Winston 520 2013

[Bookworm007]

Well due to school schedules and my fathers new medication my brother, father and I were only able to hunt opening weekend in the Winston. We had never hunted here before and only scouted one day weekend so we knew the odds going in. Normally we camp in a nice wall camp set up but when only going in for a weekend it just wasn't worth it so we stay at the Silver Cove Resort in one of their park models. No while I really love my tent camping dang was that a nice way to stay. I had a hot shower, full sized oven and a heater you didn't have to stoke ever 2 hours. We did have a good laugh because the whole place was crawling with hunters but the park rules clearly states no firearms allowed  But we hiked our boots off and busted the brush. I will I was reporting that we nailed but all was saw was 4 cows and one small spike. Could have seen more but when I got on the group of elk another hunter camp up behind me making a bunch of noise scaring them off  I stalked these elk from their beds but this guy decided to follow my backdoor the whole way........ We had some guy time and a blast so the trip was well worth it. Good luck to the rest of you! They are in there somewhere!

[RadSav]

Could have seen more but when I got on the group of elk another hunter camp up behind me making a bunch of noise scaring them off  I stalked these elk from their beds but this guy decided to follow my backdoor the whole way........

Welcome to the Winston.  Usually when these guys come up your back door and spook them away during archery season you get a lecture afterwards on how those were his elk that he and his buddies had been trailing them for three days.  And if you had shot one of "Their" elk they would have kicked your arse!  I love the Winston so much!!!

Glad you got some good time with the family and had a good comfortable stay.  I always loved tent camping until I got a 5th wheel RV.  Now even the thought of tent camping makes me hurt.  You may be ruined from here on out

[Mike450r]

I haven't really hunted Winston much since the early 90's.  I think it was the year that W. Wa tried a spike only season. Been in there a few times since then but not much.   I know the area has held a lot of elk so it was one of the antlerless tags my wife put in for.  Well she drew this year so I was fairly optimistic.

The elk numbers are down in there for sure.  We covered a lot of ground both on foot and driving and didn't see anything.  And from anything I am talking good fresh sign as well.  It was hard to cut fresh tracks, had to just dive into the timber and hope to cut a trail.  We did a few times but from what I do remember of this unit it was elk rich and now it is elk poor. 

I usually bow hunt elk and like to go to Williams Crk or Bear River,  down there you step out of the truck anywhere and look down and you can tell there have been elk there usually that day but at least within the last week.  The Winston used to be like that, there wasn't a spur road one that we walked down that had been fed on.  Really discouraging and her work schedule is only going to allow weekend hunting with maybe a day during the week.  Not sure if it is hoof rot or too many cow tags, probably a few things but this unit is not what it used to be and the success rate is going to plummet based on how many hunters are in there.

I knew it was going to be bad as far as people but most were just racing around the roads driving way too fast, a few more people getting into the timber would help get them stirred up and moving some. 

[Bookworm007]

Mike450r PM SENT

It was kind of comical how many road hunters there were. In the area that we saw the elk there was a road running down at the bottom and you would swear it was a high way. We would see truck after truck (and one minivan) drive by go to right past the stand of trees hit the dead end then come racing back up the hill. None of them even getting out of their trucks.

Welcome to the Winston.  Usually when these guys come up your back door and spook them away during archery season you get a lecture afterwards on how those were his elk that he and his buddies had been trailing them for three days.  And if you had shot one of "Their" elk they would have kicked your arse!  I love the Winston so much!!!

Glad you got some good time with the family and had a good comfortable stay.  I always loved tent camping until I got a 5th wheel RV.  Now even the thought of tent camping makes me hurt.  You may be ruined from here on out

I was raised to not screw up someone else's hunt. Like saturday morning there was a truck parked in the spot we wanted so we moved on down the road. This guy Walked past my dad who was about 200 yards behind me on the trail and kept on trucking towards me. I still saw elk during elk season so I'm not going to complain too much. It was nice sleeping arrangements but next year we might choose a less crowded unit that gives you a chance to scout in the off season.

[swanny]

The camp host there was wearing camo, so I'm sure he was okay with firearms in the campground. He didn't say much when we put our meat pole up and hung out elk.

[Bookworm007]

The camp host there was wearing camo, so I'm sure he was okay with firearms in the campground. He didn't say much when we put our meat pole up and hung out elk.

Yeah they seem to make an exception for hunting season. Just don't let the little old English lady staying in the park model see it. She made sure it was know that there would be trouble if we messed with the ducks that live there    We told here we were only after fury animals.

[medic6]

The cove is a great place to stay when you hunt.  They actually love hunters and if you tell them you are in for a week you get a "special hunters discount".  I pay around 17 a night for full hookup including cable and free wifi. I have a 36 foot 5th wheel and they also accommodate my 10x20 hunting shack with wood stove free of charge.   Hang meat in the park no problem.  And as a side note, the pan fishing is awesome.

They do not allow tent camping, unless you have a trailer and add a tent.  Hunters have not abused the park and the rules, so they try to cater to the hunters both late and early.  The park is so nice that my wife does not mind hanging out at camp for a couple of weeks with the kids, while I storm the timber each year.   D 

[Bookworm007]

The cove is great, and having all the amenities of the park model was very nice since we could only hunt the weekend so setting up a wall tent or getting the motorhome ready didn't make since. Looked like most guys were pretty friendly too. Lots of guys milling around in the evening.