Late season elk and deer east or west?

[petej]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and new to bowhunting. I've been reading posts on here for a while so I thought I'd make an acccount and introduce myself. This is basically my first year hunting and I decided to just hunt with my bow. I hunted 20 days out of the early season with about 7 days in gmu 245 and the rest in 624. I hunted hard both places and got close a few times and made some stupid mistakes, and just never got a shot. So now i'm getting ready to try in the late season.

My plan is to either hunt in gmu 117 because I can take any deer, elk or turkey, which seems like it will give me a better chance at a shot. Or I may hunt on the west side in 520 for elk and deer. I've never killed any big animal before, just rabbits and birds so i'm not gonna be picky. I would be super stoked on a doe or a even a hen turkey. If I am on the east side the white tails should still be rutting a little correct? so I will probably get  a grunt tube and I have a set of antlers. I feel like my chances are best on the east so I am just wondering what you guys think? Also any tips about how to hunt deer and elk in the late season would be awesome.

Thanks for any replies, and happy hunting.

[bobcat]

Welcome.

Just a quick question first:  Did you already purchase your elk tag?

[Curly]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and new to bowhunting. I've been reading posts on here for a while so I thought I'd make an acccount and introduce myself. This is basically my first year hunting and I decided to just hunt with my bow. I hunted 20 days out of the early season with about 7 days in gmu 245 and the rest in 624. I hunted hard both places and got close a few times and made some stupid mistakes, and just never got a shot. So now i'm getting ready to try in the late season.

My plan is to either hunt in gmu 117 because I can take any deer, elk or turkey, which seems like it will give me a better chance at a shot. Or I may hunt on the west side in 520 for elk and deer. I've never killed any big animal before, just rabbits and birds so i'm not gonna be picky. I would be super stoked on a doe or a even a hen turkey. If I am on the east side the white tails should still be rutting a little correct? so I will probably get  a grunt tube and I have a set of antlers. I feel like my chances are best on the east so I am just wondering what you guys think? Also any tips about how to hunt deer and elk in the late season would be awesome.

Thanks for any replies, and happy hunting.

Bobcat:  See the bold above.

[bobcat]

He doesn't say if he was hunting deer, elk, or both. But I assume deer only, since he hunted two units that don't have elk.

[Curly]

Pete J.  Just to clarify, you do know that you can only hunt elk in W or E Washington depending on which one you specified when you bought the elk license, right?  (Unless you have the multi-season elk permit).

[petej]

Yes, I know about the east/west thing with elk, and I have not purchased my tag. I was only hunting deer in the early season, sorry should have clarified that.

[Curly]

Well, I'm not a bowhunter, so hopefully someone else with bow hunting experience will chime in and give some advice.  I do think that if you'd be happy to just kill a doe, that you should just concentrate on deer.  Late season elk with a bow would be pretty difficult I would think.  So, if I were you I'd go to NE and try for a whitetail.  Not many elk in 49 Deg but I guess it wouldn't hurt to buy an elk tag just in case.

[petej]

Ok thanks, that's what I'm leaning towards right now. I know an elk is a long shot but I will probably get a tag just because it would sure be awful to see one and not be able to go after it. Any tips for hunting that area in late nov? How much snow can I expect and should I hunt the snow line or down low?

[D-Rock425]

Pm sent

[wayner]

Ive been bow hunting for about 15 years. Remember their are no stupid mistakes just learning experiences . My advice is to be patient and put in your time in the woods. 117 is a good unit for both nice whitetails and elk. Shot my elk in that unit this year. I hunt for deer out of treestands alot with the aid of trailcameras and i am not shy about shooting does either. Hopefully their will be snow on the ground by then. Good luck

[petej]

Ok cool, thanks a lot that is encouraging. I'm getting really excited about this, I guess the next step is to start looking at maps and figure out a couple areas to try. Thanks everyone for the input!

[D-Rock425]

Good luck on your hunt

[bullrider97]

There are lots of elk in 117- just not as many as Yakima area. Problem is the brush is super thick, just means you have to put in the time to learn the area and the openings that are being used. 49 North has a resident herd (300 were transplanted) that makes a loop through the area. Anywhere off of Flowery Trail Rd. is decent. As for deer- I use a stand in 124.

[petej]

Awesome, thanks a lot I will check that area out.