Lewis County elk

[Thumper81]

Hey guys, what's the story on elk in the lewis county area? Rumor has it there's some sporty bulls up the Cowlitz near st. Helens. Anyone have any luck in that area?

[Magnum_Willys]

First you gotta buy your weyco tag at $300-$600.  Then you gotta like those hoof rot critters.  But yea getting to be a few raghorns up there if you put the time in - best during the bow rut if you can use a call. 

[257 Wby Mag]

The elk in Lewis county are gone!!! Tod riechert killed them all!!!

[Thumper81]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Screaminreelz]

Sad really, born and raised there and not only the quality of animal but the mass logging has destroyed the winston unit... sad times. Good memories from my father though. Will never forget them.

[elkslayer069]

Sporty bulls? And the cowlitz is no where near st helens

[Sliverslinger]

I live on the the Cowlitz - yes there are elk- and there is definitely an extraordinary and increasing amount of hoof rot. Although there are plenty of elk, the population is no where near what it once was and the same is true of the quality of bull now. That's not to say there are no big bulls- there are. But there are a lot of fully mature bulls that are 5 points or less and raghorns are more the norm. Every elk that myself or my buddies have taken over the last 3 years has had moderate to severe good rot.

[Thumper81]

Thanks for the info Silverslinger. I was debating on wether or not it was worth it to invest in a Weyco pass and put in the groundwork up there.

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

Thumper-
I had some TREMEDOUS bulls brought in by guys hunting general season rifle this year. I am about to post some pics of the euros in the Taxidermy section coming up, but you won't be disappointed. There is a HEAVY , palmated 8x9, a couple of heavy 7x7's and several good typical 6 points as the standouts....all general season bulls in public ground from areas you were inquiring about.

[Elkcollector82]

To buy a weyco permit for $300. You just gotta be able to justify it. Is it really worth it.  Is the area close to you or do you have to drive hours to get to one of the access gates. Spending $300 for trail cameras and scouting in the off season on public land is worth every penny of that $300.  Me paying a timber company my hard earned money for a chance of a rag horn bull. Most likely with hoof rot. Isn't gonna happen. I bought one the first year cause I was new to Washington. Never seen so many people in my life. Early bow season is a joke cause there's roads every 100 yards. Your trying to work a bull and next thing you know here come Tom, Dick and harry bombing down the side road. Slamming doors and squeezing there hoochie momma's like there's no tomorrow. Spent the next off season scouting the national forests and wilderness areas. Never looked back and still $300 richer. no road hunters in the back country. Just my 

[Boss .300 winmag]

To buy a weyco permit for $300. You just gotta be able to justify it. Is it really worth it.  Is the area close to you or do you have to drive hours to get to one of the access gates. Spending $300 for trail cameras and scouting in the off season on public land is worth every penny of that $300.  Me paying a timber company my hard earned money for a chance of a rag horn bull. Most likely with hoof rot. Isn't gonna happen. I bought one the first year cause I was new to Washington. Never seen so many people in my life. Early bow season is a joke cause there's roads every 100 yards. Your trying to work a bull and next thing you know here come Tom, Dick and harry bombing down the side road. Slamming doors and squeezing there hoochie mama's like there's no tomorrow. Spent the next off season scouting the national forests and wilderness areas. Never looked back and still $300 richer. no road hunters in the back country. Just my 

They take thier GF's with them. 

[Elkcollector82]

To buy a weyco permit for $300. You just gotta be able to justify it. Is it really worth it.  Is the area close to you or do you have to drive hours to get to one of the access gates. Spending $300 for trail cameras and scouting in the off season on public land is worth every penny of that $300.  Me paying a timber company my hard earned money for a chance of a rag horn bull. Most likely with hoof rot. Isn't gonna happen. I bought one the first year cause I was new to Washington. Never seen so many people in my life. Early bow season is a joke cause there's roads every 100 yards. Your trying to work a bull and next thing you know here come Tom, Dick and harry bombing down the side road. Slamming doors and squeezing there hoochie mama's like there's no tomorrow. Spent the next off season scouting the national forests and wilderness areas. Never looked back and still $300 richer. no road hunters in the back country. Just my 

They take thier GF's with them. 

Maybe it was Tom squeezing harry and Dick. Idk. Never went up and investigated it. 

[trophyhunt]

The elk in Lewis county are gone!!! Tod riechert killed them all!!!

Welcome back Judd!!

[NW SURVEYOR]

I grew up in Kelso hunting up towards St. Helens until that blew up.
Then hunted Lewis River/Marble and Headquarters till I moved to Enumclaw in 90.
We shot quite a few bulls in the Lewis River unit in the 80s.

I now hunt east Lewis County and have had good succes for the last 10 years.
The Cowlitz comes primarily off Mt. Rainier.
I think that the 25 road takes you south our of Randle back to the Lewis River unit.

The upper Cowlitz is not really St. Helens area.
The Lewis River is a Mt. Adams drainage.

That is todays geography lesson.

With regards to elk hunitng, I stick to public lands a mile or more from the end of the raods.
I have shot nice bulls 4 out of the last 6 years.
OTC Public Lands Fair Chase, .338.

Good Luck.
Rob.

[Thefishguy77]

I live in east Lewis county. lots of elk but you have to get out a cover ground. Find a gated road and start walking. Up hill is my choice because I would rather pack downhill than up. But like said above. Go at least a mile beyond. Most people here never leave the sight of their truck.   There is a huge population of cows and spikes in town that keep people road hunting near town. I guess they think they will turn in to a 3x when they cross in to the NF. I don't get it.


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[garrett89]

When in doubt check yearly harvest reports for the areas you are interested in going.

[SCRUBS]

I live in east Lewis county. lots of elk but you have to get out a cover ground. Find a gated road and start walking. Up hill is my choice because I would rather pack downhill than up. But like said above. Go at least a mile beyond. Most people here never leave the sight of their truck.   There is a huge population of cows and spikes in town that keep people road hunting near town. I guess they think they will turn in to a 3x when they cross in to the NF. I don't get it.


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Are you running into hoof rot in ease Lewis county?

[Thefishguy77]

I live in east Lewis county. lots of elk but you have to get out a cover ground. Find a gated road and start walking. Up hill is my choice because I would rather pack downhill than up. But like said above. Go at least a mile beyond. Most people here never leave the sight of their truck.   There is a huge population of cows and spikes in town that keep people road hunting near town. I guess they think they will turn in to a 3x when they cross in to the NF. I don't get it.


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Are you running into hoof rot in ease Lewis county?

Think so. A lot of locals call it club foot. Same thing? 
Big talk about where it actually comes from. A lot of guys started to notice "club foot" after the logging companies started spraying their clear cuts down to prevent vegetation growth. But we will probably never get the truth.


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[NW SURVEYOR]

The only elk I've seen limping was the ones I laid out.
They limped for about 20 feet, one went 50 yards.
I'v'e never seen anything that looks like "Clubfoot" or hoof rot.
All of my hunting east easterly of 123.
Just my observation after 12 years hunting that unit.

[Thefishguy77]

When you say east of 123. Are you still talking western or eastern wa units?  Just trying to understand. If eastern how much logging do they do over there. I only head that way for Costco and don't see many trees. I wonder if that has something to do with it.


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[SCRUBS]

I live in east Lewis county. lots of elk but you have to get out a cover ground. Find a gated road and start walking. Up hill is my choice because I would rather pack downhill than up. But like said above. Go at least a mile beyond. Most people here never leave the sight of their truck.   There is a huge population of cows and spikes in town that keep people road hunting near town. I guess they think they will turn in to a 3x when they cross in to the NF. I don't get it.


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Are you running into hoof rot in ease Lewis county?

Think so. A lot of locals call it club foot. Same thing? 
Big talk about where it actually comes from. A lot of guys started to notice "club foot" after the logging companies started spraying their clear cuts down to prevent vegetation growth. But we will probably never get the truth.


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Thank you The Fishguy77. I was trying to find out how far east it has made it.

[NW SURVEYOR]

I'm sorry, I was referring to Hiway 123 where it ties into Hiway 12.
Being from Enumclaw I typically come of Cayuse and hunt the South Rainier Unit.
I mostly stay easterly of HIWAY 123.
I've never seen any "Clubfoot".