Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: pianoman9701 on August 25, 2017, 09:50:40 AM

Title: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 25, 2017, 09:50:40 AM: Accuweather shows a cooling trend beginning Wed the 6th, but still no rain through Friday the 8th. I do like the drop in temps before the 9th but I'd like a crapton of wet stuff, too. How do you guys adjust your plans when the season starts in dry, hot weather?
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: elkfins on August 25, 2017, 09:59:30 AM: No need to adjust... just plan for it. Work the shaded timber and areas with water.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: XJcoug13 on August 25, 2017, 10:04:33 AM: Well my plans are changing by the day..several timber companies still have their land closed for fire danger and if theres no rain, its not gonna open. Last few weeks been scouting on National Forest and State Land..big dark timber, cool places with some water seem to hold the elk in the heat
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: dreamingbig on August 25, 2017, 10:15:25 AM: Access to closed land is the biggest reason why you should all be praying for rain. If land was open it isn't as big of a deal.

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Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 25, 2017, 10:27:30 AM: The day before the opener, I will glass for elk and listen for bugling. If there is any bugling or I see elk, I will still hunt from directly downwind the next morning in that direction. If not, I will listen after midnight for bugling - if none then the next day starts like the first, except I will try a single bugle at dawn to see if I can elicit a response. If all else fails, I will still hunt very slowly directly into the wind between previously located feeding areas and canyon security cover.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: vandeman17 on August 25, 2017, 10:32:35 AM: Seems like it is almost always warm for the opener so I will hunt my normal way. Out well before daylight and back after dark. Look for shady areas with cover and feed. Try to catch them moving between feed and bed.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: lord grizzly on August 25, 2017, 10:33:35 AM: packed many a bull out in 90 degree temps
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on August 25, 2017, 11:49:23 AM: Quote from: vandeman17 on August 25, 2017, 10:32:35 AM
Seems like it is almost always warm for the opener so I will hunt my normal way. Out well before daylight and back after dark. Look for shady areas with cover and feed. Try to catch them moving between feed and bed.
I agree, pretty consistant that a few hunters always get into elk and have a great time, while others lament the fact that the elk are not talking, the rut is off, too much pressure, wish it would rain... etc. But the when it does rain they pack up and go home (at least where I hunt)
I love the second week, a little rain to quiet the ground and bring a few Chantrelles up. Fewer hunters bugling like idiots from the roads, gates to myself....
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: Little Fish on August 25, 2017, 01:22:12 PM: My first order of business will be to find some state land to hunt near the tree farms I usually hunt. Hopefully there will be some rain between now and the opener and all my worrying about where to hunt will have been unnecessary.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: snarkybull on August 26, 2017, 09:43:57 AM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on August 25, 2017, 09:50:40 AM
How do you guys adjust your plans when the season starts in dry, hot weather?

I bring more water. That's all.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: follow maggie on August 26, 2017, 10:34:24 PM: The weather we're getting is pretty standard for this time of year. My hunting & fishing will carry on as normal.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: SureThing on September 03, 2017, 10:45:40 PM: I have no control over the weather or the fires. I stay mentally tough and know that I will see or hear an elk over the next hill or in the next basin and enjoy the time out in the woods and forget about work. I'm never disappointed.
If I'm not seeing any sign or life or just losing confidence in an area I move to a new location and explore it. If there are no elk in the area then the new area can't be any worse than the area I left. Rinse and repeat till success. Start early and leave late. If your not in the woods you will not see elk you can kill. It's the law of averages.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: Magnum_Willys on September 03, 2017, 10:57:28 PM: Perfect! Weather concentrates animals into 10% area that keeps them cool. Just need to hunt those creek bottom cool areas. The 90% thats hot dry open we can forget about!
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: Elkcollector82 on September 04, 2017, 12:21:24 AM: Carry more water and maybe some sun block. Cause this ginger beard guy burns easy. Just like us, animals need more water in this heat. Find a water source and make it pay. Up before daylight, traveling by red light. Headed back at dark. Rain or shine this guy is gonna be out there tell I'm tagged out or the clock runs out.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: splitshot on September 04, 2017, 05:20:22 PM: I heard all paper land is closed to any entry till we get rain. any truth in that? mike w
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: Russ McDonald on September 04, 2017, 05:56:24 PM: The streak of 70 or above is going to be broken next week. I looked out at a 10 day, which usually isn't very good, I see some rain around the 14th and over that coming weekend. It is just short spurts but I don't see it going much higher then 70 just mainly mid 60's.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: shadowless_nite on September 04, 2017, 07:22:01 PM: Quote from: splitshot on September 04, 2017, 05:20:22 PM
I heard all paper land is closed to any entry till we get rain. any truth in that? mike w

I don't know where you are at....

But I was in 506 this last weekend. And Campbell and Hancock have most their lands marked with signs closed due to fire danger. And they were dated 9/1/17. Dunno about rayonier.
Title: Re: Dry & Hot Until the 9th Opener - Where's the rain?
Post by: splitshot on September 04, 2017, 08:05:21 PM: I was referring to the inland empire paper land near Spokane. sorry, mike w