Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 12:33:25 AM

Title: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 12:33:25 AM: Is there some place that explains the purpose of every single elk unit? There's a few that I've come across in the areas I'm interested in that have almost no info. The hunting pamphlet describes the boundaries, but that's it. There's no special rules listed in the seasons. There's no special permits for the elk unit. Notta. What does this say about the elk unit then? Am I allowed to hunt it? Also, does it mean that I might be able to expect a higher quality hunt within the special elk unit? And if I can't hunt in them, would it be worthwhile to hunt the very nearby vicinity of them?
Title: Re: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: Bigshooter on March 16, 2013, 12:40:23 AM: Not all units are open to hunting.
Title: Re: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: bobcat on March 16, 2013, 12:49:32 AM: Most of them have special permit hunts. There are no descriptions other than the boundaries. Which one is it specifically that you are looking at?
Title: Re: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 08:34:19 AM: Quote from: bobcat on March 16, 2013, 12:49:32 AM
Most of them have special permit hunts. There are no descriptions other than the boundaries. Which one is it specifically that you are looking at?

I'm looking at a few, but 6061 and 6064 are good examples.
Title: Re: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: bobcat on March 16, 2013, 09:52:21 AM: 6064 is the Quinault Valley, and if you look at the general seasons, you'll see for muzzleloader and modern, it says "except elk area 6064."

For general archery, it says master hunters only in 6064. There are permits that allow hunting that elk area with a rifle.

6061 I know used to have muzzleloader cow permits, but I don't see that now. Only thing I can think of is the hunts in that area must now be included in the master hunter permits where it says "designated areas in region 6."

Most elk areas are for cow hunts. 6064 is one of the few exceptions.
Title: Re: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 10:29:08 AM: OK thanks, I'm still getting used to the patchwork of game rules here. So, would a good strategy be to hunt near the borders of elk units?
Title: Re: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: dreamunelk on March 16, 2013, 10:40:16 AM: Pappy, are you looking for places to hunt elk?

You may want to give the regional wdfw office a call for the gmu or area you are interested in.

As for hunting next to elk area. Makes no sense. Some elk areas have good numbers while other don't.

The west side has lots of elk hunting opportunity at this time.

Asking questions on this site is a great start. Take a look at harvest information on WDFW web site. And most important get out and scout!
Title: Re: Elk units without descriptions??
Post by: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 07:27:42 PM: Quote from: dreamunelk on March 16, 2013, 10:40:16 AM
Pappy, are you looking for places to hunt elk?

You may want to give the regional wdfw office a call for the gmu or area you are interested in.

As for hunting next to elk area. Makes no sense. Some elk areas have good numbers while other don't.

The west side has lots of elk hunting opportunity at this time.

Asking questions on this site is a great start. Take a look at harvest information on WDFW web site. And most important get out and scout!

Yessir! The GMU I'm looking at holds some elk, but not a ton. The upside is that it's a lot closer to my house and will be a lot less crowded. I've spoken with the biologist for the GMU I'm targeting, and asked him if there was any guidance he could give on where to find them, and he said "Just look behind locked gates, nobody looks behind locked gates". As the GMU I'm looking at is almost all timber land, I'm guessing there's somewhere around 1400 locked gates sooo... :dunno: :chuckle:

But yeah, I'm starting my scouting tomorrow. I don't know what I'm looking for yet (my elk book just came today), except to just get a feel for the areas I can get into, the tree growth on them, and where the nooks and crannies are. If I can find sign, great; hear some talk, even better. But I'll be happy just having a picture in my head of the region I'll be in. I hope to go scouting about 6 more times before the season opener, to nail down the herd a bit more.