Muzzy hunters getting more units to hunt !

[BOWHUNTER45]

Does anyone know about the new rules stating muzzy hunters will have more units to hunt ? does this mean you will be able to hunt west and east side ?  IF anyone heard of this 

[hughjorgan]

You still have to designate whether you are going to hunt east or west side for elk unless you draw a multi season tag.

[Todd_ID]

Same as always: choose east or west muzzy; they just have more options to choose from across the state. Some are VERY GOOD: as in places people have 18 points trying to draw quality elk.

[JimmyHoffa]

Does anyone know about the new rules stating muzzy hunters will have more units to hunt ? does this mean you will be able to hunt west and east side ?  IF anyone heard of this 

Still choose a side.  But what they did was add a bunch of new GMUs to the early muzzleloader season list.  It is quite a significant increase I think. 

[bobcat]

My post from two months ago:

The new units added are, if I can remember them all: Willapa Hills, Bear River, Stormking, Margaret, Packwood, Winston, Williams Creek, Mossyrock, Coweeman, Lewis River, Goodman, Clearwater, Siouxon, Wynoochee, Coyle, Stampede. (westside)

[kodiak 907]

You still have to designate whether you are going to hunt east or west side for elk unless you draw a multi season tag.

So if you draw multi season for elk, can you hunt seasons on the east and west side?  Could you hunt early archery in the bumping and then late archery in willipa.

[JimmyHoffa]

You still have to designate whether you are going to hunt east or west side for elk unless you draw a multi season tag.

So if you draw multi season for elk, can you hunt seasons on the east and west side?  Could you hunt early archery in the bumping and then late archery in willipa.

yes, and you could even hunt early muzzy elk on east and late muzzy elk west and the modern on both too.

[longwalker]

Oh man are there some good spots in the storm king for that season. I'll always hit elk with a bow but that is tempting

[ghosthunter]

Here you go.

[bowhunterforever]

Good news

[ghosthunter]

Yes we gained GMUs but lost the deer season because now deer and elk season run the same week. So we are out a week of hunting.

Now some will say they like that. But deer and elk like different country.

If you were a west side muzzy hunter you gained. If you were east side not so much.

[bobcat]

I agree, there is a down side to having the deer and elk muzzleloader seasons at the same time. Last year I was considering going to the eastside to hunt deer the first weekend of muzzleloader season. I never did make it, but this year that won't be an option, unless I don't hunt elk with a muzzleloader. But it's also nice in the fact that if you are hunting elk during muzzleloader season and see a nice buck, you can shoot it. In the past there was a one weekend overlap, in which that would have been possible. But that was only the first weekend of elk season. After that only elk was open. I think they couldn't have the muzzleloader deer season the week before elk because of how the archery elk season was moved back.

[ghosthunter]

I agree, there is a down side to having the deer and elk muzzleloader seasons at the same time. Last year I was considering going to the eastside to hunt deer the first weekend of muzzleloader season. I never did make it, but this year that won't be an option, unless I don't hunt elk with a muzzleloader. But it's also nice in the fact that if you are hunting elk during muzzleloader season and see a nice buck, you can shoot it. In the past there was a one weekend overlap, in which that would have been possible. But that was only the first weekend of elk season. After that only elk was open. I think they couldn't have the muzzleloader deer season the week before elk because of how the archery elk season was moved back.

Yeah I saw three nice bucks the week before elk opened. And was figuring on spending two weeks one on deer one on elk out of same camp.
Now not sure what I will do.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Tuff decisions to make again ..I was set on archery hunting this year ..But I did have a chance at a bull in early muzzy season ..I think I would have killed a bull in that area if I hunt with my bow ...I was the tail end of the rut when I was muzzy hunting last year and archery ended the before it started and I think these bulls were hot about the middle of archery season ..Need those regs to come out 

[getreal711]

Hunted 506 2 yrs ago with a cow only tag for muzzy season and jumped a 5X5. This year I planned to hunt archery there instead. Now its added a general muzzy season. Wish i had drawn a multi-season elk. Now i get the tough decision.

[Fastass350]

I only glanced at the regs online last night just before bed and what I saw was lots of new opportunities for the early season but less for the late season. West side. I'm not excited about losing the Coweeman late season, since I'm just starting to figure it out 

[jbeaumont21]

I'm torn between staying in the Ryderwood unit because I know it so well versus hunting one of the new places that will be open to muzzy for the first time.  Don't you all think the Lewis River and Margaret will just get flooded with Muzzy Hunters?

I'm excited to have more places to hunt early season but not happy that I can't hunt the Coweeman late season either. Pretty much no late season for me anymore, which means 1 less week of elk hunting.

Another idea would be to hunt the Coweeman early season since I know it so well also, but then there's the whole question about whether gates will be open or closed and do we have to bike in and spike camp on DNR land etc.

Yes I am complaining about having too many choices.

[sneakyjake]

I think Lewis is going to get hit hard.

[bobcat]

I'm thinking this might be the year to hunt rifle sesson. Probably will be zero people in the woods. 

[Taco280AI]

Seems a great advantage to those who can only get so much time off to go hunt, to be able to go after deer and elk running at the same time. And it might spread hunters out over different seasons and lead to fewer pumpkins in the field while you hunt.

[Fullabull]

I think the ML season is going to be a boom this year! Watch the success percentages are going to go up quite a bit because of all the new areas opening up. If I didn't love archery hunting so much I would be ML hunting for sure!!!

[bobcat]

I think the ML season is going to be a boom this year! Watch the success percentages are going to go up quite a bit because of all the new areas opening up. If I didn't love archery hunting so much I would be ML hunting for sure!!!

Well, I sure hope so since I somewhat reluctantly decided to hunt the muzzleloader season, mostly because I didn't have anyone to hunt with for archery.

I'm not so sure it will be as wonderful as you think. Archery hunters have the best dates, and they get first crack at the bulls, while muzzleloaders are stuck with the leftovers.

[Beargravy]

I think the new units for muzzy elk is a bad deal for sw elk.Goat rocks,Mt Adams,IndianHeaven,basically all the high country will get hammered when the bulls are still with the cows.The elk populations are already in bad shape in the Siouxon and Lewis !

[Fullabull]

Bobcat,
Trust me, Oct 3rd will be a great date for ml hunters. Will be plenty of rut still going on and with the new units open for ml it should be real good in those units with lots of elk in them.

[bigbeamhunter]

I'm with Beargravy it will decimate the SW. Washington herds. Next year everyone will be saying where are all the elk I wouldn't be suprised if the harvest is double from last year. It's the beginning of the end for quality elk hunting those units. It's good for you guys that you get that season but it won't be in the long run. Somebody must have quality knee pads

[floatinghat]

I think the ML season is going to be a boom this year! Watch the success percentages are going to go up quite a bit because of all the new areas opening up. If I didn't love archery hunting so much I would be ML hunting for sure!!!

Well, I sure hope so since I somewhat reluctantly decided to hunt the muzzleloader season, mostly because I didn't have anyone to hunt with for archery.

I'm not so sure it will be as wonderful as you think. Archery hunters have the best dates, and they get first crack at the bulls, while muzzleloaders are stuck with the leftovers.

I am with you, a lot of archery hunters bagging on what a slaughter ML will become.  I am thinking it's a lot of talk to get some AR guys to switch to ML.   Muzzy is going to be a zoo with all the new muzzy hunters thinking it going to be an easy elk.  If I shoot PRB through my ML a lot of AR guys are shooting as far as I am willing (60yds).  If I am not traveling during the season I might just pick and AR tag this season.