Elk Itch

[RG300]

I have never been hunting.
but I have been bit bad by the Elk Hunting bug for many years now, (deer would be great too)
Something always dashes my hopes for one reason or another season after season. (Covid, eldercare, etc etc....)
I have a good amount of gear, rifle, binos, range finder, tent, cot, etc but in practical terms of how to apply for areas, scouting, points etc,
i have no idea.
Full disclosure.... by this fall I will be 65 , Id like to think i can tough anything out , but sometimes my back reminds me otherwise.
I would like to hunt Washington St., (are East side odds better?) to avoid non resident fees if I can, but at this point I'm open to just about anything.
Any help/suggestions are appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

 

[rmyoung1]

This is such an open-ended question that I think you’re gonna get a lot of different opinions. But if I were in your shoes (and I know next to nothing about WA) I’d buy a WY pref point this summer and research Idaho cow hunts immediately. Try to draw a cow tag in Idaho this fall in a unit with decent amounts of public land and harvest success rates that meet your expectations. Next year, draw a cow tag in Wyo and have a good hunt. (Both states have online Hunt Planner tools that will deliver this data.) You’ll learn a lot, have a ton of fun, and get a taste for elk hunting (and hopefully elk meat, too.)

WA elk hunting, from what I’ve heard, is sort of a zoo with high numbers of spike hunters in the field, low success, plenty of frustration. Cutting your teeth on elk hunting in WA without local mentors sounds like a tough task.

 

[kwyeewyk]

Sound advice above, I've definitely focused on more productive states the last decade or so. But, I'd still encourage you to give Washington a try, success is difficult, lots of frustration to be had, but not all bad. Elk hunting here is a balance of finding areas that hold numbers of animals but finding the sweet spots on the fringes where there's less people. Or you can go to the areas where they're more dispersed and see very few people but also fewer animals, much steeper learning curve in these areas though, especially if you don't live nearby.

Not sure odds are any better east side, but might be a little easier to learn, I haven't hunted west side but guessing they're tough to hunt in the denser forests over there. You can apply for special permits but the basic tag is OTC so it can be pretty simple. If you decide to try it I can give some general info for east side.

 

[rtraverdavis]

Sites like gohunt.com can lower the learning curve in terms of finding a place to apply that would meet your specifications, but @rmyoung1 hit the nail on the head. There are a lot of fun cow hunts out there that wouldn’t take long to draw and would give you a pretty good chance of success. There’s also a ridiculous amount of information out there about the kinds of habitat you’re likely to find elk in, depending on the specific time of year you’ll be hunting. Study up, get out there, and have fun.

 

[RG300]

Sounds like a good starting point......thank you so much for your sound advice. I will investigate further & try to let you guys know how it goes. thanks again & have a great day !!

 

[ccc23454]

Spring bear is just around corner and a great way to get out, test gear, learn basics and experiance mother nature's best time of year. Bear hunting is likely perfect western big game learning experiance with various weather and terrain let alone easy packouts if sucessful. Then as mentioned go after cow tags and returned tags in wy/id or whatever washington offers. Good luck

 

[LuketheDog]

I have never been hunting.
but I have been bit bad by the Elk Hunting bug for many years now, (deer would be great too)
Something always dashes my hopes for one reason or another season after season. (Covid, eldercare, etc etc....)
I have a good amount of gear, rifle, binos, range finder, tent, cot, etc but in practical terms of how to apply for areas, scouting, points etc,
i have no idea.
Full disclosure.... by this fall I will be 65 , Id like to think i can tough anything out , but sometimes my back reminds me otherwise.
I would like to hunt Washington St., (are East side odds better?) to avoid non resident fees if I can, but at this point I'm open to just about anything.
Any help/suggestions are appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

Get those legs in shape, every time I walk up on an elk I'm surprised by how big they actually are!

 

[Caseknife]

You live in Washington, there are elk in Washington, hunting is OTC, granted it can be tough to find elk during season, but they can be found easily out of season. Get out there and learn elk and their habits when they are not pressured during hunting season. Wander the woods and get in woods shape, find where elk live and learn as much as you can. Starting to hunt elk at 65 has a steep learning curve and waiting until you draw an out of state tag doesn't help lessen the curve. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Steiny77]

If doing it by yourself, I'd start out on deer, much easier to locate, harvest and handle the meat on your own. Probably easier to get tags too.
If you are wanting to harvest an elk right out of the gate, I'd go with a good outfitter or some seasoned elk hunters as they are typically far more difficult to locate, harvest, and handling the meat can be a large undertaking.

Don't shoot something if you do not intend to properly care for all of the meat and consume it.

 

[brymoore]

At 65, I’d go hire a guide that matches the type of hunt you want to experience.

 

[Matthew57]

Spring bear is just around corner and a great way to get out, test gear, learn basics and experiance mother nature's best time of year. Bear hunting is likely perfect western big game learning experiance with various weather and terrain let alone easy packouts if sucessful. Then as mentioned go after cow tags and returned tags in wy/id or whatever washington offers. Good luck

If only we still had spring bear still in Washington...man, i miss that opportunity. If you can get to a surrounding state that has it absolutely.

One thing the OP should know is in WA elk hunting is broken up into Eastern and Western sides of the state. You have to choose which side of the state you plan to hunt and then choose the weapon type you want to use. There are many units that are "Over the Counter", meaning you can go buy a tag and hunt. Then there are special hunt categories like "Quality Elk", "Bull Elk", and cow tags that require you to draw in order to go hunt. In WA, the draw odds are pretty rough so i would recommend looking at the regulations/draw odds to get an idea if there are any tags you may be able to realistically draw at some point. Since you're just getting started, I'd look at OTC units with decent harvest success rates that you wouldn't mind travelling to and then scan the "Antlerless Elk" category in the regulations handbook to see if there are any cow hunts worth putting in for. If you have any questions let me know.

 

[Cap’n Crunch]

Get in Elk hunting shape! Weights, cardio, eat protein and teach yourself to eat less but eat quality!

More than likely you will be chasing Elk in elevations (6500-8000+) higher than your used to so get in shape.

IMO I would suggest cutting your “Elk hunting teeth” in your home state. Close and familiar. Much easier for a DIY hunt. (if that is what you are going to do)

Hope to see pics and read your story!

 

[Johnny Bravo]

I'm confused, you have never been hunting, but have lots of gear for hunting.....I suggest deer or antelope first.