Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA

[NWBREW]

I have 5 spots scattered from south of Spokane to Canadien line that I rarely see a hunter and I get into elk always.. getting shots is another story with a bow

sshhhhhh. 

[grundy53]

there is plenty of areas here that dont have much pressure...u just gotta find them.

In my experience, the areas that don't have much hunting pressure also do not have any elk. I know there are exceptions, but over the years I have changed my thinking and my new rule is to hunt elk where the people are. If there's nobody there, I figure I'm wasting my time.

  The more people usually means more Elk. You just have to find the over looked areas and hit them hard. Last year my group shot 6 bulls in one little timber patch. We could here a lot of trucks driving by but no one ever stopped there and tried the spot out because it didn't look likely. This was over the coarse of a week and we only saw one other person in there and he killed a bull too.

[BOWHUNTER45]

there is plenty of areas here that dont have much pressure...u just gotta find them.

In my experience, the areas that don't have much hunting pressure also do not have any elk. I know there are exceptions, but over the years I have changed my thinking and my new rule is to hunt elk where the people are. If there's nobody there, I figure I'm wasting my time.

  HUH ...Well make it 7 and invite me 

  The more people usually means more Elk. You just have to find the over looked areas and hit them hard. Last year my group shot 6 bulls in one little timber patch. We could here a lot of trucks driving by but no one ever stopped there and tried the spot out because it didn't look likely. This was over the coarse of a week and we only saw one other person in there and he killed a bull too.

[pianoman9701]

Do archery if you can afford to make the change. Plan on about $2-3.5K to get outfitted the first year with the right bow, clothes, etc. Then go higher and deeper than anyone else. Most hunters are basically lazy, so if you get a mile from the road, you'll usually be as lonely as you want to be.

[huntnnw]

U can get into a very nice used setup with everything on it for $500... he or she probably owns camo clothing and a range finder..thats about it to get going

[NWBREW]

2k-3.5k.....pianoman? Unless you want some of the best there is, there is no reason you can't do it for  under a grand.

[pianoman9701]

I'm assuming he doesn't have a bow, arrows, sight, rests, quiver, release, quiet clothing, pack-able rain gear, rangefinder, his other accessories. Just the bow with peripherals will be greater than $1K for a fairly good bow, not even top of the line.

I got my buddy into it 4 years ago. I admit he had to buy all of his camping stuff, too, and boots and the works. He spent $4K. I would say at least 1800-2K to be properly equipped.

[deerslyr]

If your already a hunter theres no reason you need to spend over a grand to get started. For a first year archer theres no reason to buy a top of the line bow because you might not end up liking it. Theres so many middle of the road bows out there these days that shoot pretty dam good for only a few hundred bucks. just check out the mission line 

[blackveltbowhunter]

     Define "properly equipped". I killed my first bull with a 300. dollar bow which was an upgrade from what I had been shooting. that included a dozen easton aliminum arrows and muzzy heads. My clothes were nothing special, mostly wool (military surplus).  The next most expensive thing on my person was smoke in a bottle ( which as it turns out was probably just as important as the bow). I also had the hunger, I wanted to kill one BAD and the fact it was late season, and cold and miserable was not gonna stop me.
   I agree with you, its ez to drop several grand in gear. The sight alone on my bow today cost nearly as much as my whole setup then. Plus merino wool this, sitka that, base layers, softshells, packable rainwear, regular rainwear, silent rainwear. Top o the line BH, and arrows. 400 plus dollar packs, 250 + dollar boots. Not to mention scentlok, and camo for desert, woodland, forest floor, snow, in a treestand, on the ground, in a groundblind.  And i havent even got into backcountry gear list. Sheesh. It makes me more comfortable, maybe more efficient ( definatley debatable  ). But doesnt kill elk any deader.
   I feel that the best advice for a beginning bowhunter is get a solid bow that FITS that you can comfortably afford, shoot ALOT and buy some decent bow friendly clothes (Quiet). The clothes are gonna be moot since you will be able to use them regardless. Make sure you love bowhunting for bowhuntings sake before commiting all of your resources to it. If you like bowhunting great, upgrade as needed. If you don't your out whatever the bow setup cost which you should be comfortable with.

   Dont be trapped into thinking archery season is the be all end all. Your tactics will need tweaked, possibly completley overhauled. Theres a ton of pressure in popular areas, which as has been alluded to is where lotsa elk usually are. Lotsa " bugling fourwheelers" educating bulls. You will still have to hunt for places to hunt.

   
   In the end you may be better off saving for out of state every couple years....

[JLS]

Go to the classifieds on Archery Talk.com and you can pick up a very nice bow for under $400, usually fully outfitted.

I like my Sitka Gear, but I hunted a lot of years in cotton BDUs.

[pianoman9701]

Good luck, WSU. These guys have much better info for you than I. Enjoy your hunt

[piledup]

Good luck, WSU. These guys have much better info for you than I. Enjoy your hunt

Come on now. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions right.

But I do agree with picking up a good enough bow to try bowhunting out first.

[elksnout]

  I don't get it. Hunt the west side for general bull on public land and have no problem finding solitude. Oh yeah sure, there's the occasional hunter who pops up but not very often. Put the boots down. Also you might be surprised how far you don't need to go. 

[grundy53]

I don't get it. Hunt the west side for general bull on public land and have no problem finding solitude. Oh yeah sure, there's the occasional hunter who pops up but not very often. Put the boots down. Also you might be surprised how far you don't need to go. 

  It's not that hard.... 

[True Sportsman]

I don't get it. Hunt the west side for general bull on public land and have no problem finding solitude. Oh yeah sure, there's the occasional hunter who pops up but not very often. Put the boots down. Also you might be surprised how far you don't need to go. 

  It's not that hard.... 

Now thats funny right there!