collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Never hunted elk! Help please  (Read 6589 times)

Offline Muleyman27

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 86
  • Location: Outside pasco wa
Never hunted elk! Help please
« on: July 13, 2015, 06:51:05 AM »
So I have never hunted elk and would really love to start! Last time I even saw an elk was about 20 yrs ago when I was 8 years old.i am fairly new to big game hunting I have hunted deer for 3 years now successfull 2 out of the 3 yrs. and i have been bird hunting since i was 11. I have no idea where to even start. My biggest prob is where to go!? I live outside pasco wa on my g pa's farm bordering juniper so my deer hunting spot is out my back door just no elk! i would like to be 2-3 hrs drive to hunting spot if possible? I don't have camping gear or any of that so it would be leaving in the morning and coming home at night. I am willing to hunt any general season ( bow, modern, muzzleloader). I will be hunting by myself. I'm not looking for you to give up your fav hunting spot ( unless u want to!! :chuckle:) but any tips or point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks

Offline Rainier10

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 16026
  • Location: Over the edge
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2015, 07:18:28 AM »
Any of the Yakima units are within 2-3 hours of you.  I would pick one that is open for cow and spike during the early and late archery season.  Early season they will be bugling, that will help you locate areas that they are hanging out in and in the late season just look for tracks in the snow or wet ground.

Good luck out there and be aware elk hunting is super addictive.
Pain is temporary, achieving the goal is worth it.

I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.

Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example instead of his advice.


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HuntWa or the site owner.

Offline bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 39202
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2015, 08:14:24 AM »
You want to drive 2 to 3 hours to get to your hunting spot and then drive home every night?  :o

That sounds like too much driving and not enough sleep to me. If you hunt the early archery season the weather won't be too extreme.

Sleep in the back of your truck if you have to but don't drive home every night. Bring a small cooler with pre-made sandwiches, etc.

You might try the Cowiche unit, since that's about the closest to you that has good elk numbers.

Offline WapitiTalk1

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 7917
  • Location: Wet Side, Rainier, WA
  • Groups: RMEF, NRA, US Army (R)
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2015, 08:55:44 AM »
Yep, you should really consider putting a bit more time into your elk hunting to maximize success...  Pick a GMU you may be interested in hunting and do some pre season scouting.  Find a few spots in said GMU that you're seeing cows in "now".  This is pretty close to where the bulls will be come September.  OK, after some harvest research (WDFW) and some BOG scouting, you've now found some elk and have a couple of spots that you can hunt.  Like Bobcat mentioned, sleeping in your truck works like a charm (particularly in the early archery season) and you don't need a ton of camping gear to do so.  If you can swing a couple of weekend hunts (leave on Friday after work, come back Sunday evening), perhaps even a 3 or 4 day hunt thrown in, you'll increase your odds dramatically by staying where ever you decide to hunt.  If you decide to hunt archery elk this year, make sure you working on understanding elk language a bit, and, how to make 3 or 4 basic calls.  If you do hunt during the archery season, and, stay where you hunt for a few nights or more, you can go out at night and locate bugle to lock in a spot(s) to hunt the next morning.  Good luck whatever you decide to do!       
Darton Archery Maverick II
Traditions Vortek StrikeFire Smoke Pole
Weatherby VG-2 Boomstick
"Poking at a campfire with a stick is one of life's great satisfactions." Patrick F. McManus

Offline elkinrutdrivemenuts

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 2286
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2015, 11:50:39 AM »
Go to the Blues, much closer.  Lots of elk and lots of areas to go hunt.  Start applying for special permits next year once you find a area you like and focus on learning the habits of the elk there.  Once you get drawn, success should come much easier.  The Lick Creek unit offers a cow/spike early archery season so you can give that a try. I think there are some late archery cow hunts as well.  Its been a few years since I hunted there so I cant remember all the seasons any more.   

Offline Muleyman27

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 86
  • Location: Outside pasco wa
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2015, 08:00:51 AM »
Thanks for all the tips idk if I will be able to go early season as we start to harvest potatoes and corn usually 100 hr weeks at least. That's the only thing I don't like about my job is it cuts out almost all early to mid season hunting. We r busy till first of November and then I get the rest of winter off. So any hunting before that is if I can sneak in a day here and there.  Sleeping in the truck is a good idea! Don't know why I didn't think of that :bash:  a cow or spike is a good idea I just want meat for the freezer and the experience. I want the big boy as bad as the next guy but realize I'm prob not gonna walk out there and slay big Louie my first year!

Offline Jonathan_S

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 9002
  • Location: Medical Lake
  • Volleyfire Brigade, Cryder apologist
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2015, 08:26:24 AM »
Think of it like this.  You have to put in years of time understanding elk before you'll be in a position to expect to harvest one.  That is unless you have no job and plenty of gas money!

Going with somebody knowledgeable would speed up this curve but again, your understanding of elk means more than being in the best spot in the world.  Also most knowledgeable and successful elk hunters are going to play their cards close to the chest because they've spent thousands of hours and dollars to their success.

Time in the woods...time in the woods...time in the woods.  Best to get experiences and think, "what the heck happened there?"  or "why did this happen?"  Then come on here and ask these specific questions.

As far as areas closest to you...not Hanford  :chuckle: go to the Blues or the East Cascades and don't be afraid to burn through some expensive boots.
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

Offline Ridgeratt

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 5903
  • IBEW 73 (Retired) Burden on the working class.
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2015, 08:49:22 AM »
Think of it like this.  You have to put in years of time understanding elk before you'll be in a position to expect to harvest one.  That is unless you have no job and plenty of gas money!



I think you left out this scenario!!  Never hunted them before drives into the woods get's out slams truck door. Wanders off couple of 100 yards , plunks down on a log 30 minutes later has a elk on the lawn. Now the question is "What do I do with this"   :chuckle:

Then they will say there is nothing to Elk hunting.

Offline Jonathan_S

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 9002
  • Location: Medical Lake
  • Volleyfire Brigade, Cryder apologist
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2015, 09:10:05 AM »
Think of it like this.  You have to put in years of time understanding elk before you'll be in a position to expect to harvest one.  That is unless you have no job and plenty of gas money!



I think you left out this scenario!!  Never hunted them before drives into the woods get's out slams truck door. Wanders off couple of 100 yards , plunks down on a log 30 minutes later has a elk on the lawn. Now the question is "What do I do with this"   :chuckle:

Then they will say there is nothing to Elk hunting.

I have met people who have done this.  Usually it is the only elk they have ever killed in 20+ years  ;)
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

Offline msg

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 107
  • Location: SW WA.
    • NA
  • Groups: NA
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2015, 09:22:36 AM »
Had a guy show up at our camp two years in a row, years ago at St.Helens. Did not know north from south, dressed like Ranger Ricky. He was left both years in the same spot before daylight on opening morning and was told to stay there. Did not want him to get lost. Two five pt. bulls. Go figure that one out. You can't kill em if your not out there

Offline Curly

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 20921
  • Location: Thurston County
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2015, 09:36:37 AM »
a cow or spike is a good idea I just want meat for the freezer and the experience.

Sounds like a spike is the only thing you'll be able to hunt for since it sounds like you will only have time to elk hunt during rifle season and you need to draw a special permit to hunt the big bulls. :twocents:
May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.

><((((º>` ><((((º>. ><((((º>.¸><((((º>

Offline coachcw

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 8821
  • Groups: Team getsum !
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2015, 07:52:58 PM »
Buy a couple bottles of breeze squeeze and use it all day. Hunt daylight to dark in the nasty is places that you dare go.... never sleep in and never leave the woods till you can't see. And the last day of the season plan on being out all day. So many guys throw the last day away. One thing that really helps as well is look as far away as you can see the pan back towards you. Gotta see elk first.

Offline Muleyman27

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 86
  • Location: Outside pasco wa
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2015, 05:49:19 PM »
So I've been asking around and i think I'm going to try hunting in cowiche for modern. Does anyone know of any walk in only areas? I like to get out where I dont run into roads or trucks full of people after I just walked a couple of miles. I found oak creek area but when I look at it on the gmu map it looks like its not in cowiche unit? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated thanks.

Offline BNAElkhntr

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2012
  • Posts: 730
  • Location: Cle Elum, Wa
  • Groups: Life member NRA, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, SCI
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2015, 06:54:45 PM »
Think of it like this.  You have to put in years of time understanding elk before you'll be in a position to expect to harvest one.  That is unless you have no job and plenty of gas money!



I think you left out this scenario!!  Never hunted them before drives into the woods get's out slams truck door. Wanders off couple of 100 yards , plunks down on a log 30 minutes later has a elk on the lawn. Now the question is "What do I do with this"   :chuckle:

Then they will say there is nothing to Elk hunting.


Hey That's The Pat McManus Time Tested Way to get Elk   Don't Let that get out  :chuckle:

Offline elk247

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 1684
  • Location: Skagit co.
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2015, 07:01:36 PM »
Honestly, without having time to scout due to work. And due to the fact that you will be after post rut elk, after they have been pressured by two prior general seasons, and countless special permits, my best advice would be to study this forum. You can't compare the knowledge in one 'new guy' thread, to  a hundered past threads.  Use the search function to pull up old threads on the unit/ units you will hunt. Learn how weather and hunting pressure effect elk behavior. Learn the mirgriation route to the refuge. Learn the thermals of your area throughout the day. Pay attention to other hunters and use them to your advantage to push elk your way. Don't hunt alone. Elk are hard work to pack and modern hunters have been known to "steal" others hunters game. Learn the escape routes, feeding and beding areas. Elk need water and food. Know where the old burns are in your unit and the ones to the west. Study maps, google earth, know where fs roads and private property are. Know if there are active burns, and how they effect behavior and cover scent.  If we have a mild winter be prepared to go higher in elevation including changeing units to locate elk. Dont let the rain stop you from hunting. It makes the woods quiet. Know when to find shelter if a  lightening or snow storm catch you off gaurd.  KNOW the rez boundaries. Most of all, have fun and hunt hard. You will never have a chance to have a 'do over' for a missed season. Good luck.

Offline Muleyman27

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 86
  • Location: Outside pasco wa
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #15 on: July 19, 2015, 08:18:05 PM »
Honestly, without having time to scout due to work. And due to the fact that you will be after post rut elk, after they have been pressured by two prior general seasons, and countless special permits, my best advice would be to study this forum. You can't compare the knowledge in one 'new guy' thread, to  a hundered past threads.  Use the search function to pull up old threads on the unit/ units you will hunt. Learn how weather and hunting pressure effect elk behavior. Learn the mirgriation route to the refuge. Learn the thermals of your area throughout the day. Pay attention to other hunters and use them to your advantage to push elk your way. Don't hunt alone. Elk are hard work to pack and modern hunters have been known to "steal" others hunters game. Learn the escape routes, feeding and beding areas. Elk need water and food. Know where the old burns are in your unit and the ones to the west. Study maps, google earth, know where fs roads and private property are. Know if there are active burns, and how they effect behavior and cover scent.  If we have a mild winter be prepared to go higher in elevation including changeing units to locate elk. Dont let the rain stop you from hunting. It makes the woods quiet. Know when to find shelter if a  lightening or snow storm catch you off gaurd.  KNOW the rez boundaries. Most of all, have fun and hunt hard. You will never have a chance to have a 'do over' for a missed season. Good luck.

yes I have deffinetly been checking past posts on the cowiche unit writing down road names, patterns the elk take when snow or mild weather hits where they might go ect. lots of info to take in!! and there are deffinetly a lot of posts on watching out for other hunters!! unfortuanetly I don't have a hunting partner. I usually hunt with my dad but not this time. I am planning on going on a scouting trip within a couple weeks to try and find somewhere I can hunt and what to expect. I plan on going by the local wdfw office to ask some questions on which areas are closed or open. online it said they had a map there I could get too.

Offline White Pass Outfitters

  • High mtn hunter
  • Trade Count: (-1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 292
  • Location: selah
    • Kent Dinelt
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #16 on: July 31, 2015, 09:04:50 AM »
Give me a call I enjoy helping out new Elk hunters
White Pass Outfitters
KD
KD

Offline STIKNSTRINGBOW

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 4366
  • Location: Chehalis
    • https://www.facebook.com/stiknstring.bow
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2015, 02:07:27 PM »
Think of it like this.  You have to put in years of time understanding elk before you'll be in a position to expect to harvest one.  That is unless you have no job and plenty of gas money!



I think you left out this scenario!!  Never hunted them before drives into the woods get's out slams truck door. Wanders off couple of 100 yards , plunks down on a log 30 minutes later has a elk on the lawn. Now the question is "What do I do with this"   :chuckle:

Then they will say there is nothing to Elk hunting.


Hey That's The Pat McManus Time Tested Way to get Elk   Don't Let that get out  :chuckle:

Even though it works, I took the point at "What do I do with this"   
I have met a lot of elk hunters, first timers and several year veterans.
Idiots that followed the advice of veterans and walked miles in behind a gate, went where nobody else wanted to go, and killed an animal...

And really had no idea what to do next.
Sure, they had watched the Youtube videos, read all the advice, even been carrying a 50# backpack all summer to get in shape...
A dead elk that is laying on its stomach in a small depression, because that is how it died, is an astronomical task for a first timer.
Someone really should be there to film it when reality sets in...
All those daydreams are turned into a circus act of desperation...
When I usually am dumb enough to quit laughing and offer to help.
Killing an elk is not the hard part..  :twocents:
The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor Trainer

Offline rtspring

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 5604
  • Location: Hermiston Oregon
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2015, 02:22:04 PM »
No book or video will give you all what you need to learn. It takes time in the woods, and even then you will never have them figured out!! 

Failure is part of the learning curve. 

I would also say a elk on thd ground is nothing like a deer when you are alone. 

Best of luck..
I kill elk and eat elk, when I'm not, I'm thinking about killing elk and eating elk.

It doesn't matter what you think...

The Whiners suck!!

Offline nastybynature

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2014
  • Posts: 152
  • Location: Vancouver
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2015, 03:39:24 PM »
Think of it like this.  You have to put in years of time understanding elk before you'll be in a position to expect to harvest one.  That is unless you have no job and plenty of gas money!



I think you left out this scenario!!  Never hunted them before drives into the woods get's out slams truck door. Wanders off couple of 100 yards , plunks down on a log 30 minutes later has a elk on the lawn. Now the question is "What do I do with this"   :chuckle:

Then they will say there is nothing to Elk hunting.


Hey That's The Pat McManus Time Tested Way to get Elk   Don't Let that get out  :chuckle:

Even though it works, I took the point at "What do I do with this"   
I have met a lot of elk hunters, first timers and several year veterans.
Idiots that followed the advice of veterans and walked miles in behind a gate, went where nobody else wanted to go, and killed an animal...

And really had no idea what to do next.
Sure, they had watched the Youtube videos, read all the advice, even been carrying a 50# backpack all summer to get in shape...
A dead elk that is laying on its stomach in a small depression, because that is how it died, is an astronomical task for a first timer.
Someone really should be there to film it when reality sets in...
All those daydreams are turned into a circus act of desperation...
When I usually am dumb enough to quit laughing and offer to help.
Killing an elk is not the hard part..  :twocents:


This is the part that actually scares the heck out of me. My 9 year old and me having to deal with the harvesting alone.

I watched lots of youtube videos about quartering and getting the back strap and tenderloins and have butchered my share of fish, rabbits, chickens from being on grandpa's farm when i was a kid. But that is not a half ton elk....  :yike:

I know I am going to have to leave the proof of sex and also bring out the antlers/head/skullcap. I have plans on getting an outdoor edge pro razor knife and a Mora carbon blade. I always carry my kershaw blur as well. Have heard mixed stories about needing a saw or not and the conclusion i came to was only need a saw for the skull cap. Any help advice here is appreciated!!
"On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
--Thomas Jefferson to William Johnson, 1823

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Offline CAMPMEAT

  • CAMPMEAT
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 13347
  • Location: ARIZONA, A PLACE WHERE I DON'T WANT YOU LIVING !!
  • I love my gun rights in Arizona..
Re: Never hunted elk! Help please
« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2015, 03:45:31 PM »
It took me 10 years to get my elk. That's even when you could shoot any bull, any place.
I couldn't care less about what anybody says..............

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

2025 Area 9 King Opener by CP
[Today at 11:53:21 AM]


Mt. St. Helens Goat by hunterednate
[Today at 10:45:37 AM]


2025 Montana alternate list by Sakko300wsm
[Today at 10:36:19 AM]


Bonaparte Lake by TeacherMan
[Today at 10:17:00 AM]


Pocket Carry by hookr88
[Today at 09:48:30 AM]


Grouse in Vail? by Alan K
[Today at 09:28:46 AM]


Rabbits looking good so far! by Goshawk
[Today at 09:16:08 AM]


Game scouting in Vail for 2025. Not looking too good so far. by Goshawk
[Today at 09:04:01 AM]


Raffle ticket sales 2025 by JDArms1240
[Today at 06:12:34 AM]


Area 11 2025 - Well? by trophyhunt
[Today at 05:59:13 AM]


Good day of steelhead fishing! by huntnphool
[Yesterday at 10:49:23 PM]


8 year old attacked in 2023 ooops by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 08:32:17 PM]


Live bait albacore charter by hiway_99
[Yesterday at 07:10:28 PM]


Seeking packer OnCall for early archery unit 328 Naneum/Colockum by teanawayslayer
[Yesterday at 06:53:06 PM]


Surprise quality deer tag by Gentrys
[Yesterday at 06:01:07 PM]


Antelope next year? by Stein
[Yesterday at 05:52:08 PM]


New to bear hunting by ZaneHunts
[Yesterday at 05:35:10 PM]


Idaho unit 5 2025. Nov-ish by leonpeon2
[Yesterday at 03:42:59 PM]


3 pintails by hdshot
[Yesterday at 02:16:04 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by crabcreekhunter
[Yesterday at 12:43:44 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal