Toutle Access / State Land

[CoastalHunter]

This is kinda late but hoping to get info before I put in for my nieces youth tag tonight... How do you get to Toutle Stateland?? Before we went through the 19 mile road but now you need a key to get on weyco land....

What road would I take?

[MADMAX]

3000 road.  The state land was also open to camping.

[bobcat]

It would be the South Toutle road to the 4100 road, then the 4200.

[CoastalHunter]

So you can get there from logging roads??

Is there a way to get there from the main road through town of toutle?

[bobcat]

Yes, that's the way I described. When you get into Toutle turn right at the gas station. If you've got a Weyerhaeuser map that should show you the way. The gas station usually has maps. Or take a look at the "Go Hunt" map on the WDFW site.

[HntnFsh]

Yes, that's the way I described. When you get into Toutle turn right at the gas station. If you've got a Weyerhaeuser map that should show you the way. The gas station usually has maps. Or take a look at the "Go Hunt" map on the WDFW site.

That would take him through Castle Rock up to Toutle. Its quicker to go through Toledo on 505 to the cutoff. Take a right at the stop sign at the end of 505.(13 miles). Take a left at Drews store. About 5 miles.

[CoastalHunter]

Thank you... I knew there was a quicker way!

[bobcat]

I've gone both ways and I don't see how going 505 is any quicker. Mileage wise it's almost exactly the same, so for me it's faster to stay on I-5 as long as possible and get off at Castle Rock and go up to Toutle that way.

The only way 505 could be faster is if you drive well over the speed limit. I do drive back that way sometimes just for a change in scenery, but it takes about 20 minutes more than going through Castle Rock.

[HntnFsh]

Its about 4 miles closer going through Toledo. So it probably is a wash. Just seems a lot further for me because I would have to back track to go through Castle Rock

[Deer slayer]

Don't forget the state land on the south side of the unit as you head towards Cougar. That holds some elk. Sorry it's way past the deadline but if you draw you can look there too.

[CoastalHunter]

Don't forget the state land on the south side of the unit as you head towards Cougar. That holds some elk. Sorry it's way past the deadline but if you draw you can look there too.

oh ya... where I that at?

is there a map I can get for state land for that unit?

[bobcat]

Yes, get a DNR map:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/Maps/Pages/public_lands_quadrangle_maps.aspx

[Deer slayer]

Don't forget the state land on the south side of the unit as you head towards Cougar. That holds some elk. Sorry it's way past the deadline but if you draw you can look there too.

oh ya... where I that at?

is there a map I can get for state land for that unit?

It's up Rock Creek Road. 

[TylerMulie]

My group had 5 toutle bull archer tags, we got 2 because we put in a lot of work, scouting and spent a lot of time hunting! fun hunt but the elk population has decreased dramatically in the past 3 years.

[sneakyjake]

My daughter drew the youth cow elk over thanksgiving.  I haven't been in the unit since my father had the archery tag.  Is the state land the best bet for us?  Can I buy a Weyerhaeuser permit to hunt the rest of the unit?  Anyone who has spent time in the unit during late November, I would appreciate being sent in the right direction. She will be stoked when I tell her.

[TheHunt]

My nephew was drawn for the Nov 23 - 30 as well.   It should be a turkey shoot. 

[bobcat]

My daughter drew the youth cow elk over thanksgiving.  I haven't been in the unit since my father had the archery tag.  Is the state land the best bet for us?  Can I buy a Weyerhaeuser permit to hunt the rest of the unit?  Anyone who has spent time in the unit during late November, I would appreciate being sent in the right direction. She will be stoked when I tell her.

I would buy the Weyerhaeuser access permit. It will give you a whole lot more area to hunt, and especially more area that is clear cut. The state land is mostly timber.

[Brushbuster]

My daughter drew the youth cow elk over thanksgiving.  I haven't been in the unit since my father had the archery tag.  Is the state land the best bet for us?  Can I buy a Weyerhaeuser permit to hunt the rest of the unit?  Anyone who has spent time in the unit during late November, I would appreciate being sent in the right direction. She will be stoked when I tell her.

I would buy the Weyerhaeuser access permit. It will give you a whole lot more area to hunt, and especially more area that is clear cut. The state land is mostly timber.

Thanks for the info. I drew the muzzy Bull tag. The I'll check out the state land for a place to camp & set up my wall tent. Shoot me an email & I'll let you know how my hunt went. 

[goosegunner]

My son drew the youth tag as well. I guess I will bite the bullet and by the weyco permit. I have never set foot in the unit so I guess we have lots of scouting and learning to do.

[CoastalHunter]

My neice was not drawn for the tag... Hopefully next year will be good for her!

[bobcat]

My son drew the youth tag as well. I guess I will bite the bullet and by the weyco permit. I have never set foot in the unit so I guess we have lots of scouting and learning to do.

The only hard part about that hunt will be trying to find an elk without hoof rot. Sorry to say.

[Deer slayer]

My son drew the youth tag as well. I guess I will bite the bullet and by the weyco permit. I have never set foot in the unit so I guess we have lots of scouting and learning to do.

Most of it will be hard to scout since its shut down all summer. At least the Weyco part is. It's an easy unit to learn fast. As said above hoof rot is bad in there.

[bobcat]

If you buy a Weyerhaeuser access permit, you can get in there beginning on August 1st.

   Permits are $160 each and are valid from August 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016 (except during periods of extreme weather). Permit sales will start June 10th at 6:00 PM and end July 31st at 7:00 PM, or when the 5,000 permits offered sell out.

Should be plenty of time to scout.

[Deer slayer]

That's good. I am happy to see that for the tag holders. I will give advice where needed. I know the GMU well and have helped in the past.

[Chesapeake]

I'd expect the logging land to be shut down for fire danger till it starts to rain in September if this weather holds. Something to consider.

[Backstrap]

I had the rut tag last year and hunted the state land. There didn't seem to be a lot of elk, and I never saw a herd per se. I saw maybe 15 elk in 5 days of hunting. At that time they didn't seem to be using the clear cuts at all. The up side is, the timber is generally very huntable, with lots of thinned out tall timber. You can see quite a ways. Talking to others, it seemed like the weyco land had a lot more animals on it. Get on hunt WA and you can do a lot of scouting at home using the topo and aerial views. Being able to camp in the area was a definite bonus, and there are plenty of good spots to camp.