Wynoochee Gmu advice and/or hunting partner

[puffknuckle]

Hello hunters,
This is a great site and have been lurking for quite a while. I live in Tacoma and I am determined to get a deer this year. I was lucky enough to get a moose in Alaska a few years ago,but have never taken a deer or an elk. I have basically picked the Wynoochee  648 out of a hat( open to other ideas)to do some general scouting and more importantly just get out in the woods.
I plan on hunting modern firearm.
 
My biggest question is, how do you know which gates will be closed during season? Do you assume that they all will be? I really want to find a spot that i need to walk in a couple of miles and camp, but if the gate will be open, i feel like i am wasting time scouting the area.

From what i have gathered through searching is that driving the Donkey Creek Road (Forest Road 22) out of humptulips is a great place to start, but was looking for any advice on maybe following a road in somewhere near Montesano or Brady to save some drive time.

Thanks for looking and I am open to all advice available for a guy wanting a blacktail and willing to work for it.

[Eli346]

Get a Washington Gazeteer map and check out the road out of Matlock which is west of Shelton. Take the Deckerville Rd. out a few miles before it turns into the Middle Satsop Rd. Take a right and head west on the Cougar Smith Rd to the Wynoochee Rd. Go north to almost Wynoochee Lake and take a left (west) on Forest Rd 22. That is Donkey Crk. There are several open gates and several closed gates so just take your pick of which way to go. Do some scouting but if you're going alone let someone know where you'll be. No cell phone reception anywhere but a land line at the Wynoochee Lake campground. Lost a friend to a heart attack while we were up there camping in 2002. It's good road but still a long ways out in the boonies. It took an ambulance almost an hour to get there from Aberdeen.
 I would also make sure I've got a bear and cougar tag as there's a pretty good chance of running into one. Alot of Wynoochee is National Forest so the opportunities to hunt are very good. You might actually run into Olympic National Park to the north so be aware of those boundaries. They kind of frown on hunting inside the park. You'll do good and it's definitely beautiful and big country. Rain gear and good luck should get you a decent buck, bear, or cat.

[puffknuckle]

Awesome advice and exactly what I was hoping for! Thanks for the road info and the cell phone warning as well, I will heed your advice.
 I will be taking a visit out there very soon.   
  Thanks again   

[turkeydancer]

Also check with the WDFW Region 6 out of Montesano for info on area game and anticipated  road closures ...   

[pd]

Also check with the WDFW Region 6 out of Montesano for info on area game and anticipated  road closures ...   

TurkeyDancer is correct; the WDFW office in Montesano is very helpful.  Call them, and get to know a biologist there.  Tell them what you need (deer hunting in 638)--that is part of their job, and they are only too happy to help.

Also call the Olympic National Forest branch office in Quinault (360) 288 2525.  They are in charge of the roads in the forest (Donkey Creek Road mentioned above is FS22).  They will be able to tell you what roads/gates are opened/closed, and other information such as brush cutting, burns, etc.  Make friends with them, too.

[puffknuckle]

Thanks again guys. That is all incredibly helpful info and thanks for taking the time to write it.

[raydog]

Hello hunters,
This is a great site and have been lurking for quite a while. I live in Tacoma and I am determined to get a deer this year. I was lucky enough to get a moose in Alaska a few years ago,but have never taken a deer or an elk. I have basically picked the Wynoochee  648 out of a hat( open to other ideas)to do some general scouting and more importantly just get out in the woods.
I plan on hunting modern firearm.
 
My biggest question is, how do you know which gates will be closed during season? Do you assume that they all will be? I really want to find a spot that i need to walk in a couple of miles and camp, but if the gate will be open, i feel like i am wasting time scouting the area.

From what i have gathered through searching is that driving the Donkey Creek Road (Forest Road 22) out of humptulips is a great place to start, but was looking for any advice on maybe following a road in somewhere near Montesano or Brady to save some drive time.

Thanks for looking and I am open to all advice available for a guy wanting a blacktail and willing to work for it.

got my first 2 deer out of the nooch. Drive the grisdale road, there are tons of gates to hunt. Good luck

[Rooster1981]

If you like walk in hunts. Try the elk fields west of the river south of the Dam. Its a couple of miles to the fields but in my opinion worth the walk.

[raydog]

If you like walk in hunts. Try the elk fields west of the river south of the Dam. Its a couple of miles to the fields but in my opinion worth the walk.

I saw a very nice buck in there. Good luck