An elk sticks its tongue out as it grazes in a field in Packwood.
The western Washington general modern firearms elk season begins Saturday, and while the cooler weather should play into hunters' hands, the elk herd is well below historic levels.
As of 2012 hunters were harvesting over 3,000 elk each year, and at least a third of that harvest was through special permit hunts.
Contrast that with 2018, when total harvest slipped to about 1,200 animals, and the percentage of harvest by special permit was very low. However, elk harvest did bounce back a little from 2017.
Last year the District 10 general season harvests were the best in Game Management Units, (GMU) 506 Willapa Hills, 530 Ryderwood, 520 Winston, and 550 Coweeman.
Elk along the coast are holding up well, but the Mt. St. Helens elk herd has fallen on hard times, with Treponema Associated Hoof Disease (TAHD) taking its toll.
Willapa Hills herd strong
"The elk that are west of I-5, those elk have been stable over a good 10-year run of time," said Eric Holman, the WDFW wildlife biologist for district 10. "Surveys are solid out there, especially in GMU 506 and then sneak over into region six in GMU 673. It's a little bit down in GMU 530, but there is still a good population there."
Mike Jenson of Upfront Outfitters guides for Roosevelt elk in the Willapa Hills, with clients looking for a big Roosevelt bull. Even though the state tells him the numbers are stable, he said he sees fewer elk these days.
"I still get into elk, but it's something I have to work my tail off for," said Jenson. "I am still guiding the grand slam hunters that are focused on getting a Roosevelt elk."
He hunts Washington elk for a couple reasons but reports that there are more elk in Oregon.
"Washington has a better season than Oregon, or I'd be doing all my hunting in Oregon," he said. "Also, the Washington coast is a lot more forgiving on the body than the Oregon coast."
Mt. St. Helens herd struggling
East of I-5 the numbers of elk are down, a result of the effects of TAHD, coupled with the devastating winter of 2016-17. The number of antlerless tags has been reduced to 165, just a fraction of what it was.
In 2018 the highest harvest was in the Winston GMU (520), with 70 bulls taken in the modern firearm season. The Coweeman GMU (550) also produced well with 53 harvested modern firearms bulls. Other good units were Margaret (524), and Packwood (516).
For those hunters seeking a trophy-class elk, Holeman has some advice.
"You can go to a place where there are very few elk, such as the federal lands," he said. "They are not as vulnerable in that kind of habitat."
Still, finding a real giant can be tough in southwest Washington.
"Our general seasons are not a recipe for growing big elk," said Holman. "that's a rare animal in our hunt structure."
Still, modern firearms hunters took some big bulls in 2018. The Winston Unit produced 16 bulls at six points or better. In Mossyrock 12 bulls at six points or better were harvested, and 11 big bulls were taken in both the Willapa Hills Unit, and the Ryderwood unit.
Hoof disease update
Hoof disease is still putting pressure on elk in southwest Washington. Perhaps the most important news over the past year has been the spread of the disease into new areas, including the Olympic Peninsula, Idaho, and other regions.
In Oregon, there has now been over thirty confirmed cases.
Currently there is no treatment for the disease.
Doctor Margaret Wild, an expert in veterinary microbiology and pathology, currently leads the research into TAHD at the Washington State University's veterinary college.
"Unfortunately, with our surveillance work, we continue to find hoof disease in a broader area," she said.
She also said that the data suggests an increase in the prevalence of the disease within the Mt. St. Helens elk herd.
She did point to the work being done on the captive elk facility in Pullman and the hope that the research with live elk will produce some positive results.
"The facility should be complete by the end of the calendar year," said Wild. "We expect to get some (live) animals by the first part of next year."
She is aware that hunters and wildlife lovers across the state are eager for good news, but that will not happen immediately.
"Good research takes time and I know that everyone has big expectations that we'll come up with some good findings, and we will," she said. "It just takes time to get these studies designed and implemented."
Hunters are required by law to leave the hooves of harvested elk in the field where the animal was shot to slow the spread of the disease in all GMU's in western Washington.
The season runs through Nov. 13 and has a three-point minimum on bulls in most western Washington GMU's. Always check the regulations before hunting.
Guided hunts: Upfront Outfitters, 360-560-7620, https://upfrontoutfitters.com/
