a new year.

[MrSmallington]

Ok, 3rd year hunting Washington and have yet to take anything.  I will have some good PTO this year and want to take my first elk. posting this now seeing as i will have a good amount of time to scout and collect new gear.
My question is where? when? and all that jazz no one wants to share. im in the tacoma area and just looking for a place to set up camp for 5-7 days and just hike and hunt. is elk my best bet? any tips? was looking into drop hunts but my hunting buddy is moving and they wont take me solo. cheers in advance.

[Crunchy]

archery muzzy or rifle?

[MrSmallington]

rifle.  thinking about collecting  bow gear but i built a nice hunting rifle and rather use that.  I know bow is better season.  a lot of folks tell me to hop on the wagon.  but being so new to hunting im still learning to track, spot signs. as a bow hunter i feel i would be limited to range and spook anything too quickly.

[Crunchy]

I'm an archery guy so hard to help much with rifle.  Depends on how far you want to travel.  I always liked the Stampede Pass area around the old town of Lester.  Decent rifle spot, but its been 10 years since I have been down in there.  Otherwise maybe look at Lewis River unit or Willapa Hills not sure if either of those have a rifle season but do have some decent elk numbers.

[MrSmallington]

Thanks for the info. cheers

[Stein]

For your best chance at taking an elk, head to ID, MT or CO.  You will have a chance at more animals, more liberal seasons, less pressure and less limitations.

In MT, you can hunt elk for something like 11 weeks on a general tag and in many units you can shoot a cow or branch bull, some are any elk.  The ratio of hunters:elk is just so much better one you cross the border.

In WA for rifle, you may be looking at a spike only unit during a very limited season.  What percentage of the elk in the unit are spikes, 10%, 5%?  Compare those odds to a unit where there are more elk and you can shoot all antlerless plus everything with a brow tine.  Your odds just went up probably 10 fold.

[Crunchy]

I would agree with Stein. Out of state is 10 times better or more. More elk, less hunters, longer seasons.  I rarely hunt WA elk. Out of state is where it's at.

[MrSmallington]

The thing is im not made of money. 600 for an out of state tag plus travel and housing? no thanks. i keep hearing WA is heading down hill. i dont mind being in the woods just for the time outside. im no trophy hunter. i want a freezer full. thats all. possibly going SW or NW Wa this year. just going alone sucks but i like the challenge.

[Crunchy]

Well put in for some special permits and that will increase you odds of getting an elk.  Otherwise rifle elk is always a zoo.  Archery or muzzle would be a better bet for getting an elk, and more areas to hunt.  And you can kill a cow or bull. 

[Tbob]

There’s a few elk in the SW part of the state. Not sure about rifle seasons, but I’m sure you could find an open unit down that way.. as far as crowds, ha, all seasons now have huge crowds. It amazes me how many people I see out during the archery season these days..
   Make sure you’ve got some good rain gear if heading that way though. It’s a wet one man!
    Now is a good time to head out and find some trails before all the spring foliage fills it all in too..
   Good luck!

[Calvin Rayborn]

Git 'er dun 2018! Good luck, man. 

[XJcoug13]

Just so you know a lot  of  SW WA is "pay to play" so look at maps and see who the property owners are and see if you need to buy a access permit.  Access permits can cost anywhere from $60 - $400..