Elk Area 3911

[emac]

So I just go my master hunter certificate in the mail yesterday.  I have been waiting very impatiantly to get this so I could get out and do some elk hunting.  I am planning on hunting the elk area 3911 for a cow.  I have done some reading up on it and it looks like it is mostly private property and on top of that you almost got be in the right spot at the right time.  I was planning on calling and buying my tag tomorrow.  So I was just wondering if anyone has hunted over there and has any tips for me.  How hard is it to get permission from land owners what are the be tactics.  I just wanna get as much info I can before I spend the money on the tag and the fuel. Any info or help would be great.

Thanks

[Rainier10]

I would work on getting access before buying that tag.  It is mostly private and you do have to be in the right place at the right time.  There is a biologist that calls hunters when the elk are in the problem area, he prefers people with a 509 area code is what I have heard because they are closer and quicker to respond.  They prefer that you hunt from below the elk and push them back up to the forest land above.  My in laws are masterhunters and have been working for three years over there trying to make contacts and this summer did enough work to gain access to a farmers property.  I think they invested 60 hours repairing fences this summer alone to get the access.  They had put in 30 the year before and that got them one phone call on Thanksgiving afternoon saying the elk are here come on over before the sun sets.  This year they put in even more time and feel pretty confident that they will have better access.

I am sure getting the Master hunter took a bunch of time and you are ready to hunt but for that area I am thinking you are going to need to put in some more time and will hopefully have good access next year.  You may get lucky this year but I would do some more research before buying the tag, I know my in laws were frustrated the first two years of having a tag in their pocket and having to make soup with it because of lack of access.

[emac]

Rainer,
Thanks for the info.  I know the feeling that your in laws are going through. One summer I donate a week of my time to help a farmer harvest with the understanding I would be able to hunt elk on his land.  When elk season came around he said i couldn't hunt because he had friends from the west side coming to hunt.  I was not to happy at all burning a week of vacation for nothing. He proceeded to call me the next year and ask if I could help and I just laughed at him.  It can be very frustrating on some of these hunts.  I don't have a problem with helping out farmers that let me hunt I am just kinda of heistant now.  I know they all aren't like the person I was dealing with. The master hunter program did take alot of time and effort.  I didn't do it for this hunt I didn't even find out about this hunt til about a month ago.  I just really did it for something to do and to give back.  With regards to the tag you just can't buy it over the counter you have to call the wdfw and get it mailed to you.  So I think I am going to buy it, only 24 bucks, just so when I am over there if I do get lucky and get permission or catch them on public land I will be ready

[Rooster1981]

there are thousands of acres over there of public land loaded with elk. I would first go get you PSE permit and hunt under the wind mills and then go west towords parke creek there is two thousand acers of WDFW land between the PSE land and the operators training facility. I grew up over there and have hunted elk in there for 16 seasons with success in 9 of those years.

[colockumelk]

I'm sure ill catch flak for this but  A LOT of farmers piss me off. Many   complain about crop damage bit won't let people hunt they just want a handout from the WDFW.  My opinion is if you grow crops in the mountains expect elk to eat them. If you don't like it build a fence. All these hay farmers in kittitas valley make a big stink about how the elk damage their hay yet they don't let people hunt their property. Oh also all winter cattle graze in the hay fields and do the same thing elk do.  I wish the wdfw would either say you have to let people hunt your property or build a fence.

[Bob33]

there are thousands of acres over there of public land loaded with elk. I would first go get you PSE permit and hunt under the wind mills and then go west towords parke creek there is two thousand acers of WDFW land between the PSE land and the operators training facility. I grew up over there and have hunted elk in there for 16 seasons with success in 9 of those years.

The PSE Wild Horse wind farm is not in 3911.

[emac]

Yeah from what I saw on the map it doesn't look like pse is in the unit.
And I agree with colokum there are alot of farmers out there like that it doesn't make sense to me at all.  I can understand alittle bit of it but they gotta learn that its a give and take sitiuation and I don't think alot of them have figured that out yet

[BOWHUNTER45]

I'm sure ill catch flak for this but  A LOT of farmers piss me off. Many   complain about crop damage bit won't let people hunt they just want a handout from the WDFW.  My opinion is if you grow crops in the mountains expect elk to eat them. If you don't like it build a fence. All these hay farmers in kittitas valley make a big stink about how the elk damage their hay yet they don't let people hunt their property. Oh also all winter cattle graze in the hay fields and do the same thing elk do.  I wish the wdfw would either say you have to let people hunt your property or you get nothen...

[emac]

I'm sure ill catch flak for this but  A LOT of farmers piss me off. Many   complain about crop damage bit won't let people hunt they just want a handout from the WDFW.  My opinion is if you grow crops in the mountains expect elk to eat them. If you don't like it build a fence. All these hay farmers in kittitas valley make a big stink about how the elk damage their hay yet they don't let people hunt their property. Oh also all winter cattle graze in the hay fields and do the same thing elk do.  I wish the wdfw would either say you have to let people hunt your property or build a fence.

  I am with ya all the way brother .... lost my huntin area to the master hunters and I STILL PI$$ED OVER IT .....

You don't need to be pissed at the master hunters be pissed at the wdfw.  I mean anybody can become a master hunter if you are willing to put the time and effort into it.

[benhuntin]

The yakima trainning is open for cows also aug 1-jan 20, not to tough to get a cow, alot of drivin and glassin. not sure where you live or if that is to far just an option Pm me if you have any questions

[BOWHUNTER45]

I'm sure ill catch flak for this but  A LOT of farmers piss me off. Many   complain about crop damage bit won't let people hunt they just want a handout from the WDFW.  My opinion is if you grow crops in the mountains expect elk to eat them. If you don't like it build a fence. All these hay farmers in kittitas valley make a big stink about how the elk damage their hay yet they don't let people hunt their property. Oh also all winter cattle graze in the hay fields and do the same thing elk do.  I wish the wdfw would either say you have to let people hunt your property or build a fence.

  I am with ya all the way brother .... lost my huntin area to the master hunters and I STILL PI$$ED OVER IT .....

You don't need to be pissed at the master hunters be pissed at the wdfw.  I mean anybody can become a master hunter if you are willing to put the time and effort into it.

I  do not believe I said I was pacifically pi$$ed at the master hunters ... If it seemed that way then sorry ..but I do have a problem with the way they run this type hunting and they make it sound like a better way to handle damage type animals ....When they call for Master hunters to go hunt these animals  that are confined in one particular area and it is no different than what happened in skagit co...its not a hunt its a slaughter !!!! 

[colockumelk]

I would personally rather see Some of those problem elk in the hayfields  harvested ny youth hunters or disabled non walking hunters.

[Rooster1981]

Sorry my bad the  new line is the boundery of the PSE lands not becon ridge road, so just start hunting west of the boundery of pse thats all wdfw land and lots of elk in there. all the way to parke creek road and above the training center to wiskey jim. Its not to hard to find a cow in there.

[emac]

The yakima trainning is open for cows also aug 1-jan 20, not to tough to get a cow, alot of drivin and glassin. not sure where you live or if that is to far just an option Pm me if you have any questions

Yeah I have noticed that area is open too.  I may hunt there during the later season if I still have my general tag.  Don't wanna use it up before I have a chance at a bull.  I will keep you in mind if I need to fill my freezer this winter.

[emac]

[/quote] I  do not believe I said I was pacifically pi$$ed at the master hunters ... If it seemed that way then sorry ..but I do have a problem with the way they run this type hunting and they make it sound like a better way to handle damage type animals ....When they call for Master hunters to go hunt these animals  that are confined in one particular area and it is no different than what happened in skagit co...its not a hunt its a slaughter !!!! 
[/quote]

I wasn't saying you did, and didn't mean for it to come across that way, so sorry you took it that way.  I am just taking advantage of the extra hunting opportunities.  What happened in skagit co. was just a blow to all hunters.  From what I can tell this hunt isn't any different from drawing a regular cow permitt. And what Colockum said I would not be opposed to that all. But that would be to easy for someone to figure out.

[doyourtime89]

I have hunted the 3911 hunt for the past few years.  And yes mostly private with some public lands here and there.  You just have to get out and find them.  Plus like someone else was saying, its just luck if the elk are there when you show up on those little public spots.  And the hunt master for that area Steve isn't much help at all.  I wouldn't get the second tag, I would just wait till later in the season if you don't fill your general tag and us that for the later part of that hunt where you can use your general tag and more elk are down in that area.

[Rainier10]

Rainer,
Thanks for the info.  I know the feeling that your in laws are going through. One summer I donate a week of my time to help a farmer harvest with the understanding I would be able to hunt elk on his land.  When elk season came around he said i couldn't hunt because he had friends from the west side coming to hunt.  I was not to happy at all burning a week of vacation for nothing. He proceeded to call me the next year and ask if I could help and I just laughed at him.  It can be very frustrating on some of these hunts.  I don't have a problem with helping out farmers that let me hunt I am just kinda of heistant now.  I know they all aren't like the person I was dealing with. The master hunter program did take alot of time and effort.  I didn't do it for this hunt I didn't even find out about this hunt til about a month ago.  I just really did it for something to do and to give back.  With regards to the tag you just can't buy it over the counter you have to call the wdfw and get it mailed to you.  So I think I am going to buy it, only 24 bucks, just so when I am over there if I do get lucky and get permission or catch them on public land I will be ready

Sounds like you know the drill.  with the master hunter thing you have to do so many hours a year so you will be continuing the work anyway, maybe at some point a farmer will give you access.  Sounds like you have options until you do get access and you never know you could get lucky and catch them on public ground.  Good luck and I hope you fill your freezer.