Margaret vs. Toutle

[popeshawnpaul]

The question I have is this...

Well, let me give a little background.  I hunt elk archery westside every year.  If I put in for special permits I have to put in for a westside unit with archery.  I would love to apply for a blues mtn elk rifle tag and then go archery elk hunt but that isn't possible without a multi season tag.  I have about 5 points right now, so do I just put in the number that ensures you won't draw and keep accumulating elk points until I have 15 or so and then go for a quality rifle hunt or do I just go for toutle or margaret and just have a good quality elk hunt with a smaller 4-5 point bull expected?  I'm thinking I'll just accumulate the points...?

[furbearer365]

A lot of you guys are referring to Margaret and Toutle as an easy subpar draw.  By no means is this just a guarantee draw.  4,000 applicants and only 18 tags don't sound like a guarantee (rifle).  I doubt that 5 points will be enough to draw either tag but there is always a chance.  But you guys are all correct about both, by no means would i consider either one a monster bull unit.  There are big bulls but they are not like they used to be 20 years ago.  Simply put, if you are looking for a bull to hit the magical number 300, you better put in for some other tag because you will be extremely disappointed.

[WAPITIHUNTER]

I have been applying for the Toutle and Margaret for 12 years now  for the archery tags and have not been drawn. What the heck is up with that?

I will most likley be applying for the Nooksack as there are much bigger bulls up there.

[Jeremiah P]

Had the archery tag last season, and in my opinion that unit sucks. Yeah I shot a bull but nothing to brag about, just another raghorn. Too many people for not enough open land, I even saw people 4-5 miles behind gates.  I didn't have to burn any points though because I drew it first try. I will just build points and someday put in for a blues tag.

[funkster]

We where in there a year before last during early archery. We didn't see a single person most days behind wey co gates, the bulls where singing. If you can hold out trust me, bigger bulls are in the unit. Another good thing about the unit is if you are tired of getting up at 3 am and hiking and pedaling your legs off for a week straight,you can hop in the rig and hunt the state land which holds some good bulls.

[hard hunter]

Anyone have recomdation for a first elk muzzleloader.  I have to admit that I don't even have to have a bull.  I just want to bring home my first elk..(had the first one I shot in Idaho stolen).

[HntnFsh]

Knight Bighorn,all the way!

[funkster]

Knight Bighorn,all the way!

I think he was talking about a unit to hunt,not a gun.

If you don't care what you harvest put in for the coweeman antlerless tag and you should have no problem taking down an elk.

[heavy hauler]

put in for the margeret  first  and toutle second. hey pope, just put in for the margeret,  odds are you wont draw but there is a chance.then when you get a ton of points go eastside.

[Ihookum]

anything but margret or toutle if you want a 300+ westside bull. Too many ways in to these units and 10+ guys hunting one tag = alot of animals killed every year that dont make the harvest survey. You want a big bull get in behind the roads, set up spike camp and hit the timber where no one wants to be.

7 months till season and time to start gettin the horses in shape.

[elksnout]

I have a million dollar question on these units and the Coweeman, Winston, etc. Where does everyone camp or can you ? I was under the impression that they didn't allow camping on their lands and you had to come out from behind the gates at night. Part of the reason I hunt federal land or am I mis-informed ?

[bobcat]

Weyerhaeuser doesn't allow camping on their land but there is some state land in those units you can camp on, or private campgrounds nearby if you don't mind paying $25/night.

[elksnout]

25 bucks a night is kinda steep when you figure our trips last 8-10 days. And that's alot of driving time if you hunt from home or even coming from a campground. That would be a big change for us as we just start out walking right from camp most days. Kinda spoiled that way I guess. Do you think they really would have an issue if someone backpacked in ? I mean they could see you were there to hunt a bull and not just drink beer and leave garbage, you know ?

[bucklucky]

Save your points and accumulate till you get the Multi. Its a waist of points and time for Margret or toutle.

[CastleRocker]

Yep, Weyco has a no camping policy on the St. Helens tree farm.  However, if you take a little drive up into it during hunting season, you will a LOT of camps.  I think for the most part they choose not to enforce it, as it is a policy handed down by corporate headquarters several years back, and most of the managers down this way don't think too highly of the head office.  

As far as Toutle and Margaret go, I would love to get drawn for either one, but would prefer Margaret.