Have to choose east or west (current system). Area of state you would hunt?

[jechicdr]

Would be interesting to see the distribution of hunters if tag was statewide or if you had to choose eastside or westside.

Also answer this poll.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=92363.msg1178797#msg1178797

[Turner89]

I like the west side. Lived here all my life, and love it here. I need green and mountains.

[bobcat]

I prefer hunting the eastside for elk but voted "coastal" because I won't hunt when spikes are the only legal animal.

[kenzmad]

I have always hunted "around" st helens.  there is alot of ground out there. too bad you can't camp on most of it

[Wazukie]

I would hunt were I always hunt. 

[jechicdr]

patterns are similar, need more voters to be more accurate

[DoubleJ]

I prefer hunting the eastside for elk but voted "coastal" because I won't hunt when spikes are the only legal animal.

[pianoman9701]

So. Cascades. Not as many wolves...yet.

[jechicdr]

Idea is that if entire state was open, then hunters may favor a different part of the state than they would hunt if they had to choose because they wanted a coveted eastside draw.  Still too early to see a pattern, but I suspect people are going to hunt what they are comfortable with, rather than switch areas so they can kill a bull.

[Maverick]

So youre saying if the whole was open to like any elk or any bull? I think.people would be crowding the colokum and the blues. Any where that had special draw for big bulls. Haha

[jechicdr]

Not saying any elk.  Still have to stay within rules of the region.  But if someone wants an eastside quality bull tag, they have to choose to hunt the eastside and have to hunt the general season on the eastside if they didn't get drawn.  But if entire state was open, how many people would apply for eastside bull but hunt westside because they could shoot a bull.  Mostly interested in seeing if more people hunt the westside and have less pressure on eastside elk (and as a result more elk for me).

[Maverick]

I vote to keep it split up! If they opened it state wide then ill never get drawn for a bull!

[jackmaster]

i picked westside cascades, not because it 3pt or better but because my house is in the puyallup unit and i have some if the biggest bulls in the state right in my backyard, i have never been an avid elk hunter if i stumble into one then sweet, but it aint like huntn a blacktail,

[teanawayslayer]

I vote to keep it split up! If they opened it state wide then ill never get drawn for a bull!

[jechicdr]

Guess that would be the next poll.  If you are typical westside hunter, would your first choice hunt be a westside or an eastside draw if the tags were statewide?

[jechicdr]

Can't believe that there are only 77 elk hunters on this forum

[NWBREW]

I prefer hunting the eastside for elk but voted "coastal" because I won't hunt when spikes are the only legal animal.

I hunt for Big Bulls every year in Eastern WA. 

[bobcat]

I prefer hunting the eastside for elk but voted "coastal" because I won't hunt when spikes are the only legal animal.

I hunt for Big Bulls every year in Eastern WA. 

Yes I could drive all the way to Colville area but why drive 7 hours when I have elk practically in my backyard?

When I think of "eastside" elk hunting I'm thinking only of the east slope of the Cascades.

[jechicdr]

As it stands, 49.4% would hunt westside and 41.9% eastside if tag open to entire state.  If tag system stayed the same, 40% would hunt westside and 53% would hunt eastside.  Though not likely accurate given the small number of participants, is still interesting.  That says, about 10% of hunters would move to the westside.  The tradeoff would be fewer opportunities for the remaining eastside hunters to draw the quality tags.  I'm torn, on the one hand, I would not mind fewer hunters on the eastside,  but I would sure like to kill a bull on the eastside some day.  Maybe they can switch...after I get drawn for a bull.

[jechicdr]

bump

[steen]

I prefer to hunt the east side because I love the country.  Having said that I've hunted both east with a quality tag and west with a general tag and taken an elk in both ( and I wouldn't say I'm an experience elk hunter, just lucky and tenacious). If I could hunt close to home every year with a general tag it would be the Nooksack herd because it is close. That is not possible because you can only draw for it.  If it wasn't  for gas travel wouldn't be an issue, again eastside but it is also nice to hunt something other than a spike bull.  I hunt for the meat first and a big cow is more meat than a spike.  I sound like I'm rambling, it is not an easy answer.  We went to Yakima to the feeding station last weekend and had a blast looking at elk and sheep.  Saw a couple thousand elk and a few hundred sheep and took a bunch of pictures.  Most at the feeding stations but some elsewhere.  Camped in the Yakima River Canyon and loved it! 

[washelkhunter]

Price of fuel gets near 5 only the rich will be traveling far.

[jechicdr]

As it stands so far, 42.7% would hunt east and 47.3 west if entire state was open.  As it is currently, 55.8% would hunt east and 38.7 would hunt west.  Once again, I would not mind seeing smaller numbers hunting the east side, but not fond of the idea of more people applying for the quality eastside tags.

[sirmissalot]

My brother in law just got done telling me the other day that they changed the rules this year and you don't have to choose which side of the state when applying for elk permits, thats not true is it?

If it were, I would apply for eastside (until the wolves completely take over) and hunt the westside, which is how I voted in this poll. However, I agree that it would make the big bull tags on the eastside basically a once in a lifetime permit, and in my opinion get quite a few more people hunting my side of the state.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

My brother in law just got done telling me the other day that they changed the rules this year and you don't have to choose which side of the state when applying for elk permits, thats not true is it?

If it were, I would apply for eastside (until the wolves completely take over) and hunt the westside, which is how I voted in this poll. However, I agree that it would make the big bull tags on the eastside basically a once in a lifetime permit, and in my opinion get quite a few more people hunting my side of the state.

It is one of the proposals the WDFW put on the table for the season setting process.... hopefully it does not happen

[sirmissalot]

That's the way I understood it as well, but he told me it has been set. I can't see it happening.

[400out]

Colockum! Been doing it for years! I love the anount of animals that are not to far away for the rd and the lack of people that go after them! Odds are much better there, atleast for me they are! 

[Woodchuck]

  Sing it out brother.

[400out]

No Seriously! I know you have taken me in as a BMM brother but truth be told I'm just a lonley soul with a social problem and I was just happy to feel as if I was your friend! that being said I know that everyone gets in line a heads for the blues so I have taken this opportunity to enjoy the lack of people and abundant amounts of game in the colockum. you coulndn't drag me out of there if you wanted!..... You could come hunting with me and help me drag my spike to the road which is only 100 yards away! never had to drag one farther!
I know some people are going to get mad for me sharing this info but it's true and I've learned that no one listens so I'm not candid anymore! 

[buckfvr]

I love being able to hunt close to home...........may be far from the best, but its great in many ways.

[Woodchuck]

No Seriously! I know you have taken me in as a BMM brother but truth be told I'm just a lonley soul with a social problem and I was just happy to feel as if I was your friend! that being said I know that everyone gets in line a heads for the blues so I have taken this opportunity to enjoy the lack of people and abundant amounts of game in the colockum. you coulndn't drag me out of there if you wanted!..... You could come hunting with me and help me drag my spike to the road which is only 100 yrs away! never had to drag one farther!
I know some people are going to get mad for me sharing this info but it's true and I've learned that no one listens so I'm not candid anymore! 

Shoot if it really is that easy count me in. 

[400out]

  you didn't hear it from me  but put it this way i gave me pack board away to some guy i seen at the fuel depot headed east 

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

No Seriously! I know you have taken me in as a BMM brother but truth be told I'm just a lonley soul with a social problem and I was just happy to feel as if I was your friend! that being said I know that everyone gets in line a heads for the blues so I have taken this opportunity to enjoy the lack of people and abundant amounts of game in the colockum. you coulndn't drag me out of there if you wanted!..... You could come hunting with me and help me drag my spike to the road which is only 100 yrs away! never had to drag one farther!
I know some people are going to get mad for me sharing this info but it's true and I've learned that no one listens so I'm not candid anymore! 

Shoot if it really is that easy count me in. 

He didnt say it was easy, He said he shoots spikes that are 100 YRS off the road. Thats a long ways! HAHA

[400out]

No Seriously! I know you have taken me in as a BMM brother but truth be told I'm just a lonley soul with a social problem and I was just happy to feel as if I was your friend! that being said I know that everyone gets in line a heads for the blues so I have taken this opportunity to enjoy the lack of people and abundant amounts of game in the colockum. you coulndn't drag me out of there if you wanted!..... You could come hunting with me and help me drag my spike to the road which is only 100 yrs away! never had to drag one farther!
I know some people are going to get mad for me sharing this info but it's true and I've learned that no one listens so I'm not candid anymore! 

Shoot if it really is that easy count me in. 

He didnt say it was easy, He said he shoots spikes that are 100 YRS off the road. Thats a long ways! HAHA

Good catch tinner 

[Woodchuck]

Easier than trying to tape drumsticks to a saquatches head so you can call it a spike and at least have something to shoot at. 

[jechicdr]

Should have thought of this closer to elk season to get bigger numbers.

[400out]

Should have thought of this closer to elk season to get bigger numbers.

Don't take us wrong bud but your not going to get much in the way of where we would go! To many people every where as it is    look at wdfw sucess numbers if your looking for a good place to go 

[jechicdr]

Not looking.  Hunted NE, never will again.  Hunted Collockum, great hunting area, but low elk populations and too easy of access (translates into more hunters), though I would hunt the late season if my usual late season haunts get snowed in.  Mostly I like the Yakima area.  Bumping, Little Naches, Cowiche.  Have not hit Rimrock, but have considered it.

[huntnnw]

Alot of elk in NE... and no spike only units! never will I hunt a spike ony unit in my life..thats not hunting to me

[NWBREW]

The NE is the only place I will hunt elk...........unless I draw a tag elsewhere. 

[lilredhead]

Drawing is all luck anyways, right? I'm sure the state will find a way that will benefits them financially either way, without really caring about you or I.  Open the state up.

[400out]

Drawing is all luck anyways, right? I'm sure the state will find a way that will benefits them financially either way, without really caring about you or I.  Open the state up.

I'm getting used to the state f-ing me, I don't want every wet sider try to do the same 

[buckfvr]

The NE is the only place I will hunt elk...........unless I draw a tag elsewhere. 

   while they last.......

[buckfvr]

Alot of elk in NE... and no spike only units! never will I hunt a spike ony unit in my life..thats not hunting to me

Alot of elk in the N.E. ?   You live somewhere in the n.e. that only you and the elk know about  

[TommyH]

Alot of elk in NE... and no spike only units! never will I hunt a spike ony unit in my life..thats not hunting to me

Alot of elk in the N.E. ?   You live somewhere in the n.e. that only you and the elk know about  

The elk in the NE are impossible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[huntnnw]

got to get out and do it up here..I have multiple places where I can get into elk everyday of the season and I know several people who do also

[Whitpirate]

They are there but you will have to work to get into them consistently.  My old honey holes have just been inherited by a tree-hugging anti-hunter son of a long time hunting father.  *sigh* I'll miss that 2200 acres.