New to forum and need Eastside late season help

[Fullabull]

Hello all,

Glad to find a forum with a lot of good folks on it. I have been reading posts for a little while now and really appreciate the helpful discussions you have. It's nice to have a forum dedicated to WA hunting and other outdoor activities.

OK, here is my situation. I have hunted the west side for the last four years around St. Helens and have had my chances every year to take an elk but you know how hunting goes, I've had bulls at five steps and just not have things fall into place. Anyway, I hunted the northeast corner this year but didn't have much luck, heard a few bulls but they were very lazy and not very active because of the heat.

I live on the west side but can get to the east side easy enough. I wanted to ask about late season archery hunting on the east side. Do any of you hunt the late season? Do the elk move out of the areas to lower ground? What units might be best to hunt? I'm just looking for meat so I'm more then happy to take a cow  so I would be looking for areas that will have better numbers of elk during the late season. I think this leaves me with hunting these units 335, 336, 346 and 352. Can anyone offer any assistance on what unit might be best during the late season? I have never been to any of these units so any advise is good advise to me

Thanks in advance for any advise you might offer.

Cheers,

Fulla

[bowhuntin]

The nile 352 will hold elk during the late season but it gets heavily pressured. I have never hunted 335, 336. A lot of the late season depends on the weather, last year we got a ton of snow during the late season, so 346 and 352 were packed with people because animals will start moving out the high country to get to oak creek. Another unit worth looking into is the Cowiche 368 outside of Yakima. Hope this helps some.

[boneaddict]

The Nile is a circus.  I haven't hunted it, but am always up there doing photography or getting my Christams tree.  There are hundred and I mean that, of trucks along the road and I swear guys all over.  I think they are trying to ambush the animals coming into the feeding statrion at Clover Springs.  Its not the kind of hunting I like.  There are animals, but tons of guys.  Safety isn't an issue unless you are driving on the road since its bows instead of firearms.  I have no idea about Cowiche.

[arrowflinger]

Cowiche can be a zoo also. Weather (snow) plays a big role in the elk movements. If the snow is deep, by Dec 1 alot of them are down close to the feed station. You still have some thru out the unit.............

[FWilliams]

I dont know much about the bow seasons, if you have a late season in 346 PM me and I can give you some info on the area I hunt....it borders 342 and I just came out....been in there ten days .....saw plenty of animals,even with the bluebird weather.


Fred