Wa archery elk hunters

[Elkstuffer]

I've drawn an incredible elk tag here in WA this year and I'm trying to figure out what is going to be my best option for the fall. Thanks for participating.

[dreamingbig]

Excuse me?  What tag did you draw?  Did you get the incentive tag?

[Weehunt66]

If it a once in a life time opportunity ---- Take both weeks.   

[vandeman17]

If it a once in a life time opportunity ---- Take both weeks.   

  Can you not hunt both weeks?

[PolarBear]

If you rely on calling then go second week, if not first.

[Elkstuffer]

Excuse me?  What tag did you draw?  Did you get the incentive tag?

Yeah, I hit the elk lottery and was #5 on the list for Hunter Ed incentive tags. I can hunt any elk, GMU's 336 - 368 during all general AND permit seasons.

If it a once in a life time opportunity ---- Take both weeks.   

My wife is going to have to take vacation time for me to do this. I can actually hunt the 1st 7 days or the 2nd 10 days of the early season. The latter part leads right into the rifle rut hunt that I can also hunt if needed.

[pianoman9701]

I voted for the 1st week, but I hunt the whole 11 days of the early season.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Man thats sweet ... I would hunt 336 some big bulls coming from this area lately....

[brianmtsinc]

Wow!!  Congrats!!
What I wouldn't do for that tag!!!!
If you can only take 1 week - I would hunt as late as possible in Sept.
Good luck!!!!!

[Alan K]

If you rely on calling then go second week, if not first.

 

Sounds like you're going to have a hell of a hunt! Congrats!

[boonerboy]

WOW, Congrats!! I know where I would be....and it would be the 2nd week of Sept. 

[Bean Counter]

If its such a tag I would hunt both weeks. Congrats.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

No bulls in the Taneum... they all went to the Colockum and the Blues... Bigfoot chased them out.

What a great tag!  Congrats and keep us posted!

[jackelope]

2ND...
I wouldn't risk the 1st week being too early.

[Elkstuffer]

If its such a tag I would hunt both weeks. Congrats.

If I hunted both weeks of the archery season I would only get to hunt the 1st and the last day of the 5 day rifle rut hunt on Sept 19th thru the 23rd.

[yakimarcher]

I would go backpack into the Norse Peak area

[Buckmark]

If its such a tag I would hunt both weeks. Congrats.

If I hunted both weeks of the archery season I would only get to hunt the 1st and the last day of the 5 day rifle rut hunt on Sept 19th thru the 23rd.

I am confused, but for archery i would hunt both weeks, and if your just jonesing to hunt he rifle rut hunt (assuming you have not notched the tag already) then do it, sounds like you have the time off, the wife, eh she can come along when she can....

[jstone]

Archery is a challenge. Take 2 weeks to be safe.

[Elkstuffer]

I am confused, but for archery i would hunt both weeks, and if your just jonesing to hunt he rifle rut hunt (assuming you have not notched the tag already) then do it, sounds like you have the time off, the wife, eh she can come along when she can....
[/quote]

The issue is with my 5 yr old son. He starts kindergarten next year. My wife only works tues,wed and thurs. So if she takes 3 days vaca during the 2nd week I can hunt 10 days early archery and then I'll fly my mom in from Connecticut to watch my son during the rifle rut hunt. So actually I'm only giving up the 1st 3 days of the archery season.

[Alan K]

Heck if I were you I'd just go hunt the second week of the archery season.  That 5 day rifle season should be a piece of cake if you end up not closing the deal during the week of archery.

[flinger]

2nd 10, usually a little less pressure than OPENING WEEK and if the weather works in your favor ya might just get lucky Check with NORSEPEAK he might be able to help ya out a bit

[dreamingbig]

My wife is going to have to take vacation time for me to do this. I can actually hunt the 1st 7 days or the 2nd 10 days of the early season. The latter part leads right into the rifle rut hunt that I can also hunt if needed.
[/quote]

Given this, I would opt for the 2nd 10 days!  You are a very lucky man.

[danderson]

I drew the hunter education multi season tag also and im still trying to figure out what I will put in for, I am a archer, and only have one incentive point, so I am leaning tward putting in for  the muzzeloader bull tag, to up my odds, how do you know that you have aready drawn the bull permit.

[Elkstuffer]

I drew the hunter education multi season tag also and im still trying to figure out what I will put in for, I am a archer, and only have one incentive point, so I am leaning tward putting in for  the muzzeloader bull tag, to up my odds, how do you know that you have aready drawn the bull permit.

I have the Hunter Ed Incentive tag. It is the Region 3 any elk tag good in GMU's 336 thru 368. I can hunt ALL permit AND general seasons with each corresponding weapon. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was #5 on the list and got lucky that this tag was still available.

[brew]

congrats on the draw and thanks for being a fellow hunter ed instructor...this is our 3rd year doing it in the Yelm area

[throttlejocky20]

I picked first week only because by that time im ready to shoot the neiborhood cats.

[Recurve-Elk]

Go both if you can, If not maybe the 2nd.  Its a real difficult call.  Usually I see more animals the first week because they are less spooked and haven't been pushed into their little hiding places.  But the 2nd is closer to their rutting time if not spot on.  Last year I was able to bugle in a 5x5 to about 45 yards I think, that was around 6 days into the season.  Didn't get the guy even though I had a tag. 

[greenhead_killer]

i would take the last ten days of archery. if you pick the right units to get into, there are plenty of elk and will not be too wound up from other hunters. plus the 2nd week usually gets the bulls talking more and the chance to call one in is higher. we generally only hunt the last 4-5 days of archery season and are always in elk. we found a 350 plus bull the weekend after archery season last year and he didnt seem too worried about anything. good luck to you tho, you will definitly have to keep everyone on here posted on how it all goes

[oldleclercrd]

Also elk archery season opens just after Labor Day weekend and it may take the elk a little bit to calm down from all the traffic (campers, ATV's, hikers).

[Elkstuffer]

Thanks for all of the input guys. I really appreciate it.

Also elk archery season opens just after Labor Day weekend and it may take the elk a little bit to calm down from all the traffic (campers, ATV's, hikers).

I was thinking the exact same thing

[PlateauNDN]

Congrats on the draw, good luck and keep us posted.

[Todd_ID]

I voted for the first week because that's when I feel the biggest of the big bulls are vulnerable.  They don't have their cows yet, and they are talking to the other bulls getting their pecking order established in preparation for the cows choosing the bulls.  When they cut the ID Panhandle tag back to start on Sept 6 instead of Aug 30, then we pretty much lost the chance at the big boys.  The best time of the year for actually killing the monsters versus hearing them or chasing them around is the last couple days of Aug and the first 4 or 5 days of Sept, in my opinion.  If lots of action is what you want, then the last of the season is better because the rest of the bulls are going nuts trying to get the cows from the big boys.  But, if a big boy is what you want, then you need to kill him before or after he has cows, because he's good at staying away when he has them, plus he has that many more eyes to beat you with.

[MtnMuley]

I'd pick the 1st week also.  Todd nailed it in my opinion.  Get on the big bull early before everybody else.  As you've mentioned, if all else fails, you have the rifle rut (no-brainer, piece-of-cake) hunt.  Best of luck, and thanks for passing along our heritage to others.

[dreamingbig]

One thing that my be counter to the above points is that the big boys don't always have the cows.  Usually they do but not always.  I called one in last year on the 16th that was definitely looking to come in and steal a cow.  He was a big boy that was solo.

[D-Rock425]

I voted for the 2nd week but it was a hard choice.  I don't think I could handle missing opening day of elk season.

[KNOXY]

Deff. 1st week

[blackhorn]

That is a good point Todd.  Never thought of that. 

[colockumelk]

I agree with everything that Todd said. However, since you can hunt the rifle rut tag I would hunt the second weekwhere they are more vocal making it easier to find elk. Bugle/scout and find the big one with your bow. Then come back and find him with a gun. I wouldn't risk a OIL tag with a bow. Scout with a bow. Hunt with a rifle.

[Annette]

I voted for the first week because that's when I feel the biggest of the big bulls are vulnerable.  They don't have their cows yet, and they are talking to the other bulls getting their pecking order established in preparation for the cows choosing the bulls.  When they cut the ID Panhandle tag back to start on Sept 6 instead of Aug 30, then we pretty much lost the chance at the big boys.  The best time of the year for actually killing the monsters versus hearing them or chasing them around is the last couple days of Aug and the first 4 or 5 days of Sept, in my opinion.  If lots of action is what you want, then the last of the season is better because the rest of the bulls are going nuts trying to get the cows from the big boys.  But, if a big boy is what you want, then you need to kill him before or after he has cows, because he's good at staying away when he has them, plus he has that many more eyes to beat you with.
TODD Is right, all my bigest bulls came in before they had cows gathered up. ....but don't tell anyone...shhhhh

[Elkrunner]

1st week...I always like to catch them before has been too much pressure. 

[KNOXY]

first week!

[Crunchy]

Second week.  Bulls are much more vocal, and cows closer to or in esterous.

[muleracks2]

I would hunt the 2ND week but since my "any elk" tag if over the counter, it is important to hunt a pocket of elk that no one else hunts and that no M.F. High Hunters go into (pockets do exist).  Bulls are more callable.

Otherwise I would hunt the first week and hope for only a few stealthy archery hunters in the area.

[watrapper]

Congrats on a great tag. And thanks for being a hunter ed instructor. Good luck and keep us posted.

[akirkland]

First week!! Just because ive been waiting so long to get in the woods. But Honestly... I take off the whole early season... cause i can.

[Arrow]

For me its really hard to tell at this point, I normally try to go the first couple days and the last 5-7 days but it depends on the weather especially with the Sept hunts. If it looks like its going to be 80-90deg I would rather stay home because the animals are deep and not moving and if it looks like its going to rain and be colder then you better be in the woods. However with that bull tag you need to be in the woods as much as you can if you want a shot at a big guy.