Blues or Nooksack with your Quality Points?

[WAPatriot]

Green river is the tag I want although there are big elk in every unit just gotta pay your dues.

[luvmystang67]

How many points do you have and what weapon?

Thinking muzzy because I like to be able to shoot through twigs and I like guns.  Archery just sorta frustrates me.  Terrain I'm very unconcerned about.  If nasty terrain leads to lower success rates because its hard to find animals, I would prefer not to.  If its nasty terrain and it just makes life harder, but the chance of a bigger animal are there with a near guaranteed shot at a good animal, I'm in.  Easy terrain kind of bores me, but if its easier to get on a good to great animal because the terrain makes them easier to find and stalk, I could be down for that too.

Basically, I'm too poor to hire a guided hunt somewhere awesome and would love a shot at a big bull.  Physical strength/hiking/backpacking are all not really concerns I have.  Time on the other hand is a concern.  As you've mentioned, Nooksack is close, Dayton, Tucannon, etc is a heck of a drive away and would be hard to put in AS much time as I'd be able to dump into Nooksack.  I think I have 13 points this year.  Its not a gimme yet, but I'm in the mix and have an opportunity to start to become selective.

[Tbar]

My obvious choice would be Nooksack.  That decision is based largely on the fact that I live in the unit and know it fairly well.  That said I say go with what you know the best.  It sounds like a cliche but it rings true more times than not.  I'm a big believer in you get out of a hunt what you put into it. When going into an area blind help and direction are absolutely priceless but pail in comparison to intimate knowledge of an area.  So I guess my vote would be the hunt I could be most prepared for.

[SkookumHntr]

Well I have 20 and so do abunch of other guys so i wouldnt get your hopes to high lol

[luvmystang67]

Well I have 20 and so do abunch of other guys so i wouldnt get your hopes to high lol

They're not that high, but I feel like in the time between 13 and 20 points I need to have a plan for what my "once in a lifetime" elk hunt would be.  I'm kind of wandering aimlessly at the moment.

[wooltie]

We hunted Nooksack for bear during September last year and encountered a couple herds of elk.  Surprisingly we saw all the permit holders--archery, muzzie, as well.  So much for "getting far behind a gate".

Seeing, hearing, and smelling the elk every day was cool though.  Definitely saw some butt scratchers.

Note: the guys we spoke with all have upwards of 20 points FWIW.

[ghosthunter]

I'm getting to the point where I have a critical mass of quality points and actually have a chance of drawing some good hunts, but I'm really not in a hurry and am pretty indifferent to which side of the state I'm on.

So, is the Nooksack tag worth my precious years of waiting or should I be holding out for a blues tag?  Part of me thinks it is in the eye of the beholder and I do like the looks of those Nooksack bulls. 

Thoughts from the masses?

What do you call a Quality Hunt?

if is canvas tents and open ground , no sounds of the city, views of wild lands, campfires at night , and large chunks of public land than the Blues is your choice.

If you want to stay in a hotel or drive home every night. Have to knock on doors to try to find a place to hunt., be surrounded by homes and farms, with hard to find shooting zones and maybe a big bull than you want Nooksack.

I live close to Nooksack. Its not my idea of a quality hunt. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

People say "the Blues" as if it's one unit. Each unit is drastically different in terms of terrain and land ownership.

I say out in for the Nook if you want a big Rosie, and a blues tag if a rocky. IF you put in for the Blues, be VERY honest with your physical ability. I'm tired of hearing people putting in for premier units and finding out that it can be like hunting the Grand Canyon, after they pull a tag. Only to result in a quality tag wasted because they can't handle the terrain.

Stang, this May or may not apply to you. Just a generalization for those permits.

This thread is my dilemma as well. Getting to the point where I have a VERY small chance at a Blues tag, or it could take another 10 years to draw. Do I hunt a "lesser" unit and kill a 300-340" bulls every 5-6 years or wait 12-18 years for a CHANCE at a 380+? Remember, a quality tag doesn't guarantee anything, let alone a monster bull. Most people with those tags end up eating them.

Yes, only if you have hunted it before for spikes and truly appreciate the area.  If you haven't set foot in the Blues, hunt what you know.  You can be in a world of hurt if you have a bull in the bottom of those canyons. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Seems more outsiders are drawing the nooksack tag than locals ..that's why everyone up here is so touchy  I can not complain I drew it and killed one of the biggest bulls taken but I have many friends who have over 15 pts and have not drawn anything ..I hate the point system ,,once a guy hits 15 pts he should be entitled to a quality tag somewhere since you have 3 or 4 hunt choices . Tuff tag to draw ...

[xXLojackXx]

13 points  that's cute.

[Skillet]

Seems more outsiders are drawing the nooksack tag than locals ..that's why everyone up here is so touchy  I can not complain I drew it and killed one of the biggest bulls taken but I have many friends who have over 15 pts and have not drawn anything ..I hate the point system ,,once a guy hits 15 pts he should be entitled to a quality tag somewhere since you have 3 or 4 hunt choices . Tuff tag to draw ...

I've seen a pic of that monster before- let's see it again!  If for nothing else, just to torment 'stang. 

[h2ofowlr]

Nooksack is definately changing with all the master hunt tags, quality tags and the number the NA shoot.

[Tbar]

Nooksack is definately changing with all the master hunt tags, quality tags and the number the NA shoot.

Can you elaborate?  What are your thoughts/observations? 

[luvmystang67]

Nooksack is definately changing with all the master hunt tags, quality tags and the number the NA shoot.

Can you elaborate?  What are your thoughts/observations? 

Ever get the feeling people are telling you to do something to reduce their level of competition?

[Skillet]

Found BH's nookie bull.