Winston Unit January 2013 Cow Hunt

[Fowlweather25]

Hoof rot is an anaroebic bacteria that spreads from animal to animal, it eats away at the binding membranes called the laminae that hold the foot together. It's very comparable to thrush in horses. It happens because of the ultra wet environment. It only takes one elk to get the ball rollin.

[Rainier10]

I see at the top of the WDFW hunting webpage they have more information posted on hoof rot and a reporting tool to click on and report hoof rot.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/

[grundy53]

How did I ever miss this thread? LOl. Now I know what an 850lbs cow looks like 

[sneakyjake]

This hunt starts on a weekday.   From what I read from the dfw, I will be walking in until the weekend.   Just wondering if this is true.  If anyone has been in lately I wouldn't mind some good advice on safe access and chance at a healthy animal.  Was thinking about Longbell, but wasn't sure about the gate.   

[billythekidrock]

Gates are open. Saw single cow with with hoof rot yesterday as well as 3 other cows that seemed healthy. Saw 3 nice bulls, including one whopper 6x6. Saw a cow and bull on the 1900 just before dark tonight but we couldn't get a shot.

Did not hear any shots in the last two days, but heard of one 4x4 bull killed and found a dead 5x on the 500.

[sneakyjake]

Which hunt are you on?  Is it very crowded with logging activity?  I'm stuck in vegas for a few more days and haven't had a chance to drive down to the unit.   Thanks for the extra info.

[billythekidrock]

The extended ml antlerless permit.

[rackattack]

Gates are open. Saw single cow with with hoof rot yesterday as well as 3 other cows that seemed healthy. Saw 3 nice bulls, including one whopper 6x6. Saw a cow and bull on the 1900 just before dark tonight but we couldn't get a shot.

Did not hear any shots in the last two days, but heard of one 4x4 bull killed and found a dead 5x on the 500.

Who the heck is shooting the bulls?  I thought htis was an antlerless tag season.

[Crunchy]

I think the 1900 line is a good bet.  I shot my cow in there a few days ago. 

[billythekidrock]

Gates are open. Saw single cow with with hoof rot yesterday as well as 3 other cows that seemed healthy. Saw 3 nice bulls, including one whopper 6x6. Saw a cow and bull on the 1900 just before dark tonight but we couldn't get a shot.

Did not hear any shots in the last two days, but heard of one 4x4 bull killed and found a dead 5x on the 500.

Who the heck is shooting the bulls?  I thought htis was an antlerless tag season.

It is an antlerless hunt.
I am not sure who is killing the bulls but I know Enforcement caught a guy with a 4x4 bull in the eastern portion of the unit this weekend. He also told us of another dead/wasted bull that someone marked with ribbon.

And I know I am not the only one that saw this 5x on the 500. Someone started to gut it before leaving it to rot.

[duckmen1]

What a shame too see a good animal go to waste like that.

[Rainier10]

This bull is still in the ditch along the 500, antlers have now been hacked off.  It has been there the last two weekends.

Me, my wife and my 10 year old daughter(tag holder) are still at it.  This last weekend we saw 15 bulls all of which we could have shot easily and quite a few cows.  The cows are just a lot jumpier and tough to get a shot at when you are just starting out.  We got to put the scope on 4 different cows but she missed the first cow and the other three over the course of the weekend she didn't feel comfortable with the shot.  It's her call and I am proud of her choices.

We are going to give it one more go Tuesday and Wednesday, hopefully we don't get burned by the logging and gate closures during the week.  The closed the gate at the 500/1100 Y this weekend.  There was alot less traffic this weekend I am guessing people are tagging out. We still saw plenty of elk, getting opportunities and hope to get it done Tuesday.  She is getting a ton of experience, man is the learning curve steep for a new hunter.

[sneakyjake]

Its great you are taking your time to be with her regardless of the outcome.  Make sure she knows its just as hard on grown men, and mostly luck also. 

[Cap.Silver]

It makes me sick to see pictures of wasted animals 

[sneakyjake]

The warden was out there during my hunt.  He was racing around trying to locate where the shots were coming from.  He pulled me over for about five minutes to check me.  I shot my cow right after I left him.  I would have never seen the herd if he hadn't stopped me.    Dumb luck.