Just checked the website, got my any deer muzzleloader hunt, but no elk tags for my party...

After I enter my WILD ID number it won't load the next page. What's the deal?

sounds like your connection sucks. try restarting your connection or your computer... I dont know much about computers but it works for me sometimes.

This is all just one big sign that summer is going by WAY to fast...

Curtis

Bif nada for me this year. Darn it!!!!

Jeez...the page is really slow to open. It took me over a half hour to find out I got drawn for a bull tag!!! Finally, a Peaches Ridge A tag.

I got my 5th cow elk tag in 6 years! Gotta love that AHE program. No joy on my other tags, but I am building points.

Nothing for me but 2 of my sons got drawn for Pearrygin any deer so we should at least get a cuople of nice mulies.

I drew a cow tag for the Little Naches.

Nothing for me. I struck out on deer, elk, moose, goats ad sheep. I've got 7 points for deer, so you'd think I'd be able to draw before too long....

But.... my 9 and 12 year old sons both drew Umtanum cow tags. They'll be pretty pumped when they see the note I left them in the AM. I'm not exactly sure where we'll go in the Umtanum, but if we take a few recon trips we ought to be able to find some cows somewhere.

Should be fun.

Zippo!

I didn't draw a tag, but my wife drew an archery bull tag, again, in the bumping lake area. She is pretty excited.

Dogfish,
How are you building points if you drew tags.I thought it started over once you get a draw.Is it because of AHE or are you just mistaken?Maybe I have some learnin to do.
Congrats on the draws!!

I had to log on at 4am Tues. to access the page.It popped right up.and I'm still building points.

Good luck on your draws folks.

Cupo, about three lines down from the search is ANOTHER search.

They made a mirror site because of all the complaints.

Curtis

After several tries at the website I got my results. My dad and I got drawn for the Sauk unit late hunt. It's kind of sad that this hunt used to be open to everyone every year. After several years of no late season, it's open by permit only.
Hntnfsh, your points are accumulated per species. By drawing elk tags Dogfish has dropped his elk points to zero each year he's been drawn, but he is still accumulating points for other species that he has put applications in for (deer, moose, sheep).

Guess I was reading more into that post than was there.I knew that you only lose or gain points by species.
For some reason I thought he meant for his elk permits also.

i got my doe tag for the huckleberry unit, it nice that the tag is also good for the late hunt over there

Is anybody else fed up with this points system BS! I've been putting in for permits now for 7 years and haven't been drawn yet. Don't get me wrong I'm not *****ing just because I haven't been drawn. There are 2 guys (parntner tags) in my hunting party the have been drawn 3 times for elk(once for margret and twice now for toutle) . Now isn't there something wrong with the system when that happens. The whole point of this system is to give the guy that haven't drawn a better chance. Well from what i have seen it's a bunch of horse sh!t. I'm glad that some one I know has gotten drawn but come on the systems Isn't working!!!

Fishmaster,
I totally agree!!! To make it worse one of the local sporting good stores has an employee that writes articles for the paper.Last year he was telling us about how well the people in the store did on their draws.The ratio was extremely high for what I would expect.Curious to see how it goes this year.
I have no idea why,but it did seem pretty off kilter to me.
Before the point system I put in every year for draws that were not that bad,of odds.Drew 1 cow tag in over 15 years.
Since then I have doing the points system from the beginning,with no draws.Maybe I just have extremely bad luck!!!!

The point system is working. Yes, it is designed to give better odds to people who haven't been drawn but there is still luck involved. A lot of it may have to do with the popularity of the hunts you put in for.

I calculate the ratio of applications to tags for the previous year on certain tags, like Moose, Bighorn and Goat. This makes it a higher percentage ordeal.

For deer, it is an all or nothing deal for me, with just one selection. If I don't draw that particular hunt, I'd rather save my points than pick a lesser hunt. Took me 5 years to draw my last hunt, but the 4X with eyeguards was worth it.

For elk, I upped my odds by completing the AHE Master hunter program. 5 cow tags in 6 years, and I have filled every one, except for the one I drew for this coming season. The state sets the rules, I suggest you play the game. Last year there were a few AHE cow tags that were not issued because they were not applied for. I have never shot a bull, and while it would be nice to have a neat set of horns, you can't eat them. I hunt for meat.

Deer and Moose points are squared. Elk, sheep, and goat are point for point. If you have 5 points for deer or moose, you actually have 25 tickets going into the pool, whereas for goat, sheep, and elk, you would just have five tickets in the pool.

Take a look at the hunts you are applying for. If the ratio of applications to tags is 20:1 or higher for deer, you are trying for a trophy area or an area with a lot of doe tags, and you should not expect to draw a tag every year, or even every three years. Try to find areas where the ratio is under 10:1, and that have sufficient habitat.

One thing I have also done is switch to muzzle loader for deer. There are a number of units I hunt that are any deer in the late season. Again, I hunt for meat primarily, so I have no issue dropping a doe. There is a reason does are open in a particular area. You also get well over a month to hunt and there is much less competition and pressure in the woods.

14 deer in 14 years. 5 elk in 8 years. Use the odds to your advantage. (Sorry for the ratio stuff, but I work with numbers all day. I'm a bit of a geek.)

Actually dogfish deer elk goat bear and turkey have the multiplier sytem working for them. Moose and sheep are point for point.
Go to this site and you'll see.

http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/faq/wpsfaq.htm#14

Thanks for the correction! I remember it being different, but hey, we are all wrong once in a while. Anyway, use the points and rules to your advantage.

my buddy just emailed me. Got a Elk tag for Sequim. 1 of 6..

After three yrs of putting in my partner and I got an any bull tag for 336 346 peaches ridge,If only I had this tag last year I could of chosen from several real nice bulls.The only problem with this is the season is still three months away,man I can't wait.

Fisher-Dan,
A 9 year old on an elk hunt? What caliber rifle & how well does he shoot? Sorry, I'm not judging but it sounds a little young. Elk hunting is hard work, packing one out is even harder. Maybe he is very mature for his age. I got my 1st deer at 12. I wish I could of bagged an elk at 9.

KNOPHISH,

How are you doing today? Well, I hope. Dan's boys passed their hunter ed classes two years ago, or was it three. As far as squared away boys, you will not meet better behaved, polite and responsible boys.

I have sat through three hunter ed classes now, and I can't tell you how many illiterate 14-17 year old boys I have seen do poorly in the program and fail. If these two boys can read, comprehend and retain all of the info necessary to pass the test, before they are teenagers, more power to them.

I have had the pleasure of fishing and hunting with Dan's oldest boy, and I have met his youngest boy once when I met Dan to show them my 5x5 mulie I had shot in an area where both boys later got their first deer last year.

The boys both shoot Muzzleloaders, .50 cal I believe, .308 and now a .270. Dan hunts along side his boys, not carrying a gun, so he can act as a guide and safety monitor.

If any 9-12 year-old was to shoot an elk, I'd be happy to help him pack it out, especially Dan's boys. I know they are up to the challenge.

Yes, you are judging, which a lot of folks seem quick to do here, but now you know the facts, Dan's responsibility as a parent and how he is teaching his boys to hunt in a proper manner.

Take care,

Andy

KNOPHISH,

I took hunters ed at 9 and shot my first bull (spike) 3 months later at 10 . I shot a 30-30 and my range was about 100yds. I guess he made a mistake that day,walking out in front of a 10yr old with a 30-30.

Hell yeah it was hard work,I helped as much as I could,but had friends and family that did most of the work. I did have to skin it myself,that was a chore at 10. My dad had to back the truck up to the tree so I could stand in back to reach the hindquarters.

Later that day my brother shot a 3pt. My brother was 13 at the time. it was the same story for him. Help as much as possible,and skin it out back at camp.

I was one of the youngest in the class,but guess what,I had the best score in my class,I didn't fail a single question. I agree with Dogfish,it's not always about how old you are.

Hey Knophish,

I have no problem with your question, especially since you asked respectfully. A couple of the other guys already answered, but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth.

First, the boys did pass hunter ed at 7 and 9. However, in my judgment, my then 7 year old wasn't mature enough to hunt so I didn't let him. I did take my 9 year old as soon as he passed. We actually met up with dogfish, and as he referenced, my boy carried a muzzleloader and I was there with him - I could have carried, but wanted to put 100% concentration on helping the boy hunt that year.

As for hunter ed, both boys passed the test with lots of room to spare, although I don't remember exact scores. When we enrolled, the lead instructor told me not to expect my 7 year old to pass. The youngest they'd ever passed was one other 7 year old. My older boy (now 12) is doing the homeowrk to get his Advanced Hunter Certificate (I'm and AHE grad) so he can hunt with me more.

Both boys did get their first deer last year. Each a clean 1-shot kill inside 50 yards. One deer went nowhere but straight down, and one took two big leaps. We probably shoot rifles and muzzleloaders 20 times a year, and the boys shoot pellet guns with similar sights 2 or 3 times a week. Trust me, you don't want to be a deer or elk inside of 100 yards if they have a rest.

As for ethical shooting, they both know that the ONLY acceptable shot results in a humane kill. I was more proud of last years elk hunt than the deer hunt where they both made excellent shots. The boys had cow tags (we shoot muzzleloaders) and I wasn't carrying because I was monitoring my younger boy. We put two cows up at about 30 yards and they ran off just a bit. Two cows stading at 70 yards for over 30 seconds, two boys with cow tags and cows in sight, took us 3 days just to find elk, but neither boy took a shot because they didn't have a good rest, and when the older boy got a rest one cow was looking over her shoulder - not a good shot presentation.

I'll tell you what, I didn't say a word but I stood behind them saying silently: "Don't shoot, Don't shoot, Don't shoot!!!".

the boys don't practice off-hand so they don't take killing shots off hand. I was and am proud (notice that I'm bragging, now;). How many times have we all witnessed adult (most of whom practice way less than my boys) take shots they can't make? I could have grabbed one of their muzzleloaders and dumped a cow for one of them to tag, but that's not the hunting ethic I want to teach my boys. That was the only opportunity at alk that the boys last year.

As for safe gun handling, each boy hunted at least a full season while carrying his pellet gun before he carried a firearm. Pellet gun or firearm, they have NEVER pointed a muzzle at anyone, including swinging thru them. Both boys know my unending rule: Sweep someone with your muzzle - even on accident - and you're done for the year. No exceptions, no excuses, no second chances, no whining. the boys know never to point til they've decided to kill an animal. Bottom line: They are very safe hunting partners (something I can't say for some adults I've hunted with).

As for boys playing a man's game: The boys earn what they get. Even at their age, they've bought their own fisshing and hunting gear for the most part the past two years (the older boy more than the younger).

Both boys knew going into last year that I'd dress and pack their first animal (they helped drag). The also know that this year, they dress while I help..... Should be fun to watch.

As an aside, the older boy really likes trap. He's been breaking 19 birds a round. I'm not sure where he got that because to be truthful I usually break around 12 -13. Ducks should fear him more than me...

Wow, I'd better quit bragging.... Have I mentioned that Im proud of them?

Anyway, one board member was good enough to share some Umtanum info with me (thank you _______). If anyone else wants to help me get 9 and 12 year olds into cow elk in the Umtanum, I'd sure appreciate a private E-mail. Not really sure why we applied for Umtanum since I haven't been there in 15 years....

Thanks all, and if you see a tall guy hunting with two good looking boys, be sure to wave.


Dan

Hey more power to ya Dan! I'm 16 years old right now, started hunting when I was.... ahh I was 8. The instructer told my dad not to put me in the class, that I wouldnt be able to comprehend all the questions. I didnt score as good as HBP, but I did score better then my bro, who was 13 at the time. I missed three total.

I started out duck hunting, and made very few mistakes "safety-wise". A few sharp words from my dad set me strait, and now me and my brother are very selective who we hunt with, with safety being foremost concern... Well, subconciously that is. For the most part we're really just thinking about the birds.

Last year was my first year deer hunting. Many adults told me I would probably shoot the first deer I saw because I'd get jumpy. I was in a 3pt zone at one time, and passed up a 2 pt the first time, as well as many does who followed. Later I was in an "any deer" (because I had my youth tag then), and passed up two does for size.

This year I'm planning to go all out with bear, cougar, deer, and elk, along with my ducks and geese of course! My brother and his father in law are the only ones who big game hunt with me, so I'm new to just about all of it, gathering information from whoever and whatever I can, which has been quite controversial for reasons unknown to me.

Also, I'd like to make this last paragraph a thanks to Dogfish for pointing me into some areas. I haven't checked all of them, but with a few tips you included I've been looking around Enumclaw for bears and cats. No sightings quite yet but I think I'm close!

Curtis

I see said the blind man as he picked up a hammer & saw. Thanx for the background info guys. I hope the kids fill their tags.

I had so much fun at hunters ed. I must have read the booklets 200 times if I read them once. Sitting in class listening to the stories,going to the range to shoot all the .22s with different actions,I was in heaven! The story that hit home the most was the guy that had a huge scar on his back from a deer. He thought it was dead,and he turned his back to the deer and the deer nailed him with his horns. Heck....that scar was probably from his mean ole' wife,but that story sure got our attention!

lol My hunters ed was in the upper level of some old run down fire station. For us to learn about the different actions, they brought in all styles of guns, which we werent allowed to touch.

Curtis