673, 672, 506, 681 (pacific county)

[Dbax129]

I was looking to hunt south of raymond, between there and naselle.  between hwy 6 and 4, with 101 to the west.  I know thats kind of a big area, a little vague, but I haven't started scouting yet, so that's all I know.  Somewhere out there looks like a lot of land, with some state land spread throughout.  I don't plan on going alone, just with a couple of buddies who I backcountry hike with.  We also plan on riding a mountain bike in with a kid trailer in tow (for the pack and hopefully some meat on the way out) on logging roads as far as we can.  I would like to go with some folks that are more experienced with hunting, but we are all new to it, and I don't think anybody out there wants to take us along, we'd probably hold them back too much!  (unless you're offering!)  The back country living isn't a new thing for us though.
double J, I heard most gates are closed to driving, and are walk/bike in only... looking at unit 673.

[Alan K]

If you're looking to get away from people I'd look to the rugged ground in the cascades up above the Cowlitz valley or even some places on the peninsula before heading to the coast. Actually sounds more up your alley with your backpacking experience.

Like others have mentioned the coast is very well roaded and there is no shortage of people.  One thing about elk hunting, there is always someone going in further than you.  It's nearly impossible to get away from people.  Just when you think you've gotten away from them, you bump into someone who came in from the other side of the mountain.   

Much of the timber company land is open for their employees to drive in while the public must walk in or ride in on a pedal bike like you mention planning to do.  Be prepared for them to cover nearly all of the clearcuts in the first half hour to hour, and potentially blow your hunt.  That said, they don't get out of their rig and into the timber much unless they know there is a bull in the bunch.

[DoubleJ]

I was looking to hunt south of raymond, between there and naselle.  between hwy 6 and 4, with 101 to the west.  I know thats kind of a big area, a little vague, but I haven't started scouting yet, so that's all I know.  Somewhere out there looks like a lot of land, with some state land spread throughout.  I don't plan on going alone, just with a couple of buddies who I backcountry hike with.  We also plan on riding a mountain bike in with a kid trailer in tow (for the pack and hopefully some meat on the way out) on logging roads as far as we can.  I would like to go with some folks that are more experienced with hunting, but we are all new to it, and I don't think anybody out there wants to take us along, we'd probably hold them back too much!  (unless you're offering!)  The back country living isn't a new thing for us though.
double J, I heard most gates are closed to driving, and are walk/bike in only... looking at unit 673.

Those gates are mostly open come Sept, unless there's fire danger.  I did that my first year.  Scouted a bunch in June, July, and Aug and found a few places behind locked gates, walkin in access only.  Come Sept, they were all wide open with trucks zipping in and out all day

[DoubleJ]

Really not trying to discourage you, just preparing you

[hiway_99]

Ive hunted 673 for the last 3 seasons and i dont care how far you hike your never alone.  Theres so many roads you never seam to be able to get back to far before you come to another road.  If you need a ride you only have to wait 5 minutes and another road hunter will drive by you.  Last year me and my 10 year old daughter hiked in 6 miles only to find another guy hiked in a different road.

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[DoubleJ]

672 is where I hunt and it's the same way there

[Dbax129]

well darn.  That's a bummer.  I reckon I'll still go down there, but I was really hoping to not hear those gates would end up being open.  I wonder if I could figure out which gates were not going to be open by talking to some of the logging companies.  I imagine the gates to the state owned land are going to be closed.  according to dnr there is land south east of raymond and north of naselle in pretty good size chunks, and a few plots scattered between. 
I don't know if the cascades north of cowlitz would be ideal for me, because I was hoping to use the logging roads for the bike trailer at least the first half of the way.
Peninsula sounds nice, I just didn't know there were any elk outside the park up there.  After some googling, it looks like 615 and 618 might not be terrible.  Small small harvest numbers, but sounds like very few people up there, and its a little closer to me, as I'm on the kitsap peninsula.  Darn darn.  I think it rains on that side of the pen like every day.  Why can't I hunt in sequim again?  I think they are like pets there! 

[hiway_99]

The dnr land on the corner of 101 and highway 4 is open year round no gate.

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[Tbar]

The other thing that you should take into consideration when hunting industrial timberlands is employees often get to drive many of the roads. I don't know the how's or whys but very seldom have i hunted  weyerhaeuser when i haven't run into an employee. There is a plus side to them being back there too, I'm not bashing I'm glad it's not a pay to play.

[skywalker253]

GMU 673- This was the first year they locked most the gates. The majority of land off hwy 101 was previously owned by Weyco and recently sold to Hancock Timber, who locked it down. Hancock owns just about everything off hwy 101 on both sides of the hwy down into Astoria, Or. I drove it in December to see if I could find some new areas. Anything with a white gate is Hancock. I was down there last Friday. The 2200 RD is open off hwy 101, but several of the side roads have signs for the public to keep out. This past season they opened up a few more roads, which were avaliable for public access September 1, 2012. I would expect the same this year. Regardless of all the roads and hunters; if you are willing to hike steep and deep, you should be able to get into some elk. Many of those hunters are walking roads and hoping to score some elk in a clear cut. If you and your group can locate some elk in the timber and get in and push them around; I would say you have a descent chance of getting an animal. Most the hunters down there......ROAD HUNT!!! My dad is damn near 70 years old, and he pushes brush like a 23 year old. I don't think going in deeper then the next guy is the key to getting an elk. Find some nice timber and go push them around with a group of guys. That is your best chance.

[bod]

Gmu's 615 and 618 are some rough places hunted there many years, can't get anyone to go with me anymore.

[snowpack]

Gmu's 615 and 618 are some rough places hunted there many years, can't get anyone to go with me anymore.

And they actually have quite a few people on the roaded areas.  Lots of old camps that have been set up each season for years (some around 35 years that I know of).

[Dbax129]

So locating elk in the timber is the key to have less competition out there huh?  Is it a good idea to "push around" any elk I see while scouting, to see if I can get a feel for where they would go under pressure during the hunting season? Or would I just be training them how to notice me sooner?  Btw, this single thread has taught me more than any of my  reading or video watching!  Thanks for all the help so far! I may have to start a similar thread about the peninsula later! 

[skywalker253]

So locating elk in the timber is the key to have less competition out there huh?  Is it a good idea to "push around" any elk I see while scouting, to see if I can get a feel for where they would go under pressure during the hunting season? Or would I just be training them how to notice me sooner?  Btw, this single thread has taught me more than any of my  reading or video watching!  Thanks for all the help so far! I may have to start a similar thread about the peninsula later! 

Any elk that are out in the clear cuts off the main logging roads are going to get shot on opening day. There will be a ton of road hunters driving the roads looking for elk throughout the season, which drives them into the thick drainages, reprod, and or jack firs. We usually put a couple of guys out in an area where they can get a shot, and send a couple of guys in to push thru the brush. This year I was fortunate to meet a few guys to hunt with. Normally it is just my dad and I. He is 70, so we don't hunt that hard. We pushed thru the jack firs and saw a ton of elk. I ended up filling my cow tag, and one of our other guys missed a big bull on 2 seperate days. We had 6 hunters, so it makes it a little easier. In the past, we have always gone into the timber and sat down over a drainage for a few hours to see if anything is moving. I have never gotten an elk that way, but my father and his group have gotten several. If nothing is moving, we will slowly walk thru the timber towards each other or push down a ridge with guys waiting on the bottom or across from us (depending on the direction). IMO- The big bulls go find the deepest darkest drainage they can find and sit there until something pushes them out. Timber may not be you best bet. It just depends how you want to hunt and where. I would worry about finding elk first, and that will help you determine how to go about hunting them.

[deerhunter_98520]

What you need to do is get out and drive the area your going to hunt....find the pockets of timber/dog hair that looks to nasty to walk into and walk into it...thats where there going to be pushed....you wont get away from roads for very long.....get out the day or two before the opener and find fresh sign and come opening day just start tracking and follow it till you find the elk...i have found this very effective