Observatory Elk Archery

[MeetEaters]

I have drawn an Quality Bull Archery Tag for the "Observatory" (gmu's 340, 342, 334) - Sept 7-19th, first time ever drawing a tag of any significance.  I have never hunted that area and have some questions I was hoping someone could help with.

1) There is very limited hunting opurtunity here for the general early season, is this because of low density elk?
2) From the maps it looks like frost mountain (gmu 340) looks like a super fun place to hunt (rugged mountains no roads), but with it being big country and only 1 weekend to scout I am a bit concerned about locating elk.  Are there lots of elk here or are the numbers fairly low?  Any advice here?
3)  GMU 342 has no early season general tags so elk here will have no pressure and my theory is have never been buggled at so thinking I may be able to fool one into coming into a buggle.  Any advice here?
4) Any general info would be much appreciated

FYI this is not my normal stomping ground and will only be hunting it because of this tag so any info given will be used only in this context.  Any detailed info you may want to share with only me please send a mail and I will never share it online or with other hunters.

[Gringo31]

I'd take a hard look at past success rates (believe they are single digit) to give you an idea of how many elk, how easy of an hunt and how much time you should spend scouting.   

[elkchaser54]

Keep in mind this is a 10 to 15% success rate tag. It's not backcountry at all, lots of roads and dirt bikes going down hiking trails.  Getting lucky and running in to an elk is the story I hear about most from tag holders.  Just be glad there is so few tag holders this year. That's your saving grace. Just find some deep holes and hide in them and keep quiet, elk are there just probably won't bugle or make much noise.

[vandeman17]

my advice is to try and find where you think elk will go when pressured. Dark, protected draws and pockets will be where you find elk 

[MeetEaters]

Thanks everyone for all of the pointers.  General season in 340 doesnt start until the 14th so I will have a week alone for sure before the general crazyness starts.  Cant wait!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have not hunted there for 9 years.
Used to be a lot of elk in there.
340 has 4x4 and motorcycle trails throughout, but the animals were pretty used to traffic all summer.
I really liked hiking the single track (motorcycle) trails between Hereford Meadows and Shoestring Lake, or backside of Frost Mountain to South Fork Meadows (Taneum)
Probably had the most action between Frost and Hoyt.
You can save yourself a long uphill hike if you park up by Taneum Lake and follow ridge out towards Frost.
Check out the goats on the big cliff face above lake, and look for thunder eggs while your there.

[MeetEaters]

I did not know there was thunder eggs up there, i have a few I got up in the Yukon but will definetly bring a few back if i find some.  Thanks again for the info.  This forum is amazing =)

[gasman]

I hunted the Umtanum unit when 8 had that tag, less elk ton less people also.
Was in to elk every day, didn't fill my tag, but that was more of passing on small bulls early in the hunt, poor decision making on my part.
Many of those smaller canyons and ravines hold elk 

Good luck and have fun 

[Twispriver]

It's been my experience that in the Frost/Quartz Mountain area the end of September is better for rut activity than the beginning of the month. In the last two or three years, elk numbers have been down but there are still some to find. Lots of motorcycle activity on the trails during the weekend but mid-week you'll have lots of solitude. Good luck and have a fun hunt.

[kevinlisa06]

Definitely not an easy tag to fill, good luck to ya. 342 does hold Elk, if you need any pointers on areas to scout shoot me a message.


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[ThurstonCokid]

334 is majority private if i am looking at this correctly. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in both 340 and 342. I would say lots of elk in both and not extremely difficult to find. Hunt the draws and class onto other hillsides. Feel free to message me if you need starting points.


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[Austinwarne]

I live around these hills and I would hunt the most up manashtash towards the top. Up by quarts and manashtash lake has always looked really good for elk sign but if u want anymore help let me know id be glad to help.

[MeetEaters]

Thanks everyone for the pointers, I had no idea people were so generous with information.  This forum is amazing!

Here is my current plan.
Plan A: A fellow on this forum sent me some great pointers in 342 to check out (wont betray his honey holes publicly sorry) =)
Plan B: 340 manastash ridge - i looked at the collared cow elk tag data and have put together several spots I will visit.  Number 1 spot is a big burn north west of manastash lake.  My big concern here is the number of atv trails.
Plan C:  Manastash ridge near hereford meadows
Plan D: Hike till my feet bleed.

Looking forward to my laborday scouting trip, All pointers/advice is much appreciated.

[7mmfan]

That collared cow data is very helpful stuff. I used it during my quality bull hunt a couple years ago and found elk everywhere they said they would be. I'd definitely use that to your advantage.

[bigdub257]

Where do you find the collared cow data?

[Dan-o]

Sounds like a good plan.       

[7mmfan]

I don't even remember where I found it. I was sent a link and haven't looked at it in a while.

[bigdub257]

I don't even remember where I found it. I was sent a link and haven't looked at it in a while.

Well if you run across it let me know if you would.  Didn't know that info was even available. I'll check with the WDFW also.

[MeetEaters]

Here is where i found the data: https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/locations/prospects

[tallcooljuan]

I had the Quality Rifle tag two years ago.  My partner and I both got nice bulls.  My advice from the Game Dept was concentrate on Manastash Lake and higher.  I hunted from Manastash Campground and higher on the Manastash Ridge side of the road.  We found both our bulls on different days in Keenan Meadows.  The elk were very vocal at last light and for a while after dark.  They were coming silently to calls during the daylight.
The ATVs tend to slow down when it's very dusty.  I saw absolutely none.  I camped at Riders Camp and could listen to bugles at night from camp.  I scouted the burn hard and that's where I was trying to focus.  There's water everywhere so I'm not sure waiting on water holes would have been a good tactic.  The elk stayed hidden in thick trees.  I was walking an average of 13 miles per day and blind calling to find them.  I finally realized they were coming in silent and I was patient enough.
Good Luck!

[MeetEaters]

Had another fellow hunter ping me about details so figured I should update this to share the wealth of info.

I spent 9 days hunting this area.

First day I spent on umtanum ridge and didnt see any sign of elk (gmu 340)
I moved over the gmu 342 north of clemans mountain where i spent the rest of the hunt.
I did not get any elk to respond to bugling, though I am a novice at this.
I did get a bachelor group of bulls to respond to some cow calls however.
I also got into a group of 15+ cows for about 1 hour with some getting as close as 10 yards, was really disappointed there was not a bull with them.  From my experience over the last few years of archery hunting elk in Washington is that the rut seems to come on in the later part of September.

it was a super fun trip and I found a cool shed but unfortunately did not fill my tag.

[mburrows]

Had another fellow hunter ping me about details so figured I should update this to share the wealth of info.

I spent 9 days hunting this area.

First day I spent on umtanum ridge and didnt see any sign of elk (gmu 340)
I moved over the gmu 342 north of clemans mountain where i spent the rest of the hunt.
I did not get any elk to respond to bugling, though I am a novice at this.
I did get a bachelor group of bulls to respond to some cow calls however.
I also got into a group of 15+ cows for about 1 hour with some getting as close as 10 yards, was really disappointed there was not a bull with them.  From my experience over the last few years of archery hunting elk in Washington is that the rut seems to come on in the later part of September.

it was a super fun trip and I found a cool shed but unfortunately did not fill my tag.

Honestly man im really glad you posted this. Nothing wrong with being new to hunting or a style of hunting/area and not harvesting an animals. Congrats on the good hunt, glad to hear you appreciated the opportunity and kudos to you for sticking it out 9-days.

[hughjorgan]

Where do you find the collared cow data?

For the past few years they have put that information in the hunting prospects in district 8. It is a map with dots of locations of cows...

Follow this link, scroll down to page 5 for Yakima units and page 6 for colockum

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/02103/district_8_hunting_prospects_2019.pdf

[tgray]

Been 9 years since I been in that country, was fun back then but I have no idea what it’s like now. I hunted areas mentioned by the other members. Got a real nice bull in 2010

[jrebel]

There are a lot of really nice bulls in those units.  The reason success is so low is because you are archery hunting and that is never a guarantee.  Sounds like you have some good starting points and with a little luck and good weather, you will have a very memorable hunt.  Good luck hope you find a good bull. 

[jstone]

That’s a stud bull

[MADMAX]

That’s an understatement

[riverrun]

Took this bull with a muzzloader tag 4 years ago. Bulls were really vocal!

[elkrack]

  

Fricken stud!

[FamilyMan01]

My 2 cents....be persistent, be patient, hunt slow and don't get discouraged. It's not an easy area to hunt but if you're lucky enough, there's some dandy ones lurking around!