Which moose permit?

[trophyhunt]

Or does it really matter? I've always figured that any moose permit would be a good hunt, and so I've always just put in for the ones that have the most tags. My question is do you guys think that one tag is better than the other or do you just need to draw any tag to get a big moose here in wa?  I am only talking about bulls.

[carpsniperg2]

With the chances of drawing any tag is a good tag. You shoud be able to kill a nice bull in any of the units. Just a matter of putting the work in and spending time at it.

[boneaddict]

get drawn, thats the only choice

[trophyhunt]

I see they split the spokane unit into 2 units, north and south. Is there any reasons why one would be better than the other? I figure that it doesn't matter much, most important thing is to just draw the sucker.

[carpsniperg2]

I have only spent time in the south side of mt spokane. So I can not attest to the numbers on the north side or the reason for the split. Some of the locals might be able to help you more on that.

[boneaddict]

South has more private property. 

[trophyhunt]

South has more private property.

would there be access problems then or are the property owners pretty good about giving people access. I know it's a loooooong shot on drawing but I just want to have some ideas before I put the wife, kid and I in.

[bobcat]

Or does it really matter? I've always figured that any moose permit would be a good hunt, and so I've always just put in for the ones that have the most tags. My question is do you guys think that one tag is better than the other or do you just need to draw any tag to get a big moose here in wa?  I am only talking about bulls.

Your theory is right, in my opinion, in that you are applying for the hunts that have the most permits.

You just need to draw a permit, it doesn't really matter where it is.

The one that I know could be a tough hunt now is Hangman, since Inland Empire Paper closed Mica Peak to motorized vehicles. You're looking at 3 or 4 miles to pack a moose out if you draw that one. If that doesn't bother you though, that might at least be a good 4th choice because it should be an easier draw.

[trophyhunt]

Thanks guys, I love this time of year. Putting in for permits with tons of anticipation on what you might get to hunt.  The usual outcome is NOT SELECTED, but it's still a blast waiting for the back door to open.   Good luck this year.

[Ridgerunner]

Trophy bulls in all the units, toughest part before the packout is drawing the tag. 

[BULLBLASTER]

anybody who draws a bull moose tag in WA should be able to kill a boone and crockett bull. they are in all the areas.

[buglebuster]

but it's still a blast waiting for the back door to open.

Can't lie there 

[D-Rock425]

Just put in and cross your fingers that's what I do.  Good luck.

[Arteman]

I was wondering all the above questions myself, something I'm stuck on right now is rather I should or shouldn't put my 8 going on 9 yr old daughter in for an Any Bull permit this year, or do the points option for her again, I know its slim chances, but its a oil tag and I don't want to ruin her only chance.  Sheep, and Goat I'm for sure doing the points option, but was curious about the type of terrain, and the habits of Moose, and if I could make it happen for her.  All the Moose I've seen in the wild kinda stuck around a bit, and didn't seem as skitish as Elk but I don't know if that is how they typically are.  With her experience she would need an easy shot with LOTS of time to set up, this is why the only Quality Elk permit ill put her in for is a rifle rut hunt, but is also near impossible to draw with her 2 points.  Honest opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[newbs55]

If you are putting your daughter in go points only and if you want an easier tag put he in for the youth only antlerless hunt. She would have a good chance of drawing and putting ALOT of meat in the freezer and down the line would still be able to draw a bull tag. You can draw as many antlerless as you want but once that any bull tag happens you are done. My buddies 10 year old shot a cow on Mt. Spokane 2 years ago and afterward his son said " Dad we should get a moose tag every year they are way easier to hunt than deer!" Smart ass kids. 

[bobcat]

I would put her in for it, if you think she's ready. Obviously if she's ready for an elk hunt then she should be ready for a moose hunt. Odds are terrible but it doesn't cost anymore to apply for an actual hunt rather than just a point. What if ten years from now there are no more moose permits, or very few, due to the wolves?

She would probably have to settle for the first bull you could find that would hold still long enough for her to shoot, which may not be the biggest moose in the unit, but I be she won't care.

[Arteman]

Yeah since there is no limit on how many Antlerless Moose a person can take in a lifetime I'm putting her in for both that category, and the Youth category.  Maybe I should just do the points option again for her on the Any Bull, until I learn more how to hunt them and what to expect, I'd hate to blow her chance if the cosmos lined together right and she did draw it lol.  I've only seen 3 in Wash, one Bull down in Asotin, and 2 Cows up in Okanogan during a Cougar pilot hunt.  That's about as much experience I have with them.

[Arteman]

I would put her in for it, if you think she's ready. Obviously if she's ready for an elk hunt then she should be ready for a moose hunt. Odds are terrible but it doesn't cost anymore to apply for an actual hunt rather than just a point. What if ten years from now there are no more moose permits, or very few, due to the wolves?

She would probably have to settle for the first bull you could find that would hold still long enough for her to shoot, which may not be the biggest moose in the unit, but I be she won't care.

Good points.  It would have to sit around for a while for her to take a shot.  She has this thing right now with shooting without earmuffs, freaked out without them, I understand Target practice its ok, but in the heat of the hunt it can be a pain to get set.  If Moose are anything like Elk it could be a problem.  We will be working on shooting a lot this summer, hoping to break this paranoia.  More I think of it I'm leaning to the points option, take the chances on an Antlerless tag.  I don't care yet if she is successful at filling any tags or not as long as she's enjoying herself, but I would care if it were oil.

[Dan-o]

 

Arte,

Just one man's opinion:   If she's even remotely ready for a rifle rut elk hunt, I think she's ready for moose.   They are much easier to hunt than elk, IMHO.

Besides, I pretty much guarrantee that if she did draw a tag and you posted it up here, she would get more help than you could use.

I drew a cow moose hunt 5-6 years ago, and I got SO MUCH GREAT HELP on this site.   I imagine your daughter would get 10X what I got.

DO IT!!!!!

[Arteman]

Thanks Dan-o, my whole theory on the rut hunt is so I could have her set up while my buds bring a bull right in for her and have her ready, that and the Mudflow seems easy enough to get her a shot at one.  I know she wont draw them yet, but that's the only way she will get to hunt bulls this year.  I won't take her during the general Elk season with how chaotic it is here just yet, I did put her in for a bunch of late Cow Elk permits I would take her on though.  Thanks for your opinion, the Moose I've observed before seemed to be more annoyed with my presence than scared, probably makes them an easier target huh?

[Dan-o]

My (limited) experience hunting them is that if you shoot one, the others won't leave and you have to keep shooting into the hill side for a while to get them to leave.

I'm sure it's not always that way, but....

[Arteman]

  that is funny!  Btw congrats on getting a Moose, bet that was a awesome experience.   

[BULLBLASTER]

IMO the points option is a waste of money on oil tags. Odds are so bad f actually drawing I don't think points make any notable difference. Its all luck. I see it as just missing an opportunity by applying points only. Get the youngin the tag and there will be plenty of help!

[huntnnw]

Or does it really matter? I've always figured that any moose permit would be a good hunt, and so I've always just put in for the ones that have the most tags. My question is do you guys think that one tag is better than the other or do you just need to draw any tag to get a big moose here in wa?  I am only talking about bulls.

Your theory is right, in my opinion, in that you are applying for the hunts that have the most permits.

You just need to draw a permit, it doesn't really matter where it is.

The one that I know could be a tough hunt now is Hangman, since Inland Empire Paper closed Mica Peak to motorized vehicles. You're looking at 3 or 4 miles to pack a moose out if you draw that one. If that doesn't bother you though, that might at least be a good 4th choice because it should be an easier draw.

They were opening the gates last year if you harvested a moose in hangman...u just had to hike up  a long ways to hunt.

I dont think anyone has ever drawn a 2-4 choice on moose ever..everytime I have looked at draw reports is 1st choice

[Biggerhammer]

If you are putting your daughter in go points only and if you want an easier tag put he in for the youth only antlerless hunt. She would have a good chance of drawing and putting ALOT of meat in the freezer and down the line would still be able to draw a bull tag. You can draw as many antlerless as you want but once that any bull tag happens you are done. My buddies 10 year old shot a cow on Mt. Spokane 2 years ago and afterward his son said " Dad we should get a moose tag every year they are way easier to hunt than deer!" Smart ass kids. 

kids! Hahaha! That's great.

[SemperFidelis97]

I think you will see a lot of her jitters go away with copious amounts of practice.  We are blessed by living in an area that is rural enough that we built a 200 yard range on one of the neighbors cow fields.   I started my kids out about a solid year before their first hunt with the basics of good shooting form, trigger control, breathing, and most of all safety.  Usually a couple months before season I take them out once a week now that they are competant, and let them free fire a couple boxes each in assorted positions.  My kids have grown as marksmen considerably as they have been able to fire their weapons at their pace, and without me on top of them the whole time.  Both my children have harvested deer every season since they started, and they are amazingly calm when taking their shots.  I too had reservations about moose for them because of their age, but I think it would just require some practice with a larger caliber then they would be ready.  If you are blessed enough to draw a moose tag of any type for them you would share memories together that will be shared for a lifetime I wish her the best of luck.

[Ridgerunner]

I drew my fourth choice for moose in 08 so it does happen sometime

[huntnphool]

get drawn, thats the only choice

 

[bobcat]

I drew my fourth choice for moose in 08 so it does happen sometime

It happens quite regularly actually. I'm not sure where he saw that people were only drawing their first choices.

[Bob33]

" I dont think anyone has ever drawn a 2-4 choice on moose ever..everytime I have looked at draw reports is 1st choice"

The way our draw works, any choice is possible.  What matters most is which choices are harder / easier.  If you put the easiest to draw choice as your fourth choice, that is most likely which one will be drawn if any.

Very few other states work this way.

[Dry creek]

my brother drew his 4 choice 5 years ago.

[flinter]

They changed the drawing last year for antlerless moose. I was drawn for an any moose tag 6 years ago and couldn't apply for moose tags after that because i filled my bull tag. I wondered about the wording in the game regs this year, so when I bought deer and elk applications I had them check on the computer and it said I qualify for anterless and master hunter moose tag applications (its all about the money). It took me about 33 years to get my bull tag (never missed a drawing). Hope it doesn't take that long to get another.

[huntnnw]

ANTLERLESS moose tag became the hardest tag to draw in the state

[bobcat]

ANTLERLESS moose tag became the hardest tag to draw in the state

      

All the moose permits should be in one category. There's no need for separate youth, disabled, and over 65 categories, and antlerless categories. All the permits could go in one category like it used to be- the MOOSE category.

People could then decide if they want to use their moose points for an antlerless tag, or if they'd rather hold out for a bull tag. For those willing to sacrifice their points for a lowly cow moose, would have much better odds of drawing. And that's how it should be. Something is seriously wrong when it's just as hard, or even harder, to draw a cow moose tag over a bull tag.

I, for one, would do like I used to do, and apply for the antlerless hunts as a 4th and/or a 3rd choice. I just want to hunt moose and don't care so much about the antlers. But now I don't even apply for the antlerless hunts. Why bother when a bull tag is easier to draw?

[Rob]

Regarding shooting with earmuffs:

Get a pair of the electronic earmuffs for her.  They amplify sound and she can hunt with them on.  They will keep her warmer too.

I got a pair of these a while back.  Reasonable price and good reviews

 http://m.cabelas.com/cabelas/product/detail.do?itemId=708113&categoryId=2196648&path=Home%7CShooting%7CSTORAGE+%26+SHOOTING+ACCESS%7CSHOOTING+PROTECT+%26+ENHANC%7CHEARING+ENHANCEMENT%7CHoward+Leight+Impact%26%238482%3B+Sport+Earmuff

[Wea300mag]

I would be happy with either of my (4) choices for bull or (2) choices for cow.

[summit creek]

I see they split the spokane unit into 2 units, north and south. Is there any reasons why one would be better than the other? I figure that it doesn't matter much, most important thing is to just draw the sucker.

ur rite it dont mater but the game department can rite more tickets this way trying to confuse the hunters that get drawn and cant spend 300 dollars a weekend to go scout and dont know the boundry lines i mean com on

[PA BEN]

Boundry lines are not that hard to find. With a tag like this most people will do there home work on a map and use a GPS.

[Arteman]

Regarding shooting with earmuffs:

Get a pair of the electronic earmuffs for her.  They amplify sound and she can hunt with them on.  They will keep her warmer too.

I got a pair of these a while back.  Reasonable price and good reviews

 http://m.cabelas.com/cabelas/product/detail.do?itemId=708113&categoryId=2196648&path=Home%7CShooting%7CSTORAGE+%26+SHOOTING+ACCESS%7CSHOOTING+PROTECT+%26+ENHANC%7CHEARING+ENHANCEMENT%7CHoward+Leight+Impact%26%238482%3B+Sport+Earmuff

Thank you