Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 07:52:43 PM
Have no clue where they were, not one camp up there had meat hanging, heard shots early opening day morning. Gamies were all over the shot.
Man took a 2x1 and is now in trouble.
that was the only bull up there i believe and the gamies were severely pissed.
Thanks whoever killed all the Bull elk or scared them off. (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonfishingfools.com%2Fsmf%2FSmileys%2Fdefault%2F321.gif&hash=ba4032ecee9d716b1b6b585f260c2a210c18aa73)
Post by: colockumelk on November 01, 2010, 07:55:42 PM
Post by: luvtohnt on November 01, 2010, 08:02:32 PM
Brandon
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 08:04:00 PM
Post by: luvtohnt on November 01, 2010, 08:07:24 PM
Brandon
Post by: fremont on November 01, 2010, 08:24:40 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 08:36:47 PM
Permit only. Get a clue WDFW.YEP!
One hunter a year up there fir the next 5 years and that herd will grow nicely!
By one hunter, i mean ONE AMERICAN, Native or not.
Post by: EDT on November 01, 2010, 08:42:34 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 08:42:53 PM
Post by: huntergreg on November 01, 2010, 08:48:37 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 08:54:33 PM
It was really that bad up there this year? Last year on opening day they were hanging in almost every camp. I saw one camp with 4 elk hanging. :dunno: Was there a lot of people up there?it was packed, just like last year with the same people in the same camps.
Just NO elk bulls to be seen. ALOT of Cow elk. but the Bulls were all gone. We said "F" it and just came home early like many of the hunters.
Why be up there if the elk arent. :dunno:
Post by: shedcrazy on November 01, 2010, 09:28:43 PM
Post by: DBZona on November 01, 2010, 09:36:25 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 01, 2010, 09:40:54 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 09:43:43 PM
my buddy got one and I also walked up to a 1x2 as it lay down to die. I watched the hunter who shot it walk away real fast. :stup: Two other hunters I saw actually saw the guy shoot it at 50 yards. They got a good description of him and gammies have a good idea of who it was. That elk was still alive 4 hours later when the gammie arrived to investigate! One of the sadest things I have witnessed in the woods. :'(yeah, they had the guy stopped at carabou and colockum road, gamie had the animal in his rig when they found him.
my Nephew drove past as they were doing their thing.
Stupid people suck!
That was actually the only animal i heard of being shot.
we were out Little carabou most of the time, didnt see a thing. up on the plateu in all the open fields we usually see TONS of fresh tracks, all we seen was three cow elk running past us. no other elk in the open all weekend. Got bored sitting under my usual tree so we went further up colockum road to another area and sen a ton of fresh track and 30 cow elk, Still no bulls. But i did find a nice Spike shed.
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 09:44:27 PM
very bum deal :bash: hope they let someone take the meat. so it did not go to waste or haul it off to people in need.it all goes to the kittitas or ellensburg area homeless shelter and food banks.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 01, 2010, 09:47:28 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 01, 2010, 09:50:14 PM
good glad 2 hear it. and be carefull with that spike shed. seems like some people are seeing a spike side and then start shooting :yike:yeah, that thing was stashed in my pack real fast lol!
Crazies out there will shoot at any spike antler they see. Brother in law almost got me with the slingshot at camp too, just so he can say he shot at a spike atleast. :chuckle:
Post by: colockumelk on November 02, 2010, 09:52:59 AM
We do the right thing and people go to the meetings and demand permit only. Maybe even a petition. I'd gladly write a two minute speach for someone to read since I can't be there. Spike only hasn't worked and neither will true spike. When will people learn that if it hasn't worked for 15 years it will NEVER work? Some people are either very naive or extremely stupid. In the case of WDFW they are just greedy for money and cowards for not standing up and doing what's right.
Post by: jackelope on November 02, 2010, 10:16:13 AM
Post by: C-Money on November 02, 2010, 10:34:20 AM
Post by: hunter-4-life on November 02, 2010, 10:34:45 AM
Post by: williams419 on November 02, 2010, 10:43:59 AM
Post by: halflife65 on November 02, 2010, 10:54:50 AM
I did see two game wardens on Sunday and I was only up there an hour or two.
I'm normally an archery hunter but I drew the multi-season permit and went up behind the house during rifle season a couple of years ago. The elk were running everywhere between guys - I probably saw 75 elk in the first two hours of season - all going Mach 5. I hunted up where I knew there were some spikes and two guys shot them right in front of me. Another guy was standing on the other side of the meadow when it happened so we bs'd for a couple of minutes (incidentally, also normally an archery hunter that had drawn the multi-season tag.) There were probably 6 guys in the same little area. We saw a couple of more walk by while we were standing there talking. Not my style of hunting so I left pretty quickly after that. The area is easy to hunt, close to home and there are a lot of roads. Won't be doing that again.
Post by: colockumelk on November 02, 2010, 01:24:17 PM
I don't understand or know the appeal to that place. There seems to be soooooooo many people up there. Whats the attraction?
For me its a beautiful place and has very diverse terrain. I also know where alot of elk are. For many its tradition. But I think the biggest reason is there's alot of roads its open and fairly flat. So its easier to hunt than in most units. Its human nature we take the path of least resistance.
Post by: pods8 on November 02, 2010, 07:08:15 PM
It doesn't matter anyway because they were all on private property. My cousin was out at the wind farm on Friday working and he said he saw around 200 head with quite a few bulls just hanging out waiting for the season to end. I guess you need some MH to go chase them out of the wind farm.
Brandon
FYI, MH can't hunt the wind farm, the west side of it makes up one of the boundaries. There is some area right next to the windfarm that can be hunted but I can tell you for a fact there weren't Elk sitting in that portion on friday (at least from noonish on). Additionally the WDFW suspended MH hunting during the modern season this year so any animals that do come down onto private ranch land can't be touched (aside from regular spike elk or other non-MH permit hunting).
Post by: bornforhorns on November 02, 2010, 07:57:32 PM
Post by: saylean on November 02, 2010, 07:58:51 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 02, 2010, 08:30:43 PM
I just want my first harvest.
Post by: shedcrazy on November 02, 2010, 08:51:00 PM
Post by: TommyBell on November 02, 2010, 10:19:01 PM
NOT one bull was in view up on the Colockum at all in 4 days time.
Have no clue where they were, not one camp up there had meat hanging, heard shots early opening day morning. Gamies were all over the shot.
Man took a 2x1 and is now in trouble.
that was the only bull up there i believe and the gamies were severely pissed.
Thanks whoever killed all the Bull elk or scared them off. (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonfishingfools.com%2Fsmf%2FSmileys%2Fdefault%2F321.gif&hash=ba4032ecee9d716b1b6b585f260c2a210c18aa73)
Just got back from that area tonight and seen 4 spikes in camp over 3 days, i'd say not too bad. There were a number of nice branched bulls and a few raghorn 3x2 and 2 points. Seen alot of hunters that don't get 50 yards from the rig/road must have been too steep! We seen 50 + elk, bobcat, 4 point buck and a nice 3x3 buck as well, it was a good hunt even though we never harvested any elk.
Also on the automatic weapon fire in that area thanks *censored*! I'm sure you graduated in the top 25% of your league !
Post by: alanger on November 04, 2010, 03:18:24 PM
Post by: monster_bull on November 04, 2010, 10:05:37 PM
Post by: liljozie495 on November 05, 2010, 06:41:10 PM
Post by: monster_bull on November 05, 2010, 08:14:27 PM
Post by: SpotandStalk on November 05, 2010, 09:16:46 PM
I would have tagged out multiple days if not for the true spike rule, I saw a couple branched bulls, and scoped 7 two points on one morning. I would completely disagree with anyone saying there was a lack of bulls, but would definitely say it was a low year for true spikes (which probably could be attributed to a good grass year). Most encouraging was the number of calves that I saw. Most discouraging was the 2 dead, bloated 1x2's that I came across.
I am 100% behind changing management strategies to improve recruitment, but don't understand WDFW logic behind choosing a strategy that has no scientific backup behind it. Do I think the true spike rule is positively impacting the Colockum herd? Absolutely not.
I have said this before and will say it again....What is the ONLY strategy that will increase recruitment (multiple studies have shown this) and also (at least partially) address some tribal harvest--road closures and winter closure. Monster Bull is not going to shoot bulls where he cannot drive. I would be behind a permit system too, but only if they addressed some road closures and a winter closure.
Post by: monster_bull on November 05, 2010, 09:52:16 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 05, 2010, 11:44:31 PM
Post by: 270Flat on November 06, 2010, 12:56:32 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 06, 2010, 01:06:11 PM
I am fairly new to the sport of big game hunting. Only second year with a tag. Spent 5 days up there hunting from opener on. Saw deer, turkey, grouse, and yote's. But not one elk. Have hunted the area the last couple of years and this was the first year we did not see any elk. The shooting during the day had to be most of the problem. If I was an elk I wouldn't want to be near the canyon full of gun fire all day. unfortunately that is where my partner and I were hunting. Spent the first two days watching open area's then the last three dragging my ass slowly through thicker *censored* in hopes to pop one out. Saw tons of sign. It was frustrating knowing there are lots of animals up there, and not seeing one. The only elk we saw were three hanging from trees. The bad thing for my wife...Still had a kick ass time hoofing around the mountains with out killing any thing. Can't wait until next year! Only reason I hunt colockum is my buddy grew up in the snatch and is familiar with the area and his family has killed bulls in the past. I live near the Blues and want to hunt them sometime, but have only been in the area for 5 years and hunted elk for two. Anyone have good starting points for my summer scouting next year? Land owners that I can help during the summer? Will occasionally take my son to the mountains and will see elk but always on private lands. Good hunting!welcome to HW!
I absolutely love colockum, but have decided hunting areas will change to the west side next year where there really are elk and shooting a true spike will be by my choice rather than state WDFW law.
Post by: Atroxus on November 06, 2010, 01:17:13 PM
my buddy got one and I also walked up to a 1x2 as it lay down to die. I watched the hunter who shot it walk away real fast. :stup: Two other hunters I saw actually saw the guy shoot it at 50 yards. They got a good description of him and gammies have a good idea of who it was. That elk was still alive 4 hours later when the gammie arrived to investigate! One of the sadest things I have witnessed in the woods. :'(
Thats seriously messed up. I wonder if you would have got in trouble for a mercy shot to end the animal's suffering while waiting for the enforcement officer to arrive?
Post by: 270Flat on November 06, 2010, 01:18:33 PM
Post by: saylean on November 06, 2010, 01:34:28 PM
truck slows...
BUGLE!....
pause....
truck drives on...I giggle...I was half tempted to bugle back to him.
Post by: 270Flat on November 06, 2010, 01:48:46 PM
Post by: shedcrazy on November 06, 2010, 01:58:03 PM
should have bugled. would have been funny to see their reaction to find you with a call\
Maybe they would have gotten out of the truck then?? :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: colockumelk on November 06, 2010, 06:00:11 PM
I have hunted the Colockum for the last 15 years....my thoughts on 2010: About average.
I would have tagged out multiple days if not for the true spike rule, I saw a couple branched bulls, and scoped 7 two points on one morning. I would completely disagree with anyone saying there was a lack of bulls, but would definitely say it was a low year for true spikes (which probably could be attributed to a good grass year). Most encouraging was the number of calves that I saw. Most discouraging was the 2 dead, bloated 1x2's that I came across.
I am 100% behind changing management strategies to improve recruitment, but don't understand WDFW logic behind choosing a strategy that has no scientific backup behind it. Do I think the true spike rule is positively impacting the Colockum herd? Absolutely not.
I have said this before and will say it again....What is the ONLY strategy that will increase recruitment (multiple studies have shown this) and also (at least partially) address some tribal harvest--road closures and winter closure. Monster Bull is not going to shoot bulls where he cannot drive. I would be behind a permit system too, but only if they addressed some road closures and a winter closure.
Couldn't agree more. If they closed down alot of the roads and made the area around the Coffin Refuge a "Wilderness Area" meaning no roads within 3 miles than that would go ALONG WAY! Anyone who doesn't believe so is not playing with a full deck. Unfortunately many do not support road closures. The Kittitas Valley Fiel and Stream Club absolutely does not support road closures in any way.
Post by: 400out on November 07, 2010, 08:29:19 AM
should have bugled. would have been funny to see their reaction to find you with a callBad Idea up there! good way to find a hole in your hat :bdid:
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on November 07, 2010, 06:33:31 PM
Quote
Couldn't agree more. If they closed down alot of the roads and made the area around the Coffin Refuge a "Wilderness Area" meaning no roads within 3 miles than that would go ALONG WAY! Anyone who doesn't believe so is not playing with a full deck. Unfortunately many do not support road closures. The Kittitas Valley Field and Stream Club absolutely does not support road closures in any way.
youth eletism eh?
Now I know that I am not playing with a full deck Thank You!
wilderness area?.... Colockumelk every time I think about agreeing with your ideas-you come up with a statement like that! Maybe Patty Murray and Rick Larsen could help you out on that. Oh wait ,it's state land not federal,but I am sure they and their granola bunch would love to take over and insert federal powers and make it just that! I could see closing some roads on the Eburg side, but the north end has none left to close. there are only 2 accesses legally.
Sorry but that is a sore subject here since I am what many would consider an old fart who has been hunting the colockum since 1965 and have seen NOTHING like we are seeing now. There were more roads open with more hunters and it was any bull.. There was a very noticeable difference with many camps empty this year in the Naneum Mission, and Quilomene units that we saw. Dense fog opening day, fog and rain two days later, and a noticeable decline in hunters. I would say bull recruitment should be great this year as non native hunters are concerned.
What I will say is I saw areas that looked like a graveyard of animals killed in August or September in an area BEHIND the " No Unauthorized vehicles beyond........." by at least a quarter mile.(with vehicle track evidence. I saw 7 different deer carcasses laying in 3 groups also. looking a couple months old.
Post by: colockumelk on November 07, 2010, 08:32:53 PM
And most of what I meant by closing down roads as the ones that are already closed. But instead of expecting people to follow the law and not drive passed the red signs that say "don't drive passed here" (not literally) actually physically close it. Put up a gate and don't give the key to anybody. Put in tank traps. Something to keep people out. yes there will always be an A-Hole that will get around the gate or whatever. But the majority of people wont. And heres a novel idea why don't they significantly increase the penalty for road trespassing? Basically before the WDFW and DNR etc starts enacting more closures etc how about they actually ENFORCE the current ones. That is what I meant. I'm sorry I was so vague.
How about next time you don't get so bent out of shape and call me a hippy and "youth elitism" Next time make a valid point. Instead of going straight to name calling.
And if you did your research EVERY SINGLE study done in regards to road access/elk or deer survival has shown that road access has a very large impact on buck/bull survival. Especially since it keeps the poachers out. So here's my challenge to you. Find me a study done that shows road access has NO effect on buck/bull survival. I will be all ears I promise.
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on November 08, 2010, 04:34:26 AM
Seemed to me that the only consistent shooting that we heard in the later season was coming from the south side near the reserve where there is no road for a boundary.
Post by: KNOPHISH on November 08, 2010, 06:05:08 AM
Post by: halflife65 on November 08, 2010, 07:26:01 AM
I also (if you remember from my earlier posts) have a disabled hunting partner.
Seemed to me that the only consistent shooting that we heard in the later season was coming from the south side near the reserve where there is no road for a boundary.
I have to say that I'm in agreement with ColockumElk on this. If there were more shots (and that just may have been your experience but maybe was the case) it may indicate that the elk went to a roadless place to get away from people. Since it is a (relatively) small area, guys that were willing to walk into the area may have a better chance because the were concentrated to try to get away from the roads. However, if there was not road access everywhere else, maybe they wouldn't concentrate into a small area where guys can catch up to them.
By the way, I don't have any problem with road access for disabled hunters. The problem is that there are roads everywhere up there and, because they are just wide open, even if people aren't supposed to drive on them, people do. It's the enormous amounts of roads vs. access vs. conservation of elk (and other stuff, such as private lands, native hunting, timber harvest, off-roading, snowmobiling, other non-hunting activities, etc.). Right now, it seems that it's pretty heavily skewed toward too many roads, though.
Colockum, you're a hippy.
Post by: colockumelk on November 08, 2010, 04:13:48 PM
God Bless Obama, Patty Murray, Christine Gregoire, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Ried, :puke: Sorry the I couldn't go on like that any longer :chuckle:
Elkaholic daWG I know that you hunt with a disabled hunting partner. I don't see how physically closing the already closed roads has anything to do with your partner. So I take it you havn't found any proof that road access doesn't have an effect on herd numbers I take it. :dunno:
Does anybody have any granola I can have. Just know it has to be Organic :chuckle:
Post by: halflife65 on November 08, 2010, 05:09:11 PM
Post by: snowmojim on November 10, 2010, 10:13:16 AM
Unfortunately, we also ran into a posting on our access road informing us of a pending road closure next year. This closure would extend our morning hike from 2mi presently to almost 5mi. This would effectively close the older guys out of our hunting area. After four generations camping at this location, approximately 55yrs now, we are extremely disappointed. :bdid:
Post by: Buckrub on November 10, 2010, 10:48:54 AM
I would like to see a change as well, the current system is destroying the elk herd.
The states idea of general season spike to bring a 10 to 1 bull ratio is flawed and never will work unless they keep handing out cow permits taking the entire herd numbers down.
Interesting that most of the state is managed by antler restriction deer and elk but eastside elk areas remain spike only.
Talking with the biologists in that area I get the sense of someone not wanting to say uncle..... how long does the hunter and the state destroy a viable economic renewable resource before they change? When it must be shut down totally?
Permit only sounds good in theory but the state can't manage it properly currently.... I still vote antler restriction...5 point or better general season for everybody. Works for W. WA. and other states.
PS... I bowhunt wetside so I have no dog in the fight other than watching an elk herd destroyed.
Post by: colockumelk on November 10, 2010, 03:21:00 PM
Been gone for while.... See Clockum still beating the permit eastside.. :rolleyes:
I would like to see a change as well, the current system is destroying the elk herd.
The states idea of general season spike to bring a 10 to 1 bull ratio is flawed and never will work unless they keep handing out cow permits taking the entire herd numbers down.
Interesting that most of the state is managed by antler restriction deer and elk but eastside elk areas remain spike only.
Talking with the biologists in that area I get the sense of someone not wanting to say uncle..... how long does the hunter and the state destroy a viable economic renewable resource before they change? When it must be shut down totally?
Nah just the Colockum. The debate on the whole east side was just for fun. The Colockum seriously though does need it though. Funny you mention waiting till someone screams UNCLE!!!! Alot of people think that "oh any year the herd will turnaround" Wake up WDFW, Wake up people. It hasn't worked for the last 16 years why would it work now. As far as why the Colockum has different antler restrictions than the west side is because of the terrain. Those bulls can hide over on the west side where its thick and most roads are closed to vehicles because of timber company land. But in the Colockum its REALLY, REALLY REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLYY Open. So the bulls wouldnt be able to hide. Unfortunately if it went to 5pt min all the 6 point bulls would get smoked. Although there would be a ton of rag horns running around. There's just oo many roads and not enough cover for the3m to survive.
Although I will say this, it couldn't be any worse than spike only. Because obviously that hasn't worked.
Post by: WSU on November 10, 2010, 03:29:00 PM
Post by: colockumelk on November 10, 2010, 03:39:35 PM
BUT...... and fore every action theres always a RE-action. If the Colockum went to 5pt minimum so would the rest of the east-side. Because if ONLY the Colockum went to 5pt or 6pt mimimum then EVERYONE would hunt the Colockum and there definately wouldnt be any escapement.
Although last year me and Buck Rub debated the hell out of this topic and I REALLY, REALLY was against it and thought Buck Rub was straight up dumb as a board :chuckle: now that I've given it some more thought I think it's actually plausible and should maybe be given a chance. Thought anyone???
Post by: colockumelk on November 10, 2010, 03:51:58 PM