My hunting area is burning...

[big rifle man]

Guy, in what area of washington do you live. My son lives in Port Townsend. He is trying to get some info for a future Elk hunt. He wants me to join him and I know little if nothing about the state and hunting possibilities.

 

[Guy Miner]

I'm in Wenatchee Washington, it's right about dead-center in the state. Chelan county is about 85% public land, so hunting & backpacking opportunities abound.

Very interesting transition country. Literally a few minutes to the west, and I'm in evergreen covered mountains, or I can be skiing only a few miles south of town. Yet if I head east, I'm out in rolling wheatfields and sage covered high desert.

Hunting Washington is good, and bad. First problem is a big population, so there are many, many hunters afield in some areas and some seasons.

Elk, bear, and deer tags can be purchased easily. Deer hunting includes three species: whitetail, blacktail and mule deer. There are two species of elk; the rocky mountain elk inland, and the big bodied Roosevelt elk closer to the ocean.

There is a very limited draw hunt for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat. Also some limited draw hunts avail for hunting deer & elk in the rut etc...

Essentially, there is good hunting potential, but a guy might have to work at getting away from the crowds and have patience waiting for a "good" tag. Most of the elk taken in my area are spike bulls, with some cow tags in the mix. "Branch antler" tags are special draw for the more popular hunting areas.

Quite a bit of info avail from the state at this link: http://wdfw.wa.gov/

Guy

 

[big rifle man]

Guy, thanks for the heads up. We're thinking of a hunt for next year so I should have adequate time for planning. My son mentioned rain gear and from everyhone I've talked to Elk season sounds kind of wet (at least in the hunting areas near where he is located) It will be an interesting hunt I'm sure. Thanks again.

 

[hubcap]

Big Rifle Man: Yes indeed, In Western Wa. during the Elk season it will rain. If you choose to hunt any of the areas around the Olympics it would be wise to buy the best rain gear you can. Many hunters do not even bother with a scope. Too much trouble keeping them dry.

 

[C.Smith]

The rain really depends what side of the Cascade mountains you hunt. The west end is wet and the east side is not nearly as. The last four years elk hunting I can only remember it raining on the last couple of days of the season on the east side.

Corey

 

[hubcap]

Know what ya mean. Remember in the early 80,s the 360 unit would open on Nov.5 and not close until the end of the 2nd week of November. I remember seeing a lot more snow than rain. Ya could shoot any bull. If ya had a cow tag all you had to do is step out of your tent. Well that was then. This is now. Spikes only, and the season is over by Nov.3. Not much chance of catching a migration like we used to. Got to love that game dept. :roll: :roll:

 

[Elkman]

Had a three thousand acrea fire near our home and in the southern end of my washington elk unit last week. It all occurred while I was on a 4500 acre complex south of mt hood, I am catching up on the forum now.