Goat Rocks Wilderness- Packwood side

[Optimusprime]

Looking for some info about the GRW from the Packwood side for an elk hunt. If you’ve hunted there before and wanted to shoot me a PM, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.


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[hogslayer]

You’ll be there with about 743 other people. 

[Jpmiller]

You’ll be there with about 743 other people.

I tried scouting it out one summer and after about 830 in the morning I couldn't get away from anyone. Talked to some folks and seems that's the norm so I abandoned the thought and looked elsewhere. Beautiful country, saw some sign and a lion but haven't thought about going back since.

[Jpmiller]

Also got a couple hostile comments from hikers, the last trip was during bear in August so I had a rifle and binos and was sitting about 100 yards up the hill from a trail while a lady shouted at the top of her lungs that she could see me for about fifteen minutes.

[nwwanderer]

Lady?  You are a Saint

[jackelope]

I spent a bunch of time there in 2017. Beyond September I saw almost no hikers. One group I saw told me how to find the group of goats they had just seen a couple miles from where we were. They were definitely there. Also saw almost no hunters. I’m guessing that’s mostly because I wasn’t in prime elk country because I also didn’t see any elk.

[elkrack]

I was in there for bear a few years back and ran into 2 guys that were scouting for a couple clients they were flying in from Virginia! He said they wanted an extreme challenge and if they hiked into where we were they got their challenge. Even the scout hadn’t seen any elk. Much more deer than elk

[cem3434]

Who in their right mind would spend the money to buy an out of state tag in WA and then pay a scout to find animals for them? Lets face it, WA isn't known for its overwhelming opportunity or quality of animals and every western state would be a better option if you're looking for an out of state adventure. It sounds like those Virginia boys had more money than brains.

[Alchase]

Unless you can afford to buy the Governor's Tag or Raffle Tag 

[elkrack]

Who in their right mind would spend the money to buy an out of state tag in WA and then pay a scout to find animals for them? Lets face it, WA isn't known for its overwhelming opportunity or quality of animals and every western state would be a better option if you're looking for an out of state adventure. It sounds like those Virginia boys had more money than brains.

That was exactly my thought as well

[Tbob]

My brother, a buddy and I hiked into the goat rocks last fall for a 10 day archery elk hunt in Sept... we hunted sun up to sun down for a week solid and saw/heard ZERO elk. Not even a cow! Not saying there’s not elk in there, because I know there is, but we saw nothing in a week and ended up hiking out 3 days early to hunt a different area  (where we saw elk everyday). 
    Beautiful country though.. we didn’t see any hikers and only a few other hunters on our hike out. The other hunters had also not seen a single elk.

[bornhunter]

Know that country very well. Great place to vacation but would never waste my time hunting it.

[444Marlin]

Many - many - MANY years ago, I hiked in from Snowgrass flats in September.  I don't remember where we ended up bivying, but it was high on a large rock outcropping.  I glassed up a herd of elk spread out and bedded on snow field on the other side of the valley.  It was warm and I imagine they were staying cool.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Also got a couple hostile comments from hikers, the last trip was during bear in August so I had a rifle and binos and was sitting about 100 yards up the hill from a trail while a lady shouted at the top of her lungs that she could see me for about fifteen minutes.

Had a very similar experience up there on a August bear hunt in the mid 1990 's. Never went back.

[Jpmiller]

Who in their right mind would spend the money to buy an out of state tag in WA and then pay a scout to find animals for them? Lets face it, WA isn't known for its overwhelming opportunity or quality of animals and every western state would be a better option if you're looking for an out of state adventure. It sounds like those Virginia boys had more money than brains.

Sounds like the kind of tall tales I've heard from other folks scouting or hunting. Spread some obviously made up bunk so they don't give away any real info. I wasn't there to hear the story so I can't make a final judgement but my gut reaction says its a fabricated story by the "scouts"

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

There is big bulls in the wilderness.  You will have to work hard and you won't see elk "everywhere".  They are there and there is a possibility of killing a 300" plus bull. 

[Halo]

I spent a lot of time there in 2000 for my goat hunt. brutal but beautiful country. I saw a fair amount of elk and some good bulls but nothing huge at all.

[Optimusprime]

What’s the weather like typically in August? Is it random with huge swings in temps like a lot of alpine areas?


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[jackelope]

All the time I spent there in August 2017, which was probably 20-25 miles of hiking and 4-5 nights in a tent, it was hot as hades there but that was a really hot summer that year.

[Jayfire83]

1). You're about 15yrs behind the ball
2). The GRW has been published in many hiking mags as a top 5 destination in the US (Loads of hikers)
3). Loads of hunters looking for that 300+ bull of a life time (Especially now that everyone wants to be a backcountry Hunter)

I have spent many summers up in the GRW and crossed just about every trail off the list. Years ago this place use to be an Elk paradise. This is one of the most amazing wilderness areas you could ever spend time in, but looking for seclusion is not going to be easy. There is still that chance of crossing a nice bull, but if you get one to respond then you'd better be well prepared to play off of all the other hunters that will be calling their brains out.
I know I sound negative but there is a chance. It's a great area for Bear and there are some stud Blacktails up there, but I would focus somewhere with less pressure for Elk

If you're still interested you can pm me and we can chat.

[Boss .300 winmag]

1). You're about 15yrs behind the ball
2). The GRW has been published in many hiking mags as a top 5 destination in the US (Loads of hikers)
3). Loads of hunters looking for that 300+ bull of a life time (Especially now that everyone wants to be a backcountry Hunter)

I have spent many summers up in the GRW and crossed just about every trail off the list. Years ago this place use to be an Elk paradise. This is one of the most amazing wilderness areas you could ever spend time in, but looking for seclusion is not going to be easy. There is still that chance of crossing a nice bull, but if you get one to respond then you'd better be well prepared to play off of all the other hunters that will be calling their brains out.
I know I sound negative but there is a chance. It's a great area for Bear and there are some stud Blacktails up there, but I would focus somewhere with less pressure for Elk

If you're still interested you can pm me and we can chat.

Do you think the elk moved on by hiking pressure, or habit change?

[Jayfire83]

1). You're about 15yrs behind the ball
2). The GRW has been published in many hiking mags as a top 5 destination in the US (Loads of hikers)
3). Loads of hunters looking for that 300+ bull of a life time (Especially now that everyone wants to be a backcountry Hunter)

I have spent many summers up in the GRW and crossed just about every trail off the list. Years ago this place use to be an Elk paradise. This is one of the most amazing wilderness areas you could ever spend time in, but looking for seclusion is not going to be easy. There is still that chance of crossing a nice bull, but if you get one to respond then you'd better be well prepared to play off of all the other hunters that will be calling their brains out.
I know I sound negative but there is a chance. It's a great area for Bear and there are some stud Blacktails up there, but I would focus somewhere with less pressure for Elk

If you're still interested you can pm me and we can chat.

Do you think the elk moved on by hiking pressure, or habit change?

I cant pretend to be the expert on the matter. All I know is that in late August on the PCT you can easily count 30+ Hikers in a very small segment of the GRW. I have seen a couple of decently strong herds in the recent years, but I also know that the hunting pressure has grown extremely high. That being said, if a guy really did his homework he could have a decent chance the opening day or so. From what I've seen though, those Elk are high balling out of there the minute guys start diving into each drainage and bugling from the ridge lines. There are just so many people up there all the way until the weather turns.

[jackelope]

Late August hiker traffic on the PCT in the Cascades is amplified by the northbound thru-hikers. That's peak time for most of them to hit Washington. It's busy and popular always, but there is a significant boost during that time.

[cb1989]

1). You're about 15yrs behind the ball

Can say that about any place in the west these days.

[Optimusprime]

1). You're about 15yrs behind the ball
2). The GRW has been published in many hiking mags as a top 5 destination in the US (Loads of hikers)
3). Loads of hunters looking for that 300+ bull of a life time (Especially now that everyone wants to be a backcountry Hunter)

I have spent many summers up in the GRW and crossed just about every trail off the list. Years ago this place use to be an Elk paradise. This is one of the most amazing wilderness areas you could ever spend time in, but looking for seclusion is not going to be easy. There is still that chance of crossing a nice bull, but if you get one to respond then you'd better be well prepared to play off of all the other hunters that will be calling their brains out.
I know I sound negative but there is a chance. It's a great area for Bear and there are some stud Blacktails up there, but I would focus somewhere with less pressure for Elk

If you're still interested you can pm me and we can chat.

Sent you a message.


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[bornhunter]

1). You're about 15yrs behind the ball
2). The GRW has been published in many hiking mags as a top 5 destination in the US (Loads of hikers)
3). Loads of hunters looking for that 300+ bull of a life time (Especially now that everyone wants to be a backcountry Hunter)

I have spent many summers up in the GRW and crossed just about every trail off the list. Years ago this place use to be an Elk paradise. This is one of the most amazing wilderness areas you could ever spend time in, but looking for seclusion is not going to be easy. There is still that chance of crossing a nice bull, but if you get one to respond then you'd better be well prepared to play off of all the other hunters that will be calling their brains out.
I know I sound negative but there is a chance. It's a great area for Bear and there are some stud Blacktails up there, but I would focus somewhere with less pressure for Elk

If you're still interested you can pm me and we can chat.

Do you think the elk moved on by hiking pressure, or habit change?

I cant pretend to be the expert on the matter. All I know is that in late August on the PCT you can easily count 30+ Hikers in a very small segment of the GRW. I have seen a couple of decently strong herds in the recent years, but I also know that the hunting pressure has grown extremely high. That being said, if a guy really did his homework he could have a decent chance the opening day or so. From what I've seen though, those Elk are high balling out of there the minute guys start diving into each drainage and bugling from the ridge lines. There are just so many people up there all the way until the weather turns.

This is very accurate.