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?