Other hunters familiar with the wilderness support Wick's assertion and note that the trophy bulls are well distributed across the entire area. One state is not better than the other in terms of trophy animals.

For do-it-yourself hunters or those who hire guides, there are several keys to successful elk hunting here, said Wick. Hunters should have:
• A positive mental outlook,
• Quality optics,
• Good shooting skills,
• Ability to accurately judge the size of trophy bull elk, and
• Enough hunting companions to get the job done.

Physical conditioning is necessary, but the mental part of the hunt -- qualities such as persistence, dedication, and desire -- might be even more important.

"I've guided hunters in their 60s and 70s to some very nice bulls in the Wenaha-Tucannon," said Wick. (Continued)

"We stayed within the clients' physical capabilities. But most importantly, they had the desire to do what was required to take a trophy bull. The most successful hunters are willing to put in the long hours and cover the many miles necessary for taking a big bull elk."

OPTICAL DELUSION
The open nature of the Wenaha-Tucannon lends itself to spot-and-stalk hunting. Hunters should spend several hours each day glassing for trophy animals.

"You're going to glass a lot of bulls in the area and probably make several stalks each day, getting close enough to accurately judge different animals," Wick said.

"It's an absolute necessity to have the best optics you can afford."

While a good spotting scope may not let you score a bull from two miles away, it will let you know if you need to get over there for a closer look, said the hunter. Likewise, if hunters are glassing a herd of 30 elk, it's going to require quality optics to pick out the spike in the bunch.

Binoculars with a built-in 1,200-yard rangefinder are an indispensable part of Wick's equipment. Combining the two instruments means one fewer piece of equipment to carry -- and the 1,200-yard ranging capability is very useful when planning the final stages of a stalk.

SHOOTING SKILL
Because the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness offers wide-open vistas, accurate shooting at distance is a critical hunting skill. Elk hunters in the Wenaha-Tucannon favor bolt-action rifles in one of the various 300 magnum calibers, although standard calibers like the .30/06 and .270 are seen afield as well. Variable scopes topping out in the 12X- to 14X-range are becoming common.

Wick contends that hunters should practice until they are competent to shoot 300 yards. "There are just too many good rifles and cartridges for elk-sized game out there for hunters not to be able to make accurate 300-yard shots."

The important thing is to accurately range the animal -- don't estimate; have a good range finder -- and shoot at stationary bulls only.

"Last fall," Wick said, "I watched a 13-year-old boy knock a big bull kicking with a single shot at 395 yards. The boy and his father are dedicated hunters and practice long-range shooting year-round."

Although the Wenaha-Tucannon is open country, the trophy bulls are 8 to 12 years old and plenty smart. Once disturbed, they may disappear for days.