hey there fellow hunter's i am going to be hunting deer and elk this year for the first time with a muzzleloader. any suggestions where i could go to hunt elk and maybe have a small chance at bagging one. on the west side any help would be awesome thank you .

I think you still have time to put in for some draws....try a cow draw. At the worst you build up points.
I haven't hunted it in a long time but Bumping used to be pretty good.

Go to the WDFW website and look up the historical stats on several of the areas listed in the game regs and you will get a sense of what areas have the highest success rates. Once you pick a few keep your eyes open for any discussions regarding those areas. You might even call a game bio or two. They are very helpful during the offseason when you're doing research. Going beyond the numbers is important....for example Battle Ground would appear to be an excellent area to hunt for elk, but based on my research its mostly private land and as far as I can tell takes a fair amount of local knowledge and contacts to find a good place to hunt.

After you pick out a few places, go have a look see. If you bump into people who might know something ask questions (the local sporting goods store, timber company employees, etc.).

If I were looking for a place to hunt elk I would start in SW Washington. As far as deer go I'd look at the either sex units in and around population centers. I don't think these places get quite as much pressure since they are overlooked by many people and/or have limitations on what types of weapons may be used for hunting (i.e., no modern firearms). They also allow you to take a doe which in my experience is about 10x easier than taking a buck. Experience also tells me thay taste just as good...and maybe even better....

Good luck.

I hunted with a muzzleloader last year for the first time. I passed up a number of deer. I am not sure what I was looking for. But some times just the oppritunity is enough.

There are plenty of deer in the either sex areas. I just like to get out in the woods and poke around.

That was my first season with the muzzleloader. I have hunted modern in the past but gave it up. To many guys with highpowered rifles using the scopes instead of binos.

Nothing like some kid looking at you through the scope. Anyway you should be able to fill a deer tag pretty easy in the either sex zone.

I am gonna try a different area for elk this year. Not sure which one. But they fixed the road in the area I liked to hunt now its to easy to access.

Good Luck
Jason

Here is what I was looking for these were seen just outside Poulsbo, On Shanes property. Right along the highway

Maybe the third try will work.

thanks for all the advise guy's i will try what you all said to do. those are nice bucks in the pics very awesome. thanks again.

Considering that they were taken through the windshield of my truck they turned out pretty good. The pics were taken last August the bucks were standing along the highway waiting to cross. I saw them and pulled over was worried about two beauties ending up road kill from the ferry traffic. I kind of encouraged them to head back up the hill rather than crossing at that time.

I don't know if the were killed last year but there were three bucks in that group and I believe that are is in the Poulsbo city limits. So no firearms.

Poulsbo city limits?....no firearms? I wonder what the rules are for archers?

Nice looking animals. Thanks for posting the pics.

Well I will admit to talking out my ass on this occasion. But I wouldn't think that firearm hunting would be permited.

I had been meaning to share those pics for a while.

tunaklr...I'm not disagreeing with you. You're probably right. I was only posing a question because I've read where archery hunters have been successful hunting close in to population centers.

I didn't think you were. I moved to Washington about 9 years ago. I just recently started hunting here and am not that familiar with the regs.

Nice deer. I live in Poulsbo also, and I saw one just like one you posted, yesterday right on the blacktop within the city limits. Big buck, too.

Its funny I live in a area where I would think there would be lots of deer, Near keyport. And have 4 apple trees on my 2 acre lot. But rarely do I see any deer.

There seem to be plenty of them over in Poulsbo.