Spike elk only units, your opinions?

[bobcat]

I'd like to see them do away with the spike only general seasons and issue more quality bull permits to make up for it.

[Shank]

There's a thread that talks about spike only and branch bull being shot. This guy cut off all the antler to make it a league spike. Problem solved.....

It works both ways. 3pt min units if you accidentally shoot a spike duct tape a branch on.....then you have "branched" antlered bull!

Seriously though, spike only units are fine by me. I have seen a huge increase in the amount of big bulls in the area I hunt.
For example my brother shot a 6x6 in the early 90s for the day (any bull time period) it was huge, by today's standards  it would be considered a small satellite bull.
Just sucks I've been applying for a decade to chase these big guys and still end up settling on chasing spikes. Oh well they eat better......right!?

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[cooltimber]

It's all about renewable resource's,every yr there's spike's.There are survivor's, That turn into branch antler bull's.They have upped the permit's some.Better hunting experience for most.That's in this state.montana started it yr's ago,we followed suite. Why, because WE are too proficient in killing the big bull's.Are we happy about this most aren't,we want big bull's bragging right's.nothing wrong with that!
  But I'll take a fat cow any day,sure I've taken big bull's but they don't have the flavor,some disagree!
          If every one got big Bull's we'd just bitch about lack of elk.There is only so much land for so many elk in this state,i've got 15 pt's for a any bull tag at 69 yr's young I doubt I'll see one. Outfitter's in montana are about $5-9000,been on many, but I'm done paying big bucks for a pair of antler's.For me it's about the Hunt and friend's at the table talking about the hunt and next yr.

[elkfins]

I agree with RT... I think the spike only restrictions have done wonders for the quality of the herds.  I encounter big branched bulls every year on the east side.  While it can be frustrating at times, it sure has enhanced my elk hunting experience from the standpoint of more big bull encounters. Only drew the any bull tag once since the rule was implemented in the 90's though.

The true spike rule, however is the stupidest rule there is.  Talk about an easy way to turn a normally honest and trustworthy guy into a poacher, game waster, criminal.  Stupid... just stupid.   

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

They could increase the tags given in those units and stagger it so that there are more archery tags and less rifle tags.  That could give guys the opportunity to draw more often if they want to hunt with a bow or wait a few years if they want to hunt with a rifle.  They could go a step further and issue tags for units or groups of units specifically, similar to Idaho and you can apply for the controlled hunt or buy a OTC spike tag.  That would make it so guys can must be confident that is where they want to hunt. 

[tgomez]

I hunt "any bull" areas so I only have to see a bull. The problem is finding the elk in these areas. I have only shot one cow in Yakima when I was 18. I've only hunted Elk 4 times because I usually use my vacation time for bear and deer hunting. I like hunting in Yakima because you atleast get to see Elk, and that's half the fun is seeing them.

[Buzz2401]

I like the spike only hunts. But would honestly like to see it go to a draw only type system even for general.  Limit the amount of people in the woods and the hunting would be so much better for everyone when they get to hunt.

[nwwanderer]

Certainly has increased mature bulls, had 18 branch antler bulls in my spotting scope a couple of years ago, after the rut, boys just hanging out.  The longer the rule is in place the fewer spikes there will be, the hereditability is low but certainly a factor. 

[2labs]

I like the spike only hunts. But would honestly like to see it go to a draw only type system even for general.  Limit the amount of people in the woods and the hunting would be so much better for everyone when they get to hunt.

You start giving things to this state you won't get them back ever! Elk hunting will become a camping trip with 10 or 12 guys and one tag.

[js139]

They could increase the tags given in those units and stagger it so that there are more archery tags and less rifle tags.  That could give guys the opportunity to draw more often if they want to hunt with a bow or wait a few years if they want to hunt with a rifle.  They could go a step further and issue tags for units or groups of units specifically, similar to Idaho and you can apply for the controlled hunt or buy a OTC spike tag.  That would make it so guys can must be confident that is where they want to hunt.

Can I say this is a suggestion from a bow hunter? I personally like to rifle hunt and don't mind the spike only system. That being said, I've got a bull tag this year and can't wait to get up there and hunt a big boy. I've waited 12 years for mine, so I'm ready to get my chance. Reducing the number to rifle hunters makes that wait even longer. I know there are those that have waited longer than me. I think the spike system works though. Me and my group hunt hard and we see lots of elk. Granted those elk aren't always shootable, but at least it gets you going and you can click that safety off.

The only thing I dislike about the spike system is the risk of shooting a 2 point by accident. We saw a spike last year standing 20 yards in front of the Jeep on the road. Fortunately, this was the day before the season opened. We looked at him for a good 2-3 minutes. Then he turned his head and he had tines sticking off the back and was actually a 2 by 2. I would have shot him so fast. That is my biggest fear with the current system, but how do you fix that. I just have to take that extra second or two to confirm it is legal.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

They could increase the tags given in those units and stagger it so that there are more archery tags and less rifle tags.  That could give guys the opportunity to draw more often if they want to hunt with a bow or wait a few years if they want to hunt with a rifle.  They could go a step further and issue tags for units or groups of units specifically, similar to Idaho and you can apply for the controlled hunt or buy a OTC spike tag.  That would make it so guys can must be confident that is where they want to hunt.

Can I say this is a suggestion from a bow hunter? I personally like to rifle hunt and don't mind the spike only system. That being said, I've got a bull tag this year and can't wait to get up there and hunt a big boy. I've waited 12 years for mine, so I'm ready to get my chance. Reducing the number to rifle hunters makes that wait even longer. I know there are those that have waited longer than me. I think the spike system works though. Me and my group hunt hard and we see lots of elk. Granted those elk aren't always shootable, but at least it gets you going and you can click that safety off.

The only thing I dislike about the spike system is the risk of shooting a 2 point by accident. We saw a spike last year standing 20 yards in front of the Jeep on the road. Fortunately, this was the day before the season opened. We looked at him for a good 2-3 minutes. Then he turned his head and he had tines sticking off the back and was actually a 2 by 2. I would have shot him so fast. That is my biggest fear with the current system, but how do you fix that. I just have to take that extra second or two to confirm it is legal.

No I wouldn't call my self a archery hunter, I'm in Idaho so we get a few choices.  I have heard New Mexico is like this, or was. My buddy grew up there and it was draw only.  He said every couple years you could get a tag if you hunted with a bow.  If you hunted with a rifle, it would take longer.
I didn't mean reduce the rifle tags to give more to archery, I meant increase the number of tags overall, and then stagger them so guys have a choice to either get in the woods more often with a bow or wait a few more years to get a rifle bull tag. 

 

[Fl0und3rz]

Not worth the time, IMO, unless you have already scouted the unit and know where you can find one, especially in a true spike unit (a trap for the unwary). 

Banking on just happening across an animal with a limited amount of time to ensure a proper target in the brush and trees is a recipe for frustration if your hunt is all about meat on the ground.  Otherwise, there is still plenty of fun and learning to be had in those units, whether spike or true spike.   But such can be had in other units without the same restrictions.

[Wapiti4570]

Spike only harvest is okay from a management standpoint, I'm seeing quite a few more 300+ quality bulls. That being said, the true spike only is pointless as ALL spikes are shot anyway. I archery hunt and to see that illegal sticker is nearly impossible at 50 yards, let alone 2-300 during the rifle season.
A true waste of animals and creating criminals for no reason.

[Rick]

I don't mind spike only elk hunting. When I started hunting elk in '84 ( unit 336) , you might have seen (not killed) a single branched bull every 3-4 years. If one of our group got an elk it was either a spike or cow when drawn.

I hunt 346 now and its not unusual to see a branched bull just about every day of the season.

I'd rather hunt spikes every year ,than go to a draw system and only get to hunt elk when drawn.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I'm not a fan of antler point restrictions, but they are necessary to have OTC hunting for mule deer and elk in eastern WA.  I would much rather see limited entry (permit only) for any buck/bull as well as for antlerless, but I am in the minority.  I get that the majority of eastern WA mule deer and elk hunters prefer to hunt every year, rather than have lower hunter densities, higher success rates but only getting to hunt every other or every third year.  I'm not complaining, just stating my personal preference.