What would you like to see for elk hunting in the Blues.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I read an article on the WDFW website early 2010.  It was about the 20th anniversary of the spike only regulation and its affect on the herds in the Blues.  To sum it up, the populations are at or near management goals.  The Wenaha herd is not at the historical levels, but they were happy with the success of the elk.  Anyone who has hunted down there knows the elk are no longer primarily in the Wilderness and are numerous in every GMU.  I am hoping this means more hunting opportunities for the bulls there, but who knows in this state.  What do you think the state should do to provide more opportunities for the hunters and maintain the fine population of elk and the trophy potential in that area?

[Pathfinder101]

They could definitely stand to up the tag quota a bit.  My guess is that they will.  If there are more bull tags, more people will spend the money to put in for them.  We all know that WDFW has basically given up on managing it's game, and it is impossible to manage the throng of hunters we have compared to that game, so at this point, they are basically managing money.  If there's money in it for them, they'll do it.  Watch.

[gonehuntin68]

ive hunted the blues for close to 20 years and there is alot of elk i wish we could do something about indians shooting tons of bulls, if we all had to follow the same draw systom i would think and hope we would all have more chances to get drawn, but untill then it will never change

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

ive hunted the blues for close to 20 years and there is alot of elk i wish we could do something about indians shooting tons of bulls, if we all had to follow the same draw systom i would think and hope we would all have more chances to get drawn, but untill then it will never change

In the article they mentioned the lack of cooperation with the natives as an issue.  They tried having a reporting system for them they natives didn't want to do it the next year.  They also wanted them to come in the the office and get a tag and that went over like a fart in church.  I feel like they were using that as an excuse in the article as to why they still limit the tags so much.  Maybe someday they will cooperate.  It seems the elk are smart enough to stay away from the roads though, I haven't seen them leave the road yet ; )

[rosscrazyelk]

DUDE, what are you talking about there are no Elk in the Blues

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

The secret was out when the state record was killed up there. 

[Pathfinder101]

The secret was out before that...

[NoBark]

Just a thought.    If the U.S. has a treaty with tribe or tribes that required co-operative management of elk and said tribe or tribes do not work co-operatively with the U.S. government representative (wdfw in this case).  What, if any recourse does the U.S. have?   

I vote for making said treaty null and void.

[NWBREW]

I'd like to see me get drawn for a bull permit.....does that count.

[ribka]

stop the poachers oops i mean indians

x2

[huntnnw]

So what the hell are the indians going to do if the Govt said no more? The Govt has the ability to change ANYTHING!!

[Woodchuck]

Pathfinder  What the hell man??!!!!!! In all seriousness at much as it galls me to say it, Ithink we are headed to a permit only system for elk in the Blues and I am beginning to swing towards supporting it 

[BLUEBULLS]

I'd like to see the hunting stay exactly as it is now. Hunting up there and the amount and quality of bulls hasn't changed in about 8 years or so.

Yeah, tags are hard to draw but even as it is now, you still run into a ton of tagholders while chasing big bulls.

The herd is stable and has been for a few years now so it should be left alone.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

The only places I think they should leave the number of tags alone is Dayton and the watershed.  Thats a lot of tags and hunters out there.  I think places east of there coudl stand for a few more tags 5 or 6 per GMU, just to make hunters happy.  I mean there is 1 tag in LC and it wouldn't hurt anything to see a few more bulls drop
For some reason, I get the strange feeling that the game department is trying to make this a trophy unit and hopes to get a rush of out of state hunters interested.  Once Agnew shot that bull, it seemed anytime you talked to someone about hunting, they wanted to know where the Blues were.  Yes it was popular before that, but mostly people who grew up there, now we have non residents getting interested and why wouldn't the game department wanna sell some guy a tag for 700 bucks, instead of 40.  That's just my theory, I hope i didn't just give them an idea

[gonehuntin68]

yep you are right that is what they are tryin to do they dont care about us its all about the money

[fair-chase]

I'd like to see the hunting stay exactly as it is now. Hunting up there and the amount and quality of bulls hasn't changed in about 8 years or so.

Yeah, tags are hard to draw but even as it is now, you still run into a ton of tagholders while chasing big bulls.

The herd is stable and has been for a few years now so it should be left alone.

Exactly. Why is it that every time we get something good going someone wants to come in and change it.

[trophyhunt]

I just want to get my muzzy tag over there this year with 16 points and never look back. I know the blues are the premier elk hunting area in the state but waiting for this special permit has been more of a pain in my ass than anything. It stops me from my annual elk camp on the west side and forces me to hunt spikes on the east side which blows.  I know you all are thinking quit complaining and don't put in for it then, I'm just saying waiting all these years may or may not be worth it. I know the quality of the bulls over there and I'm in it for the long haul until I draw, but after that there will be 1 less muzzy applicant for the blues.  I will always put in for spring bear over there it is the most beautiful place in our state.  I say leave it the way it is, you can't beat that tag if you every draw it.