Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: nwhunter on May 01, 2007, 10:20:34 PM
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Wondering if anyone can say from experience whether drawing a tag for the margaret unit for bowhunt would give you an opportunity at quality bulls like you would get if you drew an eastside tag say peaches ridge or bethel. With 9 points for elk I was hoping to draw the multiseason tag so I could put in for eastside as I am a wetsider not willing to get stuck with a spike only tag but didn't draw. Trying to decide if I should put in for the margaret and hope for no fire closure and opportunity at a good bull or wait it out for next year , gain a point and hope I draw the multiseason and put in eastside. I really want a 300 class bull with my bow so what do you think. I know you don't have to draw one of these tags to get a good bull but have seen some dandies come from naches and the blues and really would like to give it a try. thanks nwhunter
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My observations...
1) When you put in for units on the west side you are really increasing your odds on a successful hunt, not a trophy. Look and see how many big bulls come out of margaret and toutle. Are they there? Heck yeah they are, but there are more Big bulls in other units. There are general units on the west side with bigger bulls than Margaret.
2) I want the any season permit so i can put my 9 elk points towards watershed, or naches. Big bulls...
We spend alot of time in the toutle and margaret units. I like to look at elk. And i have seen bigger bulls in other units, just not the volume of bulls.
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big tule...what does having the multi-season tag have to do with putting in for the e-wa units?
just curious. i've seen you post that a few times and can't figure it out.
put your 9 points towards the draw whether or not you have the multi-season.
maybe i'm missing something, but thats what i'm trying to figure out.
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jackelope, it's because he normally buys a westside elk tag and the multi-season permit will allow him to apply for both east and west elk permits. If he were to buy an eastside elk tag and didn't draw any permits, he'd be stuck hunting only spikes.
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gotcha... ;)
thanks for straightening me out.
guess i didn't think of that.
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Thats my plan, I drew a multi elk tag and hunt west wash. I'm going to put in for east side permits. Just printed out harvest reports for the last 5 years , going to take a look at them and talk to some people who hunt the crap out of the east side and put in from there.
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Bow, watershed in the blues is sweet, but a tough hunt. It is pretty steep.
Naches is a good hunt.
And wenaha. That is my top 3 in this state...
I put in for margaret and toutle for the greater chance of getting a bull. Not a big bull, cause i will shoot first legal bull.
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A good friend of mine drew the watershed last year with four points. Very steep terrain. Needless to say he didnt shoot a bull, but only hunted a couple of days.
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Considering the 410 inch sheds that just came out of the watershed without a spread credit.....gee I wonder where the biggest bull in the state is, especially since there was another 390-400 inch typical 7x7 running with him. HOLY!
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A friend of mine drew the AHE margaret tag pre-indian hunting and killed a bull that officially scored 319" gross and netted 290". Per Jerry Egbert four years ago, who is the pope and young, boone and crockett and long hunter society for southwest washington, northwest oregon it was the best he has officially taped. The bull is a beautiful blackhorned 7x7. Like I said this was a pre-indian hunting bull (10 years ago) and it was the best bull he saw on the hunt. I've heard though the grapevine of 350" bulls killed but have not seen them.
So I put the high mark of margaret bulls at 320"-330" then there is no comparison to eastside permits over margaret. Especially when you consider the 421" bull killed out of the Yakima herd 3 or 4 years ago and monster's that are killed in the blues every year 360"-380". It just sucks if you don't get drawn because then you are stuck hunting cows and spikes. (archery)
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By the way, for those that don't know me and think that I am throwing the 400 inch score around......here are two pics of those bones. I can't remember if they ever made it on this site or not. I know Jackelope and I talked about them alot. I'd probably have a heart attack if I ran into this critter in the woods, and am torqued that the guys whose land this bull was on, was at my house this fall, and he forgot to inform me about this and another bull :bash: When they offered for me to come down and hunt, I may have listened a little closer >:( and to think that my pheasants were out perching on those bones, I could just :puke:(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Felk-1.jpg&hash=096b59a611c4b9f0bd17a4bdff42d324777e06a6)
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(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Felk2-4.jpg&hash=5da6ad98b9aef7579f5e403187ce7fb90fdac52e)
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That is why the blues are far and away the best opportunity for a monster.
Chasing that bad boy...
But it is tough hunting. Very steep.
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I think I have seen live tape of him and even know where he calls home now just need the tag..........
If ever buying the governor's tag would be worth the price he'd be the one.......
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Does anyone else feel like the westsiders get the short end of the stick for elk permits? Yes we do get to hunt branched bulls if we don't draw but to put in for a true trophy hunt on the east side we risk not drawing and having to take time off and drive many hours for a spike only hunt. The multi season tag helps this but I can't seem to draw one for elk. I really wish all residents of washington had equal opportunity at special permits regardless of where they are. I will probably go pointsaver this year unless I get a multi tag in the redraw and hope for a multi tag next year and then put in east side. nwhunter
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Probably two sides to that. I get tired of spike only and would be over in Packwood or Helens or something trying to bust a branch antlered bull if I had the chance, but would rather try for our bigger bulls for the permit.
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I do not mind the current regs. Especially witht he any season tags. You would never get a peaches ridge tag, or naches. Because you would have 7000 applicants, Margaret and toutle would have 7-8000 applicants also.
Pick your poison...
But i like the way it is with the any season tag.
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Good replies and opinions on this topic. I agree the pick your side does make the draw odds better for the eastside tags. The multi season tag lets us wetsiders put in for that side if we draw one so that helps us some. Now if I could just draw one!! nwhuinter
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can you take a second guy into the watershed with you ?
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Holy thread resurrection coach!
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Looks like someones been researching the Watershed! :chuckle:
Glad it was bumped in a way though, because I got to see those sheds again! :drool:
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it might be time for a trek .
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good info here i have 15 elk points and six multi season elk. was thinking the samething would like to turn for eastside elk if i draw multi season tag.
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Don't waste your time in the Margaret or any other s w GMU there all infected with hoof rot.
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I just can't help it.... I keep going back to look at those sheds......
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you have to remember, Margaret elk are whole different breed of elk than the elk on the eastside, yes they don't qualify in the books as Roosevelt elk but they ARE Roosevelts...so if you want to be able to say ypu shot a good roosevelt bull then sure, put in for the Margaret, but it wont qualify in the books as the roosevelt. Any bull in the Margaret over 300 inches is more than a trophy. Same with the toutle. If you want a monster roosevelt...theres a unit north of seatle thats incrdeible if you can draw it...pm me if you want to know, its not really a secret but better to be safe. If you want a huge bull though, those blue mountain bulls are the way to go, world class monsters. if ylu want lots of chances at lots of 300-320 inchers then those units like peaches ridge. And yes, hoof rot is horrible right now in the Margaret, the Toutle, and especially the Lewit, but all 3 still have a ton of elk.
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Hey Scott...I think you know the answer to "where" after seeing Jeff's bull and the areas he hunts...now you just gotta decide "when" to put in for it. I'd probably wait for the year you draw multi-season permit and take a first stab at it then. I think the multi winners are notified in late April and the special permits are due May.
I'll be in town for the bball tourny 3/23 and would love to see the video from Jeff's hunt if possible. :tup:
-Drew
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WOW is all I can say when I read this and realize what I have learned, seen and done in the last 5 years!! I had luck on my side that year and in fact drew a Blues tag and killed a great bull, got some good connections and ended up guiding the last several years over there and last year helped my brother kill a 400 inch bull within a few miles of where he helped me kill mine! This thread being resurrected reminds me of how lucky and fortunate I have been. Maybe this year I will draw the margaret and have come full circle! nwhunter
