If you are planning on hunting the weyco tree farm you're going to have to buy the permit if you are hunting that side. I've heard there is good hunting in the FS side but it's all walk in there. Unfortunately the quality of bulls have gone downhill. That being said I've still seen some big boys up there. A lot of them will hang out below elk rock, but that is loowit and some of it is no access. There can be a few nice ones on the toutle river side of spirit lake highway , but you have to be clear on your boundary because the loowit unit is right there also. I would stick to the weyco side but only because I know it well. I'm also a wanderer so I would also check out the east side of the unit.