Fossil creek gmu 506 bow, muzz and MF welcom or anyone

[scoutdog346]

Any one got to say anything about this hunt or have any questions on (fossil creek in gmu506). This will b the 3rd season i bought the key and hunted it. I still dont know much about the area because i havent had to much of a reaon to move spots in fossil creek cuz there r elk in my special spots. Im redy for a big one.Theres plenty of very very small branch bulls in fossil creek according to what I've seen 150-220" but never over 240. This is including many scouts and by 4 other people in my group.  Is this just how it is in fossil creek or gmu 506??? I've tried all hunting methods i know.  Out of all the guys in my group we have seen 2 bulls over one 270" and one 290" but that was on a game cam. This is in 2 season and many scouts and 4 guys staying 90% of the season and with scouting and over 10 trail cams set up one month b4 the season and during the season. 3 of the cams were up from sep. 20 somthing 2014 to September 26th 1015 the 3 cams one had 16 dffernt bulls on them in one year.(asked a logger to switch out the sd cards and we have have solar)( not including spikes) the rest were very small 150"-220
  And remember them 3 cams were up in good spots and during modern firearm when there all getting pushed around everywhere.  Im wondering how normal is it to not ever see a 280"-310" bull in 506 during the hunting season??? And if anyone has any tips on what i can do differnt. Also i would like to hear anything people have to say about fossil creek in gmu 506 in general

[fishnfur]

This thread belongs in the elk section (vs. deer). 

 You're observations are right on though.  Most mature bulls down here are 5 points, rarely six.  That seems to be the case for 504, 506, 530.   That trait may likely be persistent throughout the entire Willipa Hills Herd (in all GMUs).

[grundy53]

This thread belongs in the elk section (vs. deer). 

 You're observations are right on though.  Most mature bulls down here are 5 points, rarely six.  That seems to be the case for 504, 506, 530.   That trait may likely be persistent throughout the entire Willipa Hills Herd (in all GMUs).

I would agree sort of. I Mainly hunt 506 and most of the non rag horn bulls are 5x5. But I think it it has more to do with the age class of the bulls. Most are killed when they are younger. I think a lot of the bulls that actually make it to full maturity end up 6x6. There are just not many that make it that long.

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[washingtonhunter121]

Do most of my hunting in 506 as well bordering fossil creek. That is typical of the age class for Bulls. Not many get to be 4 pts with doubles.Majority of bulls are killed 1st or second year they are legal in the area. If you see a bull that has been legal for 3-5 years that is a trophy. And even at that the genetics seem to not be making them much bigger height/wide but more mass in my experience. I have watched quite a few Bulls the last few months in the fossil creek unit in a spot that borders my area. Seems to be a decent amount of Bulls but mainly rag horns

[mrgoodwrench]

Fossil creek (actually Grays River...FC name drives me freaking nuts) should be an easy one.  Look at the largest stands of timber, the steeper ground, with canyons that don't have roads in the bottom.  I'd hit the back of the 6200 system in the west fork grays, the 7050/7340 into the south fork grays, and even the upper 7400, 7700 into I think Johnson creek.  The upper end of the east fork grays is getting grown up, so there are probly some good ones hiding in that corner of the farm as well.

[shadowless_nite]

Do you ever walk into the first road on your right as you enter the fate on the mainline. I believe it goes along Blaney creek if you stick to the right, been a while so I don't remember the road number.... last I was in there in 2013 when I bought the key there was a bull rubbing trees pretty dang high. The following year above there to the south in the non permit area we spotted a bull in July of 2014 that was a solid 6x6. That was confirmed to have made it until late archery of 2014. Last year I had a few people  say they had a seen a 7x7 in the same area. And that there as a very big bull in that area. Unfortunately I've had very little scouting time this last summer and have yet to see or hear of anything that legendary coming out of there. But when I did see it, it was a good 6x6. And I am basing that judgement  on my typical mature 5x5 I got from that area. And it was significantly larger. My brother inlaw told me there is still a large bull rubbing trees higher than he can reach up in the trees. And he's 6'3. Good luck chasing a big one in there, I would love to see a monster come out of that area.

[shadowless_nite]

Found a picture of one of the roads this legendary bull rubbed up near Blaney creek.... I circled the noticably higher rubs. And there a few more locations like this with rubs well above my head.