Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: CoyoteCowboy on July 20, 2017, 02:19:22 PM

Title: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: CoyoteCowboy on July 20, 2017, 02:19:22 PM: I have reached out to some of you directly (thank you for your help!), but thought I would pose the question to the masses...

I am trying to rank my spots A, B and C so I have options and diversity come Sept.

I have hunted 340 for cows/spikes with good success the past 4 years. I know areas in 340 that hold nice bulls when the rut kicks off and pressure increases. But it seems like a lot of HuntWA folks are saying to spend my time in 342. Pros? Cons?

My gameplan is to hold out for something bigger than a spike the first week hunting and then cow/spike or bigger the second week. I can't eat antlers, and my freezer is low.

If you had this tag, where would Y'ALL notch it??
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: kirkl on July 20, 2017, 03:17:35 PM: 340 has general season. 342 big bull permits only. I'd probably hunt where I knew the area the best.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: hiway_99 on July 20, 2017, 03:52:21 PM: Did you draw a special permit? If so which one.

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Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: jackelope on July 20, 2017, 05:04:53 PM: Quote from: hiway_99 on July 20, 2017, 03:52:21 PM
Did you draw a special permit? If so which one.

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My guess is he drew an Observatory permit, which includes both units.
:dunno:
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: CoyoteCowboy on July 20, 2017, 06:06:47 PM: Sorry, yes I drew observatory archery. Sept 9-21
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: MADMAX on July 20, 2017, 09:25:03 PM: SIL had it last year
we hunted 340
bulls are there as you know
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: throttlejocky20 on July 25, 2017, 11:18:46 AM: Hunt hard bulls in both units we will be there with one tag as well. We already know where we will be focusing our efforts good luck.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: Gringo31 on July 25, 2017, 01:25:49 PM: Good luck and hunt hard....

The odds are against you. :twocents:
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: ffbowhunter on July 25, 2017, 05:14:55 PM: I'd hunt 340 in lower elevations, people tend to drive right by where I find elk regularly.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: kevinlisa06 on July 25, 2017, 05:29:16 PM: Like I have said before the closer I hunt to 340 the bigger the Bulls are

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Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: scoutdog346 on July 31, 2017, 10:12:25 AM: Quote from: ffbowhunter on July 25, 2017, 05:14:55 PM
I'd hunt 340 in lower elevations, people tend to drive right by where I find elk regularly.
YES
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: elkfins on July 31, 2017, 04:27:27 PM: 342 has some nice bulls.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: emac on July 31, 2017, 04:57:16 PM: Quote from: elkfins on July 31, 2017, 04:27:27 PM
342 has some nice bulls.
your cam says montana? ;D

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Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: CoyoteCowboy on July 31, 2017, 08:26:58 PM: That is a beautiful bull
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: kevinlisa06 on August 01, 2017, 09:18:34 AM: Saw that video the other day I believe on Elk addicts

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Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: jackelope on August 01, 2017, 10:01:27 AM: I spent a fair amount of time scouting and hunting in there with a buddy who had a permit a few years ago. We scouted a bunch in 340, hung a few cameras, had crap tons of elk on all of them. We had 5, 6 point or bigger bulls on one camera. Then there was a big fire, we got shut out of those spots and ended up hunting a bunch in 342. Here's what it seemed like to me. There were a lot more people hunting the 340, but I assume that's because of the general season in there. We found some elk in the 342 but pretty much didn't scout it at all. There were elk bugling all around us at night and we found elk. Just wished we'd spent more time scouting in that country.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: elkfins on August 01, 2017, 10:38:21 PM: Quote from: emac on July 31, 2017, 04:57:16 PM
Quote from: elkfins on July 31, 2017, 04:27:27 PM
342 has some nice bulls.
your cam says montana? ;D

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My friends nickname.
Here's the bull he killed in that spot last year. I have the tag this year along with 2 other friends.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: Watimberghost on August 02, 2017, 05:13:23 AM: Great bull!!

I've spent way more time in 342, so I'm biased for that unit. I just like hunting the steep/deep country better... Good bulls in both units, the key is getting to know the area you want to hunt. Find elk, find bedding areas, find feed, find travel corridors between the two, and find escape routes. Good luck on a great tag! Either unit will be a blast!!
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: ShawnC68 on August 07, 2017, 11:11:01 AM: My uncle and I are in the same boat. We archery hunt 340 general season but he drew the Observatory archery special hunt. Does anyone have any more pinpointed locations to start scouting? To be honest all we ever see is cows and spikes in 340. Please PM me if you would like to help point us in the right direction.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: Fireant11 on August 08, 2017, 12:13:07 PM: We drew the muzzle loader Observatory tag. In the same boat. Will be hunting 340.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: GameHunter1959 on August 10, 2017, 08:43:54 PM: PM SENT
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: yakimanoob on August 10, 2017, 09:14:12 PM: Quote from: kirkl on July 20, 2017, 03:17:35 PM
340 has general season. 342 big bull permits only.
Huh? 342 certainly has a general season, same as 340.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: GameHunter1959 on August 10, 2017, 09:28:54 PM: Quote from: yakimanoob on August 10, 2017, 09:14:12 PM
Quote from: kirkl on July 20, 2017, 03:17:35 PM
340 has general season. 342 big bull permits only.
Huh? 342 certainly has a general season, same as 340.

I believe the poster is referring to the EARLY Archery season. 340 and 342 both have a general season. One early (340) and one late (342)

GMU 340- Sept 9th-21st (Early Archery). Their is NO late archery season for 340.

GMU 342- Nov. 22-Dec. 15th (Late Archery). Their is NO early archery season for 342.

Hope that clears it up..GH
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: kirkl on August 11, 2017, 07:58:49 AM: Quote from: yakimanoob on August 10, 2017, 09:14:12 PM
Quote from: kirkl on July 20, 2017, 03:17:35 PM
340 has general season. 342 big bull permits only.
Huh? 342 certainly has a general season, same as 340.

Go hunt the early archery in 342 and shoot a spike or cow and ill follow you around and get my 10 pts! He asked about September hunting. People need to read a little better before they reply.
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: boneaddict on August 11, 2017, 08:50:35 AM: Lol
Title: Re: Observatory - 342 or 340?
Post by: yakimanoob on August 11, 2017, 08:58:02 AM: Quote from: kirkl on August 11, 2017, 07:58:49 AM
Quote from: yakimanoob on August 10, 2017, 09:14:12 PM
Quote from: kirkl on July 20, 2017, 03:17:35 PM
340 has general season. 342 big bull permits only.
Huh? 342 certainly has a general season, same as 340.

Go hunt the early archery in 342 and shoot a spike or cow and ill follow you around and get my 10 pts! He asked about September hunting. People need to read a little better before they reply.

True enough. Sorry gents!