Siouxon Pointers…

[Dark2Dark]

For a lot of years hunting the Lewis River unit I have seen some pics of big bulls coming out of Siouxon.

It’s got a lot of nasty country and I think fewer elk than Lewis River but it seems to have good bull genetics.

We got a few out of state elk so it feels like a good year to spend some time exploring and looking for a big boy.

I have spent some time in the unit but not a lot of time elk hunting. My first scouting/deer hunting trip there yesterday was a total bust because I went cross country and up a major hill just to find active logging (behind a gate) up on top. A brand new road being cut in.

I’ll be putting boots on the ground to try and learn it but I’m not too proud to ask for any pointers, maybe from someone that doesn’t hunt it anymore, or who knows.

Road closures and such have really impeded access, but that’s probably why the bulls get bigger.

PM’s welcome, of course.

[elksnout]

I used to hunt it. A lot. For modern. Had a big crew. We usually got elk. But as time passed we as a group saw less and less elk. Hunted out the end of the 31 road behind gates. My son and I were the first to pull away from that camp. And we hunted hard.
It’s a hard fact that there’s just not as many elk in the Gifford Pinchot.

I did see where they’ve went in and started to thin the reprod but they left the trimmings lay where dropped. Maybe added visibility will help? Sunlight may help with new browse? Maybe.

I’d imagine there may be an older age class of bulls but it’s just tough duty trying to route them out. I wouldn’t leave the Lewis River for the Siouxon.


elksnout

[Elkman30tee]

I've been hunting this area for a long time and our camp used to be very successful.   Fifteen plus years ago we would have meat hanging every year.  Since then it has slowly decreased and now it's been 5 years since we've had an elk in camp.  Sure we have less hunters and hence less opportunities but there's also a lack of meat hanging in other camps as well.

One of the most discouraging factors for me is the amount of snow fall we've had the last three years. Back in the day when we would get that kind of snow by the foot every camp on the mountain would have an elk hanging.  Now it takes a few days before you see a considerable amount of track and its still hard to see fur.

Why are there less elk the list of rumors or facts is long.  Starting with some high kill years followed by some bad winters for the herds. A few years back they busted a group of poachers that frequented the area.  Now we have hoof disease and wolves.  Poor forest management leading to less food but they have worked on clearing a lot of underbrush the last few years. There are also a lot less hunters in the area which is less pressure on the animals.  Whatever the reasons may be the fact is there are less animals.  The local store in trout lake always keeps a list  back in the day it would be an easy 3 pages long. It has slowly dwindled down over the years and after a week of hunting last year there were only 6. 

Its a great area with lots of great places to hunt but the fact is the animals are few and far between.  We like the area and  it's tradition for our crew and every year we hope for improvement so once again maybe this year will be the year it gets better.  But until it does is the tradition and antipation that keeps us coming back. 

[Magnum_Willys]

I was the last to drive from Dry Creek to the 31 road before Drift creek washed road out in 74.  Been hunting it almost every year up til 5 years ago.  Just so few animals and fewer places to see them.   Stick to Idaho, Montana, Oregon now. 

[jeffitz]

2003 we got 5 bulls Siouxon in the first 3 days of rifle season.
This was our best year but we had other good years also.
Our camp was 1.75 miles behind the RedDot closure(remember those?)
I know MWillys remembers. A few years later i think 07 the State or DFW did away with the Green Dot road system and for our area it was tragic. Way too many trucks and camps *censored*t so we moved to the LR and never looked back.