GMU 618 - Matheny (Elk and possibly Deer)

[floatinghat]

I tracked some fresh sign down from the ridge toward the Sams last year.  In and out 100 yards took almost an hour for the round trip, so slick, thick and steep.  Getting a bull out by one   Regarding other hunters, during late muzzy I counted 14.  There were also a few of others that might have been hunting or just walking in the woods.  It's pretty country but it's my option C this season.  It looked like the forest services was thining the underbrush in some areas.  We need a good fire well behind the gates to help the herds.

[Humptulips]

Biggest elk I ever killed was  on Canoe Cr. Pretty much inaccessible now.

Some times I peer down into the headwaters of that canyon and daydream about bugleing up a big bull...then I snap out of it and continue driving down the road.  One time coming up out of there empty handed will ruin a man.

When I killed it the access rd through the Park was open. When they closed that it pretty well killed any chance at hunting down in that canyon.

[Cylvertip]

Why Stop Bruce?  Its only like a 1600 ft drop from the upper rd to the lower rd/ creek.......  Lots of fun... NOT!

[Coastal_native]

I ran the boundary lines on a lot of those new clear cuts on the reservation side of the area...questioned my career choice a few times.  Going down hill at the end of the day makes my quads quiver.

[_TONY_]

Most tribal elk hunting in Matheny happens in August.

 

[JimmyHoffa]

There's two parts (more or less) to the GMU--Forest Circus and DNR.  The DNR portion isn't all that bad to walk through--flatter and younger timber (but does have swampy parts).  The FS part can get steep or have real old trees.  The FS also did road decoms or abandonments that suck.  The creek crossings if dry aren't bad, but some rain and they are horrible.  But you get miles and miles to go back on.  If you scout and do some trail/road maintenance, you can speed up your access to areas.  The paved roads can be in a state of disrepair that can catch you off guard and do some damage if you aren't careful.  I haven't been there in a while, because it was starting to become a 'crowded' unit. 
The big timber doesn't usually hold big herds of elk, usually smaller/scattered herds.  The DNR section can have bigger herds or mix with bigger herds from the park corridor.
As said, some parts are steep and slick.  Mud and branches on near vertical slopes so you have to go up and down the logs in the draws.  Other parts the trees that have blown down might be 5-6 ft diameter and really slow you down to get over them.
For deer, I don't see lots there...but do see bigger bucks.  Not enough to count on finding one though.

[Humptulips]

Why Stop Bruce?  Its only like a 1600 ft drop from the upper rd to the lower rd/ creek.......  Lots of fun... NOT!

I have 60 reasons why I'm not heading down that hill.

[JimmyHoffa]

Hump have you pressed the park on that?  Especially for disabled hunters.  They have Clarks Fork on the open list with S Shore and N Shore.

[RC3]

  I hunt it every year but if you don't like hunting in the timber and tracking elk not a good place to go.

Is there any other way to hunt elk? OK, yea I guess road hunting. None of that there as all the clearcuts are growed up.

In my opinion no, but 90 % of people don't in my opinion.  Just walk logging roads behind gates which is still road hunting.

I

[NoBark]

Son hunted it  modern this year.  4 inches of rain on the Friday of the second weekend made things a little wet.  You have to be mentally prepared for lots of wet weather there.

[Humptulips]

Hump have you pressed the park on that?  Especially for disabled hunters.  They have Clarks Fork on the open list with S Shore and N Shore.

I have not spoke with them for a number of years. Before it was no way to bringing an elk out that way. Even before the laws changed on guns in the Park you could transport firearms across the Park. They had to be dismantled. The rub has always been bringing an animal out.
Maybe time to talk to them again.

[JimmyHoffa]

I have heard it will likely be crowded starting next year. More so anyways. Talked to lots of rifle hunters that didn't switch over to muzzy that are planning on moving over there. 618 is one of the few that didn't get on the list for additional early muzzy season, so the thought is there will be more legal animals still with the herds if they aren't subject to back to back archery then muzzy during the rut.

[bearmanric]

 matheney aint what is was. done hunting there. Bunch of Winston creek guys moved in and took over. Need clear cuts again that will help.  Been hunting there since the 80's. Had some great times when there was logging. Rick

[mrgoodwrench]

RC3, Humptulips and Coastal Native all gave you good info.  It has very few driveable roads, even fewer clearcuts, very steep and very brushy in many places.  If you want to road hunt or glass, either in the truck or on foot you are wasting your time.  If you can track an elk all day until you kill him, you may have success.  I hunt it every year in late muzzy, I would say the number of vehicles I see have double the last two years.  The only people I run into in the brush are the old farts I run into in the brush in the early season in a different unit, I'm convinced 90% of today's elk hunters can't track an elk.

Hump-  Park Service told us last year no packing meat through the park....specifically asked about Canoe.

[Cylvertip]

I've asked multiple ONP Rangers(Forks office and Quinalt office) about transporting animals and also about archery equipment.  The answers have been the same - no go for either.   

The other kicker is that if you wound/ hit one and it goes into the park, it's off limits.  They will not let you retrieve animals from ONP like they used to.  If it's in the park, it's part of the park.