Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: skywalker253 on January 21, 2013, 04:15:07 PM
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I have been researching several different areas, which offer special permits for deer and elk. I have read a few opinions from hunt-wa members. Some feel certain permits are a waste of points and moreless a witch hunt. I am interested to hear from the forum, regarding some of their experiences. Please post the good, the bad, and the ugly....
Thanks Sky
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Which hunts are you referring to?
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Certain permits are a waste of points, and some are extremely valuable. The extremely valuable ones are usually extremely difficult to draw.
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Dang, I thought they were opening a new season on witches. Oh well, it takes magic to draw a good tag anyway.
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We would need more info on what you are looking for. There are so many different choices in our state, weapon, which side of the mountains, quality bull, regular bull. Are you looking for a once in a lifetime animal or just any thing with antlers. For example, not too long ago on the westside for elk everyone (most) were applying for the Margaret as a quality hunt. Now you can't say it's a quality elk area, if you want any bull and don't care about the size, then the toutle and Margaret is for you. I don't think most real quality bull hunts on the westside are talked about much at all, everyone knows where to go on the eastside for quality OIL hunts. I think if you are more specific on what your looking for, you should get some PM's to help you out.
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my son drew a whitey big buck at alta 2 years ago and we never saw a buck in 4 days of looking and talking to natives. it was depressing. we camped at lightning pine. mike w
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Well, the only quality permits that would be a waste of points are the ones where most, or all, of the good hunting is on private land that you don't have permission to hunt.
But otherwise, all of the quality hunts are going to be much better than any general season hunt.
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there's a few good bucks in 329 but there not a walk in the park , there big because they know how to use those breaks to there advantange .
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Most people I have heard of and have seen talk about a hunt they drew being a waste time and points had no business putting in for that tag in the first place. I'm not saying you should know the unit like the back of your hand, or even ever have stepped foot into the unit. But do your research. When the time comes, scout, and then hunt hard. Too many people think if they draw a tag it's going to be easy. A lady on my Facebook drew a bull tag in the Margaret a few years ago, had no fire danger closures to deal with and never even saw a bull. She trashes that hunt every chance she gets, I had that tag this year and had the second favorite hunt of my life, never saw any giants but there are a ton of elk and with a bow, that's enough for me to make a memorable trip.
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The Dungeness hunts might be in this category. It isn't a full GMU that's available. But it is an elk area that is in mostly private and firearms restricted areas. The private stuff is small and can be tough to get access to. Does have some really good bulls, though.
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I won't put in for the alkali anymore, I drew it twice back in 02, and 03. The amount of deer then was really good, now the indians (not all) have ruined that unit in a short time. This is not a indian bashing (which I'm not against) it's the damn truth, and I think even the good indians on this site would agree that the alkali has been ruined by indian over hunting. I'll be putting my points on other hunts.
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I drew a rimrock bull tag a few years back good hunt but knowing that unit like i know it now i woulda held out for a better bull, drew a east okanogan buck tag this year had a great hunt and killed a 158 inch whitetail but talked to other people that had the quality tag and were looking for muleys and said it was a crappy tag.. It just depends on the person and the luck! Oh and knowing the area
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Then there are permit areas that are extremely weather dependant. Swakane and Entiat are a couple.
When I hunted there, the herds were still in the high country. The permit holders were taking 3pt bucks.
I did see one 4 point taken. The previous year, the weather cooperated and a lot of big bucks were taken.
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The Margret Archery cow tag is brutal in the late season. The elk are stupid spooky since they just got done being chased by a large group of rifle hunters and the numbers are average. I guess it only took me three days but I wasn't impressed. My general late season hunt area puts it to shame.
This is the only special permit I have ever drawn and it was in 2011. Hopefully with 10 points this year in the other categories I may get lucky.
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