Entire state tag, fail to draw quality elk. Where would you hunt?

[jechicdr]

Would be interesting to see the distribution of hunters if tag was statewide or if you had to choose eastside or westside.

Also answer this poll.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=92364.msg1178799#msg1178799

[Wenatcheejay]

I would hunt King County and Olyimpa 

[jechicdr]

patterns are similar, need more voters to be more accurate

[jechicdr]

Idea is that if entire state was open, then hunters may favor a different part of the state than they would hunt if they had to choose because they wanted a coveted eastside draw.  Still too early to see a pattern, but I suspect people are going to hunt what they are comfortable with, rather than switch areas so they can kill a bull.

[huntnnw]

I would hunt NE no matter what...I will not hunt a cow or spike unit. Unless I draw a blues bull tag

[jechicdr]

Only 57 people voting, thought people would be more interested in the results of this one.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I voted OTHER being how were goin to hunt ANOTHER state!

[BowBender87]

im curious on this as well...i would think alot of people would come hunt the westside so they could get a chance at a branch bull in a general season.  It would make for alot more crowds over here you would think

[jechicdr]

As it stands, 49.4% would hunt westside and 41.9% eastside if tag open to entire state.  If tag system stayed the same, 40% would hunt westside and 53% would hunt eastside.  Though not likely accurate given the small number of participants, is still interesting.  That says, about 10% of hunters would move to the westside.  The tradeoff would be fewer opportunities for the remaining eastside hunters to draw the quality tags.  I'm torn, on the one hand, I would not mind fewer hunters on the eastside,  but I would sure like to kill a bull on the eastside some day.  Maybe they can switch...after I get drawn for a bull.

[jechicdr]

bump

[steen]

With this question I answered west cascades cause if I didn't draw I'd probably hunt general season around Mt. St Helens but I haven't explored much area either.

[NWBREW]

I would hunt NE no matter what...I will not hunt a cow or spike unit. Unless I draw a blues bull tag

Same thinking here. I would hunt the Northeast corner........just like I always do.  Although I did kill a cow in Manastash this last year.....only because I drew the tag and was low on time. and needed elk meat.

[jechicdr]

As it stands so far, 42.7% would hunt east and 47.3 west if entire state was open.  As it is currently, 55.8% would hunt east and 38.7 would hunt west.  Once again, I would not mind seeing smaller numbers hunting the east side, but not fond of the idea of more people applying for the quality eastside tags.

[AKBowman]

As it stands, 49.4% would hunt westside and 41.9% eastside if tag open to entire state.  If tag system stayed the same, 40% would hunt westside and 53% would hunt eastside.  Though not likely accurate given the small number of participants, is still interesting.  That says, about 10% of hunters would move to the westside.  The tradeoff would be fewer opportunities for the remaining eastside hunters to draw the quality tags.  I'm torn, on the one hand, I would not mind fewer hunters on the eastside,  but I would sure like to kill a bull on the eastside some day.  Maybe they can switch...after I get drawn for a bull.

Thats b/c a lot of guys who hunt the westside dont want more people over here so they are voting eastside or NE to try to make west side seem less appealling

[AKBowman]

In reality if the regs were to change to go away with the east/west system the first couple years there would be a TON of east siders hunting the wet side b/c they can finally try to kill a branch bull. Most would last one season and give up out of frustration b/c the country is so thick.