Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 11:29:27 AM

Title: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 11:29:27 AM: I'm going to head to the blues this weekend in hopes to find a spike but in the very least get some Bulls talking and get it on some elk just for fun if anything so I can see some. I have never been to the blue and my dad has not been for at least 15 years. I know the past couple years some area burned so I'm hoping anyone has some info on what's all burnt to avoid and maybe a general area that might have something there. Looking at tucanon and wanaha. Thank you very much.
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: igotbigbulls on September 13, 2016, 12:11:47 PM: Save your gas :tup:
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: rosscrazyelk on September 13, 2016, 12:18:45 PM: Quote from: igotbigbulls on September 13, 2016, 12:11:47 PM
Save your gas :tup:
:yeah:
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: Magnum_Willys on September 13, 2016, 12:30:54 PM: lil late to start training...... its upppppp and downnnnnnn
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 01:44:54 PM: I know it's up and down. Not to concerned about that. Just want to get into some elk even non shooters. I've gone about 40 miles so far the last 4 days and have yet to hear a elk just have 1 sneak in to about 35 yards that I had no shot at and that's it. Went into some places I know no one has been to this year that should be perfect wet cool dark places for elk and not see any sign. As far as save your gas is that because you feel like there aren't elk at all or just not enough spikes to have a chance at to get?
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: jackelope on September 13, 2016, 01:47:53 PM: I'd probably steer clear of calling and trying to get into elk just for the fun of it. You're running the risk of educating elk and possibly screwing things up for the permit holders who are actually hunting those big bulls. Don't mean to sound like a jerk, but also want to throw that out there.

The most recent burns were in both the Wenaha and the Tucannon GMU's.
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 02:08:43 PM: Quote from: jackelope on September 13, 2016, 01:47:53 PM
I'd probably steer clear of calling and trying to get into elk just for the fun of it. You're running the risk of educating elk and possibly screwing things up for the permit holders who are actually hunting those big bulls. Don't mean to sound like a jerk, but also want to throw that out there.

The most recent burns were in both the Wenaha and the Tucannon GMU's.

Does no one hunt there for spikes?
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: Timberstalker on September 13, 2016, 02:12:59 PM: I just got back from 3 days of chasing them around. I did 34.6 miles on foot, according to the Garmin.

Tag is still in one piece.

Best of luck to you. There are plenty of better spots to notch a tag. :tup:
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: jackelope on September 13, 2016, 02:34:13 PM: Quote from: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 02:08:43 PM
Quote from: jackelope on September 13, 2016, 01:47:53 PM
I'd probably steer clear of calling and trying to get into elk just for the fun of it. You're running the risk of educating elk and possibly screwing things up for the permit holders who are actually hunting those big bulls. Don't mean to sound like a jerk, but also want to throw that out there.

The most recent burns were in both the Wenaha and the Tucannon GMU's.

Does no one hunt there for spikes?

They do for sure, but they don't call in big bulls just for the fun of it.
Again, not trying to come across like a jerk. I just try to be considerate of the guys that drew those big bull permits.
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 02:39:43 PM: Sorry if my implementation of what I was trying to say was wrong. I didnt mean that calling in big bulls is my objective. Just hearing and seeing elk in general even if that means doing no calling at all. If I can call in a little spiker great! If it means sitting on a ridge and watching big bulls push cows and trying to spot a small spike to go after then even better. But I'm also not going to not go down there and experience somewhere with 6 times the amount of elk I usually hunt just because there are 4 permit holders..... I pay taxes and fees also. After this year anyhow there will be 1 less WA elk hunter for you all to compete with :chuckle:
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: jackelope on September 13, 2016, 03:30:40 PM: Quote from: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 02:39:43 PM
Sorry if my implementation of what I was trying to say was wrong. I didnt mean that calling in big bulls is my objective. Just hearing and seeing elk in general even if that means doing no calling at all. If I can call in a little spiker great! If it means sitting on a ridge and watching big bulls push cows and trying to spot a small spike to go after then even better. But I'm also not going to not go down there and experience somewhere with 6 times the amount of elk I usually hunt just because there are 4 permit holders..... I pay taxes and fees also. After this year anyhow there will be 1 less WA elk hunter for you all to compete with :chuckle:

Sounds good. Enjoy yourself. It's some pretty amazing country.
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: emac on September 13, 2016, 04:02:08 PM: It looked like opening day of modern firearm season in the blues last weekend. A rig at almost every turn off on the main road a side roads. The little amount of elk that are in the blues got pushed around pretty good. Between the hunters last weekend and all the Indian activity up there the last couple of weeks the elk are steep and deep

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Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: Pny365 on September 13, 2016, 05:50:34 PM: I know we're there are four spikes in herd

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Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: LeviD1 on September 13, 2016, 06:15:19 PM: Thanks for the info everyone!
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: JLS on September 13, 2016, 09:55:25 PM: Both the Wenaha and the Tucannon are neat units. Probably easier to access the Tucannon. The west Wenaha is really neat, if you don't mind the long drive.

I'm not sure anywhere down there is a wrong answer as far as looking to have fun. There are elk. There are spikes. There are lots of folks in the woods with bows. Find the soft spots away from roads and you should find elk.
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: csaaphill on September 13, 2016, 11:26:59 PM: Tuccanon is a great unit, but lots of steep ground though. If you don't mind a drive go to Pomeroy and up the Road there, lots of public land once you get into the trees. Still steep, but not nearly as vertical as the Tuccanon.
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: niceshot on September 14, 2016, 09:36:55 AM: I was one of the lucky ones to draw this tag this year with my bow and harvest a great bull. DO you know how upset I would have been to run into someone playing around with elk in an area it took me 14 years to draw. Its a free country and I love to see and hear bulls just like everyone else but you are possibly messing with someone's "Hunt of a lifetime".

I 100% believe that if you do not have mules to pack meat you will lose your game unless you are close to the roads. Even then it is some brutal country.

Go up there and enjoy some of the most beautiful country that this state has to offer. Leave the bugle in the truck and I hope you arrow a spike close to a road or trail:)

All the best to you,
Mike
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on September 14, 2016, 10:07:31 AM: Quote from: niceshot on September 14, 2016, 09:36:55 AM
I was one of the lucky ones to draw this tag this year with my bow and harvest a great bull. DO you know how upset I would have been to run into someone playing around with elk in an area it took me 14 years to draw. Its a free country and I love to see and hear bulls just like everyone else but you are possibly messing with someone's "Hunt of a lifetime".

I 100% believe that if you do not have mules to pack meat you will lose your game unless you are close to the roads. Even then it is some brutal country.

Go up there and enjoy some of the most beautiful country that this state has to offer. Leave the bugle in the truck and I hope you arrow a spike close to a road or trail:)

All the best to you,
Mike

Are you going to post it?
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: Reidus on September 14, 2016, 09:43:37 PM: Tear it up. Seems to be quite a few elk in the blues. They have a season for spikes and I'd hunt to my hearts content. if you accidentally bump a bull that someone with a tag is on.....that's the way it goes. That's why they open the season 5 days early for the any bull tags. I know if i had a bull tag i would be hunting somewhere with a lot less chance of running into spike hunters. :twocents:
Title: Re: Suggestions on the blues?
Post by: huntnnw on September 14, 2016, 10:15:11 PM: good luck getting mules into the hole in Mt view unit.. we hunted it and did not use mules and so do all the other tag holders.