Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: RockChuck on January 28, 2013, 09:08:17 PM

Title: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: RockChuck on January 28, 2013, 09:08:17 PM: Thinking of switching from modern to muzzy or bow for elk, eastern wa probably colockum or blues, not looking for a big bull just an elk in the freezer! The colockum was like a firing range during modern last year!! Other areas are an option also I just have not hunted much else, what are your thoughts?
Title: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on January 28, 2013, 09:13:36 PM: Well the blues won't be any better. If you switch to anything but modern, go to ne wa. You'll see just as many "legal" elk but you got a chance at it being branch antler bull.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: bobcat on January 28, 2013, 09:15:54 PM: The muzzleloader seasons aren't very generous on the eastside, if that's where you're wanting to hunt. A little more opportunity on the west side, but still not great. Your best bet is archery, if your capable of learning how to shoot a bow, or if you're already there. I would defnitely recommend that over muzzleloader. Archery seasons very often are open for either sex. Most often muzzleloader is bull only, and on the east side that means you're hunting only for spike bulls. Very low odds chance of success with that kind of a limitation.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: jrebel on January 28, 2013, 09:31:05 PM: Not sure what you are looking for when you say "the best odds." If you are not, or have not been an archer hunter...it is not easy. You need to shoot a lot and be very profficient with your bow. You need to get close which again is not easy. Muzzleloader has a short season, but your range is increased. Still a ton of factors that can effect the hunt / shot. Rifle has a lot more people if you choose to hunt with the masses, however if you see a legal animal it is usually a dead animal. I have hunted all and what I find gives me the best odds is preperation....scouting, practicing, getting away from others, etc. etc. Pick the weapon you are comfortable with and have the time to become proficient with. Then spend time in the field. That will give you the best odds of harvesting an elk.

Good Luck
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: RockChuck on January 28, 2013, 10:16:05 PM: NE has been a thought also, I have no archery experience but am thinking of picking up a bow and learning and practicing.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: huntnnw on January 28, 2013, 11:41:47 PM: THE NE has a great season and theres a reason its a week
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: Jburke on January 29, 2013, 12:01:14 AM: NE is not as easy as some make it out to be however. There are definately elk there and some great bulls, but they can be very hard to find. It's dense and steep in places. It can take a few years at best to get it figured out a bit, but don't be surprised if you go the entire season without seeing any at all. :twocents:
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on January 29, 2013, 05:20:19 AM: No elk in the blues. Smoke Pole is super fun in the colkkum.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: Woodchuck on January 29, 2013, 06:32:28 AM: :yeah: Well said
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: D-Rock425 on January 29, 2013, 07:29:54 AM: Muzzy for sure archery season sucks to early for rut and way to hot.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: hunterrcc on January 29, 2013, 11:53:22 PM: For sure rifle! Not enough hunts for muzzy and too hot durning archery!
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: bobcat on January 29, 2013, 11:56:24 PM: Quote from: D-Rock425 on January 29, 2013, 07:29:54 AM
Muzzy for sure archery season sucks to early for rut and way to hot.

Quote from: hunterrcc on January 29, 2013, 11:53:22 PM
For sure rifle! Not enough hunts for muzzy and too hot durning archery!

And you guys both hunt archery, correct? :chuckle:
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: RockChuck on January 30, 2013, 05:48:54 AM: Yes early archery seems like its a bit warm to deal with meat care, my preference would be multisesion if I can get drawn
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: D-Rock425 on January 30, 2013, 08:10:41 AM: Yes i do but its a horrible season
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on January 30, 2013, 09:00:03 AM: Multiseason is gonna give ya the most options for sure :tup:

As far as odds go... although it varies some from unit to unit and year to year. Overall percentages of harvest are pretty close across the board. :twocents: overall elk knowledge, time and area familiarity are going to go farthest in " increasing odds". More than a given weapon or season. OR just draw a great tag :chuckle:

As far as picking a "best" season thats really subjective and everybodys experience and circumstances are different.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: Bob33 on January 30, 2013, 09:10:32 AM: Here are harvest success rates for the three methods for the past ten years, during general elk seasons:
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: JPhelps on January 30, 2013, 09:29:40 AM: Quote from: blackveltbowhunter on January 30, 2013, 09:00:03 AM
overall elk knowledge, time and area familiarity are going to go farthest in " increasing odds". More than a given weapon or season.

I agree. The chart above can only be taken at face value, one can't pick archery and assume they will have a better chance at success.

It isn't so much dependant on season dates, units, or weapons although it does definitely play a factor. I feel that as archery has grown a large majority of the once successful modern elk hunters have migrated to archery where they continue to be successful.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on January 30, 2013, 09:37:12 AM: I like that chart! It shows that archery hunters are great at there sport! :chuckle: Is there a chart showing the numbers of general hunter numbers to really put the iceing on the cake? :chuckle: I would still recomend smoke pole if coming from rifle background.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: Bob33 on January 30, 2013, 09:42:09 AM: Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on January 30, 2013, 09:37:12 AM
I like that chart! It shows that archery hunters are great at there sport! :chuckle: Is there a chart showing the numbers of general hunter numbers to really put the iceing on the cake? :chuckle: I would still recomend smoke pole if coming from rifle background.
You can find all the data here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/)
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: RockChuck on January 30, 2013, 09:54:13 AM: Thanks for the info that chart has the info I was looking for, i would think most archery hunters are more dedicated and that leads to a higher percentage, I agree with the knowledge and skill of the particular weapon and of elk.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: RockChuck on January 30, 2013, 06:04:04 PM: Anyone know the odds of drawing multiseason elk?
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: Bob33 on January 30, 2013, 06:15:22 PM: Quote from: RockChuck on January 30, 2013, 06:04:04 PM
Anyone know the odds of drawing multiseason elk?
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/results/results.php?Species=ELK (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/results/results.php?Species=ELK)

About 1 in 9.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: RockChuck on January 30, 2013, 06:54:17 PM: Thank You, I have never seen that on the website before, I know where it is now though.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: huntndad on February 01, 2013, 02:57:54 PM: I think we all know data can only show so much, and we all interpret it a little differently. For me, the archery data is a little misleading since over half the elk killed are cows. Not that the other categories don't include cows, they just don't have anywhere near the same percentage. Archery success rate on bulls is probably less than 4%.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: RockChuck on February 02, 2013, 07:41:15 AM: Do you know the success rate for archery cows?
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: Bob33 on February 02, 2013, 07:54:06 AM: Harvest data can be found here:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2011/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2011/)
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: huntndad on February 02, 2013, 08:51:04 AM: Quote from: RockChuck on February 02, 2013, 07:41:15 AM
Do you know the success rate for archery cows?
Probably around 5%. I assume it could be quite a bit higher, but in many units (at least the ones we hunt in the early season) bulls and cows are open simultaneously and most hunters focus only on bulls.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: Fullabull on February 04, 2013, 11:57:14 AM: Huntndad is correct, archers have the opportunity to take cows in more units than modern hunters which brings up their success rates. Muzzy, gets the best rutting season but their units are very limited. Modern gets the only draw tags during peak rut but they are few. I think it just depends on how much work you want to put into it and if you want to see fewer hunters. Where we archery hunt, we still see hunters every day but we do find elk where they do not ;)

As far as the heat goes, you need to have a plan to get your meat out as quickly as possible.
Title: Re: Best odds for elk mod muzzy or bow?
Post by: bear hunter on February 04, 2013, 02:47:44 PM: Muzzleloader for Cow draw permit in 340 and 342 units