Upper Smith Creek cow tag - selected

[elkhunter00]

Know this area well, will do my best to fill it

[cem3434]

Congrats, that can be a tough hunt.  It sounds like you're not afraid to burn a little boot leather though if you know the unit well, so you should do just fine. 

[Bookworm007]

I heard it is beautiful back in there!!! I hope to get a tag for that area some day, but this year it was more important to hunt with the old man. He is allergic to large elevation changes  We expect a lot of pictures and write up!!!

[olystorageland]

I got the any bull draw with my old man for this unit...

[elkhunter00]

I got the any bull draw with my old man for this unit...

So you guys got both of them?  Want to trade one? 

[olystorageland]

haha...yeah Im a little nervous cause the website says selected for both of us...never hunted there..put in as 2nd choice cause it only gave out 2 permits last year so I thought It would be tough for group draw on that

[kentrek]

By the numbers thats one of the hardest to draw units in Washington....long ways to go for a cow tho but itl be a good work out 

[kkc66]

Just looked I got drawn for. A cow tag also

[Tacbeav]

What weapon/season did you draw?  Definitely a tough hunt!

[elkhunter00]

modern for me oct 18-24

[Bull Crazy]

Congrats on the draw! You should do well.

[Dutchie]

I've had the cow tag, seen the biggest Rosie I've seen in my life up their!!! Oct 1st through the 10th the bulls were still screaming.  It's completely roadless and a big whole right at timberline in the side of the mountain. Make sure you come in from windy ridge I made the mistake once of coming up the ape canyon trail to get in, legs were smoked before I got their.  When you make it their and your facing the muddy river their will be a razor back ridge on your right hand side runs about 1/4 mile out. I'd hunt down from the top of that ridge, the slope is covered in small nobles and they are the only trees around as you are at timberline.  Lots of elk, good luck guys!

P.s if you know anybody willing to share some info on peaches ridge archery let me know.

[elkhunter00]

Congrats on the draw! You should do well.

You better be ready to pack

[Outdoors]

modern for me oct 18-24

I will be in there Oct 18-24 with a bull tag. Most likely my brother will be along for glassing and packing (hopefully). Good luck on your hunt. Any idea if there is cell service there?

[kentrek]

You get spot service on top along the 99rd

[elkhunter00]

modern for me oct 18-24

I will be in there Oct 18-24 with a bull tag. Most likely my brother will be along for glassing and packing (hopefully). Good luck on your hunt. Any idea if there is cell service there?

Verizon is perfect at the top

[GOcougsHunter]

My 14 year old son pulled the modern cow tag there for 2014.  I have pulled two elk out of Pumice Plains and the area is unforgiving, but really cool.  Have ridden my Mt Bike at plains of Abraham just outside the Unit.  Will be steep and you have a very good chance at seeing Mt Goats.  Look forward to seeing the other 4 cow tag holders and 2 bull hunters during the week.  There is actually a lot of area down off Windy Ridge.  Not a lot of road to hunt from, so buckle up for a bit of a hike.

Any previous holders of the permit know exactly what they mean by no wheeled devices?  It's a headscratcher that this is a highly used Mt Bike area, but they won't allow game carts(?!)  Obviously you can't use a game cart outside of any of the trails in the unit as it is far too steep, but...

[kentrek]

Im think they mean off the trail

You planning on using a bob style trailer up there

[GOcougsHunter]

I was thinking just my regular 2 wheeled cart.

The Pumice Plains hunts were absolutely no wheeled vehicles were to be used and was in the instruction packet from the USFS even on the established trails (loowit and hummocks).  Understand that a little as you need a special permit to go off trail there anyway and they don't want you messing up the new growth with tire tracks. 

Would be nice to be able to be able to bring the cart in as far as possible to get those quarters off your back.   

[Quaka Wacka]

I'm very familiar with the area and access. Been doing SAR in the area for 16 years and hunting the surrounding areas for longer. PMme with questions. I'm backpacking along the top next week. I hunted with a buddy a few years back. I'd hunt off the 99 road with the cow tag. Bring a block and a barrel full if rope. Bull tag - Glass from the plains into upper smith creek. Or from the smith creek trail coming off the 99. I'm jealous. Been trying to draw it since it was created.

[kkc66]

 i got the muzzy cow tag for the week of the 11th  it was my 3rd choice with 1 point i had no plans on drawing that tag but i did.ill probley end up eating the tag iv drawn the margret bull  tag before and did real good but im 6'5 and 365 pound i cant see me hikeing 5 miles up hill or down hill .i will have buddy with me on the weekend but that going to be it then its tag soup. I FELL LIKE A ### #### FOR PUTTING IN FOR IT but i was told by my buddy it was like unit 522  what a buddy!!!! look for me on hwy 99 lol

[bowhunterty]

Glass from the Smith Creek viewpoint saw two herds in there.

[elkhunter00]

Outdoors and GoCougsHunter what are you guys driving? I'm in the silver nissan pathfinder.  The fog has been horrible, Sunday was good but Sat and today couldn't see anything til late.

[olystorageland]

I tagged out in this unit for archery...but some serious miles on the feet during the 4 days...got a nice 4X5 (1st ever elk)..was absolutely brutal on that pack out!!! but memories and its some awesome country with lots of elk!!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Must be packing meat with no updates?

[elkhunter00]

Couldn't get it done. Was within 300 yards on a cow but only had a head shot shooting through limbs, so I passed.  Tried to help the bull tag holder out, he eventually got a little spike.  I sat on a brute of a 5x5 til dark tonight.  Weather was horrible all week. Could only hunt about 3 days because of fog.  Only 1 bull and 1 cow got filled during my season.  I don't think the bull tag holder on here even hunted.