Manastash Elk numbers....What happened??

[bassquatch]

I harvested my very first elk in this unit about 9 years ago, love the place, seemed we saw elk fairly often during modern season? I hunted there last year for the first time in about 5 years and saw a bull taken opening morning and a ton of shooting in a bowl behind me. Not much day two? Well, I drew a cow tag for that unit this year and was really excited until I took a couple scouting trips over there, then I saw the harvest numbers from last year on WDFW's website.....3 cows harvested?? Out of 275 tags?? Am I reading that right?! That's not good at all, what gives?! 

340 - MANASTASH - PMU 33 

Method                Antlerless /  Antlered /  Total Harvest 1  2  3  4  5  6+

Archery                    27              19           46             16  3  0  0  0   0
Modern Firearms         3            118         121             98 20  0  0  0  0 
Multiple Weapons        1               1             2               1  0  0  0   0   0 
Muzzleloader               5             12           17               8  1  1  1   0   1 

At least it looks like 98 spikes were taken?! I still can't get my mind around 3 freaking cows?? Doesn't seem right? 

[bobcat]

That's general season you're looking at, I believe. You need to go to the permit hunts.

[bassquatch]

That's general season you're looking at, I believe. You need to go to the permit hunts.

Hmmm, I'll try that, thank you 


WOOOO!! You just made my night!  109 cows harvested  That'll work! 

[270Shooter]

No way that's not right. Rifle cow tag in there would not be very tough to fill

[bassquatch]

No way that's not right. Rifle cow tag in there would not be very tough to fill

That's what I was thinking? But bobcat straightened me out...I was looking at General Season, not "Special Permit" section......things improved dramatically once I looked there 

GMU                                          Antlerless Harvest /  Antlered Harvest /  Total Harvest 
328 - NANEUM - PMU: 32                       39                            5                      44
329 - QUILOMENE - PMU: 32                  42                            2                      44
330 - WEST BAR - PMU: 32                    10                            0                      10
334 - ELLENSBURG - PMU: 32                  7                            0                        7 
335 - TEANAWAY - PMU: 32                     8                            12                     20
336 - TANEUM - PMU: 33                       52                            31                     83
340 - MANASTASH - PMU: 33                109                           36                    145
342 - UMTANUM - PMU: 33                    148                           12                    160
346 - LITTLE NACHES - PMU: 33              67                           43                    110
352 - NILE - PMU: 35                              19                           14                      33                                            356 - BUMPING - PMU: 35                       17                           29                      46
360 - BETHEL - PMU: 35                          13                           40                     53
364 - RIMROCK - PMU: 36                       36                           27                      63
368 - COWICHE - PMU: 36                     158                           19                     177
371 - ALKALI - PMU: 34                            3                              3                        6

[wall of wood camp]

It's probably not right but it definitely isn't as easy as it used to be I saw three cows the whole season last year shot one and she got up and ran off we ate seven cow tags in that unit last year.

[SniperDanWA]

My son and I never saw an animal during early archery.  He has the Umptanum cow tag Oct 5-11.  We've hunted the Manastash/Umptanum for the last several years.  I've seen the numbers and the sightings go down each year.    , but see the same thing your talking about.

[bassquatch]

I remember last year as being fairly warm? May have influenced the hunt? I only had opening day and Sunday morning last year so I am no official. I got the entire season off this year so I'm really looking forward to it! I feel better now having checked the correct numbers, I have no problem covering ground! I do not want to eat a cow tag! The last time I did was Little Naches and that was a very warm year. I don't think we are looking at a warm elk season this year by any means! 

[PlateauNDN]

Sniper, I've been scouting most of the summer in umtanum and have been in cows quite a bit.  If you want some info. Shoot a pm.

[wall of wood camp]

We didn't do any road hunting last year maybe that's where we went wrong I don't remember it being all that warm I think the two feet of snow that fell the day before the opener is what caused all the elk to head for lower ground I saw plenty of bulls but not many cows and my cousin hunted down low and saw plenty of cows but not many bulls as they only filled one of two observatory bull tags not that he couldn't have filled it but he was holding out for z big one and wanting his dad to fill his tag first.  Good luck everyone we will be hunting the sane spots in the manastash again this year here's hoping to finding at least one spike. 

[D-Rock425]

My son and I never saw an animal during early archery.  He has the Umptanum cow tag Oct 5-11.  We've hunted the Manastash/Umptanum for the last several years.  I've seen the numbers and the sightings go down each year.    , but see the same thing your talking about.

it's because of the wolves.

[norsepeak]

 

[sled]

  You Should Have Seen It 25 Years Ago!  There Was Elk Everywhere.  It Has Been Getting Worse Every Year Since.

[SniperDanWA]

We didn't do any road hunting last year maybe that's where we went wrong I don't remember it being all that warm I think the two feet of snow that fell the day before the opener is what caused all the elk to head for lower ground I saw plenty of bulls but not many cows and my cousin hunted down low and saw plenty of cows but not many bulls as they only filled one of two observatory bull tags not that he couldn't have filled it but he was holding out for z big one and wanting his dad to fill his tag first.  Good luck everyone we will be hunting the sane spots in the manastash again this year here's hoping to finding at least one spike.

Yeah, the snow last year was great.  We had a spike in sites and I was just to pull the trigger when he peeled off behind a tree.  The boy was psyched.  I had three spikes in sight a few days later, but it was early and the snow was crunchy - they bolted.  Dang things are fast.

[Mfowl]

I've spent 3 days scouting Umtanum since Sept 1 and I have yet to lay eyes on an elk. The last 2 times I have been out before light and haven't even heard a distant bugle. I've seen 7 bucks (3 legal)but but no elk. I put a trail cam in a canyon that has been an elk highway the last couple years and the only pics I got were of me putting it out and then picking it up a week later. Not even a yote or a doe. I spent time today looking in some areas that I haven't hunted before but due to the rain, fog and sloppy road conditions I wasn't able to get after it too hard. My usual areas had good sign early on but the elk seem to have moved out. I'll be out there on Wed 10/2 to make camp and keep scouting until the opener. Good luck to all who have a tag to fill. I'll be hunting ML with a cow tag.