What would you say are the best Elk Permits to apply for?

[MDGrand]

Not that I am going to win.. as I know it takes a crap load of points in order to be drawn.. but I might as well start putting the name in the hat so one day I will be.

What would you say the best Permits are?

So far the most popular ones I see are:

2032 Margaret
2034 Toutle
2031 Margaret
2031 Little Naches
2018 Colockum
2068 Margaret (again)
2069 Toutle (again)
2104 Peaches Ridge
2105 Observatory


..and there are more as we all know.. Bottom line.. I go elk hunting everywhere in this state.. got one bull about 3 years ago.. a young 3 pt.. I usually go out of state for Elk as its pretty tough here in WA and there is usually so much competition.. deer does not seem as bad.

What are your guys thoughts? Are a lot of these private lands for these permit hunts? What really are the best areas in your humble opinions? Not asking anyone to give away their honey hole but interested as to what others thoughts are.

Plan this year is to Archery hunt in West this year.. hire a local guide who is excellent and try some luck there on a Roosy.

[Woodchuck]

looks like a perfect list to me, i say go with it 

[carpsniperg2]

if you are going to hunt with a guide, which i think you are from the last part of your post. talk to them and let them tell you the areas that they know and will have a good chance on instead of trying to take them to a new spot if they even will hunt a area they don't know. hope this helps

[bowtech721]

ya most guides have their areas that they prefer to guide in or only guide in. check around with who you might go with before you put in 

[MDGrand]

JimKD8... I do not know anything about these permit areas though other than location and what I know about well known herds.

carpsniperg2.. I know where the guide will take me in West.. just curious as to these most popular permits.. interested if anyone else has ever got one and what they know about the area.. i.e. private lands, access, etc...?

[Woodchuck]

I was jerking your chain a little, sorry man, you know as much about those areas as i do, i hunt em elsewhere

[WSU]

I guess it depends on what you want.  The best hunts are probably in JIMKD8's neck of the woods, but the bull tags are damn hard to come by.  I imagine JIMKD8 was having a little fun for just that reason.

[Woodchuck]

  , no elk over here, not a one

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Strange list, if your hunting west-side, only Margaret and Toutle are listed.....
NOOKSACK....
Mudflow....
Olympic.....
Are 3 good quality hunts, but don't apply for them because I want to...

[MDGrand]

I guess it depends on what you want.  The best hunts are probably in JIMKD8's neck of the woods, but the bull tags are damn hard to come by.  I imagine JIMKD8 was having a little fun for just that reason.

Thanks WSU.. I am just trying to get a feel for what is out there.. As long as I have been hunting here in WA I have still yet to really know the good elk areas, special permits to really apply for, etc. Like I said, I usually go out of state for Wappati.

sticknstringbow.. thanks for the info!

[mtncook]

If you hire a guide be certain he is licensed, has a permit, and insured. There are some operating illegally and you as a client can be cited for hiring an illegal. The illegal ones have very little invested in operating and cause the permitted guides and outfitters some real headaches.

mtncook

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Strange list, if your hunting west-side, only Margaret and Toutle are listed.....
NOOKSACK....
Mudflow....
Olympic.....
Are 3 good quality hunts, but don't apply for them because I want to...

No decent bulls left in the Nooksack,  they were ALL shot last year during archery.   

[bigbull94]

The Margaret tag is way over rated.I scouted and helped find a bull for my cousin last year,and was quite disappointed on quality of animals.We passed on a couple of smaller bulls before he dropped an nice 5x5 in the 225-230"class.I saw one bull at 1000yds or more that might go 275".The noble firs are 30yrs.old and 40 ft. tall.It makes it tough to find nice elk.The genetics of the last 30 yrs of inbreeding has created a lot of small bulls,imo.One big valley that somone can see/hunt is not good in my mind!!And I think the wolves might already be there?!,or one might be for sure!!

[PA BEN]

Right now I only apply for the best tags on the West side because I live over here for now. If I draw I have the best chance at a good bull.
QUALITY ELK
2041     PENINSULA WF Sept. 20-24 3 pt. min. GMUs 602, 607, 612 1 tag     
2044            QUINAULT  WF Sept. 20-24 3 pt. min. GMU 638 1 tag   
BULL ELK
2116     OLYMPIC WF Nov. 6-16 3 pt. min. GMU 621, except for Elk Area 6071 14 tags

[Pathfinder101]

, no elk over here, not a one

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