GMU 466

[Eburg fisher]

Anyone have any experience hunting 466 (Stampede)? Coming from Ellensburg and it looks like the best access is FR 54 out of Crystal Springs. I'll head up there this summer to check it out. Seems like a popular hiking spot so I am a little concerned about how much traffic there will be for early archery. Anyway, I would appreciate any input.

Thanks!

[snowshoes22]

54 is the easiest.  watch the 485 boundaries you don't want to get into trouble.

[RadSav]

Good bear numbers, but the cougar population and poaching has started to take it's toll on the elk and deer.  Still some great elk to be found in there, but the deer population has been hit very hard.  Used to see a couple dozen deer per day during early archery with a good buck/doe ratio.  Now if you see two deer a day you feel pretty lucky.

I've seen some of the best Cascade bulls in Washington up there.  Perfect racks that have everything a guy could want.  I've also had a good number of opportunities messed up by the pot smoking granola heads.  Seems to get worse every year up there with hikers, pot heads and fornicators.  Not all the naked granola girls up there are good looking so I wouldn't put that in your plus column!

Potential for elk and bear in just about every area of Stampede.  Would not be my first choice anymore for quality elk hunting.  Hasn't been a good choice for deer hunting in 20 years.  And, really there are better spots north and south of there for bear.  But, the chances of getting a real dandy is there.

[Crunchy]

Plenty of country for archery hunting but I would not even try it for rifle.  You shouldnt worry about it being too crowded.

[snowshoes22]

the quality of hunting has dropped to the point where i don't hunt there anymore. the traffic up there is insane.  I think because the roads are well maintaned and its right off the freeway.  it gets hit hard from tribal hunting also.  good luck. 

[snowshoes22]

if you are set on going up there pm me i can give you a couple places to get you started.

[Russ McDonald]

My only experience up there was almost siding off the cliff during general rifle season for elk.  Talking to the LE in my offfice stampede has some elk in there and yes lots of traffic up there.

[mazama]

Guy told me it used to be good 10yrs ago then i asked how long indians been hunting there he said 10yrs.

[asl20bball]

Not worth your time for deer. There are some elk though but the harvest numbers aren't too good. Only 7 elk taken last season(http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2011/reports/elk_pmu_all.php).  Numbers seem to be trending down over the last 5 years. Bear..probably best bet of the three.
Probably bad deer/elk # due to poaching, predation, & tribal over harvesting but who knows.

[hoyt300]

I  hunt up there for elk for 9 years never seen a buck all i see is elk and only seen one bear i have found hunt where no buddy else hunts

[snowshoes22]

The deer are there but hard to find.  There are some monsters that come across the boundary from 485. I love the horns up there they are dark chocolate and heavy.  I will post a pic of a shed i found there. 

[snowshoes22]

These are a couple sheds i found hunting 466.  The elk antler is just a little 4 point but the deer antler has as much mass as the elk. Not the best pics