Wet side archery elk

[E35alex]

So I'm thinking about switching over to the wet side for archery elk. Looking for your hot spots or locations. Just kidding! 😏

Where would someone have an opportunity so at least see some animals on public land. I know about all the land (Hancock, big timers companies, etc) you can pay to hunt. I'm interested in public land. I put in all the work, scouting, trail cameras, salt, etc. Just not sure where to start.

I've looked at the success rates, animals harvested, etc and most of western Washington is pretty good. Which is why I'm asking for help.

If anyone has any helpful hints, a pm would be greatly appreciated.

Alex


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[headshot5]

Best bet is always to look at the harvest reports from the last few years.  This will allow you to see which units have the highest success rates.  Then you can usually search for State lands in those units (generally by County) and go from there. 

Above all else get out and scout any area you are considering hunting.  It's perfect to do this in the early summer (July), as animals will generally be in the open.  (bulls in velvet generally hit open areas while still in velvet).

Once you narrow down where you are considering going, ask on her for any pointers in that area, and you will get some better replies.
   

[E35alex]

I've started my scouting already. But I'm like a pin ball right now. Everywhere and nowhere at once.

Just looked up the elk hoof rot map, and looks like I'll concentrate on areas where there doesn't seem to be too bad.

Harvest reports are almost memorized (2015 and 2016).

I guess I should say this. Looking for a unit I can call home. Meaning somewhere I can hunt elk, deer and bear.

Not asking for much 

[Jpmiller]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

[E35alex]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

So your saying Camano & Whidbey Islands?


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[JimmyHoffa]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

So your saying Camano & Whidbey Islands?


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I think there's one bull over there that swam across from Jefferson Co a couple years ago.

[2MANY]

"elf hoof rot" is defiantly a problem the farther North you hunt.

[jackelope]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

So your saying Camano & Whidbey Islands?


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I think there's one bull over there that swam across from Jefferson Co a couple years ago.

Literally.

[E35alex]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

So your saying Camano & Whidbey Islands?


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I think there's one bull over there that swam across from Jefferson Co a couple years ago.

Gotcha! Guess I'll have to become a master hunter and go find him....


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[E35alex]

"elf hoof rot" is defiantly a problem the farther North you hunt.

My apologies, iPhone doesn't understand that I'm interested in elk, not elf.

I've corrected the spelling.


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[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Most all permits for land access on the wet side. National forest is about your only other option.

[E35alex]

Most all permits for land access on the wet side. National forest is about your only other option.

Is it worth getting a permit?

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Depends where you get one. If there's any left. They run 300$ +. So if you plan on using it. But for a few weekend hunts it can be spendy. All the spots I hunt were overrun with guys for archery.  Worst season yet.  The elk were there but hardly huntable.

[E35alex]

Depends where you get one. If there's any left. They run 300$ +. So if you plan on using it. But for a few weekend hunts it can be spendy. All the spots I hunt were overrun with guys for archery.  Worst season yet.  The elk were there but hardly huntable.

I guess there goes that idea. Thanks

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Not trying to discourage you. It's just been tough since the timber farms did the permit for the tree farms. There is public land to hunt but you have to search for spots that aren't crowded cause all the guys that use to hunt the tree farms either can't afford or can't get the permits before they sell out, are now hunting the little bits of land left. It displaced ALOT of guys in places I've hardly seen anyone.

[E35alex]

I get that. Guess everyone wants to hunt near home.

Looks like I'll have to find a place that most don't want to go to.

Thanks


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[Jpmiller]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

So your saying Camano & Whidbey Islands?


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I'm pretty sure you got there but just in case some one who doesn't know reads this island county is elkless. It was something I've been told in jest several times and repeated here in jest.

I would feel like a real jerk if someone took that seriously and tried to scout elk there.

[E35alex]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

So your saying Camano & Whidbey Islands?


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I'm pretty sure you got there but just in case some one who doesn't know reads this island county is elkless. It was something I've been told in jest several times and repeated here in jest.

I would feel like a real jerk if someone took that seriously and tried to scout elk there.

Made me pause a second. One look at the regs and harvest reports and came to the same conclusion.

I'm as greenhorn as someone can get, hunting. No one in my family hunted before. Now I have 2 brothers who followed my lead. Learned everything I know from this forum and YouTube. So yes, I've learned to take everything with a grain of salt 😁

Thanks to everyone who wrote and gave info. I really do appreciate it!


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[spin05]

I've had plenty of people point me to island county for elk....

hahaha  theres is only 1 elk.   LOL

[spin05]

i suggest stick to Gifford Pinquot Nat'l forest.  Its huge

[Jpmiller]

I can't speak for everywhere but I wouldn't let "huge crowds" scare you off. I hunt 336 and have seen several times on here how crowded it is there. Last season I saw zero people (be it hunters or otherwise) who were not in my camp. Seems getting off a road cuts down on the crowds and seems to congregate the elk in those areas as well. I was never more than two miles from a road so it doesn't take much.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

He was asking about westside units. I'm sure there's not too many guys chasing spikes or cows only in the 336.

[Jpmiller]

He was asking about westside units. I'm sure there's not too many guys chasing spikes or cows only in the 336.

That's been my experience as well but I've been told many times that it turns into a pumpkin patch or that there's a bow in every drainage and have yet to experience it. Just passing it along, maybe it's true other places as well.

[Cab]

To the OP, I can't help much in terms of locations but I will say this and I hope it helps, have an idea where you think the elk are but KNOW where the hunters are. This will be my first year as well and I come from a state out east that has very little public land and very few deer(and a bunch of hunters). If you figure out where and when other hunters are and move it will really help you figure out where the elk are not located. Last year I helped my brother get his first deer in a chunk of 50 acre land that had about 6-7 other hunters wondering around but I knew EXACTLY where they were and where they go. They had no idea that the deer were using this small area that you could only get to by following a river and looping back.

I look for nasty brush areas that then have openings, areas that require small slow stream crossings(waders can open up a new area), areas that are hard to get to and that require more effort. Remember what you lack in experience you need to make up for in perseverance best of luck to ya and hope this helped a little.

[Nice Racks]

I usually don't see many hunters in the woods, but a lot of road hunters in 505.  Last year on opening day I called in a father and Son team whom I didn't know was in the area.  We laughed about for awhile, told each other what direction we were heading, and wouldn't you know; 90 minutes later I called them in again. All they did was basically follow us.  It was pretty funny though watching them sneak through the woods and squeezing off their hoochy mommas.

[E35alex]

I usually don't see many hunters in the woods, but a lot of road hunters in 505.  Last year on opening day I called in a father and Son team whom I didn't know was in the area.  We laughed about for awhile, told each other what direction we were heading, and wouldn't you know; 90 minutes later I called them in again. All they did was basically follow us.  It was pretty funny though watching them sneak through the woods and squeezing off their hoochy mommas.

I've driven thru 505, it was august 2015, that was my first year (first attempt) at scouting. Every road I went down had trucks crawling around. Decided to move on. Didn't know there were road hunters. I've learned since.

I've hunted east side and I've run across the same hunters on multiple occasions. I have salt licks setup where my cameras are and I've had people come in and sit my salt licks. They forget to look around, cause I have them on camera 

I've taken a few road trips this year already, and have to say I like the area around Morton/Packwood. Thick and steep enough that hopefully it'll keep the road hunters in their trucks.

[2MANY]

Everywhere keeps the road hunters in their trucks.

Find elk and hike in a few miles, get off the trail, and poof....................No more hunters.

[E35alex]

To the OP, I can't help much in terms of locations but I will say this and I hope it helps, have an idea where you think the elk are but KNOW where the hunters are. This will be my first year as well and I come from a state out east that has very little public land and very few deer(and a bunch of hunters). If you figure out where and when other hunters are and move it will really help you figure out where the elk are not located. Last year I helped my brother get his first deer in a chunk of 50 acre land that had about 6-7 other hunters wondering around but I knew EXACTLY where they were and where they go. They had no idea that the deer were using this small area that you could only get to by following a river and looping back.

I look for nasty brush areas that then have openings, areas that require small slow stream crossings(waders can open up a new area), areas that are hard to get to and that require more effort. Remember what you lack in experience you need to make up for in perseverance best of luck to ya and hope this helped a little.

I would love to know exactly where all the other hunters are. Unfortunately thats kinda impossible. WDFW land is restricted to no motorized vehicles. I've hiked in and thought that no one will hike in this far, or go into this valley, only to hear an engine from a quad or dirt bike. And I've had both. I've had a Toyota Tacoma come over a ridge where there wasn't even a road. Have to say, had the urge to shoot his tires out. 

Sorry for the rant. Just looking for a peaceful hunt.

[floatinghat]

Other hunters are easy to find even in the way back.  There are a good number of animals out there it's just find and area an commit to learning it.  Hunter reports are BS'd and I have talked to guys, who report incorrectly.  One guy even bragged that his "whole family" lied about hunting Hr's and GMU hunted to send other hunters to other GMU's.



Best of luck

[Mudman]

From your description as a hunter and what you are after I think you belong in Adams/Lewis river area? 

[E35alex]

From your description as a hunter and what you are after I think you belong in Adams/Lewis river area?

Is that south of Mt. St Helens?

[NW SURVEYOR]

What Mudman said.
And to take it a step further, do your scouting early, often and late.
I hunted the Lewis River Unit for years and we pulled elk out of there regularly.
Using Google Earth locate a few areas with feed, cover and escape
Get 0.5 miles + away from the road and you're golden.
After a mile, you should be totally alone providing you're not using a major FS trail for access.

I have never bow hunted, but if I took it up, this would be my go to plan.
Bring good optics and use them, even/especially in the timber.

Good Luck,
Rob.

[E35alex]

What Mudman said.
And to take it a step further, do your scouting early, often and late.
I hunted the Lewis River Unit for years and we pulled elk out of there regularly.
Using Google Earth locate a few areas with feed, cover and escape
Get 0.5 miles + away from the road and you're golden.
After a mile, you should be totally alone providing you're not using a major FS trail for access.

I have never bow hunted, but if I took it up, this would be my go to plan.
Bring good optics and use them, even/especially in the timber.

Good Luck,
Rob.

Thank you Rob


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[pianoman9701]

"elf hoof rot" is defiantly a problem the farther North you hunt.

Yeah, that elf hoof rot is some serious stuff. It's expected to decrease the toy production by up to 80% this year.

[pianoman9701]

Where do you live?

[E35alex]

Where do you live?

Auburn, wa


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[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

The elfs in auburn are bad this year with the late spring. I can only imagine them with the hoof rot.

[Band]

Where do you live?

Auburn, wa


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I may be able to help my fellow Auburnite on Westside elk hunting.  I have a location in 560 I used to rifle hunt years ago that would be good for archery elk hunting.  Being able to hike back in a bit would be a big plus.  And there is a good area east of Toledo (unit 505 or 520, can't remember which) that I really liked for archery elk before switching to the east side, but it's on Weyerhaeuser land so I'm sure they're charging for access now.  This particular area doesn't require quite as much of a hike.  I don't know what the hoof root situation is in either area but if one of them sounds interesting let me know and I'll provide more details.

[E35alex]

Where do you live?

Pm sent

Auburn, wa


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I may be able to help my fellow Auburnite on Westside elk hunting.  I have a location in 560 I used to rifle hunt years ago that would be good for archery elk hunting.  Being able to hike back in a bit would be a big plus.  And there is a good area east of Toledo (unit 505 or 520, can't remember which) that I really liked for archery elk before switching to the east side, but it's on Weyerhaeuser land so I'm sure they're charging for access now.  This particular area doesn't require quite as much of a hike.  I don't know what the hoof root situation is in either area but if one of them sounds interesting let me know and I'll provide more details.