Standard Tag - looking for suggestions

[thefeve]

Hi Everyone,

New to the site, but have browsed a lot of the content. This will be my 3rd Muzzle season for Elk, and I'm still very new to the game. My hunting buddy that got me into it, moved away this year, but he got me hooked, so I'm on my own to plan out the hunt this year. I have another friend that plans to join me, with a lot of backpacking and animal tracking experience, but will be his first hunt.

We'd like to do some hiking/backpacking to get away from the crowds. We'll be hunting Eastern Wa muzzle. I live in Ellensburg and would like to hit one of the units surrounding the valley, but we didn't pull any special tags this year so we're not limited to any Unit. We looked at getting into Bumping, but worried the fires will make that a no go this year. Considering Colockum, though it's a true spike only unit.

Anyway - I know this is a pretty wide open ask, and hopefully not offensive. Just looking for any suggestions on a unit to scout a bit that isn't as packed as manastash and umptaneum were the last 2 years where we hunted (we had cow tags, though we didn't fill them  )

Thanks!

[Blacktail Sniper]

Can't offer any tips as I have never hunted that side of the mountains, but welcome to HuntWa!!!

[7mmfan]

Colockum will be about the most crowded of any of those units. There are a lot of elk there, and great access, so it makes for a busy place.

Given the state of things with regards to fire, your options within the valley are pretty limited to the lower elevations, or at least the further east points of those units.

I'll send you a PM with some options you might look at.

[thefeve]

Thanks!

[yakimanoob]

Welcome to the site!!  You'll find lots of great info here (I did, anyway). 

The fires will make things complicated, but as long as you're OK with sucking some smoke you shouldn't be too limited.  I wouldn't overlook the Manastash, Umtanum, Bethel and Rimrock units.  They'll be similar to the Colockum herd areas closer to you with respect to elk numbers (and the corresponding hunting pressure), but all of those units offer great opportunities to get steeper and deeper to avoid the crowds. 

Best advice I can give is to make best friends with the maps of the areas:
http://www.caltopo.com
http://www.onxmaps.com
http://earth.google.com

[thefeve]

Did a little exploring this weeken up the nanum unit on the north side of the valley. Tried to get the bike out, but tore a sidewall .5 mile in towing my son on a trailer bike. Ended up driving in about 5 miles, spoke with 4-5 other archery hunters and no one had seen a thing, sign or anything (assuming they were telling the truth). That's a true spike unit too though so I don' t think I'll head back there.

Any suggested starting areas for looking at the rimrock, bumping, or nile units? would like to head up on saturday and scout a bit on the bike, preferably some fire roads so i could pull my son and just look around a bit.

Thanks! and hope you archery guys out there are having a good start!

[boneaddict]

This year, if I were to take pics, I'd hit the Clock.

[thefeve]

How come? My only reason not to is I've heard it gets swarmed with people, and it's true spike unit...