Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Elkterd on June 11, 2016, 10:00:02 AM

Title: Alkali Bull
Post by: Elkterd on June 11, 2016, 10:00:02 AM: So I drew this tag, I have been talking with the biologist, and have been following the short thread that was posted earlier on here. Any pm's from anyone that may have had this tag in the past would be welcomed,,,Thanks in advance. :tup:
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Scottystyle on June 14, 2016, 09:30:56 PM: don't know a lot about the hunt itself. I'm told that a bunch of elk from the colockum crossed i90 after the big fire and took up residence straddling the north side of the firing center. Another thing you may want to check on right away, I believe you now need an enhanced Washington drivers license or id or passport to get on the firing center. Good luck!
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: GUscottie on July 12, 2016, 10:18:12 AM: Did you draw the archery permit too? I did and will be heading over there for a day or two in August to see a couple spots I was pointed towards. Been a few years since I was last in there; being formerly National Guard...Here's to hoping they are still in the areas I've seen them in the past.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: r67968 on July 12, 2016, 12:00:13 PM: I drew a muzzy tag. Not sure about where to start scouting. I have heard about signing in/out.
Do I need anything special to be able to do this? Just ID?
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Mfowl on July 12, 2016, 12:05:04 PM: I haven't hunted there before but I thought you needed to have your weapon inspected prior to your hunt. Not sure of the details perhaps another can clarify, worth looking into prior to your hunt though. :twocents:
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: kirkl on July 12, 2016, 12:30:00 PM: Quote from: r67968 on July 12, 2016, 12:00:13 PM
I drew a muzzy tag. Not sure about where to start scouting. I have heard about signing in/out.
Do I need anything special to be able to do this? Just ID?

You may want to call and ask specifics. back in the day they looked at your weapon and you watched a video. Now you need a enhanced drivers license or passport (if its in effect yet) to get on base.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: BULLBLASTER on July 12, 2016, 12:36:17 PM: You need an enhanced drivers license or passport to get on base. Ou need to go and get a recreation card, the video is broken so they just tell you some rules and you sign. You will also need to register your gun (not sure on bow) with the police. They will ask why you are going on base and if you say scouting they will not let you take a gun. If you say coyote hunting you will be allowed to take your gun on. No pistols for personal protection. When you enter they will ask you each time for ID rec card and proof of insurance. Don't be surprised if they take a look around your rig and see what you have also.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: splitshot on July 12, 2016, 12:41:20 PM: we have tagged 2 bulls there. used up over $300 in gas in 4 days the last time and never went back. the elk are few and far between but we might have been in the wrong place. it is big country and sometimes u don't know where u r. mike w
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: BULLBLASTER on July 12, 2016, 12:43:31 PM: Quote from: splitshot on July 12, 2016, 12:41:20 PM
we have tagged 2 bulls there. used up over $300 in gas in 4 days the last time and never went back. the elk are few and far between but we might have been in the wrong place. it is big country and sometimes u don't know where u r. mike w
:yeah: be very careful of where you are in relation to the training zones you signed up for that day.
The best advice for locating game I have is to take good glass and good boots and use them both.
Good luck terd!
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Masterblaster on July 12, 2016, 01:09:00 PM: My brother in law drew that tag 3 years ago. We found that driving/glassing in the mornings and evenings, and walking draws mid-day worked best. He shot a monster 6x6. 70 yard shot.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 12, 2016, 02:30:20 PM: What the heck is a enhanced drivers license? I have never heard of one.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: trophyhunt on July 12, 2016, 02:42:23 PM: Quote from: bowhunterforever on July 12, 2016, 02:30:20 PM
What the heck is a enhanced drivers license? I have never heard of one.
It has more info on it, and maybe a chip? It's a step down from a passport, you can use them to get across the boarder to Canada
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Elkterd on July 12, 2016, 04:58:01 PM: Thanks Bullblaster, already have gleaned some good info from some local guys, gonna head over about the first of the month to get my pass and start looking around.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Badhabit on July 12, 2016, 05:14:32 PM: Make sure whatever vehicle you drive in has plenty of tread and good strong side walls and your spare is in excellent shape as well. The gravel roads can be nasty on tires. Make sure you stop by the game check station every visit to see what units have game activity and harvest. Some of the sagebrush in the draws is over 6' tall and a herd of elk can be in there and you'd never see them unless you kick them up. Look for well used game trails leading to the hay fields and back track them to the bedding area.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: BULLBLASTER on July 12, 2016, 05:21:11 PM: Quote from: Elkterd on July 12, 2016, 04:58:01 PM
Thanks Bullblaster, already have gleaned some good info from some local guys, gonna head over about the first of the month to get my pass and start looking around.
:tup: you'll be able to tell right off what areas are capable of holding elk. Don't put too much into scouting, just learn the ins and outs of the base and main lines. You won't know what zones are open until the day before.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: 270Shooter on July 12, 2016, 05:25:41 PM: Get in the sdz if it's open.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Elkterd on July 12, 2016, 06:45:01 PM: 270.. I have been told the Japanese are here in Sept, and dropping a lot of big artillery that month, but with that it moves the herd out and I have Intel on areas they tend to move to???? Like you all that know this area have been good to point out it will be a daily grind to get boots on the ground and find them. But I am looking forward to, Thanks everyone for the info.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: benhuntin on July 12, 2016, 06:50:42 PM: They Japanese were there when I had the tag and is was open in different units everyday. Killed my bull in 8. This year my daughter has the tag to the south of the alkali. I watched a lot of elk down there from the training center.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: dye7barrel on July 12, 2016, 07:34:36 PM: Never had the tag but I hunt a lot on the firing range. Send me a PM I'd you want to chat.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Masterblaster on July 13, 2016, 01:18:47 PM: The SDZ is where the bulls are, but it's hardly ever open. Go there if you get the chance.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: wa.hunter on July 14, 2016, 09:45:19 AM: There are always elk in unit 15 along the creek, unit 1 has them and of coarse SDZ unit. Just got to beat them before they get back into the bombing area. Units that you can hunt seem to change alot but you can call the day before and find out which areas are open.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 14, 2016, 10:32:35 AM: SDZ is almost always inaccessible when the japs are there. Also, it torched last year. All the holding cover along alkali is gone. Probably won't be too productive.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Masterblaster on July 14, 2016, 11:05:09 AM: There are 40 bulls in the SDZ right now according to the biologist out there.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 14, 2016, 11:49:10 AM: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: trophyhunt on July 14, 2016, 11:50:51 AM: Quote from: Masterblaster on July 14, 2016, 11:05:09 AM
There are 40 bulls in the SDZ right now according to the biologist out there.
:yike: not once the tribe reads this!!
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 14, 2016, 11:58:06 AM: I would take what I hear from the bio out there with a grain of salt. Just my :twocents: :tup:
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Timberstalker on July 14, 2016, 02:35:57 PM: Quote from: Masterblaster on July 14, 2016, 11:05:09 AM
There are 40 bulls in the SDZ right now according to the biologist out there.

Yep, and there is 52 in unit 8. Just saw them.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Elkterd on July 14, 2016, 03:01:03 PM: LOL, you guys are awesome so is that count meaning there are 152 Bulls in the two units? As we speak, or 152 elk?
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Timberstalker on July 14, 2016, 03:22:15 PM: Check your count.... I only see 92! All bulls though!
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 14, 2016, 03:36:48 PM: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Hilltop123 on July 14, 2016, 03:37:22 PM: Quote from: BLRman on July 14, 2016, 11:58:06 AM
I would take what I hear from the bio out there with a grain of salt. Just my :twocents: :tup:
Some of the Bio's out there have not seen the outside of their cubicle in months. So a pound of salt, may be in order.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: _TONY_ on July 14, 2016, 03:57:43 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on July 12, 2016, 02:42:23 PM
Quote from: bowhunterforever on July 12, 2016, 02:30:20 PM
What the heck is a enhanced drivers license? I have never heard of one.
It has more info on it, and maybe a chip? It's a step down from a passport, you can use them to get across the boarder to Canada

I have one.

It has a chip in it that pings their system before you even pull up to the gate.... at least that's how it works at borders crossings
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: PlateauNDN on July 14, 2016, 04:18:58 PM: Quote from: Timberstalker on July 14, 2016, 03:22:15 PM
Check your count.... I only see 92! All bulls though!

Oh dang, to late. They're gone now, they self-identified as cattle and I rounded them up. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Elkterd on July 14, 2016, 06:40:10 PM: :brew: 92 is a good number
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: Timberstalker on July 14, 2016, 07:37:52 PM: Quote from: PlateauNDN on July 14, 2016, 04:18:58 PM
Quote from: Timberstalker on July 14, 2016, 03:22:15 PM
Check your count.... I only see 92! All bulls though!

Oh dang, to late. They're gone now, they self-identified as cattle and I rounded them up. :chuckle:

Trying to make more pepperoni sticks I see.
Title: Re: Alkali Bull
Post by: splitshot on July 15, 2016, 07:18:44 AM: we hunted that place hard for 4 years and saw 4 bulls. got 2 with muzzies. rifles we would gotten all 4. not all areas were open. mike w