Just moved to Washington from Michigan

[Yeti]

I've hunted lots of whitetail in Michigan (archery), and am wanting to get into Elk and wear out the leather. I am not asking you to give up your honey hole.  I completely understand " the spot".  But some tips of areas to check out would be great. I live in the Federal Way area and know that I am gonna have to drive.  Any help would be awesome.   

Thanks

[huntnphool]

Welcome to the site How long must you live here to purchase a resident tag?  There is tons of info on the site, I would just start going through the Elk section and reading as many as you can and take notes. Pay attention to the folks that drew permits in the many units and look at the pics they end up posting.

[Curly]

Try the Winston unit for archery.  It will be a little bit of a drive for you but it could be worth it.  Check out the areas toward White Pass (hwy 12).

Also, check out the WDFW website for statistics that might help you decide where the best units might be.  http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/harvest/2006/db/elk_region5_archery.php

Another valuable tool, besides this forum, is the WDFW's gohunt website:  https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/gohunt/gohuntJSP/startup.jsp

[EastWaViking]

You are not going to have to drive that far.  A guy I know killed a monster bull with his muzzle loader somewhere near black diamond about 5 years ago.  I think it may be, or was, the state record.

[robodad]

GOOD GAWD !!! 

[popeshawnpaul]

Holy freak rosey bull.  Damn!

If you are good at statistics, get them on the WA fish and game website and look through them for success rates and such by units.  That'll get you pointed in the right direction.

[Yeti]

Thank you this will be of great benefit.   It is always nice to know other hunters are willing to help out "the new guy"

[DeKuma]

Unless I am reading it wrong, Black Diamond areas and the like are not open to archery hunters??

Welcome to the site!
I am going for archery for the first time this year for elk, but have hunted them with rifle.  Let me know if I can help out in any way. 

I am planning on starting the season in the Winston unit I think...........

[Head-shot]

  Holy *censored* and fall in it! That's a monster, thanks for the pic viking.

[clemons14e]

its great to see a neather face from Michigan here welcome i grew up around manistee were you from . cant help you to much sorry just got here my self but good luck the guys here are great and there is a ton of info

[TeacherMan]

If you are wanting to get the full experience, animals, views, real western hunting, and not want to deal with private property try the Bumping Unit, its spike or cow only for archery, but you would have a blast. Start at the top of Chinook pass on Hwy 410 drive toward Yakima it is the right side of the road. There is lots of area you can hunt. One good spot is right on top, there is something called the "hole" you can drop into this area. It would be a pack. You could also try just across from bear gap. There is a trail head there that will take you toward Big Basin, since you dont have a big bull tag hunt the swamps/American river basin down low. If you have any questions on this area ask, I can talk along time about it, I shot five elk in five years out of it...

[tmike]

Welcome to the Madness!   Black Diamond is in the Issaquah unit. Any elk for Archery and Muzzleloader, any bull Rifle. I'm not sure these are Rosie's though.

[JoeE]

The picture of that elk is also on the Sherman Creek Outfitters website???

[BowShooter]

I noticed at least a couple of Sherman creek outfitters pictures were of bucks that had nothing to do with their outfit.  Honesty is one of the best indicators of a quality outfitter.   

[BowShooter]

What about this deer?  I saw this in a magazine and he never mentioned Sherman Creek.  The guy that shot this buck posted something on www.awesomeantlers.com that said that it was self-guided.  I don't know who to believe (you or him) so I will leave it at that.  Maybe you could clarify it?