2021 WDFW Non-Res Disabled Vet Elk Tag

[lmcgaugh]

HI everybody,
       I'm new on here.  I'm from Arkansas.  I just purchased my 2021 Eastern Washington Firearm Elk+Deer tags and received them in the mail.  I plan on coming out next year and trying it out.  My father-in-law will be coming with me as my designated hunting companion with a card to help me get into position and pack out should we be successful for either mule deer or an elk.  Neither of us have elk hunted before, or much less even hunted out-of the state.  Ive read a bunch of info on the WDFW site on basics of elk hunting, looked at the harvest reports, and read the hunt profiles.  Without being able to get there and scout, this is the best I can do.  Is there anyone that would be willing to help me out, or provide any information at all to help make this a successful hunt?  If you come to AR and get a license, I'll get you on whitetail on day one and put you on smallmouth the rest of the day. 

[92xj]

What animal and type is your goal?
Dates you'll be out here?

[lmcgaugh]

If you were in my position, would you:
1)Go and target deer and learn the land and try to find a place to elk hunt for 2022;or
2) Try to hunt elk on public land knowing success is unlikely (still learn a lot) and just put puts on the ground.

In a perfect world, I would find some private land to get a cow elk.  I've filled the freezer with 4-5 white-tail a year here in Arkansas for the last 12 years.  The four of us eat it instead of beef every year, but i really want some elk meat.  My father in law is footing the bill for the trip (gas, lodging somewhere, and food) but we can't afford a guide.  Not hunting a trophy at all! Not saying I wouldn't kill one if it was in front of me, but I'd like to get out there, experience the beautiful country and landscape and get some elk meat. 

[Rainier10]

Is this a special permit that you can hunt any unit, any season and any weapon or are you restricted to general season rules and regs?

[Rainier10]

In eastern washington you have to get drawn for a cow permit if you are hunting a general season modern tag.

If all you want is elk meat there are some great options for cow elk hunts in Utah.

[Stein]

Did you buy the 2020/21 license by mistake?  Check the dates and see if they expire in March of 2021, you might have pulled the trigger a bit early.  If so, I would try calling them ASAP to explain what happened and see if you can get a refund.

In WA, the license year is April 1 - March 31 of the following year.

[WapitiTalk1]

Did you buy the 2020/21 license by mistake?  Check the dates and see if they expire in March of 2021, you might have pulled the trigger a bit early.  If so, I would try calling them ASAP to explain what happened and see if you can get a refund.

In WA, the license year is April 1 - March 31 of the following year.

Thought the same thing... I just logged in and checked and the 2021 licenses/tags are not available yet that I can see.    lmcgaugh, as Stein mentioned... check your license/tags and make sure they are not for the current season/year (20/21) but are in fact for the next year (21/22) season. 

[lmcgaugh]

It is general season and regs.  There are general season any elk or anterless only in Eastern Washington, just most is private land.  I purchased the 2021-2022 tags.  They went on sale 12/1.  I do realize the seasons wont publish until mid April though.  Washington was the only OTC hunts available for the non-red DAV price.  I tried to get Idaho since i have contacts and a good Veteran Coalition there that helps each other out, but the new non-res caps they sold out in less than 20 minutes.  There is a group of resident vets in Idaho that help the non-res DAV hunters out.  They arent guides, just vets helping other vets as hunting buddies, pack outs etc. 

[lmcgaugh]

Here is the screenshot of my license for 2021-2022.

[WapitiTalk1]

Looks like you're good to go for the 2021 season  . 

[Bucks2Ducks]

Decide if you want to hunt the E side for Rocky Mountain elk, W Tail/Mule Deer or the West side for Roosevelt elk, Blacktails. Once you figure that out see what seasons line up for your trip.

[WapitiTalk1]

Decide if you want to hunt the E side for Rocky Mountain elk, W Tail/Mule Deer or the West side for Roosevelt elk, Blacktails. Once you figure that out see what seasons line up for your trip.

B2D, he’s already got E side elk tag.

[Rainier10]

Which units are you looking at hunting for elk?  If your going off of harvest reports there must be some units that you are already considering. There aren't a bunch of units open for any elk on the east side and those units have very few elk and very low success rates.

[GUscottie]

As stated above, Eastern Wa has very few areas that allow for any elk for rifle, few areas for any bull, and most areas (with moderate/very low success rates) are spike or true spike only. Rifle season is hard in WA state, with the lowest success rates averaging below 5% annually across the board.

Mule deer areas will be substantially higher with odds hovering around 20-30% across the board for mule deer for general season. Some of the best hunting is on private lands. The odds of shooting a trophy buck are low in WA state due to pressure.

My honest suggestion is this: if cow hunting, go to Utah or a state with landowner tags and do that. If big bull hunting, go to Idaho, CO or save a couple points and go to Montana for a better unit.

If trophy mule deer hunting, look elsewhere.

I get WA has OTC tags for both elk and mule deer and we are probably the last state to still have this for non-residents, but it is a joke.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

[lmcgaugh]

Originally I was looking at 105 and Huckleberry.  They have the best success rates and it was all in general season.  Almost no harvest in permit hunts.  I’m using the WDFW hunt planner to do as much narrowing down as possible as far as public lands go.  I’m also going to see if I can find some private land using the public records and send out some letters to folks.  Maybe a no, but I might get a yes.