packwood/lewis river archery elk

[sanjuankelso]

I am considering changing my elk hunting strategy from eastside permit/idaho general to westside archery for the ease of getting to know an area and returning year after year closer to home. Can anyone fill me in with some info on the early general elk season in these two units.  These appear to be great units as far as animal numbers and generally that is followed by high hunter numbers as well. Being forest service area is there a lot of access? I'm not looking for sweat spots or tactics as I have hunted elk for several years. I will tend to hunt higher than lower and prefer not to hunt from/near roads. Just some input from archery hunters who have hunted this area/season in the past or currently would be appreciated. Thanks

[mjgentile]

I have hunting in that area, I go South of Randle take 131S (Nf-25) than Nf-99W, I park my trailer at the Sno-Park. There is some good hunting on the border of Lewis/Packwood also try the bowl. It is next to the old food stand you see on the way to Spirit Lake lookout point. Only bad thing is you have to walk or bike (pedal) to bottom can take a while to get to bottom, also there are some nice ridges all around the bowl area. Most people who hunt the bowl pack in there for a few days, pain in butt going down there everyday.
Best of Luck

[sanjuankelso]

thanks for the info it'll give me starting point.

[Fullabull]

There are plenty of animals in these units, just don't expect to see a lot of them. I have hunted the west side for four years and the east side one. I saw a lot more animals on the east side but I stay on the west because it is closer and you can hunt branch bulls.

This year, in ten days we only saw three branch bulls (got one of them) and played with at least one bull every time we went out. Never saw a cow in the ten days of hunting. I've just gotten use to not seeing a lot of animals because it's so thick on the west side. But I like it!

Good luck

[Elk_o_holic]

PM sent

[skinzner]

We have hunted the packwood gmu several years yes there are a few people up there but in my opinion its not bad at all.I would say one out of ten days i would run into another hunter not in my hunting party while out hunting. We spend a lot of time hunting the klickitat trail system hiking around and we have elk encounters fairly frequently. Still havent got one with the bow yet  though.