New archery elk hunter looking for direction'''s

[jay33ice]

I have never elk hunted in WA and will go this year with a buddy.  we're using bows.    We aren't afraid of hiking and camping miles in, but don't have 4 legged transportation.  Of course i'm not asking anyone to give up their honey hole, but would appreciate any suggestions as to locations to consider.  Will be an OTC tag.  Thanks!

[colockumelk]

First of all where are you from.  Are you hunting the west side or the east side?  That will help us help you. 

Also not to discourage you but expect to eat tag soup for the next couple of years. Bowhunting is alot more difficult than hunting with a rifle or a muzzle loaders.  You can make mistakes with a gun but you have to be damn near perfect with a bow.  That being said once you start hunting with a bow you will most likely get addicted to it and will never go back.  Good luck. 

[jay33ice]

First of all where are you from.  Are you hunting the west side or the east side?  That will help us help you. 

Also not to discourage you but expect to eat tag soup for the next couple of years. Bowhunting is alot more difficult than hunting with a rifle or a muzzle loaders.  You can make mistakes with a gun but you have to be damn near perfect with a bow.  That being said once you start hunting with a bow you will most likely get addicted to it and will never go back.  Good luck. 

Thanks. I will hunt the Eastside.  I don't have high expectations for meat right away, but am willing to put the time/miles on my boots in.

[bowhuntin]

You will find good elk hunting in most of the Yakima units. Early season you have the nile, bumping, rimrock, manastash, taneum and then the colockulum and probably some other units that I am forgetting. Units like the nile, bumping, manastash and rimrock all are open to spike or anterless hunting. The colockulum is only a spike only unit right now. Check out the harvest statistics for the last few years for these units here. Some units have a good amount of roads, so it can get hard to get way back off roads, so you might want to look into the bumping unit if you want get away from the roads and people. You shouldn't have a problem getting away from individuals no matter what unit you hunt though.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/harvest/2007/db/elk_region3_archery.php

[Buckrub]

I have never elk hunted in WA and will go this year with a buddy.  we're using bows.    We aren't afraid of hiking and camping miles in, but don't have 4 legged transportation.  Of course i'm not asking anyone to give up their honey hole, but would appreciate any suggestions as to locations to consider.  Will be an OTC tag.  Thanks!

New Bowhunter,
I think the general area the others have suggested are good but do put in for permits. I would suggest Rocky Jacobson's video and calls for a begginer. Very imformative and calls are easy to use.
Early Rimrock is a great place to start. Late hunt is tough, the state squeezes to many hunters into very few areas...I would suggest the Cowiche or Rimrock late.

[bowhuntin]

I have never elk hunted in WA and will go this year with a buddy.  we're using bows.    We aren't afraid of hiking and camping miles in, but don't have 4 legged transportation.  Of course i'm not asking anyone to give up their honey hole, but would appreciate any suggestions as to locations to consider.  Will be an OTC tag.  Thanks!

New Bowhunter,
I think the general area the others have suggested are good but do put in for permits. I would suggest Rocky Jacobson's video and calls for a begginer. Very imformative and calls are easy to use.
Early Rimrock is a great place to start. Late hunt is tough, the state squeezes to many hunters into very few areas...I would suggest the Cowiche or Rimrock late.

Definitely put in for points, even if you don't want to draw anything you can buy a ghost number so you build points. It only takes on average a few years to draw a branch bull permit in most of the yakima units.

[Slider]

I heard WDFW hates Bowhunters and so they are closing all the Archery Hunting. You guys better blow the dust off your rifles like the rest of us ex bowhunters!!!

[WDFW-SUX]

 

[jay33ice]

Guys,  thanks very much for the comments.  also, appreciate the idea for the video and calls.  this gives me some places to start investigating.  i will definately start accumulating points also.     

[colockumelk]

And don't complain to us when you become hopelessly addicted to bowhunting.  It's alot more difficult but it's so much cooler.  The last day of the season is just as good as the first day of the season.  Unlike the rifle season when after the first day everything is nocturnal.  They animals arn't pressured as much.  Plus there's alot less people in the field.  No massive orange tidal wave to deal with.  Since it's your first year I recommend hunting the Manastash unit or the Nile for your first year.  The higher areas such as Rimrock and Bumping can be pretty tough hunting.  I guarantee you'll love it.  Have fun.