General Tag Assassin

[trophyhunt]

No elk around Mt. Rainier, thanks for the info. Does that mean I will have all of the woods to myself....  hahaha

youll be surprised how many humans you see up there, but it’s a big area.

[Dtray332]

Also looking at 516. I plan to scout it in July and August.

[jwfaber1]

New to Washington as well. I've been looking at 513, 516, and 560. Anyone know which of these units would be best to avoid humans? Or is avoiding humans not a thing around here? I'm willing to pack in deep.

[W_Ellison2011]

The areas that I was looking at on onxmaps are 513, 516, 560. They are listed under general elk archery. Are these otc or am I reading it wrong?

I've been hunting 513 for 20 years... the elk herds are almost completely gone. I'm not saying that as a joke... You can find them from time to time but its pretty rare. I remember when I first started going up there we used to see multiple herds every day and now you are lucky to see any elk at all throughout a hunting season. If you drop down the backside of skate creek rd into packwood there is almost always the town herd to stare at lol!

[mikelonsford]

There are elk in all those units and they are all over in those units.  You will see elk, you will see people, doesn’t matter how far in you go or not.  The elk will move to where they feel the least pressure and move when they feel some again.  There are plenty of hunters in any season in those units.  I do like hunting western WA vs eastern WA as you have the chance at a branch bull every year.  Western WA has plenty of elk, you just have to be in the right place at the right time.  Good Luck
Mike

[bkaech]

I hear a lot of people say they are willing to go in deep to get away from people, but you can't find too many spots in western WA that there isn't a another road a mile or 2 away on the other side of the ridge. I don't think hunting the westside is about going in deep, just a few hundred yards can be "deep" if you are in thick country.

[Dtray332]

After pouring over sat imagery and topo maps, I've come to the conclusion that terrain will be the identifier of deep. Straight line distance may be a mile or two, but you may have to cross a ridge line that will keep some people out.

[bullcanyon]

Nothing better than being 5 miles in and getting a primos blue reed response to your location bugle followed up with some hootchie momma cow calls.. Lol

Plan on company so when you do run into someone you won't get discouraged. Staying out and pounding ground will be needed to punch a tag. Not sure why the elk numbers are down in these units, but they definitely are. Really sucks because these units used to be a lot of fun. Even 10 years ago you could easily have a half dozen good encounters a day.. Good luck getting that now. I run into guys that don't even see an elk. Hopefully they'll bounce back some day.

[W_Ellison2011]

Nothing better than being 5 miles in and getting a primos blue reed response to your location bugle followed up with some hootchie momma cow calls.. Lol

Plan on company so when you do run into someone you won't get discouraged. Staying out and pounding ground will be needed to punch a tag. Not sure why the elk numbers are down in these units, but they definitely are. Really sucks because these units used to be a lot of fun. Even 10 years ago you could easily have a half dozen good encounters a day.. Good luck getting that now. I run into guys that don't even see an elk. Hopefully they'll bounce back some day.

I'm not going to get into blaming certain groups... but in 513 I know there has been both a lot more people up there hunting elk and poaching. I agree 10 years ago you used to be able to head down just about any of the trails and run into elk. I've been in the unit since before I could walk with my parents and I'm 32 now. My father has been hunting 513 for 40 years. Used to go up with a big group of his buddies and the group would always pull elk out and now its like the elk vanished up there. There is 1 spot I still have hope for though. Haven't been able to get a vehicle up the road and to the trail, short trail maybe a couple miles and pretty flat on top, for at least 7-8 years and we used to see deer, bears, and elk up there every time we went up.

[Dtray332]

When backpacking in for a few days, does it matter where you park your truck? Does it have to be at a trail head?

[Miles]

Nothing better than being 5 miles in and getting a primos blue reed response to your location bugle followed up with some hootchie momma cow calls.. Lol

Plan on company so when you do run into someone you won't get discouraged. Staying out and pounding ground will be needed to punch a tag. Not sure why the elk numbers are down in these units, but they definitely are. Really sucks because these units used to be a lot of fun. Even 10 years ago you could easily have a half dozen good encounters a day.. Good luck getting that now. I run into guys that don't even see an elk. Hopefully they'll bounce back some day.

I'm not going to get into blaming certain groups... but in 513 I know there has been both a lot more people up there hunting elk and poaching. I agree 10 years ago you used to be able to head down just about any of the trails and run into elk. I've been in the unit since before I could walk with my parents and I'm 32 now. My father has been hunting 513 for 40 years. Used to go up with a big group of his buddies and the group would always pull elk out and now its like the elk vanished up there. There is 1 spot I still have hope for though. Haven't been able to get a vehicle up the road and to the trail, short trail maybe a couple miles and pretty flat on top, for at least 7-8 years and we used to see deer, bears, and elk up there every time we went up.

Wouldn’t be surprised if someone on this site figures out exactly where you are describing.  Hopefully your just playing games.  Regardless, some desperate person will figure it out and you’ll have extra company.

[ghosthunter]

No one in our party drew a cow tag. So we just are not going.
Rather spend a week grouse , bear and tote hunting than looking for a spike.

[W_Ellison2011]

Nothing better than being 5 miles in and getting a primos blue reed response to your location bugle followed up with some hootchie momma cow calls.. Lol

Plan on company so when you do run into someone you won't get discouraged. Staying out and pounding ground will be needed to punch a tag. Not sure why the elk numbers are down in these units, but they definitely are. Really sucks because these units used to be a lot of fun. Even 10 years ago you could easily have a half dozen good encounters a day.. Good luck getting that now. I run into guys that don't even see an elk. Hopefully they'll bounce back some day.

I'm not going to get into blaming certain groups... but in 513 I know there has been both a lot more people up there hunting elk and poaching. I agree 10 years ago you used to be able to head down just about any of the trails and run into elk. I've been in the unit since before I could walk with my parents and I'm 32 now. My father has been hunting 513 for 40 years. Used to go up with a big group of his buddies and the group would always pull elk out and now its like the elk vanished up there. There is 1 spot I still have hope for though. Haven't been able to get a vehicle up the road and to the trail, short trail maybe a couple miles and pretty flat on top, for at least 7-8 years and we used to see deer, bears, and elk up there every time we went up.

Wouldn’t be surprised if someone on this site figures out exactly where you are describing.  Hopefully your just playing games.  Regardless, some desperate person will figure it out and you’ll have extra company.

Theres a TON of roads with offshoots that haven't been able to be traveled up in that unit for years plus its a decent sized unit. I'm not playing games about anything I've said about the 513 unit. Hell they haven't even taken the time to fix the 47 road that goes between packwood and randle or the 63 road that slid out that you could take off the 47 to drop down into randle. My favorite thing up there anymore is all the tourists driving their little cars and getting stuck in the ruts from the creeks coming down the road while trying to find the highrock lookout hike. It's a nice hike but I've got a couple better spots for views. One of my view spots you can see Mt Rainier, Mt adams, and I believe its mt st Helens on a clear day. Ohh and lets also not forget the MULTIPLE large camps of people picking berries, salal, bear grass, fir bows. They caught a couple groups of people of Hispanic origin up there fighting over mushroom patches and poaching a TON of deer and whatever else they could find.

[Dtray332]

Soooooo, how about parking that truck? Trailhead or just anywhere? My first year up here in Washington, sounds like it is going to be interesting.

[bullcanyon]

You can park anywhere you want and bail in. Trailheads will generally get you deeper quicker but that don't mean you're going to go straight to Elk. I'm sure it sounds like we are trying to detour you but that is not the case just want you to have realistic expectations. I wish you luck and I hope you are able to enjoy an unmolested hunt.