Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Out Of State Hunting => Topic started by: cjensen on May 27, 2023, 10:30:33 PM
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Hi Guys,
I am originally from Oregon, but moved to WA back in 2006. I keep putting in for the draws to hunt with family and because I'm too stubborn to let my points go. I lucked out last year and drew the goat raffle tag in Oregon with a 50 dollar investment. I had a larger investment this year for elk but still didn't even have a 5% chance to draw. I figure I'm living right or perhaps I am going to die early. I'll run clean out of friends if my luck continues.
I'm embarrassed to say I have never hunted elk on the East side of Oregon. I've only ever hunted elk around Crater lake during muzzleloader season and shot cows. I've killed bulls, but never in Washington or Oregon.
I don't have any experience in Weneha or Mt. Emily, or any other premium unit for that matter. I try to help others on this site, and would very much appreciate any ideas folks have. Even a place you might suggest I begin scouting. Good access points, etc. I have backpacking stuff and not afraid to hike. Thanks guys and happy hunting this year!
Chris
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WOW!
Congratulations.
It should be epic.
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I don't have any advice for you, but congrats on drawing a primo permit. I'm sure someone on here will be able to help you out.
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WOW!!!! One heck of a draw. Wish I had advice but I dont keep up on Oregon elk really. With enough effort you should be able to kill a good bull.
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Get on Ifish and post in the hunting section. There are some great guys with a ton of knowledge that wouldn't probably be willing to help!
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Get on Ifish and post in the hunting section. There are some great guys with a ton of knowledge that wouldn't probably be willing to help!
Yes. Get on ifish and research posts from PNWSasquatch. He has a group of 5 guys that built enough points for the "Big 3" elk units over decades and have been hunting it for one guy of the group every year. He has tons of knowledge of those units, and has been very helpful. If I'm not mistaken he has a series of videos he's made of the hunts over the years too. EagleEye is also helpful as he had the Wenaha tag last year, and has a long story up on it over on ifish. A bunch of helpful guys on there. Since the Big 3 are almost OIL tags these days, folks are more open to help out.
I live in Oregon, but have never been lucky enough to draw one of those desired units so can't be of much help. Congratulations on getting the raffle tag, and good luck in your adventure.
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Congrats
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CONGRATS !!!!
Please keep us updated very cool
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Thanks everybody for the advice and comments!
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Congrats! Sure would be nice if our raffle tags were drawn this early! What a hunt you are gonna have! Wenaha would be my go to!
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Sent you a PM
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Congrats! Sure would be nice if our raffle tags were drawn this early! What a hunt you are gonna have! Wenaha would be my go to!
Our state's total investment in the raffles is considerably lower than just about everywhere else. I think the timing has something to do with that.
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Yea I would definitely unfriend you if we were buddies :chuckle:
Unreal run of luck you’re having, how did your goat tag turn out last year? Hope you have a great season :tup:
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🤔
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Quit fishing..... quit acting stupid, get an outfitter with.....well you know as well as any one of us. Make it count and because you seem so (not in the know) LOL make it count unless you are rich and will help ruin our ..... the heritage of hunting and drawing tags. To stubborn to let points go? LOL LMAO
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No comprende?
Quit fishing..... quit acting stupid, get an outfitter with.....well you know as well as any one of us. Make it count and because you seem so (not in the know) LOL make it count unless you are rich and will help ruin our ..... the heritage of hunting and drawing tags. To stubborn to let points go? LOL LMAO
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Quit fishing..... quit acting stupid, get an outfitter with.....well you know as well as any one of us. Make it count and because you seem so (not in the know) LOL make it count unless you are rich and will help ruin our ..... the heritage of hunting and drawing tags. To stubborn to let points go? LOL LMAO
Cryder is that you?
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Yea I would definitely unfriend you if we were buddies :chuckle:
Unreal run of luck you’re having, how did your goat tag turn out last year? Hope you have a great season :tup:
I would understand the "unfriend"! The goat hunt went good. I got a decent goat and had some Level 2 fun. Not fun at all in the moment, but hilarious to talk about later. I'll try to post a picture of the goat when it allows me.
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Not sure how to post a picture. I attach it and then it tells me there is an error on the website. It is a JPG and less than the max allowed. Perhaps the site senses it is from Oregon and doesn't want to be watered down.
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Screen shot it and post the screen shot :tup:
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Goat
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Screen shot it and post the screen shot :tup:
Thanks -- that worked!
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Screen shot it and post the screen shot :tup:
Thanks -- that worked!
beautiful goat man congrats and good luck on your elk tag! What a special opportunity you've got ahead of you :IBCOOL:
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That is a beautiful goat

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awesome goat!!!
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Beautiful goat. Have you written up the story for that anywhere? Would love to hear more about it. And congrats on the elk tag!
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Beautiful goat. Have you written up the story for that anywhere? Would love to hear more about it. And congrats on the elk tag!
Never done a write-up of the hunt or any hunt for that matter. Didnt figure I could compare to some of the great story tellers on this site. I'll consider doing that for this elk hunt within this thread. Right now, I'm just gathering as much info as anybody will tell me and game planning 2 or 3 scouting trips. I plan to start actually hunting in September for a couple weeks and then going back in October and/or November as needed to find a good one. I've only ever killed a 315 bull, but looking to get something 360+ or bust. Not sure I've ever even seen one that big, so I'll need to educate myself on what to look for and practice some trigger control.
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Mt Emily would be my choice for Elk, if available.
Congrats on the draw!
Nice Goat!
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What a beautiful goat!
I would also love to here about your goat hunt. :tup:
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Don’t over look the Wenaha unit. Try to find a horse packer and do some weekend scout trips. Someone above mentioned hiring a guide. This is a tag of a life time might as well make the most out of it. You truly have a opportunity to kill a 400 inch bull. Wish you luck and congratulations
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Walla Walla Unit would be high on my list. Friend of the family had a rifle tag in there a few years ago that my dad helped with. They saw multiple 350" and bigger bulls. He ended up killing one in the low 360's on accident while putting the stalk on a bigger one. Couple hour stalk, crested the hill, saw a smoker bull where he had last seen the one he was after, dumped him and then the bigger bull he actually was after trotted off. :yike: Old man watched it all through the spotter and was helpless.
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I know an incredible guide that I may consider. He could certainly put me on a big one, but probably not until later in the year. I can't sit at home during the rut. I will go scout the wenaha in a few weeks.
Don’t over look the Wenaha unit. Try to find a horse packer and do some weekend scout trips. Someone above mentioned hiring a guide. This is a tag of a life time might as well make the most out of it. You truly have a opportunity to kill a 400 inch bull. Wish you luck and congratulations
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Congrats.
I would take a hard look at the wenaha and walla walla. Mt Emily is the most huntable of the big three. But is on a downward trend for quality. The wenaha has the most cover for a bull to get a bit older.
The 17 or 18 day rifle season that they changed to a while back has been real hard on trophy quality in those units.
If you have not been in those units they are big deep canyons, and you will need a buddy or two help glass, and to be in great physical condition.
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Congrats.
I would take a hard look at the wenaha and walla walla. Mt Emily is the most huntable of the big three. But is on a downward trend for quality. The wenaha has the most cover for a bull to get a bit older.
The 17 or 18 day rifle season that they changed to a while back has been real hard on trophy quality in those units.
If you have not been in those units they are big deep canyons, and you will need a buddy or two help glass, and to be in great physical condition.
Thanks for the pointer! I think I'll start my scouting in the Wenaha. I've gone on the fat kid diet, and hoping to stave off a heart attack by August/September when I have to dive off the top. I have never been to any of the "big 3" units -- embarrassing I know! I have hunted some nasty country in Oregon and WA, so I at least have an idea that I'm going to be hosed if I dont get in shape.
Perhaps someone could help me with some general knowledge. I've done a lot of elk hunting in WA, OR, and NM, but never in country like this. Are the cows really going to be hanging out in these nasty canyons during August/September? Grassy slopes and thick timbered bottoms that come nearly to a point in some spots. Seems like a place where the bulls might go for cover before/after the rut, but wouldn't the cows would stay on some of the "flatter" easier areas?? I'd like to go into some of the nasty remote areas to stay away from people, but wondering if more elk will be in the flatter areas where there are roads and lots of camps/spike hunters.
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Congrats.
I would take a hard look at the wenaha and walla walla. Mt Emily is the most huntable of the big three. But is on a downward trend for quality. The wenaha has the most cover for a bull to get a bit older.
The 17 or 18 day rifle season that they changed to a while back has been real hard on trophy quality in those units.
If you have not been in those units they are big deep canyons, and you will need a buddy or two help glass, and to be in great physical condition.
Thanks for the pointer! I think I'll start my scouting in the Wenaha. I've gone on the fat kid diet, and hoping to stave off a heart attack by August/September when I have to dive off the top. I have never been to any of the "big 3" units -- embarrassing I know! I have hunted some nasty country in Oregon and WA, so I at least have an idea that I'm going to be hosed if I dont get in shape.
Perhaps someone could help me with some general knowledge. I've done a lot of elk hunting in WA, OR, and NM, but never in country like this. Are the cows really going to be hanging out in these nasty canyons during August/September? Grassy slopes and thick timbered bottoms that come nearly to a point in some spots. Seems like a place where the bulls might go for cover before/after the rut, but wouldn't the cows would stay on some of the "flatter" easier areas?? I'd like to go into some of the nasty remote areas to stay away from people, but wondering if more elk will be in the flatter areas where there are roads and lots of camps/spike hunters.
I can say from firsthand experience hunting different units in NE Oregon in September. I have seen cows hanging out and feeding in areas that look more conducive to where that goat you killed would be. They do want to find areas of less than 20 degrees of slope for bedding but when they are up moving, I haven't seen many areas besides sheer cliffs that cows won't hang out.
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Tagging along to see how this turns out... :peep:
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Congrats.
I would take a hard look at the wenaha and walla walla. Mt Emily is the most huntable of the big three. But is on a downward trend for quality. The wenaha has the most cover for a bull to get a bit older.
The 17 or 18 day rifle season that they changed to a while back has been real hard on trophy quality in those units.
If you have not been in those units they are big deep canyons, and you will need a buddy or two help glass, and to be in great physical condition.
Thanks for the pointer! I think I'll start my scouting in the Wenaha. I've gone on the fat kid diet, and hoping to stave off a heart attack by August/September when I have to dive off the top. I have never been to any of the "big 3" units -- embarrassing I know! I have hunted some nasty country in Oregon and WA, so I at least have an idea that I'm going to be hosed if I dont get in shape.
Perhaps someone could help me with some general knowledge. I've done a lot of elk hunting in WA, OR, and NM, but never in country like this. Are the cows really going to be hanging out in these nasty canyons during August/September? Grassy slopes and thick timbered bottoms that come nearly to a point in some spots. Seems like a place where the bulls might go for cover before/after the rut, but wouldn't the cows would stay on some of the "flatter" easier areas?? I'd like to go into some of the nasty remote areas to stay away from people, but wondering if more elk will be in the flatter areas where there are roads and lots of camps/spike hunters.
I can say from firsthand experience hunting different units in NE Oregon in September. I have seen cows hanging out and feeding in areas that look more conducive to where that goat you killed would be. They do want to find areas of less than 20 degrees of slope for bedding but when they are up moving, I haven't seen many areas besides sheer cliffs that cows won't hang out.
Thanks for the info! Very strange.
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In September they will be mostly in the wet timbered draws. You may catch bulls moving between timber patches. I don't think that further away from the road really means much in these units. From year to year they may be higher or lower in the canyon, which I feel is mostly based on moisture. The elk are very vocal in those units, talk to other hunters you see in archery if they have a spike tag I think many would tell you where they seen a big bull. If they have a branch bull tag they likely will be tight lipped, I truly feel this will be your best chance of finding a trophy, especially in the Wenaha.
In mid October some times a bit earlier, the big bulls pull off of the herd and head towards their winter grounds. Which is generally the north or northwest slopes in the big canyons. They will hang up in the timber for a while. Then as weather gets colder they will start showing up on open faces or in little pockets in the timber that can be glassed if you find the right angle. In late October and November big bulls will find an area that has food water and cover. This area is often less than a 300 yard circle. They will often feed in the open for several hours in the morning and return to the same spot late afternoon. You can use this to your advantage.
If I had the tag, I would make sure I was tagged out before opening day of rifle. As there will be a lot of pressure, some will be successful, and the big bulls that make it will get bumped and be very hard to relocate.
The photo is of a bull I took with a rifle in the big three before the quality went down.
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Are the cows really going to be hanging out in these nasty canyons during August/September?
Yes and no. I've spent time in the WA Wenaha unit and hunted the neighboring units, which have very similar terrain, several years. IME, the cows and bulls were in the deepest, steepest canyons and out on the flats (so long as they were not pushed).
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Best of Luck! Enjoy it all :tup:
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If you aren’t good at field judging I’d start brushing up on that now. You have a tag with the potential to kill a world class bull. Congratulations and enjoy the ride.
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If you aren’t good at field judging I’d start brushing up on that now. You have a tag with the potential to kill a world class bull. Congratulations and enjoy the ride.
No kidding. I've killed 5 bulls with my bow. Each bull seemed like a world record until I got up to it with major ground shrinkage. I always have a split second to make a choice at close range with a bow. I hope to be a ways away glassing and having some time to judge. A guy here advised me to have a friend hold my ammo. :chuckle: thanks again everyone for the help.
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Going from archery hunting to rifle elk hunt good optics and tripod are a must
. Find a way to digiscope so you can pick these bull apart.
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Does this work?
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I finally got the picture to post. :bash:
I filled the tag in the Wenaha unit this past weekend. A DIY hunt with my family. Not at all the bull I had envisioned shooting, but I couldn't pass up on this unique bull. I had planned several more weeks of hunting in the peak of the rut and October, but again couldnt pass up on this. Also, this was the only week my dad and brother-in-law could be there. The tag was a great experience. We saw more than 20 bulls in the 4 days I hunted, including at least one monstrous bull that I couldnt find again. Thanks to everyone who helped with advice and specific pointers!
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Very well done
what a stud congrats
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I finally got the picture to post. :bash:
I filled the tag in the Wenaha unit this past weekend. A DIY hunt with my family. Not at all the bull I had envisioned shooting, but I couldn't pass up on this unique bull. I had planned several more weeks of hunting in the peak of the rut and October, but again couldnt pass up on this. Also, this was the only week my dad and brother-in-law could be there. The tag was a great experience. We saw more than 20 bulls in the 4 days I hunted, including at least one monstrous bull that I couldnt find again. Thanks to everyone who helped with advice and specific pointers!
This would be my perfect bull. Gorgeous!
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Awesome! Congrats on a beautiful bull. Sounds like you had a fun hunt with family.
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The mass on the top end is really something else on that bull. Congrats!!!
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That's awesome! I wouldn't have passed on that guy either. Congrats on a fantastic bull. :tup:
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Fantastic bull! Congrats!
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congrats! thats a great bull and having family there always adds another bonus element
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Holy crap let’s see some more angles :tup:
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Nothing wrong with that bull, congrats!
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That’s a really cool bull!
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Awesome, great character on that bull!
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That’s an awesome looking bull!!! Congratulations!!
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Cool bull.
How long of a shot? Bow or gun?
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I have only ever killed bulls with my bow, but I decided to cheat and used my rifle. I shot it with my 300 PRC from 700 yards. I've been practicing for years at ranges much further than that and felt good about it. It really was an unbelievable advantage to use a gun in country where I could see for miles. A bow is such a crappy weapon by comparison....thats also what I love about a bow.
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Very cool Bull!
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That’s a cool looking bull congratulations.
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Hey Guys. For anyone interested, my brother made a pretty cool video of the hunt.
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Congratulations On a cool old bull!
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Great bull!!! Congratz!!