Lewis River Permit

[X-Force]

I got drawn for the late archery elk hunt in Lewis River. I have been doing research online because I’m going to school in Kentucky and have not had an opportunity to hunt or even scout down there this year.  I saw that last year something like 22 people out of the 50 drawn used their special permits and out of that only 6 tagged an elk...all cows. I was wondering if anyone has drawn this tag before and what to expect. Last year I hunted the Winston unit both early and late season but I only got into elk any real amount of elk in the early season. I’m curious about late season hunting strategy and any info about the area that I can get my hands on. Thanks for the help.

[rackattack]

I believe last year was the first time for that permit.  Lewis River is a huge unit with a lot of different terrain.  With a late season tag you should focus around snow lines as these elk tend to hang high until they are forced down to lower elevations.  Lots of early snow before your season starts and you should be in for a great hunt.

[X-Force]

Thanks. I didnt know that about the permit just starting last year. Hunting in snow is my is something i look forward to every November, December hunt so i will be hoping for that. I will only be home from the 22nd until the 30th of Nov. so if I'm lucky I can hunt the unit for 3 or 4 days. Thanks again for the help.

[Opportunist]

Hunt the western half of the unit up against the toutle unit.

[saylean]

Thanks for the advice guys...he could use it...

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Ryan, my buddy just got down fromt he old marble unit, lewis river unit bow hunting... They found no less than 100 dead winter kill.
They usually see 100 elk a bow season they saw 9 cows this year. Game department told them no biggie, some of the elk on the north side of the MTN will move to the south side due to less competition.
Lewis river herd got hit hard this year with 6 feet of snow on the ground into April. Might be a tough hunt.

[X-Force]

I wish i knew that before i put in for the tag  do you know how accessible the roads will be that time of year? are there a lot of gates?

[ICEMAN]

X-force, consider the Marble Mt area, can be hard getting around in there, especially above the snow park, but if the pavement which washed away in Nov 06 is replaced, this is a good area....Look for June lake trailhead area, and hunt in all directions from there...dont know if they finished yet, might be worth calling the forest service.....

[X-Force]

Thanks for the info Iceman. ill need to get a better map then what i have right now. I have been looking on google earth and WDFW Gohunt map for areas but they just don't provide enough detail when it comes to trail heads and some forestry road names.

[Opportunist]

WDFW Hates Me, That's terrible news.

[Opportunist]

X-force, The old marble unit has been walk-in with mainlines open to drive since it was opened up after the red zone was eliminated which was created by mt. st. helens eruptions but I heard this year the gates were open and it isn't walk-in anymore. Can anyone confirm this? It's not listed as a green dot system in the 2008 biggame regs.

[ICEMAN]

We were down that way during bear season, and the private gates we used to drive past during the elk hunt, were still closed. Fire season....and I think they will keep them shut all year...... Last elk opener (modern firearm) the private timber co's gate which has been open for elk season for years was closed tight. Olympic Resource management or something like that, had all their gates locked tight. We had to carry camp in.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Buddy was up around windy ridge, and spencers meadow yesterday. They did not see one animal. Hopefully it is not as bad as it is looking.
X-Force there are other areas to hunt in that unit because it is so huge, but Rackattack and i were talking last night and last winter we got alot of snow in a short amount of time and alot of animals were not able to get down, and once they were able to get down lower there was way to much snow there also.
On a good note the animals that did make it should be really healthy as they had green all summer.

[Bunnell]

I had that tag last year and the elk were all down low and when I mean low I mean in the city of cougar...In the park, In the post office parking lot and in the big field behind the post office. Man I wanted to stick one of the bulls that was relaxing next to the picinic table right in the center of that little park. Ha I bet if you walked the powerlines behing the houses a person could catch them leaving town heading back to the timber...

[X-Force]

Thanks for the info guys. ill let you know how the hunt goes in 2 months... i cant wait.

[vanhornhunter]

X-force- like the name! Got one my self and love it!
Anyways just got back saturday from 13 days of hunting the unit.I can say that there was alot of people. I hunted the clearwater drainage and saw elk on multiple occasions.There were two cows pulled out the first few days.I found a some great areas that didnt have alot of pressure but they where all straight up or straight down.Got a 6x6 all riled on wednesday last week and went in on him and  got him  to come to fourty yards raking a tree but wouldnt step out for a shot. oh well.I had a great time up there. I'll be going back up a few times before rifle season to scout for my fiancee's rifle hunt.I gotta keep tabs on that bull!! take care and pm me for any questions.

[vanhornhunter]

Here's a couple of pics.Enjoy!

[X-Force]

That's awesome looking country. i know a lot of people love hunting the broken forests of the eastside but its the views of the mountains (St. Helens and for those lucky enough Baker  ) plus the foothills clearcuts on Westside that get me thinking of elk. thanks for the pics. none of the bull? 

[vanhornhunter]

I actually tried with my digital through my binos and the photo did'nt come out.

[X-Force]

I tried the same thing with a really nice blacktail buck i spotted while bear hunting. it was 515 yrs away and the pic looks like crap. someday ill get a camera worth its weight. that will probably be after i pay off my school loans 

[X-Force]

I just wanted to thanks everyone for the info given. Unfortunately i was unable to get down to Lewis River over thanksgiving and I'm already back at the books. Being broke is a Bit@# hard to take. Thanks again.

X-force