Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Ron Howard on March 25, 2011, 08:15:52 PM
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Do you hunt the East or West?
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Only reason I put in for the east is to get one trophy tag in my life, after I draw I will never put in for the east again. I wasted years of elk hunting on the east side looking for spikes because I didn't draw a damn permit, when I could be hunting the west side for 3 point or better bulls every year. I have done very well on the west side in my hunting life, but just want a chance at one of those majestic blue's bulls.
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I hunt west side because: it's close--scouting is easy, doesn't cost much in travel, can gather lots of intel at weird random times; lots of animals--with all the national forest and national park, there are a lot of animals; I prefer the setting--I'm more into sneaking around a coastal rainforest than open grasslands. If I could get a tag for both, I would.
Edit: I also like being able to pursue bulls (mature animals). I'm not really keen on purchasing a tag and only being allowed a spike or a cow. I'd rather risk not getting a bull, than having better odds at a spike.
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I hunt the west because I live on the west, and my dad hunts on the west. I have branched out over several units on the west and have always had very good luck. There is something about being 10 yards from an elk and not being able to see them haha. Plus I see deer every year while I am hunting, and my biggest buck was on the same trail that I had been chasing some elk. Reading many of the posts on this site has confirmed that I will never apply for or hunt the east unless they close the west. PS I archery hunt
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I will hunt either side, I just enjoy elk hunting that much .Even hunted spikes for a year just so the wife could experiance calling in BIG bulls on her own and she did. Called in a Heavy Horned 350 bull. So hunting spikes was worth it that year. I killed my big Rocky a few years back so now I am working on the BIG Roosie. I'll be hunting both sides this year , west for me and east for the wife. She has 13 points and will hopefully draw (fingers crossed).
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I hunt the 346 for spikes while I try for the Naches A tag.
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Eastern.
Its nice weather, its not as brushy, and although its a spike only unit, I always see elk and have seen 3 cats in the last 3 years there. Plus, that is where my family goes, so Im there.
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i usually hunt east side because thats where my family is all hunting.
may save my washington hunting money and just head to montana this year though.
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I hunt eastside. I hunt for the meat, I hate hunting in the rain, and with 9 points I know I will draw my any Elk tag soon!
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West side. Not many places you can hunt Roosevelt elk, and you can hunt the Rocky Mountain elk in just about every western state.
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West, because that's where I live and got introduced to elk hunting. If I pull a multi-season, I will be trying for a east side tag. I will continue to apply for out of state hunts. Wyoming last year and this year :)
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I grew up hunting West, but due to fire danger closures, switched to East, and being able to see Elk without all the brush in the way kept me coming back.
Then the "spike only" regulations came.......
I continued to hunt East, enjoying the camaraderie of camp, and the pleasant weather.
Began seeing more Branched antlered Bulls, and less hunters, so I stayed. (even got drawn 3 times)
But having more years w/o being drawn and spikes becoming harder to find (almost all bulls I could find were branched)
Also Deer became 3 pt or better ONLY, hunting that area became more of an exploring trip than a hunting trip, would find elk every year, but sometimes would hunt 3-4 days without seeing any.
When I only really get to hunt a short time every year, I decided to come back to West-side.
I have found the Bulls to be smaller, but at least they are legal.
I now get into Elk every day, but instead of herds of 15-20+ I see a lot of lone bulls, single cows with calves, and herds of 8-12, I feel I have a better opportunity to harvest a legal animal, so I will continue to hunt this side, until I get enough points to fell I have a chance of getting drawn for an East side permit again, but after a few more years of learning my new area I might change my mind about that....
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I hunt the west because that is what I have grown up hunting. My roots are here and I couldn't imagine elk hunting and only being able to shoot spikes. I will continue to build my points up and in ten more years draw the multi-season and try to burn my points on one of the eastside tags.
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Both 8) With the right tag that is :IBCOOL:
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I go to the Blues because there are so many elk.
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Eastside because I live in one of the top three elk units in the state! :IBCOOL:
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West! No desire to hunt spikes!
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West
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I live in the west and have horrible luck with elk hunting. The only elk I ever found were in Sequim and they were on the side of the road with those monitor tags that make the crossing lights blink when they get near. Wanted to hunt skagit but ever since the "elk massacre " you cant hunt in that unit anymore. Anyone here hunt Ellengsburg or Mt. Rainer units ???
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I hunt the West.
Mostly because I have elk in my front Lawn much of the year and I can just grab my rifle and head into the timber 100' away.... ;)
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East in WA, if I would ever draw a tag. Since I don't seem to have any luck drawing, I don't spike hunt.
East in Oregon. Because one of my hunting buddy's lives there and he has 2 landowner tags.
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East!! Spike hunting makes it that much harder and more enjoyable when you do connect..... How many needle in a haystacks have you shot???!!!!!!!!!!! Trophy hunting at it's best!!!!!
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The East side of Wa, 360 to be honest(Carrol Flats) We have a nice size group that have been hunting there since the late 90's. We have all done well. I used to hunt the Blues with my father when I was younger (Before the Spike B.S) but coming from the west side, It's a way's to travel. I love the east's country, people and life style and not to mention the Elk.
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East... I love the snow and cold weather....
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I like hunting the eastside because of the landscape. While the spike only early season and spike or cow late season is a drag, I just enjoy the country alot! I like sneaking through the pines in the crisp, clean, DRY morning air. That cat hair thick, clothes drenching crap that alot of elk on the westside live in doesn't do it for me. Now that I live on the eastside, I doubt I will hunt elk on the westside unless something crazy comes up. :P
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Well started on the west side. st helens area. got REALLY sick of the wicked wet weather most of the time so spent another 4 years in the blues on the east side (where i keep hearing there are no el in the blues :chuckle: 8) :rolleyes: ) but after four years one spike elk and a bear we moved back to the west side. :-) although i like the east because the weather is pretty predictable as far is it being just plain cold and snowy. I may stick with the west side for a few more years to really get to know this new area we are hunting. besides gas prices are thru the roof for us diesel pushers to pay that much in fuel to go spike hunting. unless of course I drew a tag in a killer spot over there on the east side, like the water shed????? OH wait there are no elk over there :chuckle: :chuckle:
