BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

sparky · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 2

I'm hoping someone will read this QUICK! Is there a special secret as to where to find elk up there? We're from northern AZ and they were everywhere there........

cowgal · Joined: 10 Mar 2002 Posts: 995 Location: Colorado

I'm from Colorado, so I'm not familiar with the area your husband is hunting. However we do have an abundance of elk here, so I'm familiar with their seasonal habits.

How is the weather where he's hunting? If its still nice & warm, I would look for the elk high in the timber. Elk have a tendency to stay bedded down during the daylight hours when its very warm. If it has already snowed or gotten very cold, the elk should start moving down to winter bedding grounds.

What is the terrain like where he is hunting? Is there timber at higher elevations? Move up or down in elevation, depending on the weather.

Has he heard elk in the area? or seen sign? If not, then its time to move to a completely new area, the elk simply are not there. How much area has your husband hunted? Is he walking and glassing for many miles, or staying put in one location? Has he seen any elk at all??

Is the area known for seasonal migration routes? Talk to locals, they may be able to help you with that.

Good luck! :)

el hunter · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject: Okanogan Elk

I've never heard of any elk living in the okanogan area of Washington State. It is mainly deer country. There are some elk east of there, towards the Idaho border. The largest concentration of elk in eastern WA. is the Yakima herd,
the Colockum herd and the Blue Mountain herd. Sorry, no Okanogan herd, as far as I know. You can always check with the area Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. There are offices in Wenatchee, Ephrata and Spokane.

Ellensburg · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 14

They try to purposely keep elk OUT of okanogan. I bet ther are some up there but i would agree with el hunter... Your husband is in the wrong place.

PopeShawnPaul · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 16

They are over the hill in unit 103 and east. Sometimes...on a rare occasion they venture over the hill as far west as the Republic area. But ideally they are located more toward the east. Apparently, most of them are on private land... I have seen them turkey hunting in unit 103 and the next unit east of there.

billythekidrock · Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 422 Location: OlyWa

Got a buddy in Omak and he says there are no huntable numbers of elk in Okanogan County.

scubaian · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Poulsbo, WA

There are elk in the area. Like mentioned before, they are mostly on private land. I have seen them up north just east of Oroville. I have also seen a lot of them by Republic along Aneas Valley Rd.
They are definately there in smaller herds.