Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 30, 2014, 03:44:12 PM
As a bowhunter I never really paid any attention to your (ml) seasons.
My daughter, Brigette, that has been bothering me for a couple years to get her in a hunter safety course, took and passed with 100% at 11 years of age.
She shoots a 35# recurve at 20 yards alright, but no way I would let her hunt anything larger than a porcupine with a bow.
I got on this forum, asking about a ML that would work for a youth, and one of our members actually gave us a .50 CVA "Eclipse" !!
So I began to plan a ML hunt this season.
Checked all the harvest reports for several seasons.
I looked for largest harvest in numbers, thinking that the best chance I have for an area to hunt.
Found a unit that was open for "any deer", because my daughter is 11, and any game animal will be her first and I want to stack the odds for success, in my experience it is easier to shoot a deer than an elk.
To those of you that have been WM hunting for a while, it sure is amazing that I don't hear more complaining.
It is tough to find somewhere on the west side for early ML that is open, AND HUNTABLE !
If you do not purchase a permit with one of the landowners, you are pretty limited.
As a Bowhunter since 1987, I thought my season had been messed with but if I was forced to the limited choices for early season, I would never trade my 2 weeks in September for your one week in October.
Post by: bobcat on September 30, 2014, 03:51:25 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 30, 2014, 04:03:35 PM
Thought first week of October, no sweat.
I could do it in a 1000 places, none of them are open :(
Quinault Ridge ?
If I could get to it in my minivan...
Post by: RadSav on September 30, 2014, 04:15:03 PM
Was thinking of hunting with my bow during early muzzy season since I picked up the MS tag. Figured I'd hunt close to home in the Coweeman...Nope! OK let's hit the Winston or Mossyrock as I have a pass...Nope, try again. Alrighty then, Bear Creek and Willapa Hills should be fabulous this time of year...Nope no season there either :bash: Satsop - Nope! Packwood - Nope! Stampede - Nope! Lewis River - Nope :bash: :bash: :bash:
Maybe I'll join 140 other hunters in the 2 square mile Yale unit! Or better yet...watch the Seahawks game from the comfort of my couch!
Quinault Ridge ?
If I could get to it in my minivan...
If I can fit a 7X7 in the trunk of an Audi 5000 you should be able to fit one in a minivan! Though I did have to get very creative getting the horns inside that car. Don't like guys seeing what I've shot and where when coming out of the woods. ;)
Post by: JimmyHoffa on September 30, 2014, 05:01:58 PM
That's a very accurate observation. There was at one time one good elk unit open for early muzzleloader, but they changed that one to a late season about three years ago.Are you talking eastside? I think the westside has some pretty good early muzzy units. Biggest problem is there are so few overall, that it seems anything open is really crowded.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on October 01, 2014, 02:07:43 PM
I feel that myself, I could have a good hunt.
But there is no way my 11 y/o daughter is going to hike 15 miles a day looking for elk and think it is fun.
My season (Archery) I can drive on pavement all the way to several gates.
Not open.
Best unit according to the numbers (Harvest Reports) is 652.
I know an area that has a decent herd, but NO ACCESS.
I used to hunt areas there in the 70's and 80's, before access fees.
WM is forced to pay access fees if they want to hunt unless they live in unit.
Post by: h2ofowlr on October 01, 2014, 11:12:28 PM