Archery, muzzle, or modern for penninsula elk??

[jonhans]

Hi all. New here to the forum and thank you all for the great info on these existing posts.  I will be moving from MT to Forks, WA this spring and am trying to do as much homework as I can upfront about the hunting situation.  I know I am spoiled like crazy here in MT with long seasons for elk and deer and not having a choose your weapon season.  My passion is archery for elk, mainly because it coincides with the rut, at least in MT.  I enjoy the rifle too, and have never done the muzzle loader thing.  My question is, is any one weapon season "better" than the other?  Defining "better" for me takes into account; length of season, fewer other hunters, and success or number of elk encounters.  I enjoy getting in deep and away from other hunters if possible.  Thoughts or advice in general on getting into those Roosies?  Thanks!
Jon

[flinger]

 Welcome to the site
Archery definatly has advantages,look into the regs and see what seasons ya like best
Caution: Be careful deciding to go IN DEEP anywhere in that area without knowing the area, alot of big thick wet and dark country.Not a bad idea to hook up with someone who is familiar with the area

[brianmtsinc]

Welcome to the site!
I archery hunt elk on the east side, so am not much help on the west side.  But there are a lot of great folks on here that will offer up some great advice. 

To me, if archery is your passion, like it is for me - it would not matter the season.  Archery hunting elk in Sept is as good as it gets for me!

Good luck to you!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Welcome to the site and Washington.
I Archery hunt myself,  Will only use other weapons if/when drawn for Multi.
seems like the rut doesn't get into full swing with the Roosies until the last week of September (after archery) but pre-rut and a few hot bulls make it worthwhile..
 Muzzleloader seasons are pretty short and limited units, I dont even think they have a ML season near Forks, unless you head north.
It has been a long time since I have been out during modern, but I hear it is a zoo...

[wildmanoutdoors]

Welcome to the site and Washington.
I Archery hunt myself,  Will only use other weapons if/when drawn for Multi.
seems like the rut doesn't get into full swing with the Roosies until the last week of September (after archery) but pre-rut and a few hot bulls make it worthwhile..
 Muzzleloader seasons are pretty short and limited units, I dont even think they have a ML season near Forks, unless you head north.
It has been a long time since I have been out during modern, but I hear it is a zoo...

 :yeah:Couldent have said it better! I hunt the Clearwater unit and last year because of hunting schedule issues with my partners we tried the modern. The Peninsula is soooo thick and hard to get around in that unless you can call to locate or call to get em to come to you its nearly impossible to find em consistently! but you'll love the fishing up there!

[Alan K]

I'd probably go the second week of archery.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I'd probably go the second week of archery.

One difference I have seen between East and west, East-side, a lot of hunters head home during the second week, or come up the second week.
Where on the west side I see about the same all through the season, with increased pressure during late.
Could be because it takes less travel time to hunt west-side for most....
Living in Forks, you could scout and hunt almost any time....

[D-Rock425]

My vote would be archery.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Thoughts or advice in general on getting into those Roosies?

I archery hunt, and just want to suggest one difference I have run into between Rockies and Roosies,
When I hunted on the east side for Rockies, I would call, sometimes get a response, sometimes not, but when they came in to me, it was at a walk, sometimes run.
They would cover quite a distance in a matter of minutes.
Hunting on the coast (or near) I have had them take 1/2 hour or more, just to cover 300 yards !!
often walking in on me after I had given up, and begin moving again. 
Makes me think about something I heard about cats and dogs,....
"A dog comes when you call him, where a cat will take a message and get back to you."
They just dont seem to be in a hurry for anything, even when I get busted, they seem to only run 1oo yards, then stop to see if I am following, then try to circle down wind, The Rockies always just ran out of the drainage, stopping at or near ridgeline (and even then only sometimes)

[Webfoot]

 When you get to Forks give me a shout and I will point you in the right direction.
 Welcome to the site. This is a great place.

John

[blacktailcrzy]

Thoughts or advice in general on getting into those Roosies?

I archery hunt, and just want to suggest one difference I have run into between Rockies and Roosies,
When I hunted on the east side for Rockies, I would call, sometimes get a response, sometimes not, but when they came in to me, it was at a walk, sometimes run.
They would cover quite a distance in a matter of minutes.
Hunting on the coast (or near) I have had them take 1/2 hour or more, just to cover 300 yards !!
often walking in on me after I had given up, and begin moving again. 
Makes me think about something I heard about cats and dogs,....
"A dog comes when you call him, where a cat will take a message and get back to you."
They just dont seem to be in a hurry for anything, even when I get busted, they seem to only run 1oo yards, then stop to see if I am following, then try to circle down wind, The Rockies always just ran out of the drainage, stopping at or near ridgeline (and even then only sometimes)

i was just wondering when is the best time to practice bugling in roosies in that area ?

[Webfoot]

 Personally I do not bugle for Roosevelt elk in this area.
Seems like they do not respond well here to the bugle and I have seen them actually leave the area when bugled.
Might have something to do with people out practicing bugling.

John

[nwhunter]

Jonhans I sent you a pm. Not sure why you would leave Montana to move to this wet brush hole but we will welcome you. We have elk to hunt and even an indoor archery range now to practice in.

Blacktailcrzy practice all you want at home or go play with them in the park somewhere in late Sept just not anywhere people hunt, we have enough educated elk that have heard every call made by man. If you have your calls and a good cd with elk sounds that is the best practice you can have.nwhunter

[JimmyHoffa]

I spend a lot of time hunting that area.  My overall conclusion is this:

Archery:  Good units available where you can spread out and explore...not too crowded.  The early season tends to be a bit too early for the rut.  Vegetation still really thick.  "Dry" twigs and branches...making crunchy noises.

Muzzleloader:  Not a whole lot of units but a couple of them hold some real bruisers.  The early season is timed great for the rut.  The early season is crowded.  The late season is pretty long, just over three weeks.  At least one unit for late season has bigguns, but even if it isn't raining like a mother....the mosses and ferns are flinging the moisture up at you, so you still get soaked.  Very few hunters in the late season.

Rifle:  All the units open, crowded--trucks everywhere.  But not many people away from the roads.  Rain at this time tends to be hit/miss.  Too late for the rut, and a little early for the snow to force herds out of the Park.  Probably see RVs and big tents in most places where the road pulls off or opens up enough to allow.

For archery, early muzzle, and modern there are units open such that you can shoot them near the river bottoms and then launch a driftboat upriver for retrieval.
The early seasons can really be wildcards when it comes to weather....this past year early muzzle seemed to coincide with the warmest/driest week I can remember for October.  If you choose muzzle, learn to get a good 'waterproof' program down for the muzzy.

[bwhntr350]

Personally I do not bugle for Roosevelt elk in this area.
Seems like they do not respond well here to the bugle and I have seen them actually leave the area when bugled.
Might have something to do with people out practicing bugling.

John

 I bugle. I do not bugle tons and tons, but I bugle. If the bull has a herd and you bugle from too close, yes, they are gone. I believe that he feels threatened and heads on out.

 Regardless, the bull will most always answer back, at least, and then from there, even if you do not know if he is with cows, just put the bugle away and be quiet.

 If it is a loner, it will answer back and sometimes come in. Cow chirping is the most effective. I have had many, including the one I killed this year, come to my chirp, although I was heading to his bugle. We cross paths, unknowingly. I ended up where the bull was when he bugled and the bull ended up where I was when I chirped.

 Eventually, we found each other and I just thawed out some of his jerky meat for a snack later today.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Personally I do not bugle for Roosevelt elk in this area.
Seems like they do not respond well here to the bugle and I have seen them actually leave the area when bugled.
Might have something to do with people out practicing bugling.

John

 I bugle. I do not bugle tons and tons, but I bugle. If the bull has a herd and you bugle from too close, yes, they are gone. I believe that he feels threatened and heads on out.

 Regardless, the bull will most always answer back, at least, and then from there, even if you do not know if he is with cows, just put the bugle away and be quiet.

 If it is a loner, it will answer back and sometimes come in. Cow chirping is the most effective. I have had many, including the one I killed this year, come to my chirp, although I was heading to his bugle. We cross paths, unknowingly. I ended up where the bull was when he bugled and the bull ended up where I was when I chirped.

I have had lots of guys tell me "they are not bugling", yet I run into several every year that do, they just don't seem to be as loud as most hunters.. 
I also NEVER bugle in the woods until season, practice (as it were) at home, but been "practicing" for 23 years, if I have not figured out how to bugle by now......

[grundy53]

I think the deep timber/reprod really absorbs the sound of their bugle.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I had one last year up under the powerlines, bugled at me twice (He bugled in answer to my cow/calf calling) still seemed like he didn't really want to be heard, but then he was a little 4X5 raghorn.....

[iRem]

I had one last year up under the powerlines, bugled at me twice (He bugled in answer to my cow/calf calling) still seemed like he didn't really want to be heard, but then he was a little 4X5 raghorn.....

What's with the Power Lines??  I love hunting power lines and I ALWAYS have success seeing, stalking and harvesting deer and elk!! With the clear cuts/opening area the sounds of the bugle calls travel further and with more success, and I see blackies all the time....

[Kowsrule30]

It's usually to early during early season archery to catch the Rosie or Rocky elk rut even.... You're better off ml if you want a better rut hunt....  I wouldn't do modern....

[bwhntr350]

It's usually to early during early season archery to catch the Rosie or Rocky elk rut even.... You're better off ml if you want a better rut hunt....  I wouldn't do modern....

 This is 100% entirely too true. I wish bowhunters could buy a black powder tag and hunt their season.
 Let's put it into perspective:

 I hunted from 1981 thru 1986 and killed 2 P&Y bulls in those 6 seasons

 I hunted from 1987 thru 1991 and killed 5 P&Y bulls in those 5 seasons.

 I hunted from 2005 thru present and killed 2 P&Y bulls in those 6 seasons

 So, I have taken 4 P&Y bulls in 12 September seasons and 5 P&Y bulls in 5 October seasons.

 Early October is by far the better season if getting a kill is your number one objective, IMO.

[jonhans]

Thanks for the great info on the seasons.  I think I'll stick with the archery pre-rut season to start with.  Also appreciate the tips for roosies.  John and Scott-I'll let you know when I get settled in Forks thanks for the offers and hospitality.  If anyone needs any MT tips I'd be happy to help out.
Jon

[Westsidebowhunter]

I hunt the Forks area mainly bogashield and clearwater with archery and have been successful the last 4 years with some nice bulls. However it can be dry and the elk move little unless its like last season where it rained every day. The bulls dont seem to be in full swing rut until muzzleload season but there arent as many areas open and there are three times or more hunters. Good luck and i am sure i will see you out there sometime!