I was blessed to draw the White River Permit this year with only 12 pts. I've only seen the unit from the Highway & On-X Maps at this point. I live about 3.5 hrs SW, but looking to get boots on the ground at least 3 or 4 weekends prior to the start of season.
I have multiple questions I was looking for help with:
Reading input from other hunters I get a lot of Landmarks like lakes, peaks, passes & PCT, but I'm not quite clear where the access points are to park my truck and start these hikes. Trailheads or maze of gravel roads??
I'm looking at the area between 410 and the E border (PCT)
Second, My 25 year Hunting Partner told me he can't commit to joining me due to Marrital issues etc and I get it, but I know my Lady is definitely not a fan of me going solo.
This leaves me 3 options:
- Try to enlist another friend who may not hunt to take multiple days from work ( PLEASE NO!)
- Hire a guide or Outfitter (If I have to...)
- Make some New friends that love hunting Elk and are hopefully familiar from prior hunting ( THIS ONE!)
Note: I have reached out to Chinook Pass Outfitters, but have not heard back what they offer for that area.
Lastly, I hear about the weather turning early and realize a tent or spike camp miles in might be rough if weather hits, but I do love roughing it.
If the weather is too heavy, than should I park my trailer off a spur road or do I need a campground to be safe from Vandals etc?
If Anyone Needs Input on Blue Creek Cow, Toutle Elk, East Wenaha or Watershed Quality Bull Permits I'd be happy to share what I know.
I really appreciate this hunting community! TIA
Memories to last a Lifetime!
This year I was lucky enough to draw a special Bull Elk Permit for the White River unit near Mt. Ranier. Steep Terrain with unpredictable weather at high elevations. None of my life long hunting partners were available to join me and I wasnt sure what I was going to do. I called my older brother James in Sacramento with the invite and without hesitation said yes! As soon as Dad heard the news he said, " I'm coming too! Camp Cook!"
We arrived at camp Monday afternoon with Camper Trailer in tow and got prepared for the week. We were in a deep Valley with steep mountains up each side of us. We had absolutely beautiful weather with blue skies each day.
We would hike each morning up the steep trails in dark to see Elk herds around us on the opposing mountainside. Back down for lunch with Dad each day and then immediately back up the mountain. We would see something nearly everytime, up to 6 different groups of Elk, but always 2000+ yards away or a fleeting glance up close as they vanished into the timber.
My brother James doesn't hunt, but was a better hunting partner than I could have asked for! Committed, Up early each day, Silent when hiking, and zero complaints as we trudged on each day in hopes of an opportunity!
Each night we would arrive back at camp to a Delicious hot meal that Dad had prepared for us and sit around the table with stories of our day.
Friday morning came and was the last day of our hunt together as James had a flight home that afternoon. We went back to the spot where we had consistently seen the elk & had heard the bull bugling. We worked up the steep mountainside before light at first with headlamps until we could make out the shadows at our feet. Just at first light a bugle sounded off less than 100 yards uphill to our right. Unsure if it was truly a bull or possibly another hunter we slowly stalked up and away to the left to try and see if the source was bright orange or tan. Just then the Bull Elk stepped into an opening at 83 yards and stopped, quartering to us. James pulled out his phone and started recording as I got into position. I shot and the bull stepped, faltered, then faltered again before tumbling to the base of a tree. Bull down!
The clouds had enveloped the valley below us revealing the most beautiful sunrise above! We grinned ear to ear with high fives and hollering as we walked up to claim our harvest. A 4x5 Roosevelt Bull Elk. It was our Lucky 7th hunt!
The work hard work had only begun as they say and the steep hillside made it near impossible. We only had a handful of hours before we were supposed to be headed to the airport and we scrambled to get the animal quartered for packing back down the mountain. Our backs felt every pound of meat as we shouldered our packs and made trips down and back. We were able to change James' flight to a later one once we realized we just werent going to make it in time. We were able to relax and even stopped for pizza together as a celbratory dinner on our way to see James off.
I cant explain in words how special this hunt was for all of us! I feel so blessed to have had the love and support of my brother and Dad as well as our Families who held down the fort for us while gone! Thank you so much!!
Longwinded is my nature when story telling, but I hope you enjoyed it half as much as we did!
