Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: AntiMatter on August 28, 2016, 09:37:23 PM

Title: Archery Elk Unit
Post by: AntiMatter on August 28, 2016, 09:37:23 PM: So I've been trying to get my 10 year old son to love hunting and it's taken a while but just recently he has seen the light! He won't have time to complete hunter's safety for this year, but he is excited to tag along with me this year and learn as much as he can.

So...I was planning to archery hunt elk this year (first time) but now that the boy is tagging along I really want to increase my odds. I've decided to hunt a cow/spike archery unit and shoot the first legal elk I can get in range.

I have already been scouting unit 166 for archery deer and since 175 is right next to it and is a cow/spike unit, I started scouting that unit as well the last two weekends. I've heard, guys do ok in there for archery elk, but I haven't seen anything. I've been high and low in that unit and haven't seen any elk (of course i've seen a bunch of cows in 166 which is spike only :dunno:).

So... should I keep looking in 175? Am I missing something there? Or would I have better luck taking the kid up to the 350 units that are cow/spike? I've been in that area a few times, but am not super familiar with it.

Thanks for any tips!

-trail cam pick of a cow in 166 just for fun:
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8102/28683529794_d39338a81c.jpg)
Title: Re: Archery Elk Unit
Post by: Branden on August 29, 2016, 07:49:26 AM: I've hunted 166 a little but never 175. I've seen elk, bear, and deer in 175 though. I would look at a map and find a canyon with water, timber, and no roads. You should find some elk. Sorry I can't be more help. If you want info on some places to go after spikes in 166 I could probably help a little. Just send a PM.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Archery Elk Unit
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on August 29, 2016, 07:52:15 AM: I'm not trying to be a downer. You're going to have a tough time killing an elk in a general unit in WA. If you want to get your kid into an exciting hunt with high odds of success you would be way better off doing a NE Wa whitetail hunt or turkey hunt. That's just my opinion.
If you decide to stick with the elk hunt idea, I would suggest the unit that offers more opportunity for encounters, whether or not you find a legal elk the kid is going to enjoy being around them and feeling like you're hunting.
Take a shotgun and shoot a few grouse and have a good time.