Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: wsucouga on July 23, 2011, 10:39:22 PM

Title: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: wsucouga on July 23, 2011, 10:39:22 PM: I've been hunting elk in WA since 1995. (modern firearm, Eastern WA) I've taken 3 Elk during that time - my fathers gotten 2. So we've had a little success - but I'm overwhelmed by the amount of hunting pressure in this state. I'm originally from Alaska and still hunt there occassionally - the sea of 'orange' one experiences hunting in WA is unreal. I'm worried I might get shot most times I step in the woods. I haven't drawn a Big bull tag since 2001 -and have only gotten 2 cow tags. I guess I'm just looking for advice on how to make WA elk hunting more enjoyable. I've thought about going archery or maybe trying the westside -but I imagine the hunting pressure is close to the same. I almost feel like it would be worth skipping WA hunting and taking a guided trip to Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, or New Mexico every few years instead...... Any tips on how to make elk hunting more enjoyable? Maybe a new area?? I've hunted the Bumping, Cowiche, Manashtash, and Clockum mainly over the years. I didn't draw this year so I'm left with spike only.......wondering if its worth the effort. Any tips would be appreciated!

Sincerely,

'Whiny Elk Hunter'
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: colockumelk on July 23, 2011, 10:43:26 PM: I wouldn't go straight to Archery from a rifle. It takes about 10x more work and dedication to be good with a bow compared to a rifle. However.... if I was you I would buy a Muzzle Loader and hunt with that. Muzzle Loader hunting is AWSOME!!! and extremely fun. There are fewer Muzzle Loader hunters than any other group. But it can still get crowded due to the small amount of GMU's that are open. If you don't like crowding then I would definately stay away from the Cowiche, Manastash and the Umptanum. However, I have noticed that the Bethel, Bumping and Nile GMU's typically have very little pressure during the Muzzle Loader season. That would be a good place to start if I was you. Good luck and hope you find something that works for you.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: MtnMuley on July 23, 2011, 10:44:06 PM: Be thankful you're hunting and not working. :)
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: bloodhound on July 23, 2011, 10:53:34 PM: do what i do and buy a logger a bottle of crown and a log of cope and he will tell you where to go or set you up on private property. loggers have more and better info then any biologist.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: bobcat on July 23, 2011, 11:01:00 PM: Do archery if you want to hunt with less company in the woods. Muzzleloader seasons are crowded, believe me. Very few units are open and most of the ones that are open, are only mediocre areas. Archery has all the best areas and the best seasons. But, I do agree that you might be better off skipping Washington and spending your time and money on out of state hunts instead. That's what I would do but I just can't afford it right now.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: Raul Duke on July 24, 2011, 06:59:04 AM: be happy you have taken 3. Some of us are still after are 1st.

Hunting is Hunting ;)
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: piledup on July 24, 2011, 07:23:02 AM: :yeah:

If I had the money though, I'd go out of state 8)
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: Bob33 on July 24, 2011, 07:30:20 AM: Wilderness areas get significantly less pressure. Hike in a mile, get off the trails and you'll most likely be alone.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: piledup on July 24, 2011, 07:34:36 AM: Also "(modern firearm, Eastern WA)"

That's the problem right there. :P
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 24, 2011, 08:28:48 AM: How I see it, here is your options.

Get deep in the woods. Try a gmu where there is large plots of land with out roads. Pack in. You could switch to archery or muzzy but like said archery will take you awhile to get comfortable with and a heck of a lot more practice. Or you could just enjoy it for what it is, washington is nowhere near a premium elk hunting state. Personally, I love the trip as a whole not the success. I love our big ole gatherings in the early mornings/late evenings in the ripped up old GI tent.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: vandeman17 on July 24, 2011, 08:46:57 AM: I feel your frustrations and that is one of the reasons I went to archery and now I love it! The few years I hunted with a rifle, I was shocked at the pumpkin patch out in the mountains. One thing about going to archery is that you can hunt during the rut which is great. Even if you can only shoot a spike, it is still cool to be out and about when they are bugling and the weather is good. :twocents:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on July 24, 2011, 08:49:27 AM: Quote from: Recurve-Elk on July 24, 2011, 08:28:48 AM
How I see it, here is your options.

Get deep in the woods. Try a gmu where there is large plots of land with out roads. Pack in. You could switch to archery or muzzy but like said archery will take you awhile to get comfortable with and a heck of a lot more practice. Or you could just enjoy it for what it is, washington is nowhere near a premium elk hunting state.

Personally, I love the trip as a whole not the success. I love our big ole gatherings in the early mornings/late evenings in the ripped up old GI tent.

I'd have given up a LONG time ago if not for that
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: NWBREW on July 24, 2011, 09:13:06 AM: Quote from: piledup on July 24, 2011, 07:34:36 AM
Also "(modern firearm, Eastern WA)"

That's the problem right there. :P

I disagree. It all depends on how hard you are willing to go and work at it. It's not easy but I hunt with a rifle and I saw two people in 5 days. If you want to know where I go..........you have to try and find me. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: jason4429 on July 24, 2011, 09:16:10 AM: Quote from: piledup on July 24, 2011, 07:34:36 AM
Also "(modern firearm, Eastern WA)"

That's the problem right there. :P
I hunt modern firearm,Eastern WA. I've went a whole season without running across another hunter in the woods,but i do see plenty driving the roads.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on July 24, 2011, 09:19:27 AM: IF you choose to hunt where the majority of the hunters go to hunt then yes you will have this problem ...I can always find places to avoid other hunters ...just look at the land ..washington has opportunity as long as your willing to put in the time and efford to succeed...this is why I get so peed off when they say we have to many hunters and thats why we do not have seasons like Montana & Idaho ....we have plenty of land to hunt but the state would rather keep us out so that leaves only the easy access areas open to everyone to pile into ..like where I live its nothen but steel gates trying to keep people out and only the ones who are REALLY SERIOUS about filling there tags will walk behind those gates ....and I am now included in the group of lazy ones :chuckle: :chuckle: THANKS TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: cem3434 on July 24, 2011, 09:24:32 AM: If you are seeing a sea of hunters then you are simply to close to the road. 95% of guys that hunt, hunt within a 1/2 mile of the road. The simple solution is put a few miles on your boots and get away from everyone.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on July 24, 2011, 09:27:53 AM: Quote from: cem3434 on July 24, 2011, 09:24:32 AM
If you are seeing a sea of hunters then you are simply to close to the road. 95% of guys that hunt, hunt within a 1/2 mile of the road. The simple solution is put a few miles on your boots and get away from everyone.
:tup:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: shorthair15 on July 24, 2011, 10:13:30 AM: i aggree with the above post. most people dont leave the road. you have to get away from the roads. as far as people it is just as crowded here on the westside. i got a bull last year and you would not believe how many people i saw sit on the side of the road just glassing a clearcut and waiting for some thing to pop out. or you have the winston area were idiots park there cars all the way accross the road so you cant get by. i live close to this unit and i wont hunt it at all for elk to many morons.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: bench beast on July 24, 2011, 11:07:47 AM: Yes, West side is just as bad during modern season. I myself switched over to archery a few years back. It seams to me archery hunters take it more serious but are more courteous. No matter where you hunt or what method you choose. there will always be the few A-holes that give us a bad rap. as for going out of state its not a bad Idea if you could stand not hunting every year. I figure what I spend on hunting every year if I saved that money and didn't hunt I could probably go on a guided hunt every 4th year. but not hunting for 3 yrs. would send me to the Nut Ward, cause I would go crazy not hunting.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: Sliverslinger on July 24, 2011, 01:34:19 PM: I agree with what everyone has said here. You could switch to archery. I hunted rifle growing up, switched to muzzleloader, and for the last few years I've been a a bowhunter. I'm hooked on archery and could never go back, its much more intense and in your face. Don't even think about that switch unless you have at least a couple months, preferably at least 4-5 months to prepare and practice. Also, plan on practicing for a half hour or so at least 2-3 times a week.
In regards to your problem with people, its not going away so my advice is to consider changing your perspective. I spend dozens of hours pouring over maps and exploring for the ugly places that the elk have escape routes through and where most people won't go. When I hunt I actually prefer it when there are tons of people. They push the animals down to me. My spot this year I found last year by accident in a drainage In the Winston unit. Tons of people. It's the nastiest thickest swamp alder patch surrounded on all side by 12 yr old reprod so thick you can hardly walk. Outside that is picture perfect clearcuts with the roads that people drive all day long. My alder patch has a small grass clearing in it and the elk moving back and forth through there constantly when theres pressure. The more the better. It's definitely frustrating having people everywhere and it used to drive me nuts until I changed me thinking a bit. I say make the most of what you got and use the people to your advantage.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: Camp David on July 24, 2011, 01:53:41 PM: Quote from: Sliverslinger on July 24, 2011, 01:34:19 PM
My spot this year I found last year by accident in a drainage In the Winston unit. Tons of people. It's the nastiest thickest swamp alder patch surrounded on all side by 12 yr old reprod so thick you can hardly walk. Outside that is picture perfect clearcuts with the roads that people drive all day long. My alder patch has a small grass clearing in it and the elk moving back and forth through there constantly when theres pressure.

You forgot to post the Lat Long for the alder patch. :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: ghosthunter on July 24, 2011, 02:22:54 PM: I think many of the posts are right on. After you do it one way for a while things get stale. I hunted modern since the 70s. Five years ago i switched to muzzle loader. Bought a hub blind. Packed it in set it up and left it. Hiked in every day to a nice lawn chair and a little patch in the woods. Best most relaxed time I have ever had. Couple hunters hiked by. I had fun with that when they stood in front of my blind and talked for 10 minutes than I offered them a seat. Scared the hell out of them. Started seeing way more elk though. Last year I killed a spike standing 6 inches in front of my blind. This year I have a cow tag.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on July 24, 2011, 03:18:44 PM: and besides if you think we have it bad here try going back east where I grew up in Pennsylvania ... you want to see orange ...you have no clue what the word orange means :chuckle: :chuckle: but there are so many deer it is like shooting rabbits with your beagle .. Well I should say used to be ... alittle different now that they have devasted the doe populations .... I can remember seeing 100 deer a day running by me opening day and never see one buck ...seriously ..We had damage permits anyway so we had to do some thinning anyway ... we would shoot a few , load them a backhoe and call the game dept . to pick them up . then they would process them and give them to the needy... :tup:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: PAElkhunter on July 24, 2011, 04:42:14 PM: Hey I feel your pain. I began my elk hunting life in Washington in 1996 and have taken 3 elk in washington. I quit hunting Washington the 6 years ago when I went to Idaho for the first time. In those 6 years I have gotten 3 bulls in three different states. Here's how I see it. It depends on how you hunt and what you want to get from it. Washington manages game for quantity of opportunity not for quality of the hunting. I look for areas with good elk populations, lower tag numbers, and TRUE possibility of a mature bull. Washington has those opportunites, but they are few and far between. Read the post lots of guys waiting 10+ years to draw a good tag. I started applying for tags in most states from Arizona to Washington and have drawn a decent tag the last 3 years (two this year). To me the hunting is the thrill, whether I harverst something or not. I love being out there up at 4 am back at 8 pm on most days. I can't stand hunting around people who don't want to hunt hard and few people want to hunt like that. So I hunt mostly with one other person who is willing to do that. However I will go back and say it depends on what YOU WANT out of the experience. I found what I like and for me that doesn't include hunting Elk with lots of people so I avoid Washington. (Until this year I drew a Wenaha tag, finally.) Good luck, happy hunting!
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: True Sportsman on July 24, 2011, 04:52:45 PM: Pick better areas, with fewer people and tougher hunting. Quit grinding it out in the sea of orange.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: huntnnw on July 24, 2011, 05:28:19 PM: there is plenty of areas here that dont have much pressure...u just gotta find them.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: bobcat on July 24, 2011, 09:30:27 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on July 24, 2011, 05:28:19 PM
there is plenty of areas here that dont have much pressure...u just gotta find them.

In my experience, the areas that don't have much hunting pressure also do not have any elk. I know there are exceptions, but over the years I have changed my thinking and my new rule is to hunt elk where the people are. If there's nobody there, I figure I'm wasting my time.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: deerslyr on July 24, 2011, 09:52:10 PM: :yeah: I have had terrible luck elk hunting in the past, deer was always easy but I rarely even saw elk during the hunting season. Then I started really looking at it and listening to the people on here say "get away from the people. So I went to an area with a bunch of people and then found the deepest thickest nastiest canyon I could find and jumped in. I finally started seeing elk and thats all I do now. I have yet to get one but ive drawn back on a few but there always seems to be a branch in the way haha
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: huntnnw on July 25, 2011, 09:28:16 PM: I have 5 spots scattered from south of Spokane to Canadien line that I rarely see a hunter and I get into elk always.. getting shots is another story with a bow
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: sebek556 on July 25, 2011, 09:47:42 PM: huntnnw sounds like you need a hunting partner :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: NWBREW on July 26, 2011, 02:27:10 AM: Quote from: huntnnw on July 25, 2011, 09:28:16 PM
I have 5 spots scattered from south of Spokane to Canadien line that I rarely see a hunter and I get into elk always.. getting shots is another story with a bow

sshhhhhh. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: grundy53 on July 26, 2011, 05:39:04 AM: Quote from: bobcat on July 24, 2011, 09:30:27 PM
Quote from: huntnnw on July 24, 2011, 05:28:19 PM
there is plenty of areas here that dont have much pressure...u just gotta find them.

In my experience, the areas that don't have much hunting pressure also do not have any elk. I know there are exceptions, but over the years I have changed my thinking and my new rule is to hunt elk where the people are. If there's nobody there, I figure I'm wasting my time.

:yeah: The more people usually means more Elk. You just have to find the over looked areas and hit them hard. Last year my group shot 6 bulls in one little timber patch. We could here a lot of trucks driving by but no one ever stopped there and tried the spot out because it didn't look likely. This was over the coarse of a week and we only saw one other person in there and he killed a bull too.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on July 26, 2011, 06:40:30 AM: Quote from: grundy53 on July 26, 2011, 05:39:04 AM
Quote from: bobcat on July 24, 2011, 09:30:27 PM
Quote from: huntnnw on July 24, 2011, 05:28:19 PM
there is plenty of areas here that dont have much pressure...u just gotta find them.

In my experience, the areas that don't have much hunting pressure also do not have any elk. I know there are exceptions, but over the years I have changed my thinking and my new rule is to hunt elk where the people are. If there's nobody there, I figure I'm wasting my time.
HUH ...Well make it 7 and invite me :chuckle: :chuckle: :dunno:

:yeah: The more people usually means more Elk. You just have to find the over looked areas and hit them hard. Last year my group shot 6 bulls in one little timber patch. We could here a lot of trucks driving by but no one ever stopped there and tried the spot out because it didn't look likely. This was over the coarse of a week and we only saw one other person in there and he killed a bull too.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 26, 2011, 07:52:41 AM: Do archery if you can afford to make the change. Plan on about $2-3.5K to get outfitted the first year with the right bow, clothes, etc. Then go higher and deeper than anyone else. Most hunters are basically lazy, so if you get a mile from the road, you'll usually be as lonely as you want to be.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: huntnnw on July 26, 2011, 10:52:48 AM: U can get into a very nice used setup with everything on it for $500... he or she probably owns camo clothing and a range finder..thats about it to get going
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: NWBREW on July 26, 2011, 10:56:46 AM: 2k-3.5k.....pianoman? Unless you want some of the best there is, there is no reason you can't do it for under a grand.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 26, 2011, 11:26:28 AM: I'm assuming he doesn't have a bow, arrows, sight, rests, quiver, release, quiet clothing, pack-able rain gear, rangefinder, his other accessories. Just the bow with peripherals will be greater than $1K for a fairly good bow, not even top of the line.

I got my buddy into it 4 years ago. I admit he had to buy all of his camping stuff, too, and boots and the works. He spent $4K. I would say at least 1800-2K to be properly equipped.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: deerslyr on July 26, 2011, 12:00:15 PM: If your already a hunter theres no reason you need to spend over a grand to get started. For a first year archer theres no reason to buy a top of the line bow because you might not end up liking it. Theres so many middle of the road bows out there these days that shoot pretty dam good for only a few hundred bucks. just check out the mission line :twocents:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on July 26, 2011, 12:11:20 PM: Define "properly equipped". I killed my first bull with a 300. dollar bow which was an upgrade from what I had been shooting. that included a dozen easton aliminum arrows and muzzy heads. My clothes were nothing special, mostly wool (military surplus). The next most expensive thing on my person was smoke in a bottle ( which as it turns out was probably just as important as the bow). I also had the hunger, I wanted to kill one BAD and the fact it was late season, and cold and miserable was not gonna stop me.
I agree with you, its ez to drop several grand in gear. The sight alone on my bow today cost nearly as much as my whole setup then. Plus merino wool this, sitka that, base layers, softshells, packable rainwear, regular rainwear, silent rainwear. Top o the line BH, and arrows. 400 plus dollar packs, 250 + dollar boots. Not to mention scentlok, and camo for desert, woodland, forest floor, snow, in a treestand, on the ground, in a groundblind. :chuckle: And i havent even got into backcountry gear list. Sheesh. It makes me more comfortable, maybe more efficient ( definatley debatable :) ). But doesnt kill elk any deader.
I feel that the best advice for a beginning bowhunter is get a solid bow that FITS that you can comfortably afford, shoot ALOT and buy some decent bow friendly clothes (Quiet). The clothes are gonna be moot since you will be able to use them regardless. Make sure you love bowhunting for bowhuntings sake before commiting all of your resources to it. If you like bowhunting great, upgrade as needed. If you don't your out whatever the bow setup cost which you should be comfortable with.

Dont be trapped into thinking archery season is the be all end all. Your tactics will need tweaked, possibly completley overhauled. Theres a ton of pressure in popular areas, which as has been alluded to is where lotsa elk usually are. Lotsa " bugling fourwheelers" educating bulls. You will still have to hunt for places to hunt.

In the end you may be better off saving for out of state every couple years....
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: JLS on July 26, 2011, 12:44:34 PM: Go to the classifieds on Archery Talk.com and you can pick up a very nice bow for under $400, usually fully outfitted.

I like my Sitka Gear, but I hunted a lot of years in cotton BDUs.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 26, 2011, 12:50:55 PM: Good luck, WSU. These guys have much better info for you than I. Enjoy your hunt
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: piledup on July 26, 2011, 08:16:41 PM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on July 26, 2011, 12:50:55 PM
Good luck, WSU. These guys have much better info for you than I. Enjoy your hunt

Come on now. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions right. :twocents:

But I do agree with picking up a good enough bow to try bowhunting out first.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: elksnout on July 26, 2011, 09:51:24 PM: :dunno: :dunno: I don't get it. Hunt the west side for general bull on public land and have no problem finding solitude. Oh yeah sure, there's the occasional hunter who pops up but not very often. Put the boots down. Also you might be surprised how far you don't need to go. ;)
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: grundy53 on July 27, 2011, 05:15:15 AM: Quote from: elksnout on July 26, 2011, 09:51:24 PM
:dunno: :dunno: I don't get it. Hunt the west side for general bull on public land and have no problem finding solitude. Oh yeah sure, there's the occasional hunter who pops up but not very often. Put the boots down. Also you might be surprised how far you don't need to go. ;)

:yeah: It's not that hard.... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: True Sportsman on July 27, 2011, 05:42:24 AM: Quote from: grundy53 on July 27, 2011, 05:15:15 AM
Quote from: elksnout on July 26, 2011, 09:51:24 PM
:dunno: :dunno: I don't get it. Hunt the west side for general bull on public land and have no problem finding solitude. Oh yeah sure, there's the occasional hunter who pops up but not very often. Put the boots down. Also you might be surprised how far you don't need to go. ;)

:yeah: It's not that hard.... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

Now thats funny right there! :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: piledup on July 27, 2011, 07:16:04 AM: Quote from: grundy53 on July 27, 2011, 05:15:15 AM
Quote from: elksnout on July 26, 2011, 09:51:24 PM
:dunno: :dunno: I don't get it. Hunt the west side for general bull on public land and have no problem finding solitude. Oh yeah sure, there's the occasional hunter who pops up but not very often. Put the boots down. Also you might be surprised how far you don't need to go. ;)

:yeah: It's not that hard.... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

So ALL the elk ARE where ALL the hunters are at. :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 27, 2011, 11:02:17 AM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on July 26, 2011, 11:26:28 AM
I'm assuming he doesn't have a bow, arrows, sight, rests, quiver, release, quiet clothing, pack-able rain gear, rangefinder, his other accessories. Just the bow with peripherals will be greater than $1K for a fairly good bow, not even top of the line.

I got my buddy into it 4 years ago. I admit he had to buy all of his camping stuff, too, and boots and the works. He spent $4K. I would say at least 1800-2K to be properly equipped.

No way. I got a great martin jaguar fully equipped with arrows, rest, quiver, release, everything for under 500. Thing shoots faster than diamond black ice's with the same arrows. Just as accurate, lighter and smaller too. Rangefinders are not really needed either. No one in our camp of 8 people use them. He's already a hunter so I am sure he's got most of the duds like clothing and camping equipment. Ill bet he could make the switch to archery hunting for under 650. Who needs top of the line stuff? Answer is nobody... It's nice, but not a necessity. He could have a perfectly lethal setup for pretty darn cheap. This isn't even considering used equipment. Used stuff he could get and be hunting for way less. A lot of anti hunters have given us a stigma that hunting is only a rich mans endeavor to use as an argument when some hunters say they hunt for the inexpensive opportunity to feed their families.

Here is a fully setup bow for example.
http://www.huntersfriend.com/2010_Martin_Saber_Hunting_Bow_Sale/martin_saber_compound_bow_cheap.htm (http://www.huntersfriend.com/2010_Martin_Saber_Hunting_Bow_Sale/martin_saber_compound_bow_cheap.htm)

This isn't recommending that he switch to archery, there is plenty of options to better the quality of his hunt using modern firearm. However if he does make the switch he isn't exactly going to have to spend $2000. That is, unless he wants to, than more the power to him! :tup:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: blaCKTAIL HUNt on July 27, 2011, 11:57:11 AM: If you try hunting western washington there will probally be alot of pressure in most public areas but a majority of the crowds stay close to the roads and just drive around. If you are willing to do some hiking you can find some great habitat with far less pressure. Also 5 elk combined isn't bad at all atleast you were out in the woods having fun instead of working.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: CAMPMEAT on July 27, 2011, 01:33:58 PM: The closer you are to Seattle , the worse it is. I quit hunting elk over thataway 22 years ago. Too many idiots.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on July 27, 2011, 04:49:12 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on July 27, 2011, 01:33:58 PM
The closer you are to Seattle , the worse it is. I quit hunting elk over thataway 22 years ago. Too many idiots.
boy I am sure I am north of Seattle or I may be an idiot too !! :chuckle: :chuckle: :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: piledup on July 27, 2011, 07:12:52 PM: Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on July 27, 2011, 04:49:12 PM
Quote from: CAMPMEAT on July 27, 2011, 01:33:58 PM
The closer you are to Seattle , the worse it is. I quit hunting elk over thataway 22 years ago. Too many idiots.
boy I am sure I am north of Seattle or I may be an idiot too !! :chuckle: :chuckle: :rolleyes:

:lol4: :lol4:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: CAMPMEAT on July 27, 2011, 08:09:17 PM: I bet I was considered an idiot by others when I lived near Seattle too........... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: wsucouga on August 04, 2011, 01:21:28 PM: Good advice thanks. Thinking about archery - I'm experienced with a bow - I'm just not sure I have the patience -I used to archery for deer in high school and college - but I HATE sitting! I'd rather walk around - I have no problem getting away from the roads - My favorite place to hunt is the deep dark holes, far away from the roads, in the Bumping Unit. I've seen a lot of Bulls in there. But if I ever get a tag for one I'll need a helicopter to get it out.

My typical Washington hunting experience: One year I was hunting in the Manashtash unit - I was working hard - well off the roads, at least as far away as one can get in the Manashtash. I finally jumped a spike - I chased it for two hours - probably covering 4 miles or so. It was just moving too fast for me to get a clean shot. Finally, I chased it out across a road..........and then two good old boys in a grey Ford Pick-up. smoking cigars and drinking beers shot it from their truck. They backed up their truck - thru the spike in the back - and were back at camp having lunch before I was done wiping the sweat off my face. I'm sure they cracked another beer and told all their buddies the story of their amazing hunt. I wasn't even that mad - It actually made me laugh.
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on August 04, 2011, 02:32:01 PM: The harder you have to work to pack one out, the less people you will see no matter the season you choose...
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: buglebrush on August 04, 2011, 08:12:45 PM: The unmentioned problem is the length of seasons. When you cram everybody into the same two weekends...Well, there are going to be a-lot more people in the woods at once. Isn't there some way to put together a petition or something about season lengths??? :bash: :bash: :bash:
Title: Re: Getting frustrated with Elk hunting in WA
Post by: huntnnw on August 04, 2011, 08:22:25 PM: A and B tags with different seasons could alleviate some crowding