East vs West hunting experience

[firehawk87]

For those that have hunted both sides of the cascades....which side offers a better general hunt experience???

[Special T]

I think that would depend on weapon type.

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[cougforester]

I think that would depend on weapon type.

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And species!

Edit: Saw this was in the elk board. Whoops.

[MADMAX]

Its crowded on both
archery
rifle
havent done black powder in 25 years but back then it was as well

that being said , gonna try west side rifle, maybe wynoochee or hoh by myself this year along with 100s of my closest friends

[grundy53]

Westside for me. Because I can hunt branched bulls every year and it's what I know.

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[Rob]

What is the criteria for a "better hunting experience"?

[Matth]

Westside for me. Because I can hunt branched bulls every year and it's what I know.

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Me too!!

[boneaddict]

What is the criteria for a "better hunting experience"?

I think this is a key question.

[WSU]

I think the experience is better east side. More open terrain, less likely to rain every day, the cover is more open, and access is generally easier. All that said, I hunt west side because I hate hunting spikes.

[Stein]

The seasons are condensed, so you will find people wherever you go if there is a reasonable expectation of finding elk there.  As people mentioned, you should ask a few questions like:

Do I want to hunt bulls?
Do I mind the potential for a bunch of rain?
Do I want to hunt dense woods or open terrain?
How far am I willing to drive?
What odds of success do I want?
How do I deal with crowds?
Do I want to day hunt, hike in, road hunt, wall tent camp, backpack in....?
Rifle, bow, muzzie?

Quality is in the eye of the beholder.

[firehawk87]

I suppose I meant for chasing bulls. I’m not sure how I feel about taking a spike, just don’t feel right. I have been gone from WA for quite sometime now and have been living in mainly a Wyoming for the past 10 years as well as Idaho. I have worked and lived in the most remote wilderness of the lower 48 for months on end. Don’t care about terrain whether I got to hump it in, fly in, drive in, or pack the ponies up and run a string in. I am an avid bow hunter and long range rifleman.I am used to chasing down and taking at least 3 elk a year. I love hunting and take off 4 months straight a year for it so time and money is not a concern.

I would like to dedicate some of my time this year and give WA a try at chasing bulls.

[dvolmer]

I suppose I meant for chasing bulls. I’m not sure how I feel about taking a spike, just don’t feel right. I have been gone from WA for quite sometime now and have been living in mainly a Wyoming for the past 10 years as well as Idaho. I have worked and lived in the most remote wilderness of the lower 48 for months on end. Don’t care about terrain whether I got to hump it in, fly in, drive in, or pack the ponies up and run a string in. I am an avid bow hunter and long range rifleman.I am used to chasing down and taking at least 3 elk a year. I love hunting and take off 4 months straight a year for it so time and money is not a concern.

I would like to dedicate some of my time this year and give WA a try at chasing bulls.

If you have been living in Wyoming and Idaho for the past 10 years your in for one heck of a let-down coming here to Washington to hunt elk!!!

[Special T]

If you have a pack string Id be headed into the wilderness in 10 miles just for the peace and quiet!

[boneaddict]

I suppose I meant for chasing bulls. I’m not sure how I feel about taking a spike, just don’t feel right. I have been gone from WA for quite sometime now and have been living in mainly a Wyoming for the past 10 years as well as Idaho. I have worked and lived in the most remote wilderness of the lower 48 for months on end. Don’t care about terrain whether I got to hump it in, fly in, drive in, or pack the ponies up and run a string in. I am an avid bow hunter and long range rifleman.I am used to chasing down and taking at least 3 elk a year. I love hunting and take off 4 months straight a year for it so time and money is not a concern.

I would like to dedicate some of my time this year and give WA a try at chasing bulls.

If you are a really good hunter and understand elk, Id suggest NE washington.  You can hunt branch bulls.  The terrain is often serious and they are hard to find.  I pretty much laugh at all the folks that come on here asking for hotspots. THey read some line in the regs that says any elk and the lightbulbs come on.  They are used to chiming in here and finding out instantly where to go.    There are people up there that wont tell their mother where they are hunting. It will take a little time, but you might find yourself some elk.   There is also some serious deer hunting up there, both muleys and whitetail.   Westside is the other option.     East is just a beautiful place to camp and enjoy elk country without being able to pop on a big one, unless you are one of the chosen few after years of applying.     

[firehawk87]

Don’t want a hot a spot and I’m used to serious terrain. NE sounds like a good time. If I can get back 20 plus miles I’d be right at home. I’d stay back there for however long the season goes here, which seems pretty short unfortunately.

[buckfvr]

I would start out by going straight to the harvest reports at wdfw to decide on an area.......n.e. wa. elk dont come easy.  Washington elk dont come easy.  Harvest reports to begin with.  In the north east corner, wolves are pushing the elk constantly, so unless you are able to keep them located right up to the day you hunt, you can be hunting animals that have since moved on......

[blackveltbowhunter]

In your situation, I would not even consider Eastside. Terrain and evironment are easily matched in any of the states you refered to, minus the elk population and/or opportunity to go along with it.

The westside offers completely different terrain and weather along with subspecies in alot if it. Private timber holds the highest density from population standpoint but the west cascades and the Olympics have some very nice animals. Albeit few and far between.

[dscubame]

I vote westside.   

[Axle]

Both.
I would settle for nothing less.

[JimmyHoffa]

For your bow hunting, I'd say westside.  For long range rifle, I'd say Eastside.  I can't really think of any wilderness on the westside where you can pack in and be ten miles from a road, maybe five miles?

[ghosthunter]

I grew up hunting the wet side. Back than you could drive backroads for three counties and never touch payment. Lots of logging and game. Now it’s all gated.

I spend zero time hunting west side except for waterfowl ,bears and yote.

Rather hunt the east. More access and more game.  Better experience.

[bracer40]

I’ve stuck with the East side for a number of reasons:
Loved the terrain
Weather
Guys I hunted with
Solid  four weeks of hunting (early&late archery)

There’s a lot of value in a “quality hunting experience”. I’ve had a lot of great ones where no blood was spilled.

Welcome back to the PNW!

[Stein]

If time and money isn't a concern and you know Idaho and Wyoming well, I'm not sure why you would consider spending your fall in Washington.

[Skyvalhunter]

please define this "quality hunting experience" with regards to WA State

[Matth]

If time and money isn't a concern and you know Idaho and Wyoming well, I'm not sure why you would consider spending your fall in Washington.

Because he has done the other ones, and he would like to try washington out. seems reasonable to me.

[idaho guy]

Don’t want a hot a spot and I’m used to serious terrain. NE sounds like a good time. If I can get back 20 plus miles I’d be right at home. I’d stay back there for however long the season goes here, which seems pretty short unfortunately.

Based on the kind of hunting you have been doing I think a guy like you would find and kill elk on the north eastside. Just because of  terrain, weather and number of people seems like eastside would be a better experience. This is only from taking my son deer hunting there as a youth hunter but I found lots of little pockets of elk.  I have never big game hunted myself in Washington  so take it with a grain of salt I guess. 

[dscubame]

Number of people in the NE is incredibly high.  You can still get away from people comparatively speaking on the west side.  Imo makes for better experience, plus better odds when experienced to harvest.  Little known insider info. just to share.

[bkaech]

Stick to the west side, it will be different than Idaho or Wyoming. I’ve hunted the westside for several years and rarely see any hunters outside of my party on weekdays. Also I filled my tag 3 of the past 5years and see or hear elk most days. I say that to reinforce that you don’t have to follow the crowds, there are lots of elk out there, just not a lot of BIG elk. If you take your time and learn an area you can find elk and have a great time on the west side.

[coachcw]

Harvest reports dont mean crap. I'd find a unit that you can scout and put boots on the ground . If your a good elk hunter you will do fine .