GMU 342

[firemechanic]

Any of you archery guys have any luck in GMU 342? Anyone seeing any elk?

[spin05]

Wich unit is that?.I went to the manashtash and umptanuam and was brutally hot.No bugling and saw 4 cows...

[Slenk]

Its still damn hot and dry over here . 342 is Umtanum ,I live in this area. Have seen very little sign or animals . Our Mule Deer population has gone to hell . And the Elk are up higher yet . Most of the local elk have been killed off , from heavy hunting and poachers . I have seen a total of 6 this year and no bulls .
Slenk

[nw_bowhunter]

To Hot, dry and lack of animal seems to be a common issue... hopefully it will cool down a bit if not late atleast we got late season. What kind of elevation are they roaming at? Is 342 even open for archery elk hunting?

[General Disarray]

342 is only open to the Observatory archery tag holders... No general archery season for anything in that unit.

I don't see much of a change in the forecast to put any moisture on the ground or even a light frost.  That's why i haven't bowhunted other than opening day deer(and that was just to try and get my 8 year old son on some animals).  I'll head out for the last few days once all the coasties have packed up their camps and filled the fire pits with garbage for the muzzleloaders...

[nw_bowhunter]

Good point, generally the last few days are the best sicne everybody goes home. It is hard to sit around and wait though. I'm taking off this afternoon with my nephew but I figure it will be mainly a camping trip.

[kirkl]

My brother in law is up there hunting now for big bulls, he was seeing anything scouting before the season started. Ill be talking to him today for an update.  Were suppose to be getting some cooler weather blown in starting monday. Highs in mid 70's and lows about 41-42.

[firemechanic]

Crap! I have a muzzleloader cow tag along with 4 other buddies. I have hunted this unit for the last 10 years with decent luck. Up high? Down low? Pine Canyon? Milk Canyon? Any ideas. I will try and scout the area a couple day before. Thanks.

[firemechanic]

Crap! Crap! i just heard that there is a wildland fire in the Wenas area. I this true?

[bobcat]

Crap! Crap! i just heard that there is a wildland fire in the Wenas area. I this true?

Yes, but it was only about 450 acres and was 100% contained within a day or two of when it started (which was Sunday night.) I believe it was in the vicinity of the Observatory road.

[firemechanic]

Great. Hopefully it pushed any elk over into the Wenas Valley. Thanks for the update.

[spin05]

yea i had the Observatory permit. We had frost a couple days up by Quartz MT and it got down to 35 a few nights .It just wasnt enough to kick in any rutting activity thou.The olny sign of a bull was in the upper tanuem.

[Nock Point]

Hello Hunt Wa. members!!

Spin05- We were a bit NW of you in the Little Natches for opening day... We were at about 4500ft and the rut was in full swing! We had 20 or so different bulls bugling, rubbing and charging in over the 3 days we were up there. We were thinking the rut seemed about two weeks early this year.

There is a nice herd with a big bull above Milk Lake at Manashtash Lk. I know is not quite 342 but letting you know what we saw on the other side of the line.

Did not see 1 deer!

[Slenk]

Crap! I have a muzzleloader cow tag along with 4 other buddies. I have hunted this unit for the last 10 years with decent luck. Up high? Down low? Pine Canyon? Milk Canyon? Any ideas. I will try and scout the area a couple day before. Thanks.

firemechanic
I have been all over the lower 342 unit so far nothing , have talked to some guys that have been all over Clemens , Pine , Milk , Evans and Hardy , and have told me they saw nothing .
Slenk

[firemechanic]

Thanks for the info. and updates guys. Hopefully it cools off by the first week in October. Anyone see anything in the sage brush?   

[Slenk]

Not really much of anything in the sagebrush . I live just off of Sheep Company Rd. on Huntzinger . Have been up in the L.T. Murry quit a bit , there are to many running the roads and big parties up there for the Elk to hang around . It looks worse than the old County Dump up there .
Going up around Black Canyon next week to check that out . We have a few choice hidy holes in that area . Damn long walk for these old(67yrs.) legs any more though.
Slenk

[firemechanic]

Slenk, have you been up black cow canyon yet? I am hoping to leave for the Wenas on Wednesday, Oct. 3rd and scout around a bit before muzzleloader starts. Hope i can fill my tag this year.

[spin05]

Milk lk. isnt in the manshtash unit.Manashtash lk. barely is. Manashtash ridge trail is the border there i believe.So that bull and cows may not be in our area