philosophy on special draw elk tags

[WapitiTalk1]

All good advice/discussion folks!  I've drawn a QUAL Elk archery tag this year (first WA special permit tag for me).  From my foxhole, the first mature bull that wants to go home for dinner with me gets a well placed arrow.  Once done with the WA hunt, its off to ID with a couple of buds for the rest of SEP so I'm not gonna quibble over an extra crown point or two in the WA area  .  23 days, 22 hours, 51 minutes, and 21 seconds till opening day shooting light but who's counting 

[emac]

I have been tossing the question around also. I don't have a quality tag though I just have the multi season elk tag. I am not going to be able to hunt the Westside so I will be limited to cows and spikes for archery and spikes for Muzzy and rifle. I have came to the conclusion that I will let an arrow fly at the first cow I see since I have never gotten an elk with archery equipment and there isn't much difference between a cow and a spike

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[buglebrush]

Just do what you are happy with.   If it was me I wouldn't be happy with anything less than 340".   It's about the experience, and that is the experience I would want is to try for a monster.  I would always wish I had held out for a monster, but I've taken a good number of bulls already and pretty much always have elk meat in the freezer.  Again whatever YOU are happy with.   

[blackveltbowhunter]

    Last season was my first time ever being part of a "quality permit" it wasn't my tag, but my close hunting partners and it made me rethink many of my preconcieved notions.. Elk hunting especially bow hunting is still tough and an extremely low odds proposition. . Don't let anyone tell you different and don't let criticism of whatever decisions you make dim the bright fire that is the experience of holding one of these tags in hand.

   If it were me I wouldn't be happy "killing on the first day what I would be happy with on the last". I"m not a fan of tag soup, but I would take my chances that I could close on a "average" animal in the last couple days and if not I would eat soup.

   I also don"t fall into the "tag justice" category. Where if the animal isn't a representative of the <5% of animals in the unit it is deemed unjust and I will not shoot period. I want to enjoy the hunt. I want to hunt hard. I will hunt for the biggest animal I can for as long as possible and if I dont get him I will be proud of the effort required to harvest that "average" bull as well.
 

[pd]

I view them as "quality hunt" opportunities, not "quality animal" permits.

Very well said.

[scoutdog346]

I say do what you want.  But if i HAD to give u advice i would say: hunt gmu 346 and take ANY branch bull that yealds a seemingly awesome and cool situation. BUT pass up a small bull if it's a seems like it would be l dumb harvest situation that will NOT be a prideful story or give u a rewarding feeling like ur driving down a logging road on your way to your evening hunt and a small 3x3 or somthing like that is 50 yards off the side of the road and it just stands there looking at you evean after you had already got out of your truck and range found it standing broadside(don't take one in that sutuation). I say if your in the woods and a seemingly really cool situation presents itself that u will feel good to replay in your head for the next few years b4 u go to sleep and think about when your at work...like you snuck up on a bull creeping on your hands and knees for 100 yards or called it in away from some cows and u some how didn't get busted by 20 cows surrounding you TAKE IT! evean if its a small 3x3 or a spike It will b so rewarding.( at least for me it would)  Don't get me wrong tho if a huge 6x6 @ 320" bull is on the side of the road maybe you should take it then...lol but its your tag and do what u want...ps it's NOT disrespectful in any way regarding what u were asking. Good luck!

[Rainier10]

I say do what you want.  But if i HAD to give u advice i would say: hunt gmu 346 and take ANY branch bull that yealds a seemingly awesome and cool situation. BUT pass up a small bull if it's a seems like it would be l dumb harvest situation that will NOT be a prideful story or give u a rewarding feeling like ur driving down a logging road on your way to your evening hunt and a small 3x3 or somthing like that is 50 yards off the side of the road and it just stands there looking at you evean after you had already got out of your truck and range found it standing broadside(don't take one in that sutuation). I say if your in the woods and a seemingly really cool situation presents itself that u will feel good to replay in your head for the next few years b4 u go to sleep and think about when your at work...like you snuck up on a bull creeping on your hands and knees for 100 yards or called it in away from some cows and u some how didn't get busted by 20 cows surrounding you TAKE IT! evean if its a small 3x3 or a spike It will b so rewarding.( at least for me it would)  Don't get me wrong tho if a huge 6x6 @ 320" bull is on the side of the road maybe you should take it then...lol but its your tag and do what u want...ps it's NOT disrespectful in any way regarding what u were asking. Good luck!

I really like this answer. 

If a 6x6 is standing next to the road at 30 yards and lets you range find it I would have to shoot that as well.