Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: bowhunterforever on July 23, 2009, 04:40:16 PM

Title: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 23, 2009, 04:40:16 PM: Just curious if any of you guys know how big the elk herd is on the colville Rez? I know they kill some big bulls over there and just wondering how big that herd is.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: Bob33 on July 23, 2009, 05:07:38 PM: FYI: "Colville: The taking or hunting of big game or grouse within the Colville Indian Reservation boundaries is prohibited."
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 23, 2009, 05:23:26 PM: Yes i know it's Ilegal to hunt on the Rez. I'm just curious how big the elk herd is on the rez.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: PolarBear on July 23, 2009, 05:32:10 PM: I don't know how big the herd is but every year I find more and more elk sign on my land in Republic. I saw a small bull and a young cow over there last fall.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 23, 2009, 11:31:30 PM: Thanks polarbear! :tup: I was just wondering how big the herd is cause they will start leaving the rez. I have seen some sign of it just not much sigh. Thats why i wonder how big that herd is?
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 23, 2009, 11:52:46 PM: My dad works with a guy who has taken 2 great bulls out of ferry co, one of them won something, big 6x6. I see elk tracks every year now on the kettle river hunting deer.Ran into tons of elk sign on taylor ridge years ago.I work witha guy who hunts ellen lk for 20 yrs for elk.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 24, 2009, 12:17:28 AM: Does the guy who hunt lake ellen area do any good?
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: mossback91 on July 24, 2009, 05:37:27 AM: They bounce on and off the rez as it is now...........nice big bulls...........couldnt tell you how many there is though.........
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: boneaddict on July 24, 2009, 05:52:03 AM: They do swim the river and they do end up in Lincoln. Its growing, not sure "How big it is", but its also expanding on the North Half.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 05:53:09 AM: They have gotten a few over the years. I have seen a ton of elk sign almost to canada cutting firewood one yr
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 05:54:05 AM: creston, davenport reardan are getting elk that have swam the river from wellpenit, some massive elk in that rez
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: boneaddict on July 24, 2009, 05:55:53 AM: It has nothing to do with size though really. They go where they want to. OF the first group of 8 that were released years ago, 6 swam the river within the first day.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 06:02:18 AM: the size, I am talking 400" bulls, its managed for quality elk, 3 day Nov season.I have talked with a sherrif on that rez and seen pics of sheds, incredible 230" muley sheds, he has a ton of 350 plus bull sheds. I have tried hunting the border with no luck :bash:
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: mossback91 on July 24, 2009, 06:05:55 AM: Quote from: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 06:02:18 AM
the size, I am talking 400" bulls, its managed for quality elk, 3 day Nov season.I have talked with a sherrif on that rez and seen pics of sheds, incredible 230" muley sheds, he has a ton of 350 plus bull sheds. I have tried hunting the border with no luck :bash:

Ive tried the same!! LOL there was always sign just never ran into the elk!
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: boneaddict on July 24, 2009, 06:07:33 AM: I was talking to the originator of the post. I was getting the idea he thought the herd was swelling so they were leaving. I am well aware of the size of the animals on the Rez. They don't have a November season. They hunt it for about 3 weeks in september archery only where they are managing for size. The rest is open just like their deer season...July 1st through December. THey may each take one. Even with that there is enough escapement that its still thriving.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 06:09:04 AM: I know a group of guys that hunt an area and they take their bulls every year right on the border of that rez, they went 4 for 4 last year all bulls biggest was a 6x7 350 ish bull.He screwed up talking to me about their hunt, let a little detail slip, I have found it I think :chuckle:
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 06:09:52 AM: oh, I am talking the wellpinit rez 3 day season there
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: boneaddict on July 24, 2009, 06:12:35 AM: That makes sense. They were probably started by the 6 that same the river when they were released. I wish I still had pics of the original bull. He was insane. They cut his antlers off to try to keep him from being poached. What an animal.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 06:40:53 AM: OH really, some deffinate toads running around those areas
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: yelp on July 24, 2009, 07:07:24 AM: The colville regulations for members..looks like they can start hunting elk in September. Here is a link...

http://nrd.colvilletribes.com/pdfs/08-09_memberhuntingseasons.pdf

The elk in the hellsgate area also is being managed differently now. 25 archery only permits

http://nrd.colvilletribes.com/pdfs/HellsgateArcheryElk-proficiencytestannouncement.pdf

I know a few years back we saw elk swim lake roosevelt after some wildfires. the tribes have a lot of timber and perform lots of prescribed burns in the spring, This all leads to excellent forage for the elk. It is hard to say how many elk there are.

The elk on the Spokane Reservation do run north and south on and off of the reservation. You never know where you will run into them. I have hunted them and found them is certain areas..
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: boneaddict on July 24, 2009, 08:57:00 AM: I wish they would. Colville has pretty sound wildlife and habitat management, though I would believe some of their timber harvesting has gotten a little out of control in a couple spots as of late. Every once in awhile greed creeps in when the coffers come up short. They do sit in some outstanding realestate though.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: rezboy on July 24, 2009, 09:03:58 AM: Quote from: teal101 on July 24, 2009, 08:53:31 AM
Maybe the crackima indians should take notice on how to manage elk herds :dunno:

Good one! It's interesting to see how many comments like that are made by a few. I expect something a little more original next time. :dunno:

:bdid:
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: mossback91 on July 24, 2009, 09:12:46 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on July 24, 2009, 08:57:00 AM
I wish they would. Colville has pretty sound wildlife and habitat management, though I would believe some of their timber harvesting has gotten a little out of control in a couple spots as of late. Every once in awhile greed creeps in when the coffers come up short. They do sit in some outstanding realestate though.

Speaking of greed with the colvilles..........at one time since the timber industry is down........they thought of logging and burning the trees as an energy source to sell for money...................... :bdid:
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: boneaddict on July 24, 2009, 09:20:20 AM: Was that the conversion to energy plant at Omak wood products Moss?
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: Elkslayer on July 24, 2009, 07:17:47 PM: Hey Shane,
The group that took the 4 bulls up there last year, they didn't happen to be from Colville did they?
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: sisu on July 25, 2009, 07:59:54 AM: Quote from: teal101 on July 24, 2009, 08:53:31 AM
Maybe the crackima indians should take notice on how to manage elk herds :dunno:
Sounds like the white man who runs Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife should be contracting who ever is running the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation program.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: woodswalker on July 25, 2009, 08:25:09 AM: Quote from: sisu on July 25, 2009, 07:59:54 AM
Quote from: teal101 on July 24, 2009, 08:53:31 AM
Maybe the crackima indians should take notice on how to manage elk herds :dunno:
Sounds like the white man who runs Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife should be contracting who ever is running the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation program.

No Kidding....
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 25, 2009, 03:11:17 PM: Elkslayer, the guys are from Spokane.
I read a report on WDFW that there are 1,200 elk on Spokane rez
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 26, 2009, 02:01:43 PM: I have seen lots of elk on the spokane rez. I have talked to some farmers up there and they said the indians chase the elk that come off the rez back on to it. Any body have an estimation on the colville elk herd size?
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: robb92 on July 26, 2009, 02:15:53 PM: Quote from: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 05:54:05 AM
creston, davenport reardan are getting elk that have swam the river from wellpenit, some massive elk in that rez

They are also coming off of Turnbowl.
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: mossback91 on July 26, 2009, 02:39:34 PM: Quote from: bowhunterforever on July 26, 2009, 02:01:43 PM
I have seen lots of elk on the spokane rez. I have talked to some farmers up there and they said the indians chase the elk that come off the rez back on to it. Any body have an estimation on the colville elk herd size?

I'll ask a couple guys at work tonight and see if they got any clue as to how many there are......I know they hunt em but idk if they have any clue how big the herd is
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 26, 2009, 02:53:56 PM: Thanks moss! :tup: You would think they would have an idea how big there herd is. :dunno:
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 28, 2009, 02:34:45 PM: Quote from: mossback91 on July 26, 2009, 02:39:34 PM
Quote from: bowhunterforever on July 26, 2009, 02:01:43 PM
I have seen lots of elk on the spokane rez. I have talked to some farmers up there and they said the indians chase the elk that come off the rez back on to it. Any body have an estimation on the colville elk herd size?

I'll ask a couple guys at work tonight and see if they got any clue as to how many there are......I know they hunt em but idk if they have any clue how big the herd is
Did you ask those guys how big the herd is?
Title: Re: Colville Rez elk herd
Post by: SpotandStalk on July 28, 2009, 09:08:57 PM: I have seen a fair amount of elk through the north half, not a ton, but definitely a sustainable herd, and as has been said by others, there are some nice bulls for sure (and arguably the largest mule deer racks in the state).....they are trying to expand, such as to the Tunk/Aeneas/Republic area, but the any elk season in Okanogan County tends to limit their expansion....that being said, they move off the Rez a lot.