Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: SeaRun1 on May 15, 2019, 06:23:12 PM

Title: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: SeaRun1 on May 15, 2019, 06:23:12 PM: Hey all,

I have hemmed and hawed on this for sometime. So I put on the asbestos suit on advice from a friend and am firing this out.

I am a halfway decent deer hunter. Got lots to learn but I get one when I put in a good effort. Still have a lot to learn. I hunt with all three weapon choices.

I am not however much of an elk hunter. I have put in about 15 days here and there over the last five years but have not had any success just some good times.

I am planning on pseudo retiring in six years so have been putting in for multi season elk never really Expecting to get it until I had 10 or 11 points as I am a gold member of the non-selected club. Well you know what happened... I drew elk multi season this year and frankly I do not have much direction to go in.

So I am throwing this out to see if anyone has any advice for me or would like to educate/mentor a guy on his way to tagging an elk. I am mostly a meat hunter and a cow would be a great accomplishment for me.

I can offer some fishing trips on my boat as trade if interested. I have helped a few guys here and there get started in other hobbies and am just hoping to find someone that is interested in helping me out. I would be grateful.

I am an older guy, pretty decent shape and can hike around pretty well enough. Not really a loud mouth and always willing to learn. Provide for myself and pay my way with everything.

If you would be willing to take me on or help out it would be appreciated. Thanks!

SR1
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on May 15, 2019, 06:45:47 PM: Sincere, honest reach out SeaRun1, I respect that. My dance card is full this fall as far as offering an invite but I think I can help with a bit of “direction”. Do you plan on hunting all 3 seasons, on the west side? RJ
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: dreamunelk on May 15, 2019, 06:58:20 PM: If you are after meat and hunt the west side I would consider Williams Creek. Lots of accessible land if you don't mind walk in. If fire closure than go to plan B and hunt the Clearwater. Scout both and you have a really good chance at connecting.
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 16, 2019, 03:55:15 PM: I think the 15 days over 3 years pretty much explains why you have not got an elk.
I was real consistent back when I was able to hunt the full early season, it is when I am only able to spend 5-6 days that I end up finding the elk, but run out of time.
I also was drawn for multi this year, so fairly confident in being able to bring one home this year.

Pretty much planning around the ML season, but going to hunt some of archery, all of early ML, and curious about modern (been 30+ years)

If your interested in hunting Williams creek, I have room at the campfire.
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: slowhand on May 16, 2019, 03:59:49 PM: Tag
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: vandeman17 on May 16, 2019, 04:06:17 PM: Lots of areas on the eastside with cow seasons. If you can get over throughout the summer, scout, maybe hang some cameras in different areas and find some decent spots, you can have a good chance. From there, get some feed out before the season, along with a stand and sit on them based on what your camera pictures are showing.
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: SeaRun1 on May 16, 2019, 05:11:42 PM: Thanks guys for the responses. I have an occupation that does not sync real well with elk hunting. I can usually take a couple of days off each year to chase Blacktails and Muleys but big chunks of time are difficult. For this upcoming season I am going to try as many three day weekends as I can get away with. This is why I have been tabling becoming a dedicated elk guy till I can retire and give it more effort.

This multi season just threw a wrench in my “plan”. I am sending a few pm’s out. Thanks again guys.

SR1
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: dreadi on May 17, 2019, 12:53:41 AM: I’ve been told “there’s plenty of elk for everybody” on the public land east of Long Beach by a hunter that kills a bull every year for the past 10+ years during muzzleloader season over the way.
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 17, 2019, 12:15:38 PM: Quote from: dreadi on May 17, 2019, 12:53:41 AM
I’ve been told “there’s plenty of elk for everybody” on the public land east of Long Beach by a hunter that kills a bull every year for the past 10+ years during muzzleloader season over the way.
Yeah, if you know the right gate to park at and access that area near Lonbeach, there is good hunting.
I am just weird in that if there are 3+ trucks at a gate, I go somewhere else...
Chinook area has some habitat restoration area, but those elk know the boundaries of private/public and clear out at daybreak.
Plenty of elk in the area, access seems to be main deterrent to hunters.
684 is also open to antlerless, 681 is not (ML)
Title: Re: Looking for advice or help.
Post by: follow maggie on May 23, 2019, 12:34:30 PM: In my time of elk hunting, dating back to about year 2000, with a break from about 2003-2007, I've noticed that time in the woods is the most important ingredient to my success. Typically I spend a week or so out there, with the first 1-2 days just covering ground to see what's around, where are things moving, and verifying water sources I know from previous years or find on OnX or BAsemap. If I dedicate myself to this, I get into animals over 50% of the time. I mainly hunt elk with my bow, so I may or may not get a shot opportunity.

Another thing I've noticed pretty regularly is that after a couple days their patterns will shift. Maybe only a thousand yards or so, but in the timber or steep country, it can take a couple more days to find where they shifted to.

I hope this helps.

So, for me, the key is to study maps before I go out, be willing to spend the boot leather covering ground to find them, having the patience to thoroughly hunt an area when I do find them, and be willing to change it up if they disappear.