Blues have bright side for hunters

Blue Mountains elk numbers are growing slightly, but the herds also are changing patterns slightly because of forest fires.

General season hunters should find a few more spike bulls this year, said Pat fowler, Washington Fish and Wildlife Depratment biologist. Branch-antlered bull permits were increased from 77 to 86 for modern rifle hunters this year. “If you draw one of those tags, you should have an excellent hunt,” he said.

Forest fires have impacted 153,000 acres of the Blues in the past three years. The 51,000-acre fire in the Tucannon River drainage two years ago burned hot and will take years before it will in prime shape for producing elk, Fowler said.

“But the Columbia Complex fires last year burned a slow mosaic pattern that’s created some great elk habitat over 100,000 acres in units 154, 162, 166 and portions of 169 and 175 that will keep getting better in the next few years,” he said.

“Don’t go out and sit in the middle of a burn. Hunt the edges that will be greening up after the first rains.”

Elk numbers are down since the 80s throughout the Blues, but so is the number of hunters.

“The hunting experience is better in a lot of ways,” Fowler said. “You don’t see a hunter on every ridge.”

The Dayton Unit is among the most productive in the Blues.