St. Helens Area Quality Elk Hunts

[jackelope]

I don't think it would necessarily be a waste of points. Maybe if your only reason for hunting is to kill high scoring animals. But to me if you can get drawn for a good area that has a lot of elk and relatively few hunters, that IS a quality hunt. So what if you had 17 points. The points are useless to you when you're dead. So use them! And to do that, you need to apply for hunts that have reasonable odds of drawing.

It's hard for me to use that reasoning because we elk hunt down there every year with archery gearband see elk all the time and one of us has opportunity at bulls every year. I can understand with the rifle I guess.

[jackelope]

Great permit to draw if you want to waste 17 points on a raghorn. Apply for the public land units in the Blues or the Colockum. There's a couple elk in each if those areas contrary to popular opinion on here. Just be prepared to walk in the steep country and be in the best shape of your life if you draw.

Just keep in mind that if you don't draw you are stuck only hunting the east side for spikes, might be a concern if you only hunt the west.

Good point. If I don't draw eastside elk this year I'll find something else to do.

[huntnphool]

I drew Toutle several years ago when there were still some decent bulls in there, amazing what has happened to it.

[bigelk1030]

I drew Toutle several years ago when there were still some decent bulls in there, amazing what has happened to it.

Has the Margaret unit gone down in quantity and or quality in the last few years also? 

[kentrek]

I drew Toutle several years ago when there were still some decent bulls in there, amazing what has happened to it.

how many years ago ?

[huntnphool]

I drew Toutle several years ago when there were still some decent bulls in there, amazing what has happened to it.

Has the Margaret unit gone down in quantity and or quality in the last few years also?

I drew in 96 and 02 I think it was, chased a few 7 points around both times and ended up getting nice bulls. The numbers are good in both Margaret and Toutle from what I see every year but they really lack maturity.

[skywalker253]

I have hunted in Dayton/Marengo for 30 years (deer). I know the area better then most. I have been scouting it weekly, but it is hard to get up the roads right now (snow). I got permission from a few land owners, but I am a little frusterated with my scouting progress. I am hoping the snow will melt, so I can get deeper in. I thought I would put it out there to see if anyone has harvested anything worth 17 points. I have come to the conclusion that the westside hunts are not that great. I don't have to harvest a 350 class bull to be happy. I would be happy with any quality elk. I have never harvested a bull, so a nice 5 x 5 or bigger will suite me fine. I have harvested a few nice cows over the years.

I plan to purchase a GPS with the Hunt Wa program, so I can help figure out who the land owners are. Any model suggestions?

Are there any hard copy materials, which list the land owner names and property boudaries?

I called the game department to get some materials, and they told me they will not release anything to the public until September. That is not enough time to scout etc.

[skywalker253]

Thanks everyone for responding. I appreciate the help!

[huntnphool]

I've got pics of one of my bulls as I'm sneaking up on it, Ill see if I can find them and scan them to the computer.

[jackelope]

There is an endless supply of public land in the Blues. Why spend so
Much time worrying about private land access?? 

[Fullabull]

Skywalker, so you have seen good bulls where you hunt? Bulls you would be happy to take? If so, I would stay where you know. If not, I would got for some place else on the east side that you can scout. I think you would waste you time on the west side and just be looking for a bull to shoot instead of something of quality.

[JPhelps]

I don't know your elk hunting experience or knowledge but guessing from your 17 points you have been elk hunting for a while and are looking for your first bull.

If you plan on a DIY hunt make sure you are ready to cash in your points.  Just because there may be bigger or more elk (there may be a higher density in some of the St. Helens units  ) doesn't guarantee you success.  It may be worth figuring out those elk in the unit you want to hunt for a couple seasons before actually putting in (at least thats how much those points are worth to me).

[NWBREW]

If I had 17 points to throw at the west side I would look at the Nook. 

[MADMAX]

 

[skywalker253]

There is an endless supply of public land in the Blues. Why spend so
Much time worrying about private land access??

Because the private land areas are the areas I know best. I have permission on a few of those areas, but the elk are not consistantly on there property. They travel thru it from time to time. I got permission for one land owner, but he wants $1500 to hunt it. Can you direct me to where I can get the public land boundaries you spoke of? I realize there is the national forest, but I am looking for public land outside of it.