Elk in GMU 460...?

[PNW4Life]

I've never hunted the westside before but figured it might be nice to not have to sit in the car quite as long and spend more of my time on the ground putting miles on my boots instead.
Anyways, I'm curious if anyone hunts this unit and would be willing to offer me some pointers and perhaps offer a broad area I could attempt to begin narrowing down for my hunt this fall. I'm ready to put the time in but the area is so large, it's daunting to decide where I might even begin.
I grew up backpacking throughout the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and know that area, decently well. I'm not as up to speed when I get onto the Pass because the only time I've spent there is in the winter.
I'm planning on heading in to Mount Defiance to see if there's anything up there and figure I can spend some time glassing from up high and check all the valleys and lakes out for sign along the way.
Again, I realize everyone's pretty tight-lipped about their secret elk spots on the westside, but would love if someone would tell me if I'm even heading in the right direction or wasting my time and that I should look somewhere else. I know Mount Defiance is a good place to watch goats* and figure there could be deer and elk hanging out up there too.

[sled]

  Sheep In 460?

[hollymaster]

  Sheep In 460?

Think he meant mt. Goats. 

[PNW4Life]

  Sheep In 460?

My apologies. I meant to say goats.

[SPHTR]

460 is west of the pass.  There are Elk down by the fire academy but access is the issue.  Most of the roads in the I90 corridor have been gated due to target practice slobs but hiking past the gate is allowed and having the gates makes it better hunting.  Explore roads off exit 38 and Tinkham.   

[AKBowman]

460 is west of the pass.  There are Elk down by the fire academy but access is the issue.  Most of the roads in the I90 corridor have been gated due to target practice slobs but hiking past the gate is allowed and having the gates makes it better hunting.  Explore roads off exit 38 and Tinkham.

 

The pass runs east/west. 460 is both north and south of I-90 within the pass. There's elk throughout most of the unit just sporadic, not very many on public land. The elk that are on public land are not always there and or are very hard to find.

Anyone who knows where elk are on public land in 460 outside of Weyerhauser will not likely tell you...especially being only your second post on this forum.

I've found if you post your stories, pics etc you will get a better response from some of the he guys on here. Lots of people come on here and ask questions looking for information.

[PNW4Life]

460 is west of the pass.  There are Elk down by the fire academy but access is the issue.  Most of the roads in the I90 corridor have been gated due to target practice slobs but hiking past the gate is allowed and having the gates makes it better hunting.  Explore roads off exit 38 and Tinkham.

Thanks for the suggestion. I spent the weekend looking around on the north side of I-90. Drove in to the Middle Fork Campground area and hiked in from there. It was a hot weekend to be out hiking around and I probably ended up swimming as much as hiking. I saw goats and deer, but didn't come up on any elk, not even sign. Spent a few hours glassing but came up empty.
I guess I'll get out and do some scouting between exit 38 and 47 along the South Fork off Tinkham and see what turns up. Might check out Lake Annette area too and worst case scenario, I'll at least have a good place to camp, cool off and tackle Silver and Abiel Peaks for some glassing of the surrounding areas.
Does anyone know how far south could I get from I-90 before I cross the boundary into the CRWS?

[wooltie]

WDFW goHunt should help ya out.

[super186]

PNW,

Like they said unit 460 hasn't been very successful in the past because most of the elk hang out on private property or in the no shoot city limits of North Bend and Snoqualmie. On the south side of I-90 the raging River is the southern boundary down to I-18. Check the USVEMG website for no shooting area maps. You may also want to look into Hancock, but you will have to buy a permit.

Good Luck

[Tbob]

Just FYI: I've been scouting Hancock pretty hard lately and still havent found a single track/poop or any sign of elk as of yet..

[BsB]

Cheese! This pic is from hancocks snoqualmie tree farm.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Tbob]

Dang it!! Guess I just have to scout harder! I knew they had to be in there! Thanks for the sweet pic..

[wooltie]

this is the closest thing I saw to what might be elk sign...haven't run across any "wagon trails" yet...Canvassing the whole place...trying to figure out if they're primarily east or west of the NF snoq.

[chef bama]

Give a holler, I'd be up for Mt. Defiance, Thompson Lake, maybe even Goat Mtn.

[mxryder909]

Money talks, but not everyone is willing to open up their property... I trade beer, as i am a brewer.... People love beer, and people love me knocking at there door...

Offer a deal they cant refuse for access, not meat since your not guaranteed anything.... labor/painting etc....
Good luck and happy wheeling and dealing.... otherwise, try eastern my area caught fire already