Elk Hunt help

[revikebruce]

Hello everyone.  I haven't done any elk hunting in the past.  But I've been thinking about giving it a shot this year during modern season.  I'm Active Duty, and constantly here and then gone, but I have found a week in late october/early november.  I was thinking about the east side, but I'm not sure.  I was wondering if anyone might be willing to take me.  I'm not looking for a trophy, I just want some meat in the freezer.

[yakimanoob]

Welcome to the forum!  I'm not able to take you this year, but hopefully someone on here can take you under their wing, so to speak. 

Don't be afraid to get out there on your own either.  Even if you don't get an animal, you ought to have a blast trying. 

[revikebruce]

Thanks yakimanoob.  I'm not afraid of getting out there by myself.  Currently that is the plan on the eastern side.  I'll leave whidbey with my kids, swing up to spokane and drop them off at the Ex-In Laws to have someone to watch them.  Time is pretty limited for me these days.  I know I'm full of excuses!!!

[kycarsydad]

I would recommend paying about $100 for the elk 101 online course to get a basic understanding of elk hunting.  It is great.  I would also listen to elk podcasts by Randy Newberg, gritty, and rich outdoors.  They will not only get u excited but will give u good info that will get u off on the right foot from the get go.  Good luck!

What base are u at?  I’m in spokane and archery hunt but will be chasing elk during rifle with my son this yr.

[trophyhunt]

You might be better off staying on the west side and looking for 3 point or better bulls down south, the east is a joke without a special permit.  On the east side with most units without a special permit your looking for a spike only, as well as hundreds of others.  Wear your orange and look for the nastiest canyons to get away from people. 

[JimmyHoffa]

I think one difference between E vs W which favors E for new guys is the 3+ pt vs spike behavior.  On westside, after the rut I usually only see one maybe two bulls still traveling with a herd...and those usually get killed pretty quickly.  The other bulls take off on their own and hide in quiet spots.  The spikes and two points seem to stick to the herd no matter how high the pressure.  Finding a spike is (was when they were legal on Westside) about chasing the herds, which was generally easier to find than a single animal wandering around.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Get ya some good glass! 

[Crunchy]

With a rifle its going to be tough to hang your tag on something starting from zero.  I would either go archery or muzzleloader to increase your odds of being able shooting a cow.  I would definitely stick to the west side for rifle, and look into Stampede Pass or south GMU along I-5 corridor.  Don't know much up north.  I probably wont even hunt WA again this year as I prefer out of state general tags over WA.

[pianoman9701]

I would recommend paying about $100 for the elk 101 online course to get a basic understanding of elk hunting. It is great.  I would also listen to elk podcasts by Randy Newberg, gritty, and rich outdoors.  They will not only get u excited but will give u good info that will get u off on the right foot from the get go.  Good luck!

What base are u at?  I’m in spokane and archery hunt but will be chasing elk during rifle with my son this yr.

  and also look for YouTube videos by Paul Medel, Elknut. I have his CDs and they're fantastic. Phelps Game Calls makes an open reed cow and calf call which will work right out of the box for you and costs around $35. Bearmanric also makes beautiful calls for about the same money and is well know for his predator calls, as well. Good luck!