Lucky SOB (White River Elk)

[acspah33]

Hello Everyone,

I need to go buy a lotto ticket because I got drawn for the rifle Elk Hunt in White River. I figured it was worth posting to see if anyone had any guidance for a guy who is pretty unfamiliar with the unit. The Hancock land is all sold out so I will be poking around on public. Would appreciate anything that that could bring me closer to my second west side bull.

[Brotherman]

I drew that area several years ago, and dropped a nice 4X5 at 10 yds, but missed the monster 6X6 standing 60 yds away. Didn't even see him. If it were me, I would head up the 70 RD and cut off on the 7220. Try to get as close to the old burn. There are some patches of old growth up there, but starts to get steep and deep. You will need to get off the main roads and do some hiking. You can also go up the 73, but watch out for the park boundary. Plenty of bear in the Huckleberry Creek area too. Norse Peak trail on the Crystal mountain rd will also take you up into the burn. Good Luck!! Keep putting in for that area, but no luck in 8 years. PM me for more details

[Tbar]

quote author=Brotherman link=topic=272000.msg3692597#msg3692597 date=1656627860]
I drew that area several years ago, and dropped a nice 4X5 at 10 yds, but missed the monster 6X6 standing 60 yds away. Didn't even see him. If it were me, I would head up the 70 RD and cut off on the 7220. Try to get as close to the old burn. There are some patches of old growth up there, but starts to get steep and deep. You will need to get off the main roads and do some hiking. You can also go up the 73, but watch out for the park boundary. Plenty of bear in the Huckleberry Creek area too. Norse Peak trail on the Crystal mountain rd will also take you up into the burn. Good Luck!! Keep putting in for that area, but no luck in 8 years. PM me for more details
[/quote]
Isn't that road blocked by a slide?

[elksnout]

Get the Hancock walk in pass. Saved my hunt in 2019 when we got snowed out of the higher elevation country in the national forest.

elksnout

[huntnphool]

 @rosscrazyelk

[BeerBugler]

Early or late hunt?

[gutsnthegrass]

Great hunt, you can make this as difficult (back country) or as easy as you want (Hancock walk in pass). I love the back country aspect of this unit. There are some dandy bulls up there.

[acspah33]

Great hunt, you can make this as difficult (back country) or as easy as you want (Hancock walk in pass). I love the back country aspect of this unit. There are some dandy bulls up there.

A friend of mine used to hunt here way back in the day and let me know about some solid backcountry spots. Honestly, this is my favorite type of hunting. Hopefully, the weather will allow me to get in there when the time comes.

[acspah33]

Early or late hunt?

Hunt starts mid october

[scoutdog346]

If I had that tag and didn't have a gate key pass I would come into gmu 653 from the gmu 346 east side little naches side. I would park my truck on the side of the logging road close to the  Is Louisiana saddle trail where it hooks up with the  Is Pacific Chris trail/tr2000. I would hunt on the west side of the PCT. As that's gmu 653. Gmu 653 is the white river unit. There r bull in there for sure.  They not that big of one's but lots of small 3, 4 and 5 points.

[Droptine87]

Congrats!

44 people got drawn for that October 15th hunt(myself included). I plan on getting up there towards the end of the month and doing some scouting near the reservation and near crystal mountain.

[acspah33]

Congrats!

44 people got drawn for that October 15th hunt(myself included). I plan on getting up there towards the end of the month and doing some scouting near the reservation and near crystal mountain.

Good luck! Maybe I’ll catch you on the mountain.