newbie to elk?

[TannerBoy92]

heys guys, so to start off the new year im done thinking of things i wanna do and now im gonna do them! i used to hunt when i was little with my dad but through sports, work, school etc i lost track and now i wanna start it up again, im 19 and have shot all my life etc and comfortable in woods but hunting elk is new. I plan on buying my deer elk bear cougar combo and gonna hit it hard with my bro and friend who are both hunters...now im not asking for hunny holes because i wanna do the grunt work myself and not expecting to shoot everytime i go out but is there any certain areas, towns, part of the woods that may be good to look at? after this post im going to look at the wdfw records etc but just thought i would throw this out to some real hunters that know more then I do..i live in western washington so would hunt mainly here but want to experience eastern as well.

do calls help? which kind? certain times?

hope you guys dont mind me picking your brain but just wanna learn as much as i can!

thanks for any info....really helps!

-tanner

[wraithen]

Ummm... Maybe stick to one animal at a time. Copying and pasting isn't going to make a lot of people want to help immediately. Get a GMU map and/or a gazetteer type atlas that shows state land areas and walk.  You're on the west side, there's tons of everything out here, you just won't find it while you're looking for it.

[TannerBoy92]

Ummm... Maybe stick to one animal at a time. Copying and pasting isn't going to make a lot of people want to help immediately. Get a GMU map and/or a gazetteer type atlas that shows state land areas and walk.  You're on the west side, there's tons of everything out here, you just won't find it while you're looking for it.

im always looking for all usually to keep an open mind and stay positive and i have a gmu map, but it doesnt talk back and isnt very friendly like people are...ill take it more in depth and seperate when i get my tags soon or whenever...

sorry if this post made u mad....

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Dont take it personal, we always pick on newbies.
Grow a thick skin, laugh at those that attack you, learn from those that offer advice...
You did not specify weapon, but I hunt archery, during Archery season you have the opportunity to take deer, bear and Elk during the same hunt (though one at a time is hard enough, at least it gives you a better chance of filling at least one tag during your hunt. 
Roe Hunter resources, Elknut outdoors products will help with learning basic Elk hunting strategies, (calling and locating) and hooking up with seasoned hunters will be a tremendous asset...

[TannerBoy92]

Dont take it personal, we always pick on newbies.
Grow a thick skin, laugh at those that attack you, learn from those that offer advice...
You did not specify weapon, but I hunt archery, during Archery season you have the opportunity to take deer, bear and Elk during the same hunt (though one at a time is hard enough, at least it gives you a better chance of filling at least one tag during your hunt. 
Roe Hunter resources, Elknut outdoors products will help with learning basic Elk hunting strategies, (calling and locating) and hooking up with seasoned hunters will be a tremendous asset...

thanks boss, ya i dont worry about people picking on me, ive been hunting before and always am in the woods and studying things, i also work at dicks sporting in the lodge and talk to hunters all day, i wouldnt consider myself a newbie but i just say i am because i know people here know more or have more experience which making me in there eyes a newbie....oh well ha

i want to do archery muzzleloader and modern and learn all types, but as of now i  have shotguns and rifles so it would be modern firearm, its a savage axis .308, only big game rifle as of now besides 22lr so not much variety as of now....

[BOWHUNTER45]

Here is what I WOULD DO !!! Elk love being way back in off the roads .and they love being in the deepest nastiest holes known to man So find a good trail and remember elk stink So be sure to blow your nose and clear your sinuses because you will have to sniff your way towards them ... move very slow while stiffing the air also be alert for bears & cougars because they like elk to and they may be sniffing you down and do not forget your compass because you may get lost 

[DoubleJ]

Here is what I WOULD DO !!! Elk love being way back in off the roads .and they love being in the deepest nastiest holes known to man So find a good trail and remember elk stink So be sure to blow your nose and clear your sinuses because you will have to sniff your way towards them ... move very slow while stiffing the air also be alert for bears & cougars because they like elk to and they may be sniffing you down and do not forget your compass because you may get lost 

[pianoman9701]

In which part of W WA do you live?

[BOWHUNTER45]

I could not sleep last night and this dude was posting sheet everywhere about everything ...do not waste your time ......I see he removed some of his posts 

[losdaddy7]

I could not sleep last night and this dude was posting sheet everywhere about everything ...do not waste your time ......I see he removed some of his posts 

 
    I just pulled his posts....  Newbie to deer posts, cougs, bear, etc.....  What a joker.

[oldleclercrd]

Hey bowhunter maybe you could set out a salt block at your favorite elk hunting location and then give him the gps coordinates! Cmon hes a newbie! 

[wraithen]

BH that is why I made that post. I wasn't mad at the time, just annoyed that 3 posts with the exact same thing popped up. I wasn't trying to pick on the guy, merely illustrate how he is perceived when he pulls that crap. 

[high country]

It's no secret elk are where you find them. They don't much like being shot at and need to eat. So....find some, see where they eat and where they hide...and everything in between. That should do it.

[deerhunter_98520]

i dont understand this...i know you guys dont like the newbies comin on and askin with their first post where to hunt....but this is a hunting forum for guys to bs and ask questions...how else are people going to start hunting if someone doesnt show them what to do...we need to help everyone that wants to hunt to keep our sport alive...the more people that get into the sport the better future for our kids...last thing we need is a bunch of people that have no clue running around in the woods with no experience and guns..thats how most accidents happen..no one to show them the right way

[deerhunter_98520]

as far as elk...there hard to figure out....i found the best way is to get a gps...mark your truck...and jump off in the brush and start walking elk trails.....once you find fresh sign just start trackin them...dont be afraid to hike all day...the more your in the timber the better your odds are

[wraithen]

If I knew what I was doing I would always be offering to take people out. Other than that you missed the fact that this guy put up 4 identical posts with different animals in the subject line. That's why people immediately got to being harsh.

[TannerBoy92]

I could not sleep last night and this dude was posting sheet everywhere about everything ...do not waste your time ......I see he removed some of his posts 

damn....this post went really down hill. ALL I WAS ASKING WAS FOR ADVICE, not hunny holes etc. i hate being around people in the woods etc and would not want to even go to your hunny holes because its a possibility youll be there??? im not sure why u guys are mad that i posted this its not like its what was keeping u up? plus i only posted this in all animals forums because not EVERYONE hunts EVERY animal. and i didnt remove any posts and never will, just edited them.

i will try to notice the smell so whoever mentioned that i will and thank you. i live in western washington in puyallup about 30 mins from elbe. I already have a gps and use it. I love hiking and am in very good shape through sports so hopefully that pays off. for whoever somewhat understands my intentions thank you and i appreciate your advice and your time. for who ever I am about to keep up till the wee wee hours of the night with posting this i apologize   

[wraithen]

Go hiking in the state lands near elbe. You can't walk a game trail more than 20 yards without stepping in elk poo, deer poo, cougar scat and tracks or bear sign. Just be careful. The logs hidden under the underbrush can snag an ankle in a heartbeat while you're walking around.

[TannerBoy92]

Go hiking in the state lands near elbe. You can't walk a game trail more than 20 yards without stepping in elk poo, deer poo, cougar scat and tracks or bear sign. Just be careful. The logs hidden under the underbrush can snag an ankle in a heartbeat while you're walking around.

will do, i usually go to scott turner road and all the trails up around them and have seen deer and a coyote, plus herds of elk near by in the fields...i just got back 30 mins ago from there from shooting to and saw a big 4pt buck. oh wait....MY hunny Hooooolllleeeeeee 

[wraithen]

Yeah that area holds everything you are looking for, I just have yet to see anything but birds and psycho squirrels.

[TannerBoy92]

Yeah that area holds everything you are looking for, I just have yet to see anything but birds and psycho squirrels.

ya ive seen deer elk and those psycho squirrels u talk about...i got 2 fattys last time i was up there. i havent given it a ton of time for cougar and bear but that will change really quick

[wraithen]

Cougar is really a different animal from everything else, you haven't seen them but I know where you go in the woods. They HAVE seen you. Bear sign isn't as common there but I plan to use the jblm ranges for those next year.

[krism83]

I could not sleep last night and this dude was posting sheet everywhere about everything ...do not waste your time ......I see he removed some of his posts 

i will try to notice the smell so whoever mentioned that i will and thank you. i live in western washington in puyallup about 30 mins from elbe. I already have a gps and use it. I love hiking and am in very good shape through sports so hopefully that pays off. for whoever somewhat understands my intentions thank you and i appreciate your advice and your time. for who ever I am about to keep up till the wee wee hours of the night with posting this i apologize   

You are in a great area for deer and elk, I do most of my hunting out of Randle and Packwood. Anywhere from the Roy Y to hwy 12 is going to be covered in trails and sign. Just keep your eyes open, ears and nose alert to any sort of smell or sound and you are sure to stumble across something. Lots of logging out there too, look for the 3 or 4 year old reprod and you have a good feeding area. Once you find the feed area, try and find the escape route they would use, genereally going to be up hill and away from any access roads. The only other advice I could give for that area is spend all spring and summer after the birthing season to scout.

[colockumelk]

If I knew what I was doing I would always be offering to take people out. Other than that you missed the fact that this guy put up 4 identical posts with different animals in the subject line. That's why people immediately got to being harsh.

I would say you have the perfect job for scouting for deer and elk but you guys fly to high to see much.