578 West Klickitat Questions

[Bookworm007]

Good Morning everyone! 

I hope everyone had a great Elk season and to those still trying to fill tags good luck! My season is over so its time to start planning next year's trip. In that past I have hunted Winston , and Lewis River. Before that I hunted West Klickitat but that was years ago. My family and I have grown tired of the combat hunting you are forced into while hunting Lewis River and Winston, so we are now thinking about switching back to West Klicktat. Also we have recently started doing muzzleloader hunting and plan on doing it for Elk this coming year. I looked up the stats and they are not too bad for the unit.

Down the the questions:

First do areas get closed down for fire danger in the early season such as Muzzleloader

Are there other factors beyond it not being a slam dunk unit that keep the number of hunters down?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!! I am going to start doing my own scouting and such soon, but wanted to make sure I wasn't rushing into a unit with the same issues I am trying to get away from.

[Bulldozer77]

Hancock will shut down if it's really dry. Just barely got to deer hunt rifle in there last year. The elk are there but it's hard to find them sometimes. I did score there this year but it was only elk I saw hanging anywhere near us. It was great when it was an any elk unit. Good luck!

[Patarero]

Last year, all timber land was closed due to fire danger during deer muzzy and early elk muzzy hancock/sds/etc...

Plenty of posts on here about the unit.  Lots of private land, timber land, and some DNR land.  Alot of people view it as more of deer unit.  Lots of cattle in the northern part of the unit, which does not leave much food for elk, just my opinion.  Also, if you find animals, odds are good you are not alone.

[Bookworm007]

Thank you for the advice! I remember it being a unit that you are really rolling the dice if you go into the season with no scouting. And a little dry would be helpful for the muzzleloader. The downpour of deer season really made keeping powder dry interesting. Got any pictures of your Elk? 

[Bookworm007]

Last year, all timber land was closed due to fire danger during deer muzzy and early elk muzzy hancock/sds/etc...

Plenty of posts on here about the unit.  Lots of private land, timber land, and some DNR land.  Alot of people view it as more of deer unit.  Lots of cattle in the northern part of the unit, which does not leave much food for elk, just my opinion.  Also, if you find animals, odds are good you are not alone.

That is part of the reason I also like the unit because it would allow me to scout Elk while I hunt deer. Plus I can't see the hunter density being much worse than Winston. I looked at some of the posts. Many were from multiple years back so I thought I would fish for some more recent info. But good to know about the fire closure. 

[Bulldozer77]

I just posted it in the 2013 bulls thread, but her he is. 5x5 and not a bad klickitat bull.

[Bookworm007]

I just posted it in the 2013 bulls thread, but her he is. 5x5 and not a bad klickitat bull.

That is a very nice Bull congrats!!! Looks like he will be tasty!!! 




I will go check out your post for the story! 

[KillZ 4 Thrilz]

Far from a slam dunk unit

[logger]

Very seldom hunt it myself, and I have private ground to hunt. very weather dependent.

[Bookworm007]

I am hoping that with proper time invested in scouting success could be found. Unless someone can suggest a better SW Washington unit to explore that isn't as crazy as Winston and Lewis River. Fighting for a stand of trees to walk through is no fun.

[KillZ 4 Thrilz]

during the early muzzle, the hunting depends greatly on if timber company land is open or closed to fire danger.  if its closed, good luck

[motg9_6]

Elk are getting really scarce up there in the past few years lots of open land if no fire danger but far far far from slam dunk. I know people who scout every weekend up there and have trouble getting elk. Most of the great success you here about up there is the locals on private property surrounding the refuge.