .

I think this pretty well summarizes the problems with this post 

[CAMPMEAT]

shown a different respect for elk I'm sure you would have got different response's  .

I think this pretty well summarizes the problems with this post 

Elk hunting doesn't rule my life, nor do I believe in getting all riled up about a reasonable question....


I've gotten probably close to 30 PM's on where to possible look on both sides of the state. So what YOU see, isn't what I GET...

[CAMPMEAT]

A dink bull bull in one of the units you allready mentioned.

Oh stop already. You know I can have a companion with me, who can harvest a bull too, if it's in a disabled area.........just saying' 

[Curly]

Does it have to be a designated "disabled area" for a companion hunter to help you out? 

[CAMPMEAT]

Does it have to be a designated "disabled area" for a companion hunter to help you out? 

I'm not sure, because I've never used a disabled area before. I don't think it has to be. I have to designate my companion is about all I know. It could be a win, win huh ...