coweeman early archery

[addicted2hunting]

Hey guys,
Me and a few guys (Steeliedrew) are starting to plan next years early archery hunt. We are looking into the coweeman and of course winston and we are curious as to what access and camping is like for the coweeman during the early archery season and same for winston? We want to get deep in there and are not afraid to work for it. Also, can a guy hike and camp in there aways? Not worried about a campfire.

[billythekidrock]

Can't camp on private timberlands.

[bobcat]

There is very little land to camp on in the Coweeman, if any.

There is a new campground just outside of the town of Toutle, that is close. You could try that.

[addicted2hunting]

ok bummer no camping. how is the fire danger access as far as on foot?

[billythekidrock]

No access period to private timber land if it is closed to fire danger.

[sirmissalot]

I hunted the coweeman one year and it was enough for me. Spent some time scouting and was excited with seeing a lot of elk and good country. Opening morning got to the spot early with our bikes ready to go and there were.... Literally... 17 rigs at the gate. Found a new area I hadn't stepped foot in before which had less people, but still saw a ton of people on bikes, more than anywhere I've ever been. That was probably 3 years ago and only one weekend of hunting but that was my experience. Saw some elk but not a lot, scouting they were plentiful.

[addicted2hunting]

No access period to private timber land if it is closed to fire danger.

ok thanks.

[addicted2hunting]

I hunted the coweeman one year and it was enough for me. Spent some time scouting and was excited with seeing a lot of elk and good country. Opening morning got to the spot early with our bikes ready to go and there were.... Literally... 17 rigs at the gate. Found a new area I hadn't stepped foot in before which had less people, but still saw a ton of people on bikes, more than anywhere I've ever been. That was probably 3 years ago and only one weekend of hunting but that was my experience. Saw some elk but not a lot, scouting they were plentiful.

Ouch that many people even during early archery?

[billythekidrock]

I hunted the coweeman one year and it was enough for me. Spent some time scouting and was excited with seeing a lot of elk and good country. Opening morning got to the spot early with our bikes ready to go and there were.... Literally... 17 rigs at the gate. Found a new area I hadn't stepped foot in before which had less people, but still saw a ton of people on bikes, more than anywhere I've ever been. That was probably 3 years ago and only one weekend of hunting but that was my experience. Saw some elk but not a lot, scouting they were plentiful.

Same with the Winston unit. If you go in real early and come out real late you will not see many people or rigs, but go in early and come out early and you will see that a dozen guys have come in behind you.

[addicted2hunting]

ok I know this is off the original area but has anyone here hunted the indian heaven wilderness area?

[billythekidrock]

Unless you are looking for a backcountry experience, don't give up on the two units you mentioned in the original post. There are plenty of elk. Tons of people, but that is everywhere in the early season.

[addicted2hunting]

Unless you are looking for a backcountry experience, don't give up on the two units you mentioned in the original post. There are plenty of elk. Tons of people, but that is everywhere in the early season.

Ok i hear ya.

[steeliedrew]

I think I can speak for Brandon when I say we want to go in deeeeep and are more than happy for the adventure. I want to go somewhere that we don't have to go in and out of everyday. Somewhere we can go deep and legally camp out there. find animals, stay on them and make shiz happen. haha. Is that just a pipe dream?

[billythekidrock]

Not a pipe dream, but probably not happening in the Winston or Coweeman.

[Deer slayer]

In the coweeman yes. For the most part. I grew up there and have spent a lot of time in parts of the unit.

[bobcat]

I think I can speak for Brandon when I say we want to go in deeeeep and are more than happy for the adventure. I want to go somewhere that we don't have to go in and out of everyday. Somewhere we can go deep and legally camp out there. find animals, stay on them and make shiz happen. haha. Is that just a pipe dream?

You should look at units with lots of National Forest then. Maybe Packwood, Lewis River, South Rainier.

[addicted2hunting]

Packwood looks good. trying to get drew to bite on the idea of a backcountry in the indian heaven wilderness.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Not real familiar with the units mentioned but you can buy a camping pass from Weyco for cheap. I never see them enforce it though but better to be safe then sorry

[bobcat]

I think the Weyerhaeuser camping pass is for the Pe Ell area, not St Helen's.

[sirmissalot]

I also think the camping passes are only during rifle season. At least they used to be.

[Deer slayer]

Not allowed in St Helens.

[steeliedrew]

ok so it sounds like no camping in the tree farms? I saw a ton of people camped in Winston during late archery but I assume that's because there was no fire danger?  if we want to get in deep we need to go into a national forest? Just not a national park. Haha.

[billythekidrock]

ok so it sounds like no camping in the tree farms? I saw a ton of people camped in Winston during late archery but I assume that's because there was no fire danger?  if we want to get in deep we need to go into a national forest? Just not a national park. Haha.

If you are talking about camping in the Camp 9 area that is because that is state land.

[steeliedrew]

it may have been the camp 9 area. As far as the coweeman goes, is there no state land in there to camp?

[kenzmad]

it may have been the camp 9 area. As far as the coweeman goes, is there no state land in there to camp?

None that I know of.

[addicted2hunting]

what do you guys think of Mt. Adams area?

[AKBowman]

I think I can speak for Brandon when I say we want to go in deeeeep and are more than happy for the adventure. I want to go somewhere that we don't have to go in and out of everyday. Somewhere we can go deep and legally camp out there. find animals, stay on them and make shiz happen. haha. Is that just a pipe dream?

When I first moved down here I thought the exact same thing. I want to go in deep. Well I quickly found out that if you go in deep someone will get to the same deep spot but from the backside and a shorter walk/ride to get there! There's roads everywhere you go in those two units, the key is to learn the roads and find the units where it's tougher to get into. Before you ask there are not really any good maps that show the roads in any detail, you have to go ride the roads with your bike in the off season. You'll find there's nasty holes and sections that are mostly roadless or washed out and those get better as the season goes on. But it's tough because if your hunting on timber land you cannot sleep over night and the ride/hike in and out after 4 or so days makes it much tougher than hiking in 12 miles and hunting staying over night.

[BowHunterZ7]

the only way to camp in either of the areas is to find a piece of state ground in the unit

[jbeaumont21]

There is plenty of state land patches in the Coweeman that you can camp on.  I would suggest purchasing the Hunting GPS Maps for Washington http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/  which shows you the land ownership as far public, private and state. I think I have a free version of the land ownership that used to float around I could email to you. Send me a PM with your email and I will try and send it to you. Otherwise I would recommend Lewis River which is all Federal Land and you can definitely get away from people and not worry about running into a road every couple hundred yards.

[blacktail luv]

I live within a half hour of the Indian heaven and mt Adams wilderness and I don't hunt either of them if that tells you anything.  There are much better backpack style hunts on the westside if that is what you are looking for.

[Quarteredaway]

i do know of some private property camping in the coweeman that is up at the end of rose valley road but there is no camping in the st helens tree farm

[Deer slayer]

There is some state land mixed in with the weyco land but if weyco is shut down to all traffic then most of it you won't have access to.

[MLhunter1]

I wouldnt waste my time there during early archery if it was me.  I would hike the crest trail around white pass in the south rainier side.  That would be a hunt u could setup camp deep and not see anyone else.  Be into elk too.

[Thehowler]

You would still be seeing hunters.