Hunting around Mnt Adams Wilderness

[Z_rock01]

Has anyone hunted near the Mt Adams Wilderness? I am planning on scouting this weekend and am looking for a little help, I have a couple spots in mind, One on the West side and one one the East. Has any one hunted inside the wilderness? That was also a thought??

Thank you

[Magnum_Willys]

Come fall they all migrate to the reservation.  Pretty country tho!

[coldsteel3d]

The two biggest bulls I have ever seen on the west side were crossing the road from the Mt. Adams side to the reservation side. The bigger of the two was 320"+ish and the smaller of the two was right around 280"-290". Two beautiful dark, dark horned, bright white ivory tipped bulls.

[Mudman]

I spent some time there last week.  Didn't look good for hunting.  Very little sign.  No animals spotted, unlike last year.  Very dry and pretty. Thinking the elk are up high-very high.  Mosquitos are already fierce!

[mburrows]

Was up there this weekend scouting. I can definitely confirm the mosquitos. Huge area though, you shouldnt have trouble locating animals if you get off  the beaten paths a bit.

[Z_rock01]

I was told that the North End held a lot more animals???  any truth to that? Well i guess i will see what happens?? I'll be up scouting this weekend, Maybe I'll hold out just shy of the wilderness...?

[Mudman]

I was told that the North End held a lot more animals???  any truth to that? Well i guess i will see what happens?? I'll be up scouting this weekend, Maybe I'll hold out just shy of the wilderness...?

I would agree to that, but didn't see it this year. 

[WapitiTalk1]

The elk pops have decreased quite a bit in the last 10 years in the Adams area IMO.  As with anywhere, there are pockets/sidehills/benches throughout the general area that the resident elk frequent at some point throughout the season (think 5300-5500' elevation, hint...hint).  No big herds there come hunting season for sure but a handfull of small bunches seem to lurk in the same areas each year (I'm speaking of archery season only as that's where my knowledge base comes from).  Some areas betwen the main road (west side) and the PCT trail are almost unreachable (from the main road, to the E) unless you work in on the PCT trail and drop into them (hint, hint).  There are quite a few hunters that frequent the PCT during the archery season but many don't get too far from the trail.  You'll hear them squeaking their hoochie mamas some days  .  Carry a few mini snickers and other small sweet snack items with you if you use the PCT for ingress at all; I share them with the long range hikers coming up from the south.  In doing so, they'll be extremely gratefull for a non-backpack sack snack and happy to tell you where they've seen or heard elk on their trek thru the cascades  .  On those rare years when you get rain in archery season, the mushroom pickers swarm into the roaded areas.  Watch what you leave in your truck at the trailhead and in camp.  Most but not all mushroom pickers are good folks.   

[bigbeamhunter]

Those hikers are crazy.. I came out from one of my spots and 3 of them were sitting by my jeep. I smiled and asked zif could help them they just needed some water and a ride to troutlake  for a shower. Good luck on that westside there are quite a few people hunting that.

[Elkterd]

I used to hunt up near Riley Creek (archery) and hike in all the way up to timberline, what I found was the elk tend to hang down about a mile to a mile and a half off the main road in the area where the thicker brush starts transitioning into the meadows and open timber. Lots of water (wallows) and pockets of grassy areas where you will find maybe three to six animals bedded up. It's thick and they like it. Pretty country tough hunting it though. Good Luck 

[ELKBURGER]

Tag! I may be up that way myself

[pianoman9701]

The elk pops have decreased quite a bit in the last 10 years in the Adams area IMO.  As with anywhere, there are pockets/sidehills/benches throughout the general area that the resident elk frequent at some point throughout the season (think 5300-5500' elevation, hint...hint).  No big herds there come hunting season for sure but a handfull of small bunches seem to lurk in the same areas each year (I'm speaking of archery season only as that's where my knowledge base comes from).  Some areas betwen the main road (west side) and the PCT trail are almost unreachable (from the main road, to the E) unless you work in on the PCT trail and drop into them (hint, hint).  There are quite a few hunters that frequent the PCT during the archery season but many don't get too far from the trail.  You'll hear them squeaking their hoochie mamas some days  .  Carry a few mini snickers and other small sweet snack items with you if you use the PCT for ingress at all; I share them with the long range hikers coming up from the south.  In doing so, they'll be extremely gratefull for a non-backpack sack snack and happy to tell you where they've seen or heard elk on their trek thru the cascades  .  On those rare years when you get rain in archery season, the mushroom pickers swarm into the roaded areas.  Watch what you leave in your truck at the trailhead and in camp.  Most but not all mushroom pickers are good folks.

The woods on the west side of the mountain are so choked that the elk numbers have fallen steadily in the 20 years I've been hunting that area. If I had two good hips, I'd be working the burn area from a couple of years ago on the south-side. That should be rich with grasses by now and I imagine a magnet for hungry ungulates. Much of that is the MA Wilderness.

[Elkterd]

Elkburger you should have a GPS point of a wallow up there, let me know and I will get u in on the trail away from the crowds.

[ELKBURGER]

Away from the crowds sounds good. Is that waypoint in the 530 rino I got from you???

[Elkterd]

Yes it is , should be up of the 90 I believe?