Do backcountry elk hunts exist in Western Washington?

[TRD1911]

As this season winds down I've set my focus to new challenges for next year. I've only picked up archery elk hunting in the past six years. I've had success on one bull now; taken on my inlaws property near Aberdeen. I'm grateful for the success but let's just call it more of a harvest than a hunt, ha!

For the past 4 years a Marine Corps buddy of mine has been making the trip for high buck and a backcountry experience that he can't get in his home state of Michigan. After some great deer hunts and many lessons learned (for both of us), we've decided that 2021 is the year that we turn our annual hunt into an archery elk pursuit.

So, that leads me to the point of my rambling; does the made-for-tv backcountry elk hunt exist in WA? I've done backcountry bear and deer in western Washington but these were areas that either don't hold elk or a general season doesnt exist. my buddy made an excel spreadsheet on harvest reports for the past two years,  we've researched forums, reading trail reports and even social media in pursuit of narrowing down where our summer scouting trips should be focused next year.

Of course I wouldn't break the cardinal rule of asking for your spot but information and confirmation that such a place exists would be greatly appreciated.

my buddy's checklist on what he envisions-
See elk
at least 4-6 miles in
challenging terrain

(I know I picked the right hunting partner when he didn't list "killing a trophy bull" there).

as of now my summer calender is clear so here's the question. What three units that meet the above criteria would you recommend in W. Washington (west Cascades)? If I don't plug in a scouting plan soon my wife will find more "useful" ways for me to spend the summer, ha!

[bobcat]

I won't narrow it down to a specific unit but if it were me I'd be looking at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

[MADMAX]

 

[nwwanderer]

And be sure to test and bring extra rain gear

[Skyvalhunter]

 

[trophyhunt]

I bet there is some good backcountry elk hunts in the olympics, If I was a younger man, I'd look there.  In Archery season I'd be more worried about the bugs than the wet weather, some places the mosquitos will run you out of the woods.  Therma cell works pretty well.

[Stein]

The good part of western wa is that in most places, if you go 100 yards off the trail it seems awfully backcountry all of a sudden.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Two of your buddies requirement are easy to fill on the westside. It's the first one that's kinda the most important one.

Your summer being free is huge. Plan on a three month elk hunt starting in June. I would start as close to home as possible and expand from there.

Plan that everything will change day one of September. 

 

[Sitka_Blacktail]

638 will fit your requirements except you'll probably only be 2-3 miles in. But you will definitely be in back country. And you won't find any tougher terrain to hunt elk in.

[kselkhunter]

No, the tv-show-like hunts don't exist because there are for more people in the backcountry because of said tv shows/youtube/podcasts.....   


There are some backcountry hunt areas, and they get heavy hunting traffic (some areas have more guys packed into the backcountry than on the roads).  That being said, the elk are still in there.  They are just heavily pressured and behave a bit differently.....once you get their patterns figured out it's still a fun time.   So go into it with a mindset that you're going to see/hear more hunters per day than elk, and it will help level-set your expectations.   


The key is learning the area well.   Learn the elk patterns once hunters show up, where the elk escape to, where they feel comfortable enough again to respond to a bugle, what their preferred travel routes are around where all the hunt camps are, etc.   Scouting in advance helps learn the area and topography, but it could take a few years of hunting to learn how the elk behave once the throngs of backcountry hunters arrive.  You're not just outsmarting the elk, you're outsmarting the  other hunters as well.
 

My advice is to stubbornly stick with it at least 3 years....it may be discouraging the first couple of years but if you stick with it the payoff is worth it years later. 


And it's western WA:  you will likely hear elk, but it is entirely possible you can go an entire season without "seeing" the elk even though it's standing 30 yards from you.   So maybe revisit the first item on your buddies checklist and revise it to "hear elk crashing through the forest", and that will be a better first year goal for your first backcountry elk hunt in western WA.   That's not a joke, I'm being serious.   In the thick stuff you can have a bull bugling at you at 30-40 yards and he won't step out for a shot attempt regardless of what you try (well educated bulls due to the heavy hunting pressure).

[JimmyHoffa]

638 will fit your requirements except you'll probably only be 2-3 miles in. But you will definitely be in back country. And you won't find any tougher terrain to hunt elk in.

  That is one of the coastal areas that comes to mind.  You can even find some decent trail access.  A few of the other units in the area are similar in terrain, but have decommissioned roads.  You can go 10-12 miles in.  Trying to haul something out would definitely be a challenge.

[TRD1911]

It's blowing my mind that some of the brains I want to 'pick' most on this site are showing up with suggestions. Sincerely appreciate it.

I just spent some time out in Clearwater for late archery. Initially I wrote it off as I only got into two herds of cows (and a spike) which were both near timber lands or private. Sign was very scarce in deep. If you're reading this and still out for late archery in Clearwater I'll send you some info on where I picked up the herds if it will help (like I said, didnt see any bulls though).

There has been a couple suggestions to give it another shot but I just didn't feel like it was "it". I'm by far no expert so when this suggestion keeps popping up I'd be silly not to reconsider. It's back on the list

[Special T]

I think lots of places exist. I did a back country archery elk hunt a few years back. The hiking and views were as much of the back country experience as you can expect, in comparison to what you see on TV Youtube ect. Off trail hunting and hiking opportunities were awesome. Still saw plenty of folks and even called in some other hunters.

[tinsleystyle]

Get deep into the Packwood GMU 516. Or, head south to trout lake.

[TRD1911]

I won't narrow it down to a specific unit but if it were me I'd be looking at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Get deep into the Packwood GMU 516. Or, head south to trout lake.

This looks promising!

I really didn't expect so many great suggestions. That looks like some big country with lots of opportunity. Thank you

[TRD1911]

Get deep into the Packwood GMU 516. Or, head south to trout lake.

Looking at aerials on basemap and Onx it looks like there's sporadic logging; any issues with access/gates?

[westside Elkhunter]

More and more elk are moving down by Packwood. Seeing less sign in certain areas i have hunted. If you are looking at packwood. I would start looking at some of the trails up towards white pass. Then when the snow starts melting start checking certain areas out.

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[dvolmer]

I'm not sure if elk hunting even exists anymore in Washington!  More like a late autumn camping trip!!! 

[stlusn30-06]

I dig your thought process. A heads up someone gave me (not sure what archery season you are planning for), but keep in mind meat spoilage if you are planning on going in warmer temps. 4-6mi on foot, with 100+ pound packs for multiple trips = many, many hours of pack out. If you are thinking early archery (which would about coincide with your High Buck trips) do a bunch of research and practice on how to keep meat from spoiling.

[2MANY]

I would try a different approach.
Track the guys here that are giving locations out and follow them to their hunting spots.

[Sundance]

backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.

[TRD1911]

I dig your thought process. A heads up someone gave me (not sure what archery season you are planning for), but keep in mind meat spoilage if you are planning on going in warmer temps. 4-6mi on foot, with 100+ pound packs for multiple trips = many, many hours of pack out. If you are thinking early archery (which would about coincide with your High Buck trips) do a bunch of research and practice on how to keep meat from spoiling.

For sure. We've done that struggle for bear in the past. Coincidentally just finished the podcast with Newberg and Jacobson on the topic. Good info for sure

[Skyvalhunter]

backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.

But did you see any elk?

[2MANY]

Lucky he didn't see a yarder on that landing.

[Sundance]

backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.

But did you see any elk?

Most definitely did not! Three years ago that area was holding lots of elk, this year was a bust. Ended up moving 75 miles and found them in a different GMU.

[scotbradly726]

Just curious, why not SE Wa? There's elk in the Blue's for certain, and with what you wanna do, is pretty much the only way you'll find them. They are in there deep off the beaten path. it's about as back country as you'll find in this state.

[TRD1911]

Just curious, why not SE Wa? There's elk in the Blue's for certain, and with what you wanna do, is pretty much the only way you'll find them. They are in there deep off the beaten path. it's about as back country as you'll find in this state.

My inlaws property is primarily where I can count on seeing elk every time and they live in Aberdeen. If I can fill my personal tag before my buddy flies out great, if not we both have a western elk tag.

[LDennis24]

 

Go up around Mt. Adams. I hiked up in there one time to a spot where the water was rushing underground beneath your feet and you could hear it but not see it unless you looked down between the tree roots of the old growth. It was awesome! There's alot of cool land in there. Go into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. It has elk and the worst biting insects I've ever been around. So bring spray!

[CoryTDF]

Go up around Mt. Adams. I hiked up in there one time to a spot where the water was rushing underground beneath your feet and you could hear it but not see it unless you looked down between the tree roots of the old growth. It was awesome! There's alot of cool land in there. Go into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. It has elk and the worst biting insects I've ever been around. So bring spray!

I hunted around Mt. Adams one season and it was really cool. I didn't tag out and the rain was merciless but it was beautiful and I would think about doing it again. Not a ton of folks up where I was other than the people I was hunting with. Certainly could have done some back country stuff. 

[2MANY]

Oh and the blue berries are to die for.

[LDennis24]

The Goat Rocks are an awesome place as well. Go on the Southwest side of them and do some scouting between there and Mt. Adams and Walupt Lake area

[TRD1911]

The Goat Rocks are an awesome place as well. Go on the Southwest side of them and do some scouting between there and Mt. Adams and Walupt Lake area

I was looking at pictures on a backpacker forum from trails in this area. Looks like amazing country. That area is on the short list for sure. A coworker of mine who does a lot of hiking in that area expressed interest in learning to hunt so I may have a guide/student to help with the pack out (if the stars align, ha!)