Unit 520 (Winston)

[12Gauge]

Got back from a two day scouting trip in the 520 unit, (Winston).  Did not see any elk, but saw lots of fresh large hoof tracks, boot prints and tire tracks.  There is even a group of hunters already camped with a generator about two hundred yards from were I saw the animal tracks, fresh scrape and rubbing.  I think I am going see more hunters come rifle opening day/week than elk.

[New England Native]

Prepare for alot of orange in there come opening day. I refer to the roads in the st. helens tree farm as interstate like during modern firearm elk. Very little use during deer season but elk sign almost everywhere you look.

[Huntbear]

Winston can be a zoo opening weekend.  However, find you a secluded spot and sit there, let the masses push the elk to you, and you will get your chance.

[catwithboost]

I hunted 520 last yr opening day and it was crazy with hunters.

[Huntbear]

Most of them are road hunters though.  So if you can get off the road a piece, you will be in a lot better situation. 

Coweman is not any better. 

[stumprat]

I think it might be too late to get a reservation for a stump in the winston.

[Huntbear]

Like I said, make sure you are off the road, and where you have good shooting lanes, the masses will push them to you.

[billythekidrock]

Winston can be a zoo opening weekend.  However, find you a secluded spot and sit there, let the masses push the elk to you, and you will get your chance.

Yep.

[12Gauge]

Like I said, make sure you are off the road, and where you have good shooting lanes, the masses will push them to you.

Great advice and that is what I am going to do.  Our group, 3 of us are going to stay for a week or until one of us shoots one. 

Oh! it is suppose to rain like crazy starting Friday Oct 31st and last at least through Tuesday Nov 4th.

Thanks for your input, Good luck to all.

[billythekidrock]

Oh! it is suppose to rain like crazy starting Friday Oct 31st and last at least through Tuesday Nov 4th.

Looks like it may just do that. Here is the Mossyrock weather for that time period.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USWA0286?from=36hr_fcst10DayLink_undeclared

[georgia redneck]

I agree with hunt bear find yourself a spot and just sit most ..i bet.. more than half will be road hunting and most of the rest will be stalking a spot for a while if no action they will move on to the next spot which will be pushing the elk like crazy most people do not have the patience to sit all day everyday and let them come to you.....patience is the key IMHO

[Huntbear]

Like I said, make sure you are off the road, and where you have good shooting lanes, the masses will push them to you.

Great advice and that is what I am going to do.  Our group, 3 of us are going to stay for a week or until one of us shoots one. 

Oh! it is suppose to rain like crazy starting Friday Oct 31st and last at least through Tuesday Nov 4th.

Thanks for your input, Good luck to all.

What?  Rain in Washington during elk season?    Tell me you are joking!!!  That has never happened before!!!!!!   

[bucklucky]

Back before I almost wrapped a dudes gun barrel around his fricken neck up winston, I would hit the real thick reproad on the steep sidehills during modern . I showed the wife 90 some elk and like 15 bulls. Problem was under the reproad the branches were head hight so all you could see was the bases of there horns  I never hunted next to clearcuts, I didnt want to chase elk out to them lazy inconsiderate *censored*s that seem to spend all there time driving roads and drinking beer. I quit hunting there for a reason, probably cause I would have ended up in jail ; Good luck.

[12Gauge]

I normally hunt in Mosquito meadow, I went there last year for bow, there were a lot of road hunters there as well.
Our group will sit tight in the brush and see what happens.

[Stadle]

have the opened the gates in Winston now? or are most of them still locked?

[Huntbear]

As far as I know, the Winston is only open to vehicle traffic on the weekends.  During the week the gates are closed and you have to walk in.  Which is fine with us, we do not mind a 4-6 mile hike to get into our elk spot.  Plus, it keeps most of the other hunters away.

[12Gauge]

We were 15 mile in just south of Riffe lake, yep there is a gate just after crossing the Cowlitz river and another 15 mile in.  If they lock us in after crossing the river gate, oh well, my guess it will better for us.

[elkfan2]

Winston Creek is more like combat than hunting

[12Gauge]

Winston Creek is more like combat than hunting

Then I will fit right in, I am a retired Jarine

[fish affender]

Hello,  first time posting here. Winston has been my unit of choice for the last several yrs. there are, as someone mentioned, advantages to busy units. people are easier to pattern than elk some times. once you figure out hunter entry routes and basic lay of land, you can take advantage of it. i have taken only 2 bulls in the last 7 yrs. i do how ever see lots of elk in the first days of the season, not always a legal bull but if i'm in the woods seeing animals i'm as successful as i need to be.  Mike

[jwroberts]

I have hunted in that unit for about 5 years now.  Last year I shot a bull on opening day of rifle.  This would have been my first bull.  Unfortunately my shot did not drop him and someone else ran up the hill and shot him before I could get another clear shot.  He dropped it and tagged it.  That was all I needed to switch to archery

[SunniCutt]

I quit hunting the Winston 6 years ago, for all the above reasons.  I thought maybe the Coweeman would be better, after all I live in the unit.  No way.  I too settled on giving archery a try.  Still alot of hunters in both units, so I will have to live with it. 

[madmack76]

winston is an exceptional unit for elk i got a budiie who kills a elk up there every year for the last 12 years you just have to get off the roads an in the bush

[furbearer365]

  If you can deal with a crowd and corrupt people on 4-wheelers shooting everything that walks then by all means have fun.

[sportsman002001]

If you can deal with a crowd and corrupt people on 4-wheelers shooting everything that walks then by all means have fun.

Very true

[Crunchy]

I would not hunt that unit during rifle.  It was somewhat of a zoo during late  archery.  You almost have to find a locked gate and hike in, otherwise it will be nothing but road hunters.