Goat Rocks Wilderness- Packwood side

[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?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[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.