Elk in the NE corner of this State(or the lack of!)

[KHebden]

I have purchased a few acres in the northeast corner of the state and been there for about four years now. I have also been looking for the ghost elk that I've heard that live in this area. This has been very frustrating at times, found a few and they are very sparse. The question I now have rolling in my mind is why the area isn't set to help the elk populations and why the state is not helping also?! so what does everyone think and say? what info is there out there on the elk in the north east?!!!!

[boneaddict]

I imagine its not something that is important to them because of probable crop damage/habitat competetiveness with Muledeer etc.   To explain that.  The Methow and other areas would hold large numbers of elk but they don't wnat them to compete with the muledeer.  They have liberal seasons, and even in the old days controversial Killings of them.  This keeps their population in check.

[CAMPMEAT]

There are no crops there unless you grow your own alfalfa. It's timber. You don't say what part of the
NE you bought land at. I know loggers over there and they get their elk every year.

[dreamunelk]

Habitat,  Not sure it ever held large numbers.  Sometime an area is better for one ungulate and not the other.

[Elkslayer]

Unit 121 and 117 are good areas for elk with some great habitat! The problem is WDFW doesn't want them there because they would be paying out alot of money in crop damage. That is why these units are any elk and any bull for 117. Currently there are 65 cow tags available for rifle and muzzle loader combined in unit 117 that is open the last half of December. A majority of the locals that have access to private property and know where these elk like to winter can go in and slaughter them. 65 cow tags for that late in the year is a bad idea in my opinion. There are some monsters in both units if ya scout hard and know where to go.

[KHebden]

I have some land near Curlew and the area looks like all the area I've hunted in Mont. and the east side of the cascades. as for crop damage, what about the area around cle elum, and west of ellinsburg?

[boneaddict]

Fenced and feeding stations.

[huntnnw]

no elk?  plenty in places..elk hunting can be great in NE corner if ya know how and where..thats the part that takes the longest to learn

[Ridgeratt]

Pursuing Elk in the NE part of the state is sort of like chasing the HOLY GRAIL. There are elk but for the most part they are few and far between. If you look at the harvest reports it is a very low percentage.
But if you do good luck on your quest.

[huntnnw]

now 15 years ago would be very true...the last 10 years has been an explosion

[CAMPMEAT]

117 and 121 aren't the NE corner as us locals call it.

[CAMPMEAT]

Let's take a raise of hands for the people that live here and know what they're talking about.

[Elkslayer]

Guess it just depends on where you are local to Campmeat. I live in Springdale and you are NorthWest of me. So I would not consider you being in the NE corner either!

[CAMPMEAT]

Guess it just depends on where you are local to Campmeat. I live in Springdale and you are NorthWest of me. So I would not consider you being in the NE corner either!

Same as anyboby else that lives in western Washington that knows the answer but knows nothing. I wouldn't consider you in the NE corner either.

[Ridgeratt]

Guess I'm out of this topic seeing as how I am just a commuter!!!
Besides it seems there are folks on here who are way more in the know than I will ever be.

PS your up Swami !!!

[CAMPMEAT]

Guess I'm out of this topic seeing as how I am just a commuter!!!
Besides it seems there are folks on here who are way more in the know than I will ever be.

PS your up Swami !!!

Swami, now that's beautiful. Let me rub my belly and see what is the next request....

[Ridgeratt]

Guess I'm out of this topic seeing as how I am just a commuter!!!
Besides it seems there are folks on here who are way more in the know than I will ever be.

PS your up Swami !!!

Swami, now that's beautiful. Let me rub my belly and see what is the next request....

Now thats an ugly photo in my minds eye!!! 

[piledup]

I've never seen elk up by Curlew at all.

Last time I checked, all the elk are on the wetside.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've never seen elk up by Curlew at all.

Last time I checked, all the elk are on the wetside.

I've never seen an elk here either. I've got a friend that has only seen 1 in 58 years on Boulder Pass.

[huntnnw]

Closest I ve seen elk is the eastside of 101

[CAMPMEAT]

Closest I ve seen elk is the eastside of 101

Yes. Up up near Matson Creek, Davis Lake area.

[daydreamn]

There are no crops there unless you grow your own alfalfa. It's timber. You don't say what part of the
NE you bought land at. I know loggers over there and they get their elk every year.

Funny,  Ive found plenty of crops around the northeast and it ain't alfalfa if ya know what I mean.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

They are around, just gotta find them and keep tabs on them.  I found elk the day before season and then the entire drainage was empty on opening morning.  The elk move alot. 

What about north central washington, the 200 gmu s are open to any elk and some those areas are in the cascades, why aren't the elk up there when they are so plentiful further south closer to I 90.  Any ideas from guys who hunt around there?

[boneaddict]

Because its any elk and the game department doesn't want them in there.  Unless you know where they are its not really worth the time.  There are usually a few posts on here with people asking. LOL 


I've seen them in just about every corner of the Methow, but they just can't get a foothold. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Seems like a shame with the terrain they could probably thrive.  I wonder why they dont want more elk in this state?  Seems like we would want more elk herds so we can spread hunters out?

[Austrian Hunter]

No Elk in NE WA, they are all on the west side

[PA BEN]

Guess it just depends on where you are local to Campmeat. I live in Springdale and you are NorthWest of me. So I would not consider you being in the NE corner either!

Same as anyboby else that lives in western Washington that knows the answer but knows nothing. I wouldn't consider you in the NE corner either.

I'm from Chewelah moved to the west side 6 years ago for work, people over here say there going to eastern Washington and I ask where? Anything on the east of Seattle BTW, NE corner is up by Ione and Metaline Falls.

[boneaddict]

Seems like a shame with the terrain they could probably thrive.  I wonder why they dont want more elk in this state?  Seems like we would want more elk herds so we can spread hunters out?

Competetion with Muledeer was always what I was told.  Added problems with hi-way, farmers, fences etc.  And nowadays everyone thinks the government should be held responsible.

[piledup]

Guess it just depends on where you are local to Campmeat. I live in Springdale and you are NorthWest of me. So I would not consider you being in the NE corner either!

Same as anyboby else that lives in western Washington that knows the answer but knows nothing. I wouldn't consider you in the NE corner either.

I'm from Chewelah moved to the west side 6 years ago for work, people over here say there going to eastern Washington and I ask where? Anything on the east of Seattle BTW, NE corner is up by Ione and Metaline Falls.

Looking at the bear section in the Regs (page 56), WDFW divides up the NE corner into A and B for bear units and it includes most of the NE units and not just gmu 113. 

I know this is for bear units only but thought that it could be used to clarify what is Washington's NE corner.

[boneaddict]

There are elk north of Republic, there are elk east of Republic, there are elk west of Republic and guess what...there are elk South of Republic.   Move over to Metaline and there are elk North of Metaline......     Its all about perspective I guess.   Knowing there are elk there isn't going to do you much good in notching that tag though.  It takes an investment of time, gas money and mosquito repellent.   Unlike some of the areas discussed on this forum, you will find it much harder to get specifics where they are.