Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: heavy hauler on February 01, 2009, 08:25:41 PM

Title: east side elk
Post by: heavy hauler on February 01, 2009, 08:25:41 PM: well i bit the bullet and got east side archery elk tags for 2009.man i hope i draw or i will miss elk season.after seeing buckluckys bull i was sold on the eastside.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: 270Shooter on February 01, 2009, 08:26:44 PM: How many points do you have?
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: heavy hauler on February 01, 2009, 08:27:29 PM: i think 12
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Red Dawg on February 01, 2009, 08:28:34 PM: :yike: looks like ya got a shot.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: bobcat on February 01, 2009, 08:32:42 PM: Yes, with 12 you should have a really good chance, at least if you apply for a couple of the hunts that have lots of permits available. The Blue Mtn. permits, maybe not so good a chance for those. :(
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: heavy hauler on February 01, 2009, 08:54:14 PM: i am applying right where bucklucky got his bull- the entiat unit ;) ;)
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: heavy hauler on February 01, 2009, 08:57:42 PM: ok i checked, i will have 11 points
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: colockumelk on February 01, 2009, 09:22:32 PM: I'd apply for the Colockum as well. During Archery there isn't any pressure and there's alot of big bulls. If I could hunt big bulls in there I'd get a nice branched bull every year.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Hindtit on February 01, 2009, 09:37:00 PM: You're going to hunt the eniat for elk...good luck!
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 01, 2009, 10:20:30 PM: Had a buddy that got drawn Archery Eastside with 11 points a couple of years ago. Good luck!
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: dbllunger on February 01, 2009, 10:22:12 PM: No problem on an archery tag...pick the unit you want. I have 12 but holding out for a good rifle tag, harvest is that time of year so not much hunting going on.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 01, 2009, 10:51:09 PM: Quote from: dbllunger on February 01, 2009, 10:22:12 PM
No problem on an archery tag...pick the unit you want. I have 12 but holding out for a good rifle tag, harvest is that time of year so not much hunting going on.

True...'cept for the Blues...
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: bowsandhose on February 02, 2009, 09:45:32 AM: Quote from: heavy hauler on February 01, 2009, 08:54:14 PM
i am applying right where bucklucky got his bull- the entiat unit ;) ;)
what my bull not good enough for you :chuckle:
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: bucklucky on February 02, 2009, 09:57:52 AM: Quote from: bowsandhose on February 02, 2009, 09:45:32 AM
Quote from: heavy hauler on February 01, 2009, 08:54:14 PM
i am applying right where bucklucky got his bull- the entiat unit ;) ;)
what my bull not good enough for you :chuckle:

Too much mass :chuckle:
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: nwhunter on February 02, 2009, 05:37:47 PM: I know of lots of guys that had between 9 and 12 points and didn't draw last year including archery for the east side. With the few tags that are given out in the BLues and the way the points work in our state its still a crap shoot to draw with less than 5 tags. Good luck though, someone has to draw! nwhunter
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: heavy hauler on February 02, 2009, 05:55:43 PM: if i dont draw i will probably just use my vacation being a pack mule for someone who does draw.it was a great time helping ryan with his moose in 08.worth every minute.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: colockumelk on February 02, 2009, 06:48:35 PM: If you don't draw and I don't draw then you're more than welcome to accompany me up into the Alpine Wildnerness area for some high country any elk hunt. There's big bulls to be had there you just have to hike your butt off. There's also alot of antlerless and spike hunts around.

I'd apply for the Colockum and also 368 Cowiche. 368 is permit only for archery.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: rosscrazyelk on February 02, 2009, 06:55:50 PM: I have 14 points and If I don't get drawn this year I am going to come unglued
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Sage Weasel on February 02, 2009, 07:41:29 PM: Quote from: colockumelk on February 01, 2009, 09:22:32 PM
I'd apply for the Colockum as well. During Archery there isn't any pressure and there's alot of big bulls. If I could hunt big bulls in there I'd get a nice branched bull every year.
I don't know when the last time you hunted the Clockum archery season, but there sure isn't a shortage of hunters and what big bulls? Herds and herds of elk some 300 plus to a group. 3 spikes and a rag horn, the big bulls have been shot to crap! We all know why? Very few big bulls on the Clockum....
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: heavy hauler on February 02, 2009, 08:42:24 PM: that alpine wilderness sounds fun
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: colockumelk on February 02, 2009, 08:53:49 PM: Quote from: Sage Weasel on February 02, 2009, 07:41:29 PM
Quote from: colockumelk on February 01, 2009, 09:22:32 PM
I'd apply for the Colockum as well. During Archery there isn't any pressure and there's alot of big bulls. If I could hunt big bulls in there I'd get a nice branched bull every year.
I don't know when the last time you hunted the Clockum archery season, but there sure isn't a shortage of hunters and what big bulls? Herds and herds of elk some 300 plus to a group. 3 spikes and a rag horn, the big bulls have been shot to crap! We all know why? Very few big bulls on the Clockum....

Where I go I have yet to see another hunter in the field. I saw 200 elk this year just doing evening hunts after work and saw 5 raghorns, 3 spikes which got chased off by just said raghorns. I also saw 3 mature branch bulls that would have scored 330 plus. 1 of those was easily over 350. If you go up Clockum Road there is a bunch of people. Some of the other ones that you have to walk into you wont see a soul. Hell during my wifes rifle season I saw over 100 elk. You are right in that that herd is going to crap in a hurry. And yes we all know why. Go to the General Discussion forum and you'll see the stats from the WDFW that supports this.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: colockumelk on February 02, 2009, 08:56:45 PM: Quote from: heavy hauler on February 02, 2009, 08:42:24 PM
that alpine wilderness sounds fun

Heavy Hauler it is fun. It's your typical high country hunt in that it's physically demanding and the herd desnities isn't as high as many places but you wont see another person and while your body will hate you for a bit it is well worth. It I ate tag soup this year but I had a blast and some pretty cool memories. Here's some examples of my hunt from last year.

Here's some pictures from this year in 249 Alpine.

This is a pic looking down on Fish Lake.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.tinypic.com%2Fic1kd1.jpg&hash=8c9807b28a1d108456647e6baf53cb7e20ef5747)

This pic is of me with Fish Lake behind and below me.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2F2lvk7qo.jpg&hash=2e400392f619506e6c891e117fc1e0a88cdfc51b)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2F25ytx04.jpg&hash=aae39ae03b163c602283bb869be5fd14c07bd9c4)

Same spot as before except looking the other way.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F2gy11lt.jpg&hash=2d58c1aca13e96031f4a9d7c5ca0f8faf47a7c96)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2Fjai3bo.jpg&hash=2cb92a12a69852f37c11cefe8d79ee477ced9cf4)

This is an alpine meadow/lake where we camped one night. Woke up to bugling and on the otherside there were some 15 cows wading and feeding in the open and a bull bugling in the timber. Only elk I saw all weekend.
By the time we got around the meadow/lake the elk had moved or fed off. Maybe they heard us coming. It's pretty thick in there. In any case they were no longer there.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2Fvry93k.jpg&hash=c739c49a9abeaac9fef4f6e78a4ff02303c37cda)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.tinypic.com%2Fx4ltgj.jpg&hash=a1098c4bcc951bf7ddb3e8a9b5f28077c1048d4e)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi41.tinypic.com%2Foptg6u.jpg&hash=1f4fa9e9534ab694d620ef87f58f369bd9866ea7)
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: norsepeak on February 02, 2009, 09:55:18 PM: it's taken some you guys a lot of years to draw those bull tags....all the more reason to let us help you fill it with big one....10% off for all HW members this year too!

www.ruggedclassoutfitters.com

Sorry about the shameless plug.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: logger on February 02, 2009, 10:02:31 PM: have hunted the east side my whole career muzzleloading, ran into you guys[norsepeak] at gold creek. that was the year i had my bull tag, you guys tried to talk me into letting you help me and ever since then I have been kickin myself in nuts. should have listened to you.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 02, 2009, 10:10:50 PM: clockum,
Careful with those pics man... people will start to get the idea that September elk hunting' is a sunny, warm, scenic, exhilarating experience...

...think the woods are crowded now? :chuckle:
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: heavy hauler on February 03, 2009, 07:28:46 AM: man that area looks nice.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: colockumelk on February 03, 2009, 10:27:38 AM: Quote from: Pathfinder101 on February 02, 2009, 10:10:50 PM
clockum,
Careful with those pics man... people will start to get the idea that September elk hunting' is a sunny, warm, scenic, exhilarating experience...

...think the woods are crowded now? :chuckle:

Yeah it was cold as hell at that altitude. In the morning it was in the lower 30's. The only reason we had our shirts off is because we'd just got done hiking up what felt like a cliff. It was pretty cool up there. I loved it. No one in sight. And the scenery was beyond words. It's the kind of place like Will Primos said you have to want to be there. We were four miles in at that one Alpine meadow. Everything we brought in to camp with was on our back. Even though I had tag soup it was worth it.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: norsepeak on February 03, 2009, 01:30:47 PM: Logger, I've heard that same story many times....this year we are offering one day hunts for guys who just need a little help.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Bunkster on February 06, 2009, 07:51:04 PM: I love the eastside....Way past government meadows, I seen the biggest bull I have seen over there during rifle elk season helpin others out. I have seen some LUNKERS over there. nothing short of 350" Man, I only have 3 pts. and am very not happy. Tired of seeing big bulls and not being able to do anything but drool......
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on February 08, 2009, 04:04:26 PM: clockum, keep that on the downlow. Don't need more peps up there. Bad enough with the tree huggers in September up there. Check you pm's
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Buckshot Bill on February 08, 2009, 04:57:12 PM: Quote from: cle elum bowhunter on February 08, 2009, 04:04:26 PM
clockum, keep that on the downlow. Don't need more peps up there. Bad enough with the tree huggers in September up there. Check you pm's

Relax CEB. This is a good site with good people and noone is going to go rush on up to the areas being mentioned here. We all have places we like to go and Clockum is sharing some great stuff/pics on this thread. I for one enjoy the sharing on here. I wouldn't worry to much dude.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on February 08, 2009, 05:16:27 PM: Trust me, I'm all for sharing pictures. If I wasn't at work right now I'd throw a few out. But my Dad taught me early on that when you talk about you hunting spots, use non-geographical names like Big Bull Meadow, or Lightning Snag Ridge. And yes, it is beautiful but VERY steep country (one trail I gain 3000' vertical in 3 miles). Have a good day.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Buckshot Bill on February 08, 2009, 05:30:00 PM: It's been a long time since I've been up in there. Brutal country for sure. Would love to go back but I think I would need like 2 weeks vacation to get in there and do any good :chuckle: The body just doesn't get along like it used to. Still could but just takes a lot longer. Your dad sounds a lot like mine was. We had special names for many different places. Like the knob back in the teanaway and so on. Shot some big bucks at that spot years ago. Anyone hear of 7 Fingured Jack?
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: colockumelk on February 09, 2009, 09:41:11 AM: Yeah it is some seriously rough country. It takes at least two hours of some fairly steep switchbacks to get up to where we were. It's pretty thick and steep as well. After four days of that my body was absolutely done. It's definately not an area that you can go if you've been sitting on the couch drinking beer all summer. I'll probably go back again. The elk density is super low in there but that one chance I had at that branch bull I heard was one of the greatest hunting experiences of my life. Even though I didn't get one the chance at a branch bull is way cooler than hoping for a cow to come along. You west siders have it made. 3pt min every year. Awsome. Hopefully I draw my Peaches tag this year.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Slayock on February 10, 2009, 05:55:16 PM: A guy a know shot a 406 bull three years ago with a muzzloader in the Tucannon. He said he missed two that were bigger. Its that same gene pool that the new state record is out of and there are some monsters down there.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: nwhunter on February 10, 2009, 06:58:27 PM: If he really shot a 406 bull with a muzzie he should get it in the books since it would shatter the state record for muzzie! THese guys are talking a different area though. nwhunter
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: bucklucky on February 10, 2009, 07:03:03 PM: Quote from: Slayock on February 10, 2009, 05:55:16 PM
A guy a know shot a 406 bull three years ago with a muzzloader in the Tucannon. He said he missed two that were bigger. Its that same gene pool that the new state record is out of and there are some monsters down there.

Got any pics of that 406 bull? Was that gross or net? Sounds like a dandy!
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: Slayock on February 10, 2009, 07:18:23 PM: I can get a picture, it might take me awhile. I know it green scored around 406 I never did hear what it scored after that. Im not not sure sure if its gross or net but ill check into it but either way its big.
Title: Re: east side elk
Post by: colockumelk on March 05, 2009, 09:59:32 PM: Quote from: colockumelk on February 02, 2009, 08:56:45 PM
Quote from: heavy hauler on February 02, 2009, 08:42:24 PM
that alpine wilderness sounds fun

Heavy Hauler it is fun. It's your typical high country hunt in that it's physically demanding and the herd desnities isn't as high as many places but you wont see another person and while your body will hate you for a bit it is well worth. It I ate tag soup this year but I had a blast and some pretty cool memories. Here's some examples of my hunt from last year.

Here's some pictures from this year in 249 Alpine.

This is a pic looking down on Fish Lake.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.tinypic.com%2Fic1kd1.jpg&hash=8c9807b28a1d108456647e6baf53cb7e20ef5747)

This pic is of me with Fish Lake behind and below me.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2F2lvk7qo.jpg&hash=2e400392f619506e6c891e117fc1e0a88cdfc51b)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2F25ytx04.jpg&hash=aae39ae03b163c602283bb869be5fd14c07bd9c4)

Same spot as before except looking the other way.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F2gy11lt.jpg&hash=2d58c1aca13e96031f4a9d7c5ca0f8faf47a7c96)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2Fjai3bo.jpg&hash=2cb92a12a69852f37c11cefe8d79ee477ced9cf4)

This is an alpine meadow/lake where we camped one night. Woke up to bugling and on the otherside there were some 15 cows wading and feeding in the open and a bull bugling in the timber. Only elk I saw all weekend.
By the time we got around the meadow/lake the elk had moved or fed off. Maybe they heard us coming. It's pretty thick in there. In any case they were no longer there.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2Fvry93k.jpg&hash=c739c49a9abeaac9fef4f6e78a4ff02303c37cda)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.tinypic.com%2Fx4ltgj.jpg&hash=a1098c4bcc951bf7ddb3e8a9b5f28077c1048d4e)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi41.tinypic.com%2Foptg6u.jpg&hash=1f4fa9e9534ab694d620ef87f58f369bd9866ea7)

bump for the chat room