Elk on Windmill area

[baldopepper]

Drove back on I-90 late yesterday and usually see elk on the windmill area, but nothing like there were yesterday.  For about a 2 mile stretch down from Rye Grass summit the north side of the freeway was literally covered with elk. If anyone wants to see a lot of animals, just take a drive over as far as Vantage and watch the north side of the freeway hillsides.  I'd suggest being careful if you drive that area at night when they start crossing over the freeway.

[rougheye]

Dot started using salt on the roads again . Huge problem with elk on the road. I heard they were trying to build a fence

[full choke]

Two weeks ago I had to hit the brakes and swerve to avoid a small herd on I-90 about a 1/4 mile from Vantage. It was super foggy and I was going slow, but it was still nerve racking. Visibility was in the yards. There was a big rig not far behind me, I wonder if he made it through?

[yakimanoob]

Sounds like it's time to patrol for roadkill salvage... 

Stay safe folks.  That stretch of highway is deadly this time of year. 

Is there any talk of putting a land/wildlife bridge right there?  Seems like an obvious spot for one, imho.

[boneaddict]

should be some happy Master Hunters.  THey were all standing on the firing center side the other night. 

[baldopepper]

I didn't stop and count but I'm betting there was well over 1,000 head in that stretch.  I've been driving that stretch for years at all times of the year and I've never seen that many. Must be quite a sight to actually see them crossing the road. (couldn't spot a single set of horns though)

[vandeman17]

be careful of the roundabout exits in vantage. Multiple times I have taken that exit in the dark and had elk standing in the road

[jstone]

Time for a road trip

[Skyvalhunter]

Its good to hear there some decent number of elk around besides ones and twos

[Dan-o]

Its good to hear there some decent number of elk around besides ones and twos

Agreed. 

I love this place. You spend all fall trying to find elk, and mysticaaly they show up here by the hundreds and hundreds. 

I also appreciate that local wdfw watch them closely.

[Moe the Sleaze]

The presence of the windfarm has affected their migration more than usual.  And will continue to do so.  Things have changed in the southeastern Colockum.  Minimal human activity on the windfarm, restricted road access etc.  The elk are naturally drawn there now.  I know there are special permits, but they will have to be increased.  Those elk will likely start hanging at the windfarm year-round too.

[boneaddict]

I thought there was a reserve there.

I know there have been elk there for decades though in large numbers this time of year.  Long before the windmills

[baldopepper]

I thought there was a reserve there.

I know there have been elk there for decades though in large numbers this time of year.  Long before the windmills

Ive seen them there for years also, just never in the numbers that are there now.  There have actually been a few there all summer and fall. I don’t know if they’re going stay or spread back out.

[Moe the Sleaze]

Yeah, I can't prove my theory, its just a feeling I have that the wind farms have drawn greater numbers of elk into that area than before. Maybe they're hypnotized by the spinning blades...

But I agree, there have been some elk there all along, especially this time of year.  Dodged a great many individual animals or small groups over the years driving between Seattle and Spokane.  Never big herds though.

[wheels]

dang missing the mass migration lol

[Killmore]

I wonder if they are hanging out more there know because some of that area burned awhile back and there is more feed there.

[jstone]

There is not a lot of snow yet so why are they so low? Is there not feed higher

[mfswallace]

There is not a lot of snow yet so why are they so low? Is there not feed higher

Wolves and natives up high

[banishd]

i saw two guys in blaze orange parked off the side of the highway and walking up the hill towards them last weekend

[jstone]

If people mess with them I‎t could get ugly.!! If they run towards the highway

[full choke]

i saw two guys in blaze orange parked off the side of the highway and walking up the hill towards them last weekend

I could be wrong- but I think there was a group of volunteer's working on the fence last weekend. My buddy drove by that weekend and said he saw a whole bunch of people in orange along that stretch, and he said he didn't see any weapons. He was wondering what they might have been doing too.

[kball4]

My group took 3 cows out of the Wild Horse Wind Farm during modern.  PSE guy said its not uncommon to see 100-200 head a day even during rifle season.

[C-Money]

A lot of the lower green dot roads are closed to protect migrating animals. On one hand this is good, but on the other, these roads gave a place to ride down out of the snow during winter.

[CAMPMEAT]

Just wait for the WDFW to bus in a few wolves from NE Washington. Your dreams will be gone instead of giving out permits...

[chukarchaser]

I agree with the wolves comment. Elk numbers in that at area have increased dramatically.

[wheels]

just spent 2 days on firing center those elk know  safe zone  theres 700 that runs to ginco  forest if you get with in 3 miles of them  and an other 100 on impact area