Archery ELK 560 Lewis

[bowkid]

Going to archery hunt 560 Lewis River this year for the first time. Have hunted it with rifle several years ago. Question is would the elk still be in higher elevations in September or have they stared getting in to lower elevations?  Of course any parts that are better than others would be appreciated, not looking for your honey hole just a rough idea of where to start.  Thanks to all that reply!

[pianoman9701]

You'll see more elk on timberland than in the NF. The woods are too choked to sustain large numbers of elk. You can contact Gifford Pinchot to find out where thinning and prescribed burning have been done to alleviate that. I would also go to the WDFW Region 5 office to speak with either a gamie or bio for the particular area you're interested in hunting. Good luck.

[b0bbyg]

I wonder how the area that was on fire last year would look now.  Might have to drive up there and look around a bit.
Fire would have thinned out that area pretty good, just not sure how quick the critters will move back in.

[pianoman9701]

Are you talking about Indian Heaven? I've only been up to the boundary this year - wouldn't know. 

[b0bbyg]

Yep, Indian heaven area.  I remember driving past the closed area last year during the season. Never made it into the actual area that was burned.
Might be an interesting area to go look around, if for no other reason to learn something new.

[slickmannick]

I got in and hiked around Indian Heaven last weekend. Didn't see any sign of elk or fire. I was on the northwest end of it though, I think the fire was just down in the southeast quadrant of Indian Heaven

[bowkid]

I did go up FR25 to FR93 a few weeks ago.  Looks like there has been "patch work" logging.  Not large clear cut areas just a bit here and there.  A few roads on FR 93 have been blocked so not even a quad could get in.  Just not sure if I should go up to the higher elevations or lower or in between on either of these roads or if someone knows a better general area in this unit.  Thanks