Wenaha E/W keep or not?

[zwickeyman]

I had the opportunity to get my points back last year on an ALTA late muzzy tag because of the Carlton fire. I chose to keep it and glad I did, had a great hunt. Didn't see 1 hunter and shoulda/coulda/woulda  3 days in row on a 195"-200" buck. Passed up a ton of bucks and had a good time

[Elkpiss]

Any of you guys who drew a Blues Tag with 8 points better roll the dice and keep the tag.. this a max point draw typically....   Roll the Dice buddy, 8 points keep tag.. no brainer.. 

[fishngamereaper]

Keep in mind this may be the last time you ever draw this tag. Knowing WDFW they will decrease tags next year because of the fires and poor habitat. They will label it necessary for recovery. If elk did die in the fire that will come into play as well.  Only time will tell, but if the unit cant sustain a healthy elk population the state isn't gunna let anyone hunt in there.

[WAPatriot]

If people turn in tags is it going to be like multi season where we can purchase leftovers?

[nw_bowhunter]

Is the fire 100% contained? If no unfortunately you really have very limited options and would just gamble with your points.   Without the fire being contained I doubt they would let anybody in.  Very tough decision your in but Imo turn in your points.

[coldsteel3d]

Is the fire 100% contained? If no unfortunately you really have very limited options and would just gamble with your points.   Without the fire being contained I doubt they would let anybody in.  Very tough decision your in but Imo turn in your points.

No the fire is only17% contained but that is a huge improvement over what it was 3 days ago and their firelines seem to be holding really well with the cooler temps and higher humidity so I would expect the containment % to start to rapidly rise, I really wouldn't be that surprised if it were near 100% by the end of the week but only time will tell.

[coldsteel3d]

Id turn it in. Even if they do open it up alot of the elk will have already scattered and moved out of the unit. I could also imagine quite a few elk have gotten killed in the fire.  I would rather wait a few years to hopefully draw again when the fire pressure wasn't on the animals than lose my points.

Yeah but the fire hasn't been burning in the Wenaha West so possibly elk have been pushed from the East into the West?    That could make for a pretty exciting hunt! 

[Shawn Ryan]

I'd wait until the last day to decide, but if nothing changes, I'd turn it in and then just about die from having done so!  Odds of drawing again are junk, but having 81  names in the hat next year is better than 1 name in the hat.

I don't think the decision makers are concerned about the hunt. They are concerned about safety of the personnel fighting fire or supporting fire fighters.  I see almost no chance of the Wilderness opening up or you having access to it in the next 3 weeks.

Sucks bad.  Like I said, I'd about die from turning in that tag.  Maybe I'm wrong, though.  I'd really die, if I turned in that tag and then the Wilderness opened and I had access to it for a couple days....Hating to be you right now and I don't hate much.  Sorry. Just plain and simple, this sucks, sorry.

[Mxracer532]

I'd wait until the last day to decide, but if nothing changes, I'd turn it in and then just about die from having done so!  Odds of drawing again are junk, but having 81  names in the hat next year is better than 1 name in the hat.

I don't think the decision makers are concerned about the hunt. They are concerned about safety of the personnel fighting fire or supporting fire fighters.  I see almost no chance of the Wilderness opening up or you having access to it in the next 3 weeks.

Sucks bad.  Like I said, I'd about die from turning in that tag.  Maybe I'm wrong, though.  I'd really die, if I turned in that tag and then the Wilderness opened and I had access to it for a couple days....Hating to be you right now and I don't hate much.  Sorry. Just plain and simple, this sucks, sorry.

We cant wait till the last day, they have to be post marked no later then the 4th to recieve our points back. East tag like I have, its going back. West Tag I would probably gamble as I think there is a better chance of that section opening then the East.
According to the Forest Service guy I talked to today, he said in good faith that he doubts the Wilderness opens at anytime during Sept.

[Shawn Ryan]

I didn't mean to wait until the last day of the hunt; that wouldn't be fair and the Department requires us to choose before the hunt starts. I meant to wait until the last day possible to choose--the 4th.  Not surprised that the FS guy says the Wilderness is unlikely to open.

[Mxracer532]

I didn't mean to wait until the last day of the hunt; that wouldn't be fair and the Department requires us to choose before the hunt starts. I means to wait until the last day possible to choose--the 4th.  Not surprised that the FS guy says the Wilderness is unlikely to open.

I see, yep im not a gambling type of guy. I would like to know tho how many guys that are saying to keep it and gamble are actual archery hunters.

[Shawn Ryan]

I hunt archery and have "wasted" 11 points trying to draw the West, East, and Tucannon tags (different choices in different years). Its not easy to say whether I'd turn it in or not and I don't even have a tag forcing me to choose!  The disappointment I felt when i didn't get drawn (again) has now turned to relief. I'll still be trying to draw those tags for the next several years. Someday I'll get too old to do the hunt justice and will have to choose a different area. Or maybe I'll give up on retirement and buy the Governor's tag.  Haven't fully decided which one would be better.

[gaddy]

Aren't all of the roads into the west Wenaha closed ? I just don't see them opening them up until this is over.

[Mxracer532]

I hunt archery and have "wasted" 11 points trying to draw the West, East, and Tucannon tags (different choices in different years). Its not easy to say whether I'd turn it in or not and I don't even have a tag forcing me to choose!  The disappointment I felt when i didn't get drawn (again) has now turned to relief. I'll still be trying to draw those tags for the next several years. Someday I'll get too old to do the hunt justice and will have to choose a different area. Or maybe I'll give up on retirement and buy the Governor's tag.  Haven't fully decided which one would be better.

This is true for ALOT of people. All of those units you better be in damn good shape.

[Shawn Ryan]

Mxracer532, Agreed!  It is a rugged place.  I'm still confident about my abilities now, but some-year I won't be.  Maybe they should require the permit holders to qualify physically so the tag gets optimized.  Or maybe I'm just too performance oriented and should shut up and not hi-jack this thread. (I think Costco should have a scale at the door in lieu of flashing your membership card.)