Lots of hunters!

[brokehunter]

I've been hunting here in western WA for several years now, and one thing I can't seem to get over is the amount of other hunters out there. Especially during elk season! During deer season it was crowded enough, but elk seemed a lot worse to me. I grew up and hunted in Oregon most my life, and yes there were and are quite a few hunters, but seemed like an awful lot more during deer season. I can remember elk hunting with my dad near the Sisters, and only seeing a handful of other hunters.

Last year my buddy and I covered a lot of ground. We hunted the Winston and the Coweeman mostly. There were two spots that looked like an Elk hunting nation. RVs, trucks, and tents just about as far as the eye could see. If you looked long enough, you could just about see a portable MacDonalds and a Star Bucks! So we did what anyone would do. We figured we would walk into a closed gate area. That was literally hilarious. One gate had no fewer than 15 trucks parked near it! 

Anyone else get frustrated with finding a good spot? Just curious. I know I plan on getting up much earlier, and walking in even further this year. But I am almost betting I will see another Orange vest. Maybe a MacDonalds out in the middle of the woods with 20 other elk hunters there already. Who knows?

[pianoman9701]

First of all, is this the modern season or what? Secondly, are you hunting in places completely covered by logging roads that some have key access to? Get away from timber company land if you're tired of seeing other people, especially companies that sell vehicle access.

I used to get frustrated until I picked different units and decided to hike in more than a quarter mile. 90% of the guys hunting hike for 10 or 15 minutes and sit down. The two units you described are heavily hunted. You may need to think about going closer to the middle of the state or hunting E. WA and plan to go deep. My 

[ghosthunter]

switch to Black powder

[mazama]

Eastside for deer,westside for elk.

[Buckmark]

Hike a little further?
Look at a map and find access points that put you into the area ahead of the other people, will most likely not be an easy route, but worth it.
Drive 2 -3 miles past the gate and bushwack into the area (most people dont go very far)
Get used to it if your hunting any modern season.
Shelf the rifle and take up another weapon choice, you will be suprised how different the seasons are.

[Kola16]

Hunt the NE corner for elk 

[Buschingc]

Eastside for deer,westside for elk.

Eastside for deer is crazy with hunters.. Stay on the wetside..   

[muzbuster]

switch to Black powder

no no no , switching to archery would be waaaay better 

[Kowsrule30]

You are hunting 2 of the most heaviest hunted units for elk on the west side..... 

[iRem]

You are hunting 2 of the most heaviest hunted units for elk on the west side..... 

X2. Yeah that's what I was thinking!

[Button Nubbs]

We found a nice little slice of heaven that does not have near the numbers of elk of the two units you described but in turn our group along with 2-3 other guys have the whole place to ourselves.

Ill take less animals and fewer hunters over tons of animals and hunters anyday.

The animals we hunt seem to be of better quality and less skittish also.

Find a new area

[shorthair15]

the winston is a zoo i live about 30 minutes from there still dont hunt it for elk i hunt it for deer. the coweeman is 15 minutes from where i live there are alot of elk there but a ton of road hunters as well. you cant drive down a road without seeing some one hunting out of there truck. if you get out and try and get in a area and go back in a few miles it will help some. you could try hunting with a muzzleloader for elk may cut down on the people but there are fewer units to hunt and everyone crams into a few units that are open. i hunt archery.retired the rifles to bear hunting along time ago.

[brokehunter]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

And yeah, I've also hunted a few other units on the west side with similar results. And it's not that I don't mind other hunters out there, it's just finding a place to call your own. But I think Button Nubbs is right. I wouldn't mind finding a nice place with a few less people and animals. I do study the maps pretty hard, how can you not? ANd this year will be no different. My buddies and I will find our place sooner or later. I can tell you that due to becoming a member of this site and the help I've received off of it, I did get into a lot of animals this last year. More so than all the years I've been hunting in WA. So I can't complain too loudly! So thanks to all of you on here who help out each other!

[rebal69972]

i hunt the winston and mossrock and have for the last 3 years. i see the same 4 guys during early season then the whole place turns into a zoo in late season but i hunt archery the only really good thing about winston is those smoke pole are not aloud in there during late season. hunting anywhere during mod season is going to be a pain in the but unless your willing to go farther then anyone else.

[muzbuster]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

Yeah I'm sure of it ....you just need to practice more with the bow. You dont want to go muzzeloader.. dam things never go boom when you need them to.

[pianoman9701]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

[kentrek]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

also dont forget about those lil hidy holes that them commited maniacs ride,walk past every year..

just hunt where there isnt peaple..

places that..

have no water..
have lots of brush..
have lots of miles to get to.
have huge mtns to climb..
have no trails..(kind of a bigy in the winston) not too many peaple cross counrty it
have few animals..
is private..
are sleeper spots around urban areas..(another bigy in western wa)

[Bean Counter]

You should try Monster Bull Meadows, just past the Notellum Creek drainage. its public land (so you don't have to pay), OTC (so you don't have to figure out how a draw works and wait your turn in line), you can drive right up to the meadows, and its open during the rut for modern firearm. Game and fish requests that you use at least a .375 Holland and Holland magnum (gotta prove how big your manhood is), with at least a 14x scope (so your hunt doesn't drag past the first afternoon). This isn't too much to ask being that the unit has a 25% bull ratio and the average antler point is 6x6.

[brokehunter]

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

Nah you didn't upset me. There are many good reasons I do not bow hunt. Nor am I lazy. I do lots of hiking when I'm in good area and not surrounded by several other guys trying to shoot the same elk. I do a lot of scouting different areas every year so it's just a matter of time before I find a decent spot I can call my own. I'm just saying that it's quite a bit different up here than it was in Oregon. Been hunting up here for nearly 10 years and still just trying to get used to it. I wish it wasn't so spendy to hunt out of state. Its crazy what they want for tags! I think it's crazy I paid over a hundred bucks for a deer and elk tag last year here in my own state! I do know that this next season I will see a lot more animals that I am confident in, and looking forward to it!

[huntnnw]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

   any of todays bows will shoot well and plenty of energy to harvest the biggest of animals in north america. All about going to a good pro shop and getting set up right and tuned! and bow fit to you

[funkster]

It doesn't matter if there are 15-20 trucks at a gate. Stop complaining and think about it for a minute. There must be a lot of animals if 15-20 trucks are parked there everyday. Sounds like you are a late riser? When I get to a popular gate, there are usually 1-2 rigs mine and my hunting crew. You can get past the crowds easy, usually under 5 miles. We hunt 8-15 miles back and do that daily and see maybe 1 other hunter all day. With the population in Washington at 6,830,038 you have to be willing to do what the another hunter won't. This might take a little more effort than riding around in a truck all day, but trust me, you will "get on" more animals

[BULLBLASTER]

Probably best to avoid the coweeman at all costs! 

[PlateauNDN]

It doesn't matter if there are 15-20 trucks at a gate. Stop complaining and think about it for a minute. There must be a lot of animals if 15-20 trucks are parked there everyday. Sounds like you are a late riser? When I get to a popular gate, there are usually 1-2 rigs mine and my hunting crew. You can get past the crowds easy, usually under 5 miles. We hunt 8-15 miles back and do that daily and see maybe 1 other hunter all day. With the population in Washington at 6,830,038 you have to be willing to do what the another hunter won't. This might take a little more effort than riding around in a truck all day, but trust me, you will "get on" more animals

    Couldn't have said it better myself.  If your not the 1st vehicle parked anywhere then you're late.  I get up there day before or leave my house by at least 1 or 2 am to be up there a couple of hours before sun-up.  Do what others won't and you'll be successful more times than not.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I agree with Piano ...If you really want it you have to work for it ...Plain and simple ...put on some boot leather and you will not have such a problem ... Hunting public land is tough but you can avoid the crowds by hiking in a couple more miles than the average guy ....unless your disabled or something ...I hunted Coweeman last fall with my son and we waited until the last week of the season and we saw no one except the friends we were hunting with ...Dropped  2 elk with in 10 minutes of each other ...that was sweet !

[CamoDup]

You should try Monster Bull Meadows, just past the Notellum Creek drainage. its public land (so you don't have to pay), OTC (so you don't have to figure out how a draw works and wait your turn in line), you can drive right up to the meadows, and its open during the rut for modern firearm. Game and fish requests that you use at least a .375 Holland and Holland magnum (gotta prove how big your manhood is), with at least a 14x scope (so your hunt doesn't drag past the first afternoon). This isn't too much to ask being that the unit has a 25% bull ratio and the average antler point is 6x6.

  I think I've been there.. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

[b0bbyg]

You should try Monster Bull Meadows, just past the Notellum Creek drainage. its public land (so you don't have to pay), OTC (so you don't have to figure out how a draw works and wait your turn in line), you can drive right up to the meadows, and its open during the rut for modern firearm. Game and fish requests that you use at least a .375 Holland and Holland magnum (gotta prove how big your manhood is), with at least a 14x scope (so your hunt doesn't drag past the first afternoon). This isn't too much to ask being that the unit has a 25% bull ratio and the average antler point is 6x6.

  I think I've been there.. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

Thats the tag I drew,   Glad to hear good reports from my unit.
 

[shorthair15]

yes avoid the coweeman there are no elk in there . i have hunted rifle and had success for elk and deer. just prefer hunting with my bow alot more fun. get a mtn bike and start exploring areas as much as you can get back in there a few miles im sure you will find some areas. good luck this season

[brokehunter]

yes avoid the coweeman there are no elk in there . i have hunted rifle and had success for elk and deer. just prefer hunting with my bow alot more fun. get a mtn bike and start exploring areas as much as you can get back in there a few miles im sure you will find some areas. good luck this season

Yes thank you, that's exactly what we are going to do here shortly is ride bikes into an area we've been mapping out. Looks promising. Thanks again and good luck to you as well!