margaret vs eastside elk tag

[nwhunter]

Wondering if anyone can say from experience whether drawing a tag for the margaret unit for bowhunt would give you an opportunity at quality bulls like you would get if you drew an eastside tag say peaches ridge or bethel. With 9 points for elk I was hoping to draw the multiseason tag so I could put in for eastside as I am a wetsider not willing to get stuck with a spike only tag but didn't draw. Trying to decide if I should put in for the margaret and hope for no fire closure and opportunity at a good bull or wait it out for next year , gain a point and hope I draw the multiseason and put in eastside. I really want a 300 class bull with my bow so what do you think. I know you don't have to draw one of these tags to get a good bull but have seen some dandies come from naches and the blues and really would like to give it a try. thanks nwhunter

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

My observations...
1) When you put in for units on the west side you are really increasing your odds on a successful hunt, not a trophy. Look and see how many big bulls come out of margaret and toutle. Are they there? Heck yeah they are, but there are more Big bulls in other units. There are general units on the west side with bigger bulls than Margaret.
2) I want the any season permit so i can put my 9 elk points towards watershed, or naches. Big bulls...
We spend alot of time in the toutle and margaret units. I like to look at elk. And i have seen bigger bulls in other units, just not the volume of bulls.

[jackelope]

big tule...what does having the multi-season tag have to do with putting in for the e-wa units?
just curious. i've seen you post that a few times and can't figure it out.
put your 9 points towards the draw whether or not you have the multi-season.
maybe i'm missing something, but thats what i'm trying to figure out.

[bobcat]

jackelope, it's because he normally buys a westside elk tag and the multi-season permit will allow him to apply for both east and west elk permits. If he were to buy an eastside elk tag and didn't draw any permits, he'd be stuck hunting only spikes.

[jackelope]

gotcha...
thanks for straightening me out.
guess i didn't think of that.

[bowpredator]

Thats my plan, I drew a multi elk tag and hunt west wash. I'm going to put in for  east side permits. Just printed out harvest reports for the last 5 years , going to take a look at them and talk to some people who hunt the crap out of the east side and put in from there.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Bow, watershed in the blues is sweet, but a tough hunt. It is pretty steep.
Naches is a good hunt.
And wenaha. That is my top 3 in this state...

I put in for margaret and toutle for the greater chance of getting a bull. Not a big bull, cause i will shoot first legal bull.

[Crunchy]

A good friend of mine drew the watershed last year with four points.  Very steep terrain.  Needless to say he didnt shoot a bull, but only hunted a couple of days.

[boneaddict]

Considering the 410 inch sheds that just came out of the watershed without a spread credit.....gee I wonder where the biggest bull in the state is, especially since there was another 390-400 inch typical 7x7 running with him.  HOLY!

[Opportunist]

A friend of mine drew the AHE margaret tag pre-indian hunting and killed a bull that officially scored 319" gross and netted 290". Per Jerry Egbert four years ago, who is the pope and young, boone and crockett and long hunter society for southwest washington, northwest oregon it was the best he has officially taped. The bull is a beautiful blackhorned 7x7.  Like I said this was a pre-indian hunting bull (10 years ago) and it was the best bull he saw on the hunt. I've heard though the grapevine of 350" bulls killed but have not seen them.

So I put the high mark of margaret bulls at 320"-330" then there is no comparison to eastside permits over margaret. Especially when you consider the 421" bull killed out of the Yakima herd 3 or 4 years ago and monster's that are killed in the blues every year 360"-380". It just sucks if you don't get drawn because then you are stuck hunting cows and spikes. (archery)

[boneaddict]

By the way, for those that don't know me and think that I am throwing the 400 inch score around......here are two pics of those bones.  I can't remember if they ever made it on this site or not.  I know Jackelope and I talked about them alot.  I'd probably have a heart attack if I ran into this critter in the woods, and am torqued that the guys whose land this bull was on, was at my house this fall, and he forgot to inform me about this and another bull     When they offered for me to come down and hunt, I may have listened a little closer    and to think that my pheasants were out perching on those bones, I could just 

[boneaddict]

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

That is why the blues are far and away the best opportunity for a monster.
Chasing that bad boy...
But it is tough hunting. Very steep.

[WDFW-SUX]

I think I have seen live tape of him and even know where he calls home now just need the tag..........


If ever buying the governor's tag would be worth the price he'd be the one.......

[nwhunter]

Does anyone else feel like the westsiders get the short end of the stick for elk permits? Yes we do get to hunt branched bulls if we don't draw but to put in for a true trophy hunt on the east side we risk not drawing and having to take time off and drive many hours for a spike only hunt. The multi season tag helps this but I can't seem to draw one for elk. I really wish all residents of washington had equal opportunity at special permits regardless of where they are. I will probably go pointsaver this year unless I get a multi tag in the redraw and hope for a multi tag next year and then put in east side. nwhunter