Alkali area elk help needed?

[wannahunt]

I am planning to hunt the Alkali area fro cow elk. I have only been in the unit once time in the southern part of the Yakima Training Center. Any idea's on were to start looking? The AHE hunt starts August 1st and goes to the end of January. Thanks

[Cascade]

Try the ellensburg side near badger pocket or hanson creek area.

[wackmaster]

Also try the southeast side area 8 find the water to find the elk .Good Luck

[jdb]

biggest bull Ive ever seen in the wild I saw just off the south fence in '99 it twas a pig.

[boneaddict]

I went in on the Badger pocket side and accidentally got to where I wasn't supposed to be on the Firing Center.  We figured it out and turned around immediately.  On the way out we came up over a rise and met an Apache helicopter face to face hovering over the road.  Scared teh crap out of us.  Nothing like looking down a half dozen or more gun turrents.  I'm sure they got a kick out of that.  Needless to say we got the hell out of there upon request.

Saw a GIANT bull taken out of there two years ago that was shot with a front stuffer.  I have no idea where,.

[wannahunt]

I guess I'll flip a coin and either start up north or down south and see what happens. I'll also be watching out for those Apache Helicopter's. Don't need them following me around unless they are going to spot elk for me.    That would be ok.

[boneaddict]

That sure scared the crap out of two college boys.  I hope thats what one of them Iraqis feel like in the last seconds of their lives.

[arrowflinger]

Dude- Let me know when I need to get that pack boards and mule ready...........Then off to the Margaret unit to get mind.

[wannahunt]

Well I'm gonna try to get in the first day it opens (Aug 1st) if i can get my card the evening before. The MP's don't do that part any more so I guess i have to go the the gym and the guy I talked to didn't no what hours they would be open so I may end up waiting til the gym opens on Wendsday to take see the video and get my card. Anyway I just want to get a better idea of the whole layout. I'm thinking I will take a couple of big tub's to put meat in with ice to keep it cold if I happen to stumble across a nice big cow. Any idea's from you bowhunters that have to deal with the warm weather and keeping the meat cool would be a big help also. I have probably a two and half hour drive to get it home.  

[boneaddict]

Air circulation is more important than temp in my book.  I also like to keep my meat dry, so

[smdave]

When my dad shot his last moose in Canada he stopped by my house on the way down to Seattle with the meat layed out flat in the 8'bed of his truck about 8 to 10" thick covered by some type of wrap like cheesecloth, he said the guides said it was one of the best ways to transport it if not haveing it cut and wraped. It was October if I remember right.

Dave

[high country]

in hot weather and long road trips you must quarter or at least open the hip/shoulder sockets up. you will get bone sour in the rears for sure. skin it asap.....before you drive home...block ice is a nice thing to have. I am with bone on the air circulation, but in the first few hours a good bunch of ice would be my pick. Do NOT leave the animal on the floor of your truck! put down something for insulation.....wood, an air mattress, put a piece of plywood on some 4x's, a gear/fishnet...just keep it off the floor......too hot! when you get it home get it cool as possible as fast as possible.

if you dump one in the early afternoon and can't find shade pretty quick, you might want to consider a meat processor/locker in the hunt area.

[smdave]

Do NOT leave the animal on the floor of your truck! put down something for insulation.....wood, an air mattress, put a piece of plywood on some 4x's, a gear/fishnet...just keep it off the floor......too hot!

I agree, I reread my post and appologize for the miss information. When I said lay flat I was meaning the meat as in not to stack it in a pile. The truck I was speeking of had a platform in it with all the hunting gear under it. Do the best with what you have to keep the meat as cool as possible untill you get it to a place for storage.

Dave

[wannahunt]

thanks for the info. Hopefully I'll be able to put to use this next week.

[high country]

so I looked at a few army websites and it appears a clear answer as to how one access' the ytc is as hard to find as a permit draw by fish and feathers......

what has to happen to hunt the ytc, what can you drive on, walk on....yada yada

[wannahunt]

I agree on the difficulty of finding info on getting access to the YTC. They had a real good website last year and every thing went thru the MP's (military police). After several calls this year i found out that you have to go to the gym to take the half hour video but it's hard to find out when they are open (the MP's were open 24 hours a day). When you do get your card you can show up 2 hours before shooting time and pick any 3 area's that are open that day (you can't find that out until 4 pm the day before unlike last year were they post it about 2 weeks before) After you check in you can drive in to the area's you picked and then you have to go back and check out at the end of your day and have any game you get inspected. I guess this is typical goverment. Take an easy process and make it more dificult.

[wannahunt]

Just in case any of you are heading for the YTC to hunt. Give yourself plenty of time to check in. The folks in charge still don't know who is suppose to do what. It took over an hour to check in yesterday morning. Anyway no elk for the freezer yet. Saw Bulls only if you can believe that (one was a huge 6 point). also lots of deer but not a single cow elk. I have never hunted when it was so hot before. I think I know what it would be like to go hunt in Africa now.

[General Disarray]

wanahunt, if you score and need a shady place to hang and skin, I'm mere moments away in Selah.  No sense in risking losing meat in this weather.

PM me for more details

[MTNMAN]

I was drawn for deer a few years ago. I had to go to the MP shack outside of Selah at the main enrty to the TC and watch a video sign some paper work and such. The open areas vary depending on the training that is going on that time of the year. They should provide you with a map that is sectioned out and lists the open areas. You have to choose which two areas you will hunt for the day and are not allowed to roam free. DO NOT GO INTO THE CLOSED AREAS! Apache helicopters are not to taken lightly You have to check in and out each day with the MP's. I believe you are allowed in one hour before dawn and must be out at the MP shack two hours after dusk. Again do not be late. I had a friend that always enjoyed scaring the crap out of hunters that did not check in on time!!  And they will send out the choppers to find you!! I believe there are only three access points for the TC, but you must still check in at the MP shack each morning you hunt so drive time needs to be considered. One is the main gate in Selah, another is north off of I-82 between Selah and E-burg and there is one on the back side close to the town of Vantage. This may have all changed since I was out there several years ago. Great hunt though!!! Saw several 4x5 deer that i passed on right off the road the first day of my deer hunt. They didnt know what a car was!! Also saw some elk on the Columbia River side of the TC.  Good luck to you!!