Post by: Kc_Kracker on September 25, 2022, 04:35:59 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 25, 2022, 05:40:00 PM
I started hunting elk 10 years ago. Ive hunted almost every year. Not once have I even seen an elk except in people's yards. Not once have I even heard a bugle. Not once. Obviously I suck at the "finding" part :bash:.
Sounds like your just hunting the wrong unit.
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If your not even seeing elk, something is not right.
I could understand not killing an elk in 10 years, but not seeing any?
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Although, I must admit I went from seeing 50+ a season to only seeing around a dozen in my area (during season) but that is just because I only get 7 days now.
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Usually the south end of a northbound cow, and hopefully a few calves to give me hope for next year....
Finding a bull on the west side is as tough as finding a spike on the east side..
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 25, 2022, 05:58:54 PM
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I am going back to the bow next year, unless I kill a bull muzzleloader this year.
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As much as I hate the Wdfw and herd reduction, I still want meat.
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It is a lot more difficult than it was in the 80's.
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Honestly, if my "formative" years bowhunting during a 2 week season where anything with hooves (deer also) I probably would have been frustrated also.
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But, if you only hunt for the trophy, your missing the whole point.
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If you want to hear one bugle, go scouting in August and watch the Perseids meteor shower around midnight.
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Or, go out now that season is closed and listen at night.
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Post by: Mudman on September 25, 2022, 06:33:52 PM
Post by: ThurstonCokid on September 25, 2022, 06:43:39 PM
Not seeing any elk, sounds like the wrong unit. I look at total harvest #’s pick a few units then look over maps and pick terrain you prefer to hunt in. Good luck! I wouldnt throw in the towel, but id rather be in the woods not seeing anything than anything else..
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Post by: Kc_Kracker on September 25, 2022, 06:49:51 PM
t. I look at total harvest #’s pick a few units then look over maps and pick terrain you prefer to hunt in
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How do I look that up?
Post by: Kc_Kracker on September 25, 2022, 06:50:50 PM
I started hunting elk 10 years ago. Ive hunted almost every year. Not once have I even seen an elk except in people's yards. Not once have I even heard a bugle. Not once. Obviously I suck at the "finding" part :bash:.
Sounds like your just hunting the wrong unit.
.
If your not even seeing elk, something is not right.
I could understand not killing an elk in 10 years, but not seeing any?
.
Although, I must admit I went from seeing 50+ a season to only seeing around a dozen in my area (during season) but that is just because I only get 7 days now.
.
Usually the south end of a northbound cow, and hopefully a few calves to give me hope for next year....
Finding a bull on the west side is as tough as finding a spike on the east side..
I've gone back n forth, currently modern. I try a different area every year
Post by: ThurstonCokid on September 25, 2022, 06:50:53 PM
https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/game-harvest/2021/elk-generalt. I look at total harvest #’s pick a few units then look over maps and pick terrain you prefer to hunt in
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How do I look that up?
Let me know if you need any other help..
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Post by: Kc_Kracker on September 25, 2022, 06:51:44 PM
Hope you not hunting capitol forest??I have before, no luck
Post by: gee_unit360 on September 25, 2022, 07:01:50 PM
I started hunting elk 10 years ago. Ive hunted almost every year. Not once have I even seen an elk except in people's yards. Not once have I even heard a bugle. Not once. Obviously I suck at the "finding" part :bash:
Sounds like your just hunting the wrong unit.
.
If your not even seeing elk, something is not right.
I could understand not killing an elk in 10 years, but not seeing any?
.
Although, I must admit I went from seeing 50+ a season to only seeing around a dozen in my area (during season) but that is just because I only get 7 days now.
.
Usually the south end of a northbound cow, and hopefully a few calves to give me hope for next year....
Finding a bull on the west side is as tough as finding a spike on the east side..
I've gone back n forth, currently modern. I try a different area every year
That might be the issue. Takes more than a year to figure out an area. Scout the area before the season for sign: tracks, 💩, rubs, wallows, etc. E scout for areas far from roads, deep n steep, put out cameras and feed. It’s all about hours in the woods.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 25, 2022, 07:07:47 PM
Quote
I've gone back n forth, currently modern. I try a different area every year.
That's probably your issue.
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Scouting and learning a unit is probably the single most important thing in Washington State.
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I find the same herds somewhere in the same general area every year.
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I have my favorite spots, and pretty much spend my season checking those spots.
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If there is no fresh sign, I go to another spot.
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Eventually you find them...
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Then you have a new spot.
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Depends on how many trucks are at the gate
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Post by: Houndhunter on September 25, 2022, 07:14:22 PM
Post by: snake on September 25, 2022, 07:40:59 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on September 25, 2022, 07:43:50 PM
Pretty much all units have bulls. Often the better bulls are killed in units with lower elk populations.
If hunting areas with higher populations..... learn to enjoy burning gas, boot leather and bicycle tires. Get your moneys worth of high ridge sunrises and sets. Meaning move in the dark and be glassing at first light. Go in june or july, the elk are relaxed and will be way more visible at least you will know they are around. Figure out how to hunt it based on weapon type, terrain and pressure. If in an unit known for elk just plan for pressure no matter what weapon.
If looking in less popular areas, trail cams are your friend. Get a bunch out in any area that could possibly hold elk. Find any old or fresh sign you can, Once you find that you can begin using the cams to find elk and hopefully get a pattern together. Hopefully you will have them to yourself, or less pressure.
Post by: Stein on September 25, 2022, 07:49:04 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on September 25, 2022, 08:02:38 PM
If you came for the meat, you came for the wrong reason”
Post by: Kc_Kracker on September 25, 2022, 08:27:34 PM
We have a saying written on our cook shack wall amongst others.
If you came for the meat, you came for the wrong reason”
I don't think I said I was hunting for meat but after ten years it's still like looking for bigfoot lol
Post by: MADMAX on September 25, 2022, 08:29:32 PM
Dont quit
Post by: Cylvertip on September 25, 2022, 08:44:09 PM
I will add this next part to maybe show some credability...
Now I have not shot/ harvested an animal since 04. But have had plenty of opportunists on legal animals and really nice bulls. Only 1 seen in the woods in that time has checked all the boxes for me. I let him walk at 20 yards because I did not feel comfortable at the time to take a frontal shot. That one haunts me. I have had more than a dozen in that same time that I had opportunities on- including a half dozen nice 5x5's- that all walked from as little as 5 yards. Since 2006 it has been almost 100% exclusively on the Peninsula. The hunting does seem to be getting tougher over there. But I saw a few signs of hope this year too. Logging in National Forests is starting again, and some areas opened up that had been pay to play previously. It is tough not interacting with animals. But you just don't know what next year will hold.
What unit(s) have you targeted? If you are after a any legal bull or a cow, I bet there is help on here. I know I will share what I can for 500 and 600 units.
I wrote this thinking archery but will apply to muzzy and probably rifle too.
Post by: Shank on September 25, 2022, 08:51:49 PM
I share your pain whole heartedly.
As a child my families idea of hunting was driving around drinking beer and bitching there were no animals (go figure) in my early 20's I switched to muzzy and began to really "hunt" had to figure it all out on my own. Started getting into animals missed shots, had misfires killed more deer, but no elk. I've had seasons I never saw an animal but knew every place to be or look at.
Then my 1st elk I killed, was taken from me by other hunters and that was about the last time I hunted. I had, had it with this state
Came back last year, muzzy. No animals but got in to some cows. This year I switched to archery drew a quality tag hunted my ass off missed a 5x5, worked some bulls. And learned a ton more. All this is the same unit my family has "hunted" since '84
Yes this state does suck compared to other states.
But they key is perseverance and not giving up, learn from what hasn't worked. I'm still learning, we all are. It is hunting not killing, not saying that to be mean, I have to keep reminding myself about that. And I'm becoming a better hunter year after year so will you.
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Post by: Stein on September 26, 2022, 07:02:49 AM
Post by: Westside88 on September 26, 2022, 07:21:17 AM
Some years I'm more able to put the time in than others and it makes a big difference. My best advice is identify a unit that has decent success numbers, decent access and then block out a good chunk of the season to go there. Set up a camp if you can. Live it all day every day. You'll gain an understanding of when and where elk are seen. Hunting archery was a real eye opener for me. I've never shot my bow at an animal, but I have had close encounters and action on multiple days. It can be a real game changer for a hunters attitude. I know that I often don't have enough time to invest, so I try to put myself in an area I know that has elk and be out there. Having those close encounters, even if it doesn't come together is still a win in my book.
Post by: Slamadoo on September 26, 2022, 07:39:21 AM
1. If your constantly changing spots it can be tough. It takes time to figure out how the animals use an area.
2. If your hunting the same spot for 10 years without seeing elk, you need a new spot.
3. Find good people to hunt with. It makes all the difference. If you can, hunt with someone who is a better hunter than yourself.
Post by: dreadi on September 26, 2022, 07:48:06 AM
Post by: GASoline71 on September 26, 2022, 08:05:45 AM
Gary
Post by: bornhunter on September 26, 2022, 08:10:57 AM
Post by: hunter_sean08 on September 26, 2022, 09:14:21 AM
What I will say about elk hunting is your success is predicated on being prepared and being committed in all arenas of the hunt whether it’s scouting, calling, tracking, pre-season fitness, etc. Elk hunting can break you. It’s emotional, it’s physical, it’s challenging. But if you commit yourself to it, you’ll find animals. That’s only step 1. There are many eyes, ears and noses in an elk herd and closing the gap can be tough. No matter what happens though, the experience of being among these massive beasts in their living room is worthy enough of calling the hunt “successful”. Watching the behavior of these animals, hearing their calls, seeing how they function as a herd, smelling the barnyard in the breeze. It’s something that can’t be beat.
We once killed a cow that went over a bank and down into a shallow stretch of a river. I remember walking up to that cow and witnessing multiple king salmon running up river around her thinking that was something that not many people get to see. Those are the moments that keep me coming back to hunt elk.
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Post by: GASoline71 on September 26, 2022, 09:42:43 AM
That’s not to say my group hasn’t taken bulls- I just haven’t been the fortunate tag filler yet. I’ve been on cow tag hunts where I couldn’t shoot a bull and had the 3 pt or better dead to rights in my sights multiple times. I’ve been the caller on an archery hunt where we got within 15 yards of multiple legal bulls, one of which was giving the lead cow the business. Sadly it worked out that I was the only one with a good broadside look at those animals with no tag in my pocket…
Same here... I've had my opportunities, and either blew them on a stupid mistake on my part, or somehow just couldn't make the connection and the bull walked.
Then there was 2014 where I had a cow tag and a big cow elk not even 70 yards from me. I flat out missed her for some damn reason. To this day I don't know how I screwed the pooch on such and easy broadside shot with a rifle. :dunno:
It happens.
Gary
Post by: JeffRaines on September 26, 2022, 10:15:32 AM
After ten years of attempting to complete a task and not being successful, it may be time to seek professional help
I find that with some folks, the more they do something unsuccessfully it starts to jade them. You're looking at a spot on the map, and when you first started hunting you'd have been all over it... now since you've seen "a few spots like it" and had nothing come of it, you're more willing to pass it over because "it hasn't worked before"... that's just one example. Its also hard as hell to learn something with zero feedback. I've been there and I'm still there with a lot of stuff. I'm not dense - I know I'm doing something wrong... but what? Is it a single thing? is it a combination of things?
In OPs case, since they say they haven't seen an animal in 10 years... I'd forget everything I thought I knew and start over from scratch with an emphasis on keeping a completely open mind. Pick a unit with a high number of animals harvested regardless of hunter pressure... if its pay to play, then so be it(within reason). You need animal encounters to learn how to hunt 100% because you can and will squander opportunities as a beginner... if you can get a few opportunities a year, you'll learn faster. For this reason, forget hunter pressure. Its gonna be everywhere, and I'd rather be hunting with the masses seeing animals than hunting alone in a unit where only 10 are taken every year... those numbers look good from a solitude perspective, but who knows where those 10 animals were shot. If there is any private land in said unit, its highly likely most if not all of those were shot on private.
I don't know if anyone played Nintendo or anything as a kid, but you didn't start out with the game on max difficulty. You started on easy, learned how the game worked, then turned it up later when you had the controls down and understood it. Trying to hunt any animal in a unit with low harvest numbers as a beginner is like starting the game on max difficulty. Once you're seeing animals regularly where you expect to see them and you have one or two on the ground, then you can start trying to find a honey hole in those low harvest units.
Post by: ljsommer on September 26, 2022, 12:55:55 PM
However, in this category my expertise shines.
Elk started off as my bucket list success marker, specifically archery elk. That was quite a few years ago now and I've yet to see an elk, any elk, with a tag in my pocket (I've bumped them while scouting or while holding the wrong tag during the wrong season). I am no closer now by any measure than I was when I started hunting 6 or so years ago. That said, it hasn't deterred me for one reason in particular that I don't think people talk about enough:
This is really hard. Not many people succeed, and VERY few people succeed regularly. It's so easy to see social media, youtube, and forums post and get the idea that everyone's just harvesting elk all the time like it's no big deal. It is a big deal, it's a very big deal, and it's ok if it takes you a very very long time to connect.
That's it, that's the entirety of my advice. Just don't get discouraged, because you're not trying to climb a hill; you're trying to climb a mountain. Hell of a lot more work, requires more prep, takes longer, but the view is going to be great when you get there.
Post by: jackelope on September 26, 2022, 01:18:45 PM
We have a saying written on our cook shack wall amongst others.
If you came for the meat, you came for the wrong reason”
I don't think I said I was hunting for meat but after ten years it's still like looking for bigfoot lol
I think you missed his point.
I think hunting a different unit every year is at least a significant part of the problem. How do you ever learn it by only spending a short period of time there every year?
I can't really talk as I've never killed an elk. I've been a part of 1 elk harvest and that's it. I've elk hunted a few days maybe 3-4 years, always archery.
Post by: 7mmfan on September 26, 2022, 01:32:13 PM
1. Hunt where there are lots of elk. Look at harvest stats and see where the most elk are killed. Not highest harvest percentage, but actual numbers of elk. Go hunt there. There will be tons of people but you will see animals. Seeing animals, interacting with animals, learning their habits even if no shots are fired is critical to long term success. It's far more enjoyable to go hunting and see something, even if you can't shoot it then to just look at trees all day.
2. Pick and area and learn it. Pick an area that has good harvest stats, lots of animals, and hunt it. Hunt it for several years. Spend as much time there as you can. Learning ground and how animals use it is the next most critical point to long term success. Anyone can stumble into an animal and be successful periodically, especially if there are a lot around, but learning the ground and how it's used will result in consistent success. Stop bouncing around.
:twocents:
Post by: GOcougsHunter on September 26, 2022, 02:14:42 PM
Post by: BlackRiverLabradors on September 27, 2022, 01:09:22 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on September 27, 2022, 02:36:57 AM
We have a saying written on our cook shack wall amongst others.
If you came for the meat, you came for the wrong reason”
I don't think I said I was hunting for meat but after ten years it's still like looking for bigfoot lol
Oh I know, last year we hiked our rears off in a unit we had killed elk before. Never saw one elk or a fresh track. Maybe you would feel better about it if you were hunting with a partner or group. Sometime going it alone wears on a person.
Post by: ghosthunter on September 27, 2022, 02:49:35 AM
Post by: JakeLand on September 27, 2022, 08:30:58 AM
Post by: scoutdog346 on September 27, 2022, 08:49:18 AM
My 1st 5 years elk hunting the only time I saw elk was when i i was with my uncle or something that k ew what he was doing but it took years b4 I started seeing selk during the season on my own
I started hunting elk 10 years ago. Ive hunted almost every year. Not once have I even seen an elk except in people's yards. Not once have I even heard a bugle. Not once. Obviously I suck at the "finding" part :bash:
Post by: ljsommer on September 27, 2022, 09:03:36 AM
We have a saying written on our cook shack wall amongst others.
If you came for the meat, you came for the wrong reason”
I don't think I said I was hunting for meat but after ten years it's still like looking for bigfoot lol
Oh I know, last year we hiked our rears off in a unit we had killed elk before. Never saw one elk or a fresh track. Maybe you would feel better about it if you were hunting with a partner or group. Sometime going it alone wears on a person.
I can confirm that going it alone as a beginner hunter, standing in totally dead silent woods with no animals in sight can be extremely demoralizing. Conversely, doing that activity with a buddy or even just a walking companion totally changes the dynamic. It goes from "I should just go home because I clearly don't know what I am doing" to "it's a pretty nice day to be on a walk with some good conversation"
Post by: GASoline71 on September 27, 2022, 10:07:42 AM
Lets face it. This isn’t a easy state. If you find elk than you got to find a spike, in some units a true spike elk unless you got a special permit.
There's a reason you don't see the big shot famous guys hunting WA State as NR's. There are far fewer elk, the regs suck, and the people population is triple that of other western states with more elk. This is by far the hardest state to hunt elk in if you ask me.
Gary
Post by: ghosthunter on September 27, 2022, 10:17:30 AM
Lets face it. This isn’t a easy state. If you find elk than you got to find a spike, in some units a true spike elk unless you got a special permit.
There's a reason you don't see the big shot famous guys hunting WA State as NR's. There are far fewer elk, the regs suck, and the people population is triple that of other western states with more elk. This is by far the hardest state to hunt elk in if you ask me.
Gary
All true. And tomorrow am I leave to kick turds once again. Just can’t get enough turd kicking from a wall tent.
Post by: HntnFsh on September 27, 2022, 12:37:11 PM
Post by: Peewee on September 27, 2022, 01:19:53 PM
Post by: Viking360 on September 27, 2022, 01:34:13 PM
Post by: Kc_Kracker on September 27, 2022, 03:15:57 PM
Maybe pick up golf? :dunno:That's why I kill fish 😂
Post by: JakeLand on September 27, 2022, 07:23:30 PM
get ‘em ghost !!! Good luck and happy huntingLets face it. This isn’t a easy state. If you find elk than you got to find a spike, in some units a true spike elk unless you got a special permit.
There's a reason you don't see the big shot famous guys hunting WA State as NR's. There are far fewer elk, the regs suck, and the people population is triple that of other western states with more elk. This is by far the hardest state to hunt elk in if you ask me.
Gary
All true. And tomorrow am I leave to kick turds once again. Just can’t get enough turd kicking from a wall tent.
Post by: scoutdog346 on September 28, 2022, 10:49:26 AM
Post by: Rutnbuxnbulls on September 28, 2022, 01:38:50 PM
It is a tough sport. Only 10% or less are successful in basically any western state on elk. I relegate elk hunting to steelheading. Fish of 1000 casts; ungulate of 1000 hours. I think we all have our reasons for repeatedly getting our collective behinds kicked out there by other hunters, roads, rules, regs, predators, weather, silent elk, etc. And we keep coming back. What is over the next ridge or in the next draw? Could be a shooter!
I ate early archery tag on a cow only hunt in the Turnbull NWR, thinking I'd be in elk every day. Think again! It was quiet, cows weren't plentiful, bulls were bugling and fun to talk to, but I couldn't shoot one although I SO wanted to. So that was like a blueball tease girlfriend.
Anyway, keep getting out there. Have fun being in the woods, beats being at work or on the couch. You get fresh air, quiet, and sometimes, you see the target species while out there. Then it's game on! Good luck
Post by: snake on December 08, 2022, 06:17:05 PM
Post by: Lumpy Taters on December 08, 2022, 08:49:20 PM
Post by: ljsommer on December 08, 2022, 11:44:30 PM
I give up on elk hunting too.....until late archery!
It is a tough sport. Only 10% or less are successful in basically any western state on elk. I relegate elk hunting to steelheading. Fish of 1000 casts; ungulate of 1000 hours. I think we all have our reasons for repeatedly getting our collective behinds kicked out there by other hunters, roads, rules, regs, predators, weather, silent elk, etc. And we keep coming back. What is over the next ridge or in the next draw? Could be a shooter!
I ate early archery tag on a cow only hunt in the Turnbull NWR, thinking I'd be in elk every day. Think again! It was quiet, cows weren't plentiful, bulls were bugling and fun to talk to, but I couldn't shoot one although I SO wanted to. So that was like a blueball tease girlfriend.
Anyway, keep getting out there. Have fun being in the woods, beats being at work or on the couch. You get fresh air, quiet, and sometimes, you see the target species while out there. Then it's game on! Good luck
What's late archery like?
Post by: elkchaser54 on December 09, 2022, 12:20:36 AM
Post by: scoutdog346 on December 10, 2022, 12:41:33 PM
Post by: Rutnbuxnbulls on December 10, 2022, 02:59:45 PM
I give up on elk hunting too.....until late archery!
It is a tough sport. Only 10% or less are successful in basically any western state on elk. I relegate elk hunting to steelheading. Fish of 1000 casts; ungulate of 1000 hours. I think we all have our reasons for repeatedly getting our collective behinds kicked out there by other hunters, roads, rules, regs, predators, weather, silent elk, etc. And we keep coming back. What is over the next ridge or in the next draw? Could be a shooter!
I ate early archery tag on a cow only hunt in the Turnbull NWR, thinking I'd be in elk every day. Think again! It was quiet, cows weren't plentiful, bulls were bugling and fun to talk to, but I couldn't shoot one although I SO wanted to. So that was like a blueball tease girlfriend.
Anyway, keep getting out there. Have fun being in the woods, beats being at work or on the couch. You get fresh air, quiet, and sometimes, you see the target species while out there. Then it's game on! Good luck
What's late archery like?
Didn’t see this till today. Late archery elk hunting can be productive. A buddy of mine has killed a couple good bulls the last two years in a row. I’ve gotten into elk a few times just haven’t sealed the deal. The animals will be in bigger groups typically and calling is kinda useless, more of a snow tracking/spot and stalk type thing.