Tag soup already

[baker5150]

Ghunt, it sounds like you're pretty new to elk hunting and are probably willing to work hard to learn. You're not likely to get anyone to give you a spot where you're sure to see elk (unless it's a Nat'l park, it probably doesn't exist anyway).

But there's a lot U you can learn within this forum about many aspects of elk hunting if you spend the time looking. And by looking, I mean running searches on various topics related to hunting. You'll find all sorts of Intel searching elk hunting, west side Bulls, west side access, etc......brainstorm a list of topics and start searching and reading.

Another avenue worthy of pursuit is seeking out a more experienced hunting partner (s). It was just a few weeks ago I read a thread about an experienced hunter looking for new members for their elk camp. If you're the kind of guy who's willing to work hard and be a good camp participant (or not an Ahole), you can get farther up the learning curve much faster.

Also, don't disregard some of the guys out there turning their experience and expertise into a revenue stream. Corey Jacobson, the Elk Nut ... Couple others....can offer years of learning for the price of a tank or two of gas.

Elk hunting is the coolest thing I do all year long.....it's also something I can "do" all year long.....

Good luck and don't give up!

I myself (15) is new to elk hunting yes. But my Dad has had over 15 years of elk hunting experience. He's use to elk hunting Idaho and never hunted in Washington. I'm trying to get as much good info and prove to him that we can hunt over here. Ive read a lot of forum posts on elk hunting over here, looked at all the gmus and harvest reports, and still stumped.  It also doesn't help that I can't drive and he works most weeks and weekends so we rarely get out and scout. I think thiss year we are gonna try deer and elk in 448 and see how that goes.

Being that young you do have some limitations. Best advise I can give is keep at it.  You seam to have the drive.  Just don't give up.  Being discouraged is natural human behavior.  Roll with it.  Enjoy it.  Trust me, when you see that elk standing broadside within range for the first time, youll know it was all worth it. 

[Ghunt]

Ghunt, it sounds like you're pretty new to elk hunting and are probably willing to work hard to learn. You're not likely to get anyone to give you a spot where you're sure to see elk (unless it's a Nat'l park, it probably doesn't exist anyway).

But there's a lot U you can learn within this forum about many aspects of elk hunting if you spend the time looking. And by looking, I mean running searches on various topics related to hunting. You'll find all sorts of Intel searching elk hunting, west side Bulls, west side access, etc......brainstorm a list of topics and start searching and reading.

Another avenue worthy of pursuit is seeking out a more experienced hunting partner (s). It was just a few weeks ago I read a thread about an experienced hunter looking for new members for their elk camp. If you're the kind of guy who's willing to work hard and be a good camp participant (or not an Ahole), you can get farther up the learning curve much faster.

Also, don't disregard some of the guys out there turning their experience and expertise into a revenue stream. Corey Jacobson, the Elk Nut ... Couple others....can offer years of learning for the price of a tank or two of gas.

Elk hunting is the coolest thing I do all year long.....it's also something I can "do" all year long.....

Good luck and don't give up!

I myself (15) is new to elk hunting yes. But my Dad has had over 15 years of elk hunting experience. He's use to elk hunting Idaho and never hunted in Washington. I'm trying to get as much good info and prove to him that we can hunt over here. Ive read a lot of forum posts on elk hunting over here, looked at all the gmus and harvest reports, and still stumped.  It also doesn't help that I can't drive and he works most weeks and weekends so we rarely get out and scout. I think thiss year we are gonna try deer and elk in 448 and see how that goes.

Being that young you do have some limitations. Best advise I can give is keep at it.  You seam to have the drive.  Just don't give up.  Being discouraged is natural human behavior.  Roll with it.  Enjoy it.  Trust me, when you see that elk standing broadside within range for the first time, youll know it was all worth it.

Thanks, ever since my dad brought home his biggest bull, I've always wanted to go with him. Just got to keep at it.

[JimmyHoffa]

People put too much creed into pre season scouting.  Elk get pushed around so much in this state its crazy.  Ever see a herd spooked, how far they will run.  Find elk country and you will no doubt find elk when the time is right. Enjoy the hunt.

I don't really scout for animals as much as I'm scouting the terrain.  By the time my season opens there's already been archery and muzzleloader early seasons as well as tribal season.  I just kind of go to see where new clear cuts are, which roads are washed out, what bridges are fixed or out, if a trail is still usable.  Maybe do a little maintenance.  Now if it is a week before the opener, then it seems practical to go find the animals.  Just didn't seem like finding bulls in a bachelor herd up on a grassy ridge in August was going to be money in the bank for November.

[luvmystang67]

You should probably look at real harvest reports online.  You have about 1000000% more chance of running into a bear in 448 than you do an elk.  The loggers that end up taking the one or 2 out of 448 each year are in the woods every day and probably kill the only two animals in there.  It is DEFINITELY not worth your time for elk.  You don't even have to do more research.  Flat out do not expect to find elk in 448.

Nooksack will take you 15 years to draw a permit, dont get too excited.

The only positive thing about hunting in places where there are no elk is that you'll have little competition and have the forest all to yourself, because everyone else hunting will be where the elk generally are.

For elk, its not about where is suitable habitat, but rather where have people and WDFW allowed elk to live.  I'm sure there were thriving populations along HWY 2 into leavenworth and wenatchee and even on the West side as well, but there's not enough winter ground in these areas for elk and they're basically not permitted or encouraged to exist.

448 is probably fine if you want deer and bear.  Really, same with 460...  If you want to find an elk look at places where they live and have general seasons for starters.  Down south on the west side or head to the east side of the cascades (also... i90 and south).  You could drive to the other side of the state as well but it sounds like you don't want to do that.

Also, you probably will eat tag soup this year, along with at least 85% of the rest of elk hunters.  Its okay, it makes that one year when you connect all the better.  Put yourself in a place to succeed (where elk live) and pay your dues, you never know when one will stumble across you.

[Rainier10]

You should probably look at real harvest reports online.  You have about 1000000% more chance of running into a bear in 448 than you do an elk.  The loggers that end up taking the one or 2 out of 448 each year are in the woods every day and probably kill the only two animals in there.  It is DEFINITELY not worth your time for elk.  You don't even have to do more research.  Flat out do not expect to find elk in 448.

Nooksack will take you 15 years to draw a permit, dont get too excited.

The only positive thing about hunting in places where there are no elk is that you'll have little competition and have the forest all to yourself, because everyone else hunting will be where the elk generally are.

For elk, its not about where is suitable habitat, but rather where have people and WDFW allowed elk to live.  I'm sure there were thriving populations along HWY 2 into leavenworth and wenatchee and even on the West side as well, but there's not enough winter ground in these areas for elk and they're basically not permitted or encouraged to exist.

448 is probably fine if you want deer and bear.  Really, same with 460...  If you want to find an elk look at places where they live and have general seasons for starters.  Down south on the west side or head to the east side of the cascades (also... i90 and south).  You could drive to the other side of the state as well but it sounds like you don't want to do that.

Also, you probably will eat tag soup this year, along with at least 85% of the rest of elk hunters.  Its okay, it makes that one year when you connect all the better.  Put yourself in a place to succeed (where elk live) and pay your dues, you never know when one will stumble across you.

Great post on a lot of levels.

[hqdan]

When I was young I came back to camp one morning and proudly  boasted to my father that I had been in fresh elk sign all morning. He looked  at me, a little  disappointed  and said simply," you need to hunt where there goin, instead of where they been". My luck started changing that day.

[Ghunt]

You should probably look at real harvest reports online.  You have about 1000000% more chance of running into a bear in 448 than you do an elk.  The loggers that end up taking the one or 2 out of 448 each year are in the woods every day and probably kill the only two animals in there.  It is DEFINITELY not worth your time for elk.  You don't even have to do more research.  Flat out do not expect to find elk in 448.

Nooksack will take you 15 years to draw a permit, dont get too excited.

The only positive thing about hunting in places where there are no elk is that you'll have little competition and have the forest all to yourself, because everyone else hunting will be where the elk generally are.

For elk, its not about where is suitable habitat, but rather where have people and WDFW allowed elk to live.  I'm sure there were thriving populations along HWY 2 into leavenworth and wenatchee and even on the West side as well, but there's not enough winter ground in these areas for elk and they're basically not permitted or encouraged to exist.

448 is probably fine if you want deer and bear.  Really, same with 460...  If you want to find an elk look at places where they live and have general seasons for starters.  Down south on the west side or head to the east side of the cascades (also... i90 and south).  You could drive to the other side of the state as well but it sounds like you don't want to do that.

Also, you probably will eat tag soup this year, along with at least 85% of the rest of elk hunters.  Its okay, it makes that one year when you connect all the better.  Put yourself in a place to succeed (where elk live) and pay your dues, you never know when one will stumble across you.

Thank for the good info. The only reason i'm not hunting the spots with elk i that I started out late this year and wasn't able to put in any places. I was thinking do a season for elk in 448 and cover even more ground scouting for deer, but still have the possibility to kill an elk. I've read what everyone told me to do about harvest reports and I can see that most of the elk are south/ south-east rainer. I get that. I dont have the time to drive down to rainer every weekend or another and scout it. By next year I probably will, when I can drive. The day I wrote the beginning of the thread I was real butthurt but I got over that and realise that I can't just give up now. But, still wishing everyone a good hunting season 

[4fletch]

For sure elk hunting is not a walk in the park. Nothing is easy. You have to have a want to succeed as in anything else. Be a winner strive to be successful in everything you do. Learn by your mistakes and mistakes of others. And learn from others , never give up. Good hunting

[badnewskruse]

Try getting out of the truck.  It helps.

Great assumption. Do you know this guy? I hope so. Otherwise this is a perfect example of why folks don't share stuff anymore.

no kiddin 

[Ghunt]

Try getting out of the truck.  It helps.

Great assumption. Do you know this guy? I hope so. Otherwise this is a perfect example of why folks don't share stuff anymore.

no kiddin 

Even harder being a new guy

[Dslayer]

People put too much creed into pre season scouting.  Elk get pushed around so much in this state its crazy.  Ever see a herd spooked, how far they will run.  Find elk country and you will no doubt find elk when the time is right. Enjoy the hunt.

Absolutely the most intelligent commentary I've ever seen on elk hunting and hunting in general.  It only takes one. ONE.