mashel unit

[buck n rut]

Been think about buying a muzzloader and hunting elk in the mashel unit this year. I've hunted it before with a rifle and killed 2 nice bulls but wanting to try muzzle loader. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[trophyhunt]

Is there any of the mashel that's not in the Hancock properties that is public? 

[notellumcreek]

 
sounds like you have a good spot if you has killed 2 nice bulls in that unit, why change successful ways 

[buck n rut]

Well I got to thinking I've killed 2 with a rifle and 1 with a bow so I need to kill 1 with a muzzle loader. Just a goal to kill a elk with all three weapons.   I no the unit like the back of my hand but the elk arent there like they are during rifle. And they don't really talk much cuz everyone and there brother bugle every 5 mins during archery from the road.  So I'm wondering if theres any different tactics to use during muzzloader. Like maybe a tree stand or ground blind. I just went and set cameras up two days ago so will see Wat I get and I guess all go from there.

[scoutdog346]

B4 i switched to bow 10 years ago i used to hunt black tail with modern firearm 2 point or better late buck in the machel unit.  I love that area because it produced many large black tail for me and got away from the crowds because I think they were scared of the two or better restriction.  I have only seen elk OFF the private land a few times during the season. Every morning i went there i would see a hurd of 25 elk or so on the right hand side on private land.  One day hunting deer i saw a huge bull in mid November.  It had to b 290+.  I think 290 on public land is a big elk for that area right? Im glad to here about u killing bulls in there on public land.  Im not asking u to tell me where u got the elk but PLEASE tell me how u did it?  I used to love that unit and have seen lots of sign there and just figured they almost always came out at night and iv all ways wanted to hear how a guy harvests elk there.  I will never hunt it for elk because i have my honey holes allredy.  Just tell thw story please!.

[MLBowhunting]

Lots of elk in that unit.  I like the unit and have killed a few elk in there.

[trophyhunt]

Damn, I guess I need to get the map out! Thought that unit was not really accessible.

[scoutdog346]

I used to hunt in a area of that unit we would call the "Elbe hills". Idk if that thats what its called.  It was behind that school after you go by alder lake.  Or u could go a back way and take a road. I 4got the name of the road we would take to get to my spot. I want to say we would take the Scott turner road or somthing like that the back way. Back then the gates were closed so we would park at one of the gates and walk or bike in.  The method I had the best luck with for deer was once i got a few miles back from the roads that were legal to drive on. I found it most effective to walk the closed logging roads taking 10 or 20 very slow steps then stop and look for 2 or 3min then proceed and do that all day.  sooner or later I would see deer way back in tember or a one would try to cross the road in front of me.  It was game over after that.  I only saw elk doing that once or twice.  How do u hunt that unit???  Not where just how?

[trophyhunt]

I never have seen many elk on the Elbe hills side. I know there is some but you have to walk in from the gate by the road, not against walking at all but just didn't see enough elk to get interested.  Probably some pigs in there with how thick it is.

[scoutdog346]

Yea one day i saw a large rub in the elbe hills.  The highest rub spot was over 7 feet high. The tree was to thick to be bent then rubbed on by a elk.  Elk fur was on it also.  Hard to believe i know?

[Buck Rub Jr]

A LONG time ago when I was little and would just go with my dad before I had my license we hunted out there. He took me scouting with him up there one day, saw a monster six. Came back during the muzzy season and set up in the area and before we knew it we were surrounded by elk. It was incredibly foggy, the elk were probably no further than 15 yards away and all I saw was the bulls rack cut threw the fog once before someone started trying to bugle and scared them off. This was probably 13-14 years ago. 5 or so years ago I decided to try west side muzzy and we went back to the same general area, hiked way back in and found a bunch of massive rubs. Only saw one cow that season though and she was on a mission to get out of there.

[Firedogg]

Elbe Hills is one area open to the public, the gate in Elbe gets closed during the season but you can get to the other edge of the gated area by going up Scott Turner road. I also think the state controls the land where the cross country ski trails are that you can access via walk in between Elbe and Ashford.

  There have been years when there are elk all over the place in there and other times you could not find any sign of where elk had been there in 6 months. After the first few days of any of the seasons they seem to get pushed to the private land and Hancock.

[scoutdog346]

I wonder what the impact will be now that wdfw liftied the 2 point or better restriction.  Its now any buck for modern and muzz and any deer for archery. 

[Firedogg]

 You'll see a bunch of german shepherd sized spikes get taken along the roads with a few more branched deer that stay in the brush surviving the season only to be seen when there is no hunting.

[Soady]

Damn, I guess I need to get the map out! Thought that unit was not really accessible.

I never have seen many elk on the Elbe hills side. I know there is some but you have to walk in from the gate by the road, not against walking at all but just didn't see enough elk to get interested.  Probably some pigs in there with how thick it is.

Well those statements speak volumes, there are elk in that unit and one only needs to park and walk to find them during any season. Gates, walking on a road OMG! Look an elk!