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"