Post by: mritech1 on August 11, 2018, 08:58:55 PM
I have been on here for some time, I dont post much as I purely enjoy reading of others great hunts, its just that simple. It helps get me pumped up each season to make the extra effort when I am in the field. Other than a few hunting websites I shy away from social media and posting much, I struggle with sharing my personal life to the interweb so much so I literally have never been on facebook. I am about to branch out right now and I hope it is a good choice. I dont work out all year in preperation for hunting however I do try to stay fit, I dont shoot my bow every weekend year round but still pull it out a few months before the season and practice. I am a father, a husband to a super understanding and supportive wife and I am a full time hourly guy that picks up OT shifts to buy the latest gear. I do love hunting to the extent that my vacatiuon calendar revolves around fall however, And......... I bought 5 tickets for the Washington state raffle.
Now to why I am actually writing here today,
The other day I was reading of a members good fortune, You may have seen a post that was titled "pinch me I'm Dreaming" in the deer section, After reading that post, or actually in the middle of it, I thought wow, I didnt know the raffle results where out. I better see if one of my five tickets was the one. I opened a new tab and went to the WDFW website. I couldn't find the raffle ticket results page so I called up to Olympia. The gentleman answered and he said yes tell me your ticket numbers and I will tell you if you won. I said, no thank you, half the fun is looking it up for myself. He gladly walked me to the page I needed and we hung up. I typed in my raffle numbers and low and behold a "you have been selected" memo popped up. I saw the results. At first I thought wow, that would be super cool but really? Could it be true? I called back to WDFW as I didn't want to tell anyone what I thought I had drawn unless it was in fact the case. When I called back I said, Hello this so and so....He said you mean so and so and so? I said ya thats me, He said hey, "you are the western elk raffle winner!!!!
I cant tell you what a rush those words brought to me. I will tell you my head is spinning since that call. I have hunted the same Washington unit for elk most of my life (SW Wa). I have been told by many to look to the north, White River, Nooksack etc. What should a guy do int his case? I am looking for advise. There are nice bulls in many units in this state. I initially was not going to write about this tag as it is not my style to go public however I have seen some really great advise offered here. I figure I may not have another chance like this in my lifetime so I am throwing it out there. What would you do in my shoes? I am capable of setting foot almost anyware physically, I have been archery hunting for the last 8 years in Wa but I am ready to use my 300 win mag in a moment. I have about 3 weeks to ge this done and want to do this without hiring a guide, that is just not my style. Hiring pack mules is another story. My goal is a 6 point bull over 300 inches (seem reasonable?). Any valuable insight would be much appriciatted.
Thanks all in advance
Post by: Elkcollector82 on August 11, 2018, 09:12:12 PM
Post by: Mfowl on August 11, 2018, 09:12:47 PM
Post by: cem3434 on August 11, 2018, 09:14:20 PM
Post by: wheels on August 12, 2018, 12:56:22 AM
Post by: elkrack on August 12, 2018, 04:47:11 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on August 12, 2018, 08:01:44 AM
Post by: h20hunter on August 12, 2018, 08:04:41 AM
Post by: elkrack on August 12, 2018, 08:07:27 AM
Post by: mritech1 on August 12, 2018, 08:09:36 AM
Post by: bkaech on August 12, 2018, 08:16:52 AM
If it was me I would focus all my attention on the Noocksack. But I have more experience with that land than the White River.
Post by: trophyhunt on August 12, 2018, 08:33:12 AM
Post by: bkaech on August 12, 2018, 08:43:31 AM
Thanks for the congrats. Yes I thought it over and decided to go ahead and keep the tag. :tup: As far as WR, I see a couple of permits that may need to be bought. Kapowsin and Hancock. A couple of things that make me stop and think. 1. I would need to buy a permit for every person that is in the rig with me (that is if someone is with me) 2. Do they sell out? Maybe I need to buck up and buy both of them now? All new to that area so just throwing things out that come to mind. Thanks again.
Don't buy the passes! With the Kapowsin pass you can't use it during any elk season (won't help you) and the White River pass is not worth it (doesn't sell out either), you can hunt on Forest Service land. Aslo, yes, every person (adult) in the vehicle needs their own pass. Just don't do it.
Post by: mritech1 on August 12, 2018, 08:59:24 AM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on August 12, 2018, 09:10:03 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on August 12, 2018, 09:15:24 AM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on August 12, 2018, 09:16:35 AM
Don’t you have to use archery during archery, and muzzy during muzzy? Rifle any other time?that's incentive tag.
For raffle he can use rifle during archery if he wants to.
Post by: mritech1 on August 12, 2018, 09:19:07 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on August 12, 2018, 09:23:27 AM
Post by: Stein on August 12, 2018, 09:28:07 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on August 12, 2018, 06:12:51 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 12, 2018, 06:24:52 PM
Post by: WildBear on August 12, 2018, 09:43:11 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on August 13, 2018, 07:18:04 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on August 13, 2018, 07:20:14 AM
Post by: mritech1 on August 13, 2018, 08:33:26 AM
Post by: bobcat on August 13, 2018, 08:54:29 AM
Awesome story, glad to see a raffle tag go to an ordinary guy.
:yeah:
Post by: Ridgerunner on August 13, 2018, 10:25:15 AM
Post by: jaredwitman on August 13, 2018, 12:08:13 PM
Post by: Tbar on August 13, 2018, 12:34:28 PM
Post by: furbearer365 on August 13, 2018, 09:05:22 PM
Post by: lokidog on August 13, 2018, 10:42:15 PM
Post by: JWEBB on August 13, 2018, 10:56:56 PM
Post by: lewy on August 14, 2018, 07:01:11 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on August 14, 2018, 07:02:22 AM
Not sure if the unit is open with your tag but a sleeper unit you may consider is Mt. Whittier. Its big country but being able to hunt it during peak rut with a rifle will give you an advantage that no one else has every had in there. Having the ability to call bulls into gun range is exactly what it would take to do that unit justice. And im telling you, there are some true studs in there. Congrats on the tag and im super jealousIt should be open, there are permits in that unit.
Post by: mritech1 on August 14, 2018, 07:32:31 AM
Nice tag, you should be able to look at plenty of bulls including some toads......
Post by: mritech1 on August 14, 2018, 08:10:17 AM
Not sure if the unit is open with your tag but a sleeper unit you may consider is Mt. Whittier. Its big country but being able to hunt it during peak rut with a rifle will give you an advantage that no one else has every had in there. Having the ability to call bulls into gun range is exactly what it would take to do that unit justice. And im telling you, there are some true studs in there. Congrats on the tag and im super jealous
This is one of the issues with having such a tag. There are so many places that have great experiences it's hard to make a decision. It is a great problem to have however!
Post by: elkrack on August 14, 2018, 08:33:42 AM
You could say that again! Hunting bulls in September with your weapon of choice and location of choice. What about the 485 unit? Are you able to hunt the green water shed?
Post by: mritech1 on August 14, 2018, 08:57:57 AM
Post by: elkrack on August 14, 2018, 09:20:19 AM
Post by: W_Ellison2011 on August 14, 2018, 03:01:12 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on August 14, 2018, 06:05:34 PM
Post by: elkrack on September 22, 2018, 11:15:51 AM
Pics?
Post by: mritech1 on September 22, 2018, 11:52:25 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 22, 2018, 12:09:13 PM
I typed a full story and posted pics a few times, I must be doing something wrong, more to come....sorry
@mritech1 my guess is your photos are too big. Try posting the story by itself and then we can work on the photos.
Post by: mritech1 on September 22, 2018, 12:53:31 PM
Post by: mritech1 on September 22, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
Post by: mritech1 on September 22, 2018, 12:57:36 PM
Post by: meatwhack on September 22, 2018, 01:00:56 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on September 22, 2018, 01:30:29 PM
Post by: mritech1 on September 22, 2018, 01:32:40 PM
Post by: mritech1 on September 22, 2018, 01:41:55 PM
Post by: Mfowl on September 22, 2018, 03:30:25 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 22, 2018, 03:58:42 PM
Post by: mfswallace on September 22, 2018, 04:27:57 PM
Post by: crowinghen on September 22, 2018, 05:50:00 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 22, 2018, 06:07:29 PM
Did you gut it one the lawn too?🤣
Post by: cem3434 on September 22, 2018, 06:49:36 PM
Post by: X-Force on September 22, 2018, 08:03:19 PM
Congrats
Post by: bearpaw on September 23, 2018, 01:23:01 AM
Post by: wheels on October 01, 2018, 01:41:06 PM
Post by: Elkcollector82 on October 01, 2018, 01:56:50 PM
best $30 ever spent. :IBCOOL:
Post by: Shawn Ryan on October 01, 2018, 04:26:06 PM