Veteran Brother Looking for Elk *disclaimer* Non-veteran brother is also looking

[dpfarrar84]

Hi All,

*DISCLAIMER* I AM NOT A VETERAN. IF YOU WOULD RATHER TALK DIRECTLY TO MY BROTHER, I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND. I just wanted to do use as much leg work as possible.

First off, this appears to be a great community and I look forward to someday being a contributor, but to be honest I have nothing to offer right now other than a hunger to learn from those who have gone before me.

My brother was SOCOM/MARSOC/Force Recon Sniper and has served in Iraq once and Afghanistan twice, he has recently gotten out. He currently lives in California and has some bird and hog hunting experience, but he would love the opportunity to get an elk. He is a Washington native and wants to get his hands on a Washington Elk. I absolutely understand and respect the protection of certain information that you are willing to provide, but I would love to at least be pointed in the right direction. I know a guide would be the best answer, but both of us have families who have decided there is no else we would rather have at home with the kids than our wives, so money for a guide is just not possible until all kids are in school.

We are looking forward to the experience and challenge just as much as the success, so hiking a couple miles and camping is something that we would look forward to. A bear would also be a great prize as well, so we were trying to focus on areas that have both as an option. I guess my question is, what are you willing to divulge?

Thank you in advance for any information!

[DOUBLELUNG]

Every elk area in Washington has bears, except the Hanford ALE - which you won't be able to hunt anyway.  East side you are generally restricted to spike or true spike hunting where there are large numbers of elk, Those are the Colockum, Yakima and Blue Mountains herds.  West side, you are primarily looking at the southwest part of the state, South Rainier, Olympic and Willapa Hills herds.  You have to pick east or west, and either archery, muzzleloader or modern firearm tags (unless you apply for and draw multi-season permits).

Good beginning background info here http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/game/ and here http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01769/wdfw01769.pdf, and you can start scouting success rates here  http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/.

In Washington, lots of elk = lots of hunters, and success is relatively low.  Not trying to discourage by any means, just letting you know lucking into easy elk is a pretty uncommon occurrence.

[dpfarrar84]

Thank you doublelung!

Like I said we are looking forward to the experience just as much as the finish line, but anything worth doing is worth over-doing, so I want to make decisions and put together the best plan that I can. A few days with my brother enjoying this beautiful state is a privilege in of itself. All that to say success will not be measured by a kill, but by the experience and what we can learn.

We will be purchasing modern firearm. We have a lot of family in Spokane, Chelan, and Manson, so those are the areas that we were initially going to look at. Ideally I would like to invest an area that has deer, elk, and bear, so that we can spend the next 40 years of our mobile life learning one gmu that would provide multiple opportunities. I am sure this sounds like a pipe-dream, but like I said anything worth doing is worth over-doing.

[bobcat]

In general, the best elk areas are not the best deer areas.

[dpfarrar84]

I am hoping that "in general" means that here is hope!

Thank you Bobcat!

[Woodchuck]

Oh, there is hope. Where I hunt the deer and elk "best areas" may not be the same area, they aren't far from each other. 

[dpfarrar84]

Good to know Woodchuck, thank you!

If you ever feel like divulging any more information, I am all ears!

On another note, if I can chop wood or help anyone out with anything in exchange for information, I am happy to do that!

[bobcat]

It's just that you may want to pick one GMU for deer and another for elk. Maybe even on opposite sides of the state.

Do you want to hunt branch antler bull elk? If so you'll want to hunt the west side of the state. Eastern Washington is spike only.

Do you want to hunt rifle season, archery, or muzzleloader?

Do you want to hunt blacktail deer, mule deer, or whitetail deer?

Are you willing to pay for access to private land?

That's just a few of the questions that need answers before anyone can really offer any specific advice.

[dpfarrar84]

Bobcat,

Gotcha, thank you again.

We are looking at modern firearm and we are really looking to fill our freezer with meat to feed our family initially. In the future, we will be going for a trophy elk. As far as paying for access to private land, we are willing to a point. If it was $50, absolutely! If we are talking hundreds of dollars, we will probably take our chances on public land. Deer preference, dont really have one.

[CplRaines]

Hmmm......
Have your brother contact me.


http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,110045.msg2433124.html#msg2433124
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,184511.msg2464995.html#msg2464995

[Smoke]

West side Elk are bigger, but not as many of them... 3 points on one side minimum, so there is a chance at a trophy but tuff hunting... the Elk are in heavy timber and brush, ya won't see them till your right on top of them, and then ya may not have a shot...  East side has more Elk and more hunters, spike only, so forget trophies... also the spikes are generally with the cows so lots more eyes looking at ya.  If it hasn't snowed yet, the Elk are up high, in the timber... if the snow has come to the higher elevations, they are on the move to lower, more open ground and easier to find if ya hunt the canyons running down towards the rivers... might make for some long shots, but your brother was a sniper, so I'm thinking that won't be much of a problem for him

[dpfarrar84]

Thank you all for the information! My brother and I really appreciate it. I will take everything into account and come up with a plan.

Best of luck to you all!