Wanting to Learn

[AndyCAK]

Hi all!  I've been a long time lurker, but it's finally time for my first post.  I've learned a great deal from these forums, but I'd really like to gain some better field experience.  I went out for deer for the first time last year and got a small 4x4 whitetail.  From that experience I learned that some of the people I went with were a little too willing to pull a trigger.  I also learned that they didn't take any time at the range to hone their marksmanship.  With that in mind I'm not too keen on hunting with them again...  One guy took six shots and hit NOTHING!!!  I'm far from an expert, but I know my limits and won't pull the trigger if I'm not positive I'm going to hit my target.  But I digress...

What I'm looking for is somebody to learn from this fall.  I'm a smart guy with a strong back and I'd love to help pack out an elk in exchange for any wisdom you're willing to share.  I don't know if posting something like this is a fools errand, but I've noticed this community is full of people looking to help people learn more about the sport.  Any suggestions or information would be very much appreciated!

Many thanks in advance!

-Andy

[Woodchuck]

Where are you and where do you want to hunt. This might help some guys come out of the woodwork.

[AndyCAK]

Good call Woodchuck!  I'm in Seattle and would prefer to hunt Westside for Elk.

[Woodchuck]

  I am sorry I can't help you, I hunt eastside in the area of no elk 

[fair-chase]

Not sure I can help ya on the hunting but just wanted to say kudos for kicking the slob hunters to the curb early. You did yourself a huge favor not participating in that kind of activity and you will find in the future that you are much happier without that kind of influence. Welcome to the board, hopefully you can find some help in the areas you are planning on hunting.

[ridgefire]

i do not hunt the westside but you are def. doing the right thing by getting after it well before the season starts. im sure someone on here will be willing to share some info or invite you along on a hunt. best of luck.

[zackmioli]

if i was more experienced myself and had more knowledge to lend id be more than happy to bring you along but im also new to elk hunting so im still learning, but good job on getting rid of those other people you went with. like was said before you will be glad you did in the long run. there are a lot of really helpful and smart people on this site. im sure someone will help you out more than i can.

[zmhayward]

Save your money and hire a guide for a year.  A guide is paid to teach you how to hunt and they will know more about a particular area than anybody.  They do what they do not just for the money but because they love hunting so much that they want to teach others their technique.  You will learn more from one year with a guide than five years without one.

[Sporting_Man]

My ambitions for this year are similar, and would also like to try my luck on Westside elk... Peninsula, or so...
I wonder how much would be a fee for this kind of guided hunt (general firearm - elk)..?

[AndyCAK]

Thanks for all the feedback!  I realize that until tags are drawn people don't have much of an idea what their plans are for the fall.

I'm not sure a guided hunt is in the cards anytime soon.  I'm just finishing up graduate school so student loans are going to eat up a big chunk of what I could save.  I do like the idea though...

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have been hunting Elk for 32 years, and still wish someone would teach me how 
I have managed to harvest Elk, but every year I learn something new, usually from the Elk themselves.
I suggest reading everything you can (unfortunately most books will repeat the same basic stuff)
You probably will do best by researching the area you want to hunt, getting out and scouting, and try to hook up with other hunters in the area.
Get Elknuts "Playbook" and cd's.
I am an Archery hunter, so not much help, but firearm season seems more like either picking a good escape route, or getting away from other hunters by walking further than the average guy (although lots of Elk will just stand in the Timber and watch the trucks drive by)

[400out]

Save your money and hire a guide for a year.  A guide is paid to teach you how to hunt and they will know more about a particular area than anybody.  They do what they do not just for the money but because they love hunting so much that they want to teach others their technique.  You will learn more from one year with a guide than five years without one.

Good thing you are not in the market! this is not the way to learn! start like you are and learn the way we all have trial and error

I have been hunting Elk for 32 years, and still wish someone would teach me how 
I have managed to harvest Elk, but every year I learn something new, usually from the Elk themselves.
I suggest reading everything you can (unfortunately most books will repeat the same basic stuff)
You probably will do best by researching the area you want to hunt, getting out and scouting, and try to hook up with other hunters in the area.
Get Elknuts "Playbook" and cd's.
I am an Archery hunter, so not much help, but firearm season seems more like either picking a good escape route, or getting away from other hunters by walking further than the average guy (although lots of Elk will just stand in the Timber and watch the trucks drive by)

This is good info run with it 

[JimmyHoffa]

Do you have a general area in mind for Westside elk?  Are the coastal units too far?  I find a good chunk of the learning for elk (and really all the animals) is somewhat area specific.  There is 'general' elk knowledge which one can accumulate and apply to all areas, then there are the 'specifics'.  I liken the general to recognizing common behaviors, tracks, rubs, etc.  You can get most of this online and in books.  For the specific, I'll first use maps, google earth, online info, and local knowledge.  The rest is pretty much done through scouting.  If you have time, make a few trips out before any of the hunting seasons and find their trails (river-creek bottom to the higher feeding grounds.  Find the different types of vegetation.  Good Luck.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah either ..I hunt the westside but you need to be trained in gorilla war fair...

[wormfood]

The Wetside is pretty big. If you narrow it up a bit someone probably be able to help ya out a bit more.Westside general is way to many orange pumpkin suits runnin around that why I switched to a stick and string about 10 years ago.If you know any bowhunters I would beg and plead to follow them around in September, you will learn some country and get to have the experience of being in the woods during the rut. Be careful with opened ended searches for hunting partners, there are a lot of hunters out there but you need to find someone with the same ethics and expectations you, have good luck.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The Wetside is pretty big. If you narrow it up a bit someone probably be able to help ya out a bit more.Westside general is way to many orange pumpkin suits runnin around that why I switched to a stick and string about 10 years ago.If you know any bowhunters I would beg and plead to follow them around in September, you will learn some country and get to have the experience of being in the woods during the rut.

Thats an Idea... got a pack and a good pair of boots ?......

[AndyCAK]

Thank you all for your responses to this thread.  I definitely don't consider myself a trophy hunter.  I just genuinely enjoy the outdoors and love game meat.  I will definitely be applying for some antlerless permits in addition to starting to accumulate Quality Elk Points.  I've never considered bow or muzzleloading but suppose that might be a good option on the west side.

I do appreciate the point about being careful in selecting a hunting companion.  I'm just eager to learn from those willing to teach.  I figure getting out there and pounding some earth will be the best way to do that.

Thanks again all!

[PlateauNDN]

your 2nd paragraph just summed it all up.  Figure out where you would like to go and study the area by driving to it and walking it.  Take maps of the area so you can cross off where you have been already, where you seen what animals and learn by sight and sound.  As for using your rifle properly find somebody trustworthy and very knowledgable about the workings of a firearm.  Glad you left the other group in the rearview. 

[OlympicElkJunkie]

You're off to a great start if last year was your first hunt. Congratulations on your first deer and on doing it ethically, despite the jokers you were with. On the west side you'll be taking on the elusive blacktail so aside from beginners luck you'll need to moderate your expectations because a 4pt over here is a darn good deer. One thing that should be evident by browsing this site is that most of the success you see posted in the fall was due to a lot of work done all off season. If you want to figure this out then that is where it all really happens. That's how you find the animals, that's how you get yourself back into the spots you want to be, and that's how you make the shot that presents itself so precious few times. There are deer and elk all over western Washington and you can learn all the techniques you'll need to get them in range when the season arrives by reading some good books, articles, and watching some decent videos. Basic tactics are pretty true across the board and are based on avoiding the prey's strengths and exploiting their few weaknesses. You'll adapt your approach slightly based on your abilities, objectives, and hunt areas. For west side elk I like the Angry Spike and Born and Raised Outdoors videos.
I'll be out scouting elk all summer so if you want to come along then send a message.

[bass2elk]

A lot of good advice here, but clearly you didnt get the answer you were loooking for.  I doubted that you would even with the goood folks on this site.  That being said i dont hunt the westside but you are more than welcome to come along on a hunt with me in GMU 113 as i know where they are or at least where they travel.  If you continue to watch this thread people will scorn the fact that i even said which GMU, even though its a huge unit.  P.S. if you can't make it one tip would be dont be a road hunter, you will see more game and less people.

[vaz,,66]

You and me pretty much on the same page here , i started my first post with the same reason not long ago
and let me tell i was not disappointed . Guys on this forum THE BEST you'll see some one will help you i have no doubts . Go threw all elk hunting posts here read them and you'll get priceless info. what i found that most of info out there based on the hunting tectonics from the big states like Montana , Colorado , nothing wrong with that just our state is a little bet different ( on the West side) Ive watch many DVDs about elk hunting when guys harvest huge bulls like Primos team , but when they ( primos ) came hunt elk over here they ended up with a four point bull and they said  so far that was one of the most difficult hunt ever , that hunt was guided , don't get me wrong i would love to get that four point  bull every year what I'm trying to say that the WA is different .
What i would recommend don't waste your time just like i did , first three years of my hunting i spend with a rifle then i decided to go out on archery season, since then i never get back to a rifle .