South Ranier

[blacktailWA]

has anyone ever hunted the south rainier unit. I am planning a hunt there and am wondering what to expect in terms of elk numbers and terrain.

[Mudman]

Hike, climb and climb some more!  GPS, dont wonder in the park! lol, good luck..

[blacktailWA]

are you talking about St. Helens?

[trophyhunt]

It’s like fight club, we don’t talk about south rainier.  You will see people, lots, some with horses. There are some elk, but most west side units have elk.

[NW SURVEYOR]

I've shot a few decent bulls in there.
Like TROPHY said, there's a lot of people and horses on the access trails.
Get off the road and trails and hunt hard.
It's steep, but it holds a few elk.
Get off the road and trails, did I say that already?

There's nothing wrong with the Lewis River unit either.

[Onewhohikes]

Lets see some pics of SOME bulls

[westside Elkhunter]

All cows and calves in there😂😂

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Tbob]

How about deer? Anyone see any bucks up in there while y’all are elk hunting?

[kselkhunter]

How about deer? Anyone see any bucks up in there while y’all are elk hunting?

WDFW statistics shows it as a low deer density unit.

[2MANY]

This internet stuff is funny.

[Old Man8383]

Didn't say if you're rifle or bow hunting.  If your rifle hunting consider hunting the last week of the season.  Actually the seasons so short anymore just hunt the whole thing.  If there is heavy (3'+) snow in the higher elevations, the Park, and meadows, the bulls  will slowly start their way down by the end of the season.  You'll be track trialing. You were given great advice to get off the roads and trails and hunt cross county.  An yes in this day and age have a GPS device and know not think you know where the Park boundary is.  Amusing story:  The first year (early 1980's) this area was open for early archery elk, a game warden acquaintance of mine had chosen this area to hunt.  He was in incredible physical shape.  He would hike in each morning getting high on the ridges and then cross country hunt.  Calling into the canyons and basins for a bull. Coming out in the dark each night. He'd seen several large bulls the summer before while scouting the area.  This was a time when GPS units weren't available.   It was the compass/map and knowing how to navigate through the woods era.  Still is for me.  I had cautioned him about the Park Boundary not being well marked in some locations.  He assured me he knew where the park bound was and wasn't hunting near the Park boundary.  Second day of the season he got a massive 6x6 herd bull cross canyon bulging to him.  The bull was pushing a small band of cows up the canyon and bugling all the way.  He was barely able to stay up with him.  He got the bull to come to him a couple of times, but never could quite close the gap in areas that were open enough for a shot.  The bull kept going back to the cows.  He came in once quite close but no shot due to the dense brush. Eventually it got late and the elk got above him and moved off.  Hunting experience of a life time.  He felt good he could go back in there the next day and find him again.  He was about 1/2 way down the ridge that evening following a trail out when a Park boundary sign came in to the glow of his head lamp.  He was sick.  He'd been a mile or more above the Park boundary most of the day.   Since a ticket for hunting in the park would have cost him his career (he's retired now, but was a very good agent) he pulled out that night and finished the season hunting lower elevation areas.  So if you're going to hunt up there have a GPS unit and know how to use it.

[blacktailWA]

I am going muzzy.

[10mmg]

Also be aware that the F18’s are a real deal up there. In 18 i had not less than 5 bulls coming towards my bugles when those jets buzzed the tree tops and blew the bull out each time. Wasted a quality
bull rifle tag as a result.