Elk hoof rot incentive tag drawn! Need help on area.

[PsoasHunter]

I was lucky enough to get a call from a nice lady w/ the WDFW stating I had drawn one of the 19 hoof rot incentive permits.  The tag is for any bull from Sept 1-Dec 31, if a season is open, you have to use that weapon (archery only when archery is open in that GUM), but otherwise you can use any weapon out of normal seasons.

I have 3 days to choose my area, and only 2 areas are now remaining to choose from (I was low on the list of 19).  I need help from the Hunt Wa braintrust to narrow it down.

"Willipa Hills" which includes GMU's 501, 504, 506, 530, 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684

"Olympic", which includes all of GMU's 601, 602, 603, 607, 612, 615, 618, 624, 633, 638, 642, 648, 651 (excludes Elk Area 6064)

These are huge areas and I'm going through a lot of data right now on harvest rates and points of elk harvested, but the areas are huge!  I'm a little overwhelmed right now, help me out! 

My main concern is public access and ease of access.  I have not hunted any of these areas and have no idea what access is.  I am not afraid to put miles on, I do the high buck hunt every year and am attempting my 4th summit of Rainier this year, so I will be in shape for this hunt. I'm not afraid to do some hiking behind gates. However, I also have a 2 year old at home and can't be gone for weeks at a time.  I envision one week off work and a lot of 2-3-day weekends to devote to this.  It's easier to cover a lot of ground if I can drive out from camp each day and hike from there, so that would be the preference, but a hike-in camp hunt would work too. Also, my wife and daughter love the outdoors so if we can camp somewhere drive-able, that's a big plus.

What do you guys think?

 

[Bob33]

That sounds like an awesome opportunity and I hope and expect you will get some insight from members.

[Clearcut]

What are you looking for in the hunt.. what’s your expectation? I can’t speak to the Olympic area so hopefully someone else can but willipa has several permits required from various land owners. Mainly weyco, rayonier that I know of. Weyco has already done there sell on Pe ell which a large chunk of ground. Rayonier is a crap shoot to get.. what public or open ground that is left gets beat very hard in my experience. Definitely elk to be had but by no means the highest quality or quantity. But with that type of tag you have Time and the rut. I’d utilize late September after archery before muzzy. If you can call I think you could definitely get a decent bull

[Sundance]

Willipa hills has more elk, but not as many high caliber bulls. Olympic area has fewer elk, but much bigger bulls. Olympic has better land access without as many areas requiring a permit. I’ve hunt both areas, many of the GMU’s listed and I wouldn’t even second guess choosing the Olympic tag.

[nwwanderer]

Please let Dr. Wild know what you pick or maybe even ask her which area would help her with limper research, thanks

[salmosalar]

I have hunted both. There is a lot of access on state ground in the Olympic area. I did a hike in and car camp there.

I have hunted 530 as well. I bought walk in access to timber land. I saw more elk. I was not necessarily around more elk though. There are more cuts to see into from what I have seen. I hunted behind locked gates, closer to the park in the olympic area.

I would hunt with a bow in the Olympics and maybe muzzleloader. Late season in 530. That's how I see it.

[bowhntr]

I’m a little envious of that one. I turned in my hooves last year too but didn’t get selected. I’ll send you a direct message of a potential option of what I would do if I were you since it does not sound like you have a weyco permit.

[ASHQUACK]

With a tag like that in my pocket and I had to choose and area I'd take the Olympic tag in a heartbeat. There are some bruisers to be had in permit only areas and seasons. Especially the late tags when the big boys come out of the parks.

[fowl smacker]

Olympic 100%.

[Flaming Antler Outdoors]

 

[pianoman9701]

I have hunted both. There is a lot of access on state ground in the Olympic area. I did a hike in and car camp there.

I have hunted 530 as well. I bought walk in access to timber land. I saw more elk. I was not necessarily around more elk though. There are more cuts to see into from what I have seen. I hunted behind locked gates, closer to the park in the olympic area.

I would hunt with a bow in the Olympics and maybe muzzleloader. Late season in 530. That's how I see it.

There's some public access into 530 from the south side and east side. There are plenty of elk in there, especially before and after anyone's in the woods.

[PsoasHunter]

"What are you looking for in the hunt.. what’s your expectation?"

I'd be happy w/ any bull at the end of the day, but I'm hopeful to do the tag justice and go after a mature bull.  It's a pretty amazing opportunity that I feel very fortunate to have, so I want to put some effort into it to do it right.  I typically hunt private very dense forest land that I know like the back of my hand, w/ some open fields for westside muzzleloader.  I have had good success w/ cows but have never seen many bulls.  The bulls in my area unfortunately don't grow old or mature, too many small farms w/ hunters keeping an eye on them all year to let them grow mature.  Elk in my area also are not big talkers so I've never spent the time learning to call, that's something I'll need to start learning now for this particular tag.

For you guys who have hunted in the olympics, are you finding open enough areas to glass and spot and stalk, are you in thick brush calling, are you still-hunting dark tall timber, or still hunting thick brush following sign?

Thanks again for all your suggestions, it's very helpful!

[PsoasHunter]

I’m a little envious of that one. I turned in my hooves last year too but didn’t get selected. I’ll send you a direct message of a potential option of what I would do if I were you since it does not sound like you have a weyco permit.

I got your PM, thanks for the info!

There are still 3 more winners WDFW has to call after I make my choice, so you may still be getting a call!

[HntnFsh]

So there's still hope for me too!

I turned in 2 sets!

[bowhntr]

I’m a little envious of that one. I turned in my hooves last year too but didn’t get selected. I’ll send you a direct message of a potential option of what I would do if I were you since it does not sound like you have a weyco permit.

I got your PM, thanks for the info!

There are still 3 more winners WDFW has to call after I make my choice, so you may still be getting a call!

Wow, Fingers crossed