Toutle Elk

[HoofsandWings]

Only a week away. Scouted and saw elk. Also saw mushroomers, fir bough cutters and some atv'ers. All the permit holders said I should check out the 5500 road. This must be an inside joke. The 5500 is on the boundary between the Lewis and Toutle units. The road is notoriously bad.
Saw several hunters go to the end of the 3000 road and drool over the bulls in Looit. There is lots of cover on the Toutle side of the road. What I do not understand is how they are going to get a shot without breaking the rules. They can't shoot from the maintained portion of the road. The animal can not be on the maintained portion of the road.
For those who witness a shot on the road, it is 10 bonus points for the next permit drawing.
It is supposed to rain the first 4 days of the hunt. Bring the rain gear.

[JoeVon]

PM Sent

[rackattack]

When was the last time that end of the 3000 line was maintained?  Let them sit up there and drool, those bulls will not cross that road unless there is an army of guys pushing from the Loowit up.  I'd avoid the 5500 as there is a lot of "border crossing" going on there.  I spent a week during muzzy season with my cousin and found lots of animals but nothing really big.  We hunted the 200 and 4200 really heavy and saw mostly 4's and 5's all week.  Those bough cutters have been up there for a month now as we saw the buses going up the 4200 every day.  Good luck on your tag we had a blast, but the elk were still talking then.   

[TheHunt]

There were four - eleven passanger vans full of bough cutters.   

[BULLBLASTER]

went out there and saw lots of cows and five small bulls. 2 spikes a 3 point and 2 4 pointers, dont know if i should shoot a small one if i see it this weekend or not

[fc2038]

Bullblaster--  Hunting big for a couple of days then go and shot a rag. had the tag last year ended up shooting a spike the last day. Saw rags all week and two good ones on the 5th day they were just too far away. Fun hunt opening will be a zoo. 10 different rigs hunting for 1 tag. It was really dissapointing. It cleared up mid week.. Have fun

[BULLBLASTER]

that was my plan but the lack of good bulls being seen has me worried and i only get 4 days to hunt...started a new job. i could go back the second weekend but its a long way. it will be fin either way.

[fc2038]

If you have 4 days shot the first bull you see.... I wouldn't hesitate. I kind of wished I shot the first bull I saw last year but I had all week to look and it was worth waiting. 4 days that is not that much time. Should have no problem filling your tag.

[spin05]

There were four - eleven passanger vans full of bough cutters.   

What do those bough cutters do with the stuff?? I saw 8 mexicains cutting salal down By Oakville in a van.I dont see how they carry all that on there shoulder.Is that the same stuff??

[BULLBLASTER]

There were four - eleven passanger vans full of bough cutters.   

What do those bough cutters do with the stuff?? I saw 8 mexicains cutting salal down By Oakville in a van.I dont see how they carry all that on there shoulder.Is that the same stuff??

saw a guy by elk mountain cutting noble fir boughs almost had the pickup filled up to the top. he said we should watch for breeding elk in the breeding meadows by coweeman lake. 

[fc2038]

I have seen that guy up there by Elk Mt. last year cutting the limbs off of the trees. I talked with him and his kid they do Xmas reefs (Spelling?) he had some good insight on some elk. He was right when I went to take a look.....

[BULLBLASTER]

he said he had only seen some cows up there. we saw a few elk up on the mountain, cows all the way on the other side of the lake by the tower.

[fc2038]

last year there was a bunch of elk taken off of the lake side of the mt. Mostly road hunters. I saw 5 not including the one my old man hit. We were on top walking in. It was nice cuz we just kicked it down the hill to the road!!!!! really steep. Saw two on the other side taken mostly later in the week.

[HoofsandWings]

Some of the advice I have received is to stay in one spot and let the elk come to me. How many of you can stay in one spot from dawn to dusk?
What do you do to pass those hours? Do you have unbelievable patience?
It has been said that a bull just may stick his head out into the open for a few minutes to get some browse and to wait until that moment.
Is that what you do on opening day?

[Huntbear]

Hoof, I have done that many an opening day.  My brother and buddy have gotten 2 bulls that way, and my nephew 1.  It does work.  As for patience, all you do is keep searching and looking. 

[BULLBLASTER]

supposed to be getting some weather and a cool down this weekend... maybe that will help get the elk moving.