Westside early archery help

[slickmannick]

My first post on any forum. Hows it going guys, I hope to learn a lot and contribute something at least. So I've archery hunted for 17 years now mostly in Oregon. Grew up there and knew that country like the back of my hand. Got married moved up here and still searching for a good unit. A buddy turned me on to the siouxon unit a few years ago. I'm 2 outta 3 there getting a cow my first year and a small bull last year. Gorgeous country with very few hunters from what i could tell. So why am I looking for a new unit you're wondering. I live around Auburn and it takes me 4hrs or so to get to the siouxon unit. My 9 year old son is dying to go hunting with me now but i have to find something closer since early archery is during first two weeks of school. I stay in the woods for 7 - 10 days and mama isn't letting her baby boy miss that much school. I prefer a unit that is open to 3 pt min or antlerless, I like horns but not a must. I was thinking coweeman or skookumchuck would be good since it would cut my travel time in half. I prefer hiking, biking way past gates, any suggestions or tips. I'm definitely not asking exactly where you hunt I just dint want to waste too much time. Any help would be appreciated. PMs & email are welcome

[kingfisher82]

Well both units have a lot of people pressure and jack wagons that are very rude. I live in the skookumchuck gmu and I don't hunt in it.

[BowForElk]

I hunt skookumchuck a lot both early and late archery. IF you don't mind getting back behind a gate you generally won't see many people (at least thats been my experience) Its also any deer both seasons which is a plus! ( I prefer doe soup over tag soup!) The unit is really big with lots of deer and a few elk too. Early season is gonna be your best bet cause the deer get sketchy as hell after modern because that unit gets ALOT of pressure during modern.

You can get in anywhere on Johnson Crk road, Thompson Crk road, Skookumchuck Road and thats all the same general area. Good luck!

[kingfisher82]

Johnson creek might be a bust this year, my buddie is a logger and they are going to be logging up there in mid to late summer

[asl20bball]

4 hr drive is worth it given your sucesses and the amount of hunters you're seeing. There are no westside untis near aburn that are going to be as good under 2 hours drive time. That said,you could head south to packood/morton area but the # of hunters you will find will go way up. I live in maple valley and choose to drive 4 hours to elk hunt too.  the season is too short to compromise  the quality of the hunt vs drive time IMHO. 

[elk247]

True, and with most land shut down to fire danger last few years make a backup plan just incase. Assuming your talking archery elk. Hunters get funneled into the few areas that are still left open. Fingers crossed for rain in late august. Haha