wenaha east post 2015 grizzly complex

[shallowforks]

anyone know how the wenaha east is shaping up for elk since the grizzly complex fire?

[Shawn Ryan]

Did you draw an East Wenaha tag? What weapon?

[shallowforks]

yes, I drew an archery tag

[bowhunterty]

Lots of green grass. Was spring bear hunting over there in 2016. Also hunted edge of the burn last year in West Wenaha. Same. Good grass growing. This year should be even be better since the weather hasn't been that hot this year.

[shallowforks]

that's good to hear, cant wait to start scouting this season!

[Shawn Ryan]

Great tag to draw.  I was in some of the burn area last July and there was full growth in those burn areas.  I'd sure like to take a trek across Moore Flats and see what that looks like now--it appears the fire burned almost everything on Moore Flats. The satellite photos from July, 2017 are amazing--looks like an irrigated cow pasture now. 

The fire that moved north--down the slopes to Crooked Creek and crossing Crooked Creek, burned like most forest fires:  in patches, leaving standing dead trees among partially burned or un-burned trees, while burning all the small fuels near the ground.  Attached picture is of Crooked Creek facing west between Melton Creek and Third Creek with a view of the semi-burned, north-facing slopes.

[shallowforks]

thanks for the pic shawn, sent you a pm. Very excited for this hunt. work production has gone down drastically since the draw results were posted however my time in front of the computer has seen a sharp increase. does wenaha east hold the same potential for bulls as the surrounding units?

[Magnum_Willys]

thanks for the pic shawn, sent you a pm. Very excited for this hunt. work production has gone down drastically since the draw results were posted however my time in front of the computer has seen a sharp increase. does wenaha east hold the same potential for bulls as the surrounding units?

Maybe better but it is also a deep and steep unit and bulls like to hand 2/3 of the way to the bottom.  Good Luck - if you ignore terrain and just go for it you can get to them. 

[shallowforks]

thanks magnum willys. the country reminds me of the snake river unit in Oregon which I haven't hunted yet but am very familiar with hiking it. that canyon country is wonderful stuff. Im counting on that terrain to help me find less pressured animals. Ive had that plan backfire on me before in montana however. backpack in real deep to get away from hunters and find out I got away from all the elk too. that's my only fear about this unit is if there are places in there where there just isn't any feed and thus no elk. but that's what scoutins for:)

[2MANY]

The elk are scattered through out and people will most likely not be an issue during archery.
You might even hear one.

[shallowforks]

if I only hear one I probably need to hunt harder. or like my old man used to say clean the wax outta my ears

[Woodchuck]

The elk in there and surrounding areas have become less and less vocal over the last few years. 

[trophyhunt]

The elk in there and surrounding areas have become less and less vocal over the last few years. 

wolves, the elk are learning quickly.

[Woodchuck]

The elk in there and surrounding areas have become less and less vocal over the last few years. 

wolves, the elk are learning quickly.

Bingo

[Timberstalker]

Most elk are coming out the hind ends of the wolves, bears and cats.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I didn’t have any problem listening to all sorts of bulls in there last year. 😂




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[shallowforks]

LMAO

[Branden]

I’ve been in there scouting for archery during the summer. And got pretty discouraged because we didn’t see much for bulls. Once the season rolled around though we saw enough good bulls to have a fun hunt. So don’t be worried if you aren’t seeing what you expect to in there during the summer.

The last time I hunted the blues I had a tag in a neighboring unit. We set up 3 cams. Never had any wolves but every cam had a cat on it. We did see lots of wolf tracks during the hunt, but we also saw lots of cat tracks. We saw 3 lions during that hunt.

The first hunt I was on there the bulls responded pretty early in the hunt to calling. The last hunt they didn’t really start responding until the 15th-16th if I remember right.

Enjoy it because it’s probably the last time you will get to hunt branch bulls in there.

Regards, Branden

[shallowforks]

Thanks for the info Branden, ill keep this in mind

[James Kyle]

Most elk are coming out the hind ends of the wolves, bears and cats.

That’s a fact, the Blues are headed down the tube along with the rest of the state.

[Scottstjohn62]

How many points did you have?  Good luck! 


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[shallowforks]

Most elk are coming out the hind ends of the wolves, bears and cats.

That’s a fact, the Blues are headed down the tube along with the rest of the state.

Well raise my rent!!! thats too bad. I guess ill jus go on a 20 day bow hike

[shallowforks]

Thanks for all the pm's everyone, I replied to each and every one, so if you got no response maybe clear your inbox. Lots of help!

[Max_Buck]

Shallowforks,

I drew the same tag, but during the Muzzle season. I'm taking cameras in mid August. Maybe we can share some info. Be interested in what you find out on your hunt.

[shallowforks]

Max buck,

Of course, I should be able to give you tons of info before your hunt starts. Whats the dates for the muzzy hunt? You Gunna DIY or hire one of the outtfitters? Ill be taking my first scout trip in a week and a half. PM me, we can compare notes.

[BowhunterPNW]

My hunting partner drew that tag last year.  We did a drop camp with Dave with Western Life Outfitters.  Last year was a difficult year for us, we hunted our butts off and on the last morning of the last day we were hunting, my buddy killed a nice bull, not a giant but a very nice 6x6.  Last year, a majority of the heavy fired areas were full of fire weed.  The elk were feeding in there, using it for cover and bedding areas.  It did prove to be difficult to hunt in however as many of the patches were over 6 feet tall.  We didn't see the amount of elk I thought we would but the entire trip including horse pack in, great camp and beautiful country made for a very memorable hunt.  Also where Dave set up us, we didn't see any other archery elk hunters, had the entire area to ourselves.  We did have some nice bulls on camera and had several close calls (typical archery hunting).  If I could recommend anything, it would be to take your getting in shape seriously.  The country is steep and deep and can beat down a guy.
Good Luck.

[Allen23]

I know a guy that has been in that country a lot for a long time and he seemed to think that fire pushed a lot of elk south into the Sled Springs unit in Oregon........ but I am sure they would have bounced back in there by now, I would say you'll be in them if your any kind of hunter.... Good Luck!! That was a dirty hot fire, but we are now seeing the benefit of a fire like that that unit will be getting better and better for the next 6-10 years

[jackelope]

My hunting partner drew that tag last year.  We did a drop camp with Dave with Western Life Outfitters.  Last year was a difficult year for us, we hunted our butts off and on the last morning of the last day we were hunting, my buddy killed a nice bull, not a giant but a very nice 6x6.  Last year, a majority of the heavy fired areas were full of fire weed.  The elk were feeding in there, using it for cover and bedding areas.  It did prove to be difficult to hunt in however as many of the patches were over 6 feet tall.  We didn't see the amount of elk I thought we would but the entire trip including horse pack in, great camp and beautiful country made for a very memorable hunt.  Also where Dave set up us, we didn't see any other archery elk hunters, had the entire area to ourselves.  We did have some nice bulls on camera and had several close calls (typical archery hunting).  If I could recommend anything, it would be to take your getting in shape seriously.  The country is steep and deep and can beat down a guy.
Good Luck.

@BowhunterPNW
Are you the guy who posted all the awesome photo's on Dave's Facebook page?
If so, you should share some of them here.

[BowhunterPNW]

My hunting partner drew that tag last year.  We did a drop camp with Dave with Western Life Outfitters.  Last year was a difficult year for us, we hunted our butts off and on the last morning of the last day we were hunting, my buddy killed a nice bull, not a giant but a very nice 6x6.  Last year, a majority of the heavy fired areas were full of fire weed.  The elk were feeding in there, using it for cover and bedding areas.  It did prove to be difficult to hunt in however as many of the patches were over 6 feet tall.  We didn't see the amount of elk I thought we would but the entire trip including horse pack in, great camp and beautiful country made for a very memorable hunt.  Also where Dave set up us, we didn't see any other archery elk hunters, had the entire area to ourselves.  We did have some nice bulls on camera and had several close calls (typical archery hunting).  If I could recommend anything, it would be to take your getting in shape seriously.  The country is steep and deep and can beat down a guy.
Good Luck.

@BowhunterPNW
Are you the guy who posted all the awesome photo's on Dave's Facebook page?
If so, you should share some of them here.

No that's not me, I'm careful to post picks of others.

[MtnMuley]

I know a guy that has been in that country a lot for a long time and he seemed to think that fire pushed a lot of elk south into the Sled Springs unit in Oregon........ but I am sure they would have bounced back in there by now, I would say you'll be in them if your any kind of hunter.... Good Luck!! That was a dirty hot fire, but we are now seeing the benefit of a fire like that that unit will be getting better and better for the next 6-10 years

There is no way that fire pushed elk into the Sled Springs unit. I'm sure a few wandered down to the Oregon Wenaha for the time being, but the Sled unit, no.

[shallowforks]

saw two whitetail bucks in the unit at almost 6000' this weekend. I was surprised but maybe that is normal?

[bowhunterty]

Last 10 years I've seen  whitetails up that high

[shallowforks]

so nothing new there

[shallowforks]

Saw a few trail cams in the unit this weekend. Was in there with my son, he drew the archery quality squirrel tag for that unit. Didnt fill his tag but saw a couple bruisers    If you see us on your camera next time you check it, pm us a pic. My son likes to smile and wave at them.

[JWEBB]

Saw a few trail cams in the unit this weekend. Was in there with my son, he drew the archery quality squirrel tag for that unit. Didnt fill his tag but saw a couple bruisers    If you see us on your camera next time you check it, pm us a pic. My son likes to smile and wave at them.

Awesome! Love it when fellow hunters take their kids along with them. My oldest has been coming with me to the blues since he was 11 months. Good on you