Best Elk GMU's

[New England Native]

I am new to elk hunting. I have moved here in 2003 went out elk hunting but noticed in order to be sucessful one needs to do their homework. I've talked to people over the years and hear some repeating information that Winston, Packwood and Lewis River are the best producing GMU's on the westside and the best permit to put in for is Margret. I will have 5 points this next season hopefully I can score something. I am not asking for anyone's honey hole but maybe some guidence on where to start. I served 4 years in the Marine Corps so hard work is not new to me. I am not afraid to put some miles on my boots. Any information would be helpful.

[jackelope]

i'll take a stab at this...
have you looked at the harvest reports yet for the last couple years? they are on the wdfw website...
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/harvest/index.htm
the units you mentioned are all good based solely on the amount of talk on here regarding those units. the best thing you can do is pick a unit, get to know it and it's animal's habits very well and stick with it. they are all good.

[Jackjr]

Depends on what weapon you want to use and if it is general season or special permit.  I personally think that the wenaha unit if you are not afraid of working you a_ _ off is as good as it gets.  Just my 2 cents worth.  I have seen and picked up some pretty nice shed horns in the spring.  But you are not going to shoot it from a pickup.

[bowhuntin]

Are talking state wide or just on the westside of the state? There are a lot of good units on the east side of the state. Peaches Ridge is probably one of the more sought after tags for the Yakima area, not sure about the blues. It seems that there are some big animals down there too. I would browse through different topics posted in the past year and look at the animals that people harvested and posted here to see what caliber of animals there are and also look at the statistics from WDFW.

[Bigshooter]

Sent you a pm.

[New England Native]

Thanks for the pm bigshooter I'll add that to the library of information I am compiling.

[257 Wby Mag]

Bow musket, rifle? Lots of bulls within walking distance of your town....

[andrew_12gauge]

if you wanna hunt the eastside and feel like killing yourself for an elk you might look into the watershed, there have been some monster bulls taken out of that unit in the past but if youre not ready to do that look anywhere around the I-90 corridor or yakima, i know nothing about the wetside

[Wea300mag]

if you wanna hunt the eastside and feel like killing yourself for an elk you might look into the watershed, there have been some monster bulls taken out of that unit in the past but if youre not ready to do that look anywhere around the I-90 corridor or yakima, i know nothing about the wetside

The watershed is definitely a steep mother, but I'm willing to self mutilate myself (sorry for stealing your quote bone, I just like the way that sounded) for a monster bull. I've put in for that unit many times.

[andrew_12gauge]

if you wanna hunt the eastside and feel like killing yourself for an elk you might look into the watershed, there have been some monster bulls taken out of that unit in the past but if youre not ready to do that look anywhere around the I-90 corridor or yakima, i know nothing about the wetside

The watershed is definitely a steep mother, but I'm willing to self mutilate myself (sorry for stealing your quote bone, I just like the way that sounded) for a monster bull. I've put in for that unit many times.

Not gonna lie it is usually in my 4 choices but it is usually down around 3 or 4, ive never understood the guys who shoot cows in that unit i mean meat is meat but if im in there hed better be sportin 360 inches of bone or better

[huntnphool]

GMU522

[PolarBear]

560, even though I got my biggest in 503.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

522 is full of elk right now...

[MountainWalk]

ive never killed a westside bull-do most of my elk hunting in mt or id-- but ive always been able to find elk in 615. missed a nice 7 point bull,so close yet so far away, ..not hunting there this year, no ml season...but always elk about, especially on the south fork hoh....prolly better units.. but in all the general westside hunt units,, ive seen the most elk here

[high country]

if you look at the harv reports and do plenty of scouting there are no shortage of good elk areas in wa. the trouble is the seasons are short and the pressure is high so after about 8am opening morning the rules change. I say pick one or two areas, scout them hard and often and enjoy the fruits of your labor.