Anyone have any information on hunting the Mill Creek Watershed in WA

[ThePascoKid]

If it were me I'd contact the guys that own the property on lewis peak (the peak itself)and access from there normally if your not a total *censored* they will usually let the guys with the watershed tags access there if not you can camp at the end of biscuit ridge I'd work my way down into the shed from green peak guys pull some nice bulls out of there every year I think 330 is an attainable goal good luck with your hunt

[blacktailhunter]

Have a friend that drew the tag last year.  He saw bulls everyday, the biggest problem he had was getting within range for a shot, like under 500yds. The elk would go into a draw with not a lot of cover then just vanish and he couldn't find them again.  He ended up running into another guy with a tag and hunted with him for a couple of days.  That guy shot a nice 6pt bull that he jumped at close range when going down a draw.  They took that bull out the bottom with horses.

He got burnt out and never hunted the last couple of days of the hunt.  After talking with him about the hunt I would suggest getting in the best shape of your life and find a friend to camp out with you that is also a good packer and motivator.

[rosscrazyelk]

Plan on being able to hunt all 9 days if needed. 

You  get 14 days i am pretty sure.. oops I just looked you only get nine, My bad.
I hope you have a real good friend cause you can only bring one person with you to pack it out and that is the only the he can be in there.

[HUNT]

I have a friend with horses who said he would come help me pack out.  I'm gonna hold him to it.  I know one other guy who drew the tag this year along with one of his friends. 

If it were me I'd contact the guys that own the property on lewis peak (the peak itself)and access from there normally if your not a total *censored* they will usually let the guys with the watershed tags access there if not you can camp at the end of biscuit ridge

Is the road up biscuit ridge public or private?

How about blacksnake ridge road?

[Woodchuck]

both roads are open and actually meet up top

[HUNT]

Thanks....  I'll check those roads out next weekend when I head back down.

[ThePascoKid]

If you've never done it before I would get on the Walla Walla County taxsifter and start finding landowners who border the shed closest to where you want to hunt, I honestly think a majority of them would let you camp if all you wanted was to access the shed and not hunt their land, at the end of the road where biscuit and black snake meet you will usually find a big camp of guys hunting the shed.  These 2 roads get down right nasty in the summer months, ruts with deep powder, it can be pretty hard on your rig.  There's a guy who works for the state that walks the intake trail daily during the season he might be someone I'd get ahold of to pick his brain. 

[HUNT]

I'll do

If you've never done it before I would get on the Walla Walla County taxsifter and start finding landowners who border the shed closest to where you want to hunt, I honestly think a majority of them would let you camp if all you wanted was to access the shed and not hunt their land

Thats a great idea.  I'll do that after I figure out where I plan to focus my time.  Thanks again.  The insight has been great.

[HUNT]

Plans got changed for this weekend so now it looks like I'm free to do some scouting.....  Wow 2 weekends in a row....

[Romulus]

We were there on the oregon side looking over to the Washington in mid april and saw 75 head of elk in scattered herds on the open slopes mostly on the Washington side of the Shed. They were just starting to grow their horns but we saw several bulls. The washington side looks more huntable than the Oregon side as far as visibility but it will take a lot of effort to pull a good bull.

[ipkus]

Ok, where to start?

1.) The elk are in there in September, and they overwinter there, as well.  

2.) There are lots of elk, and big bulls in the 'shed.  There are more elk on the Washington side after the first couple of days - many of the elk on the Oregon side of the line get pushed to Washington.

3.) On the opener, elk will be spread throughout the unit.  The further you get into the season, they will be more concentrated away from the pressure.  Think of the 'shed as a circle (it somewhat is); if access is only allowed daily from the perimeter of the circle, where's the furthest point from the perimeter?  Hunt there after the first couple days...that's where the majority of the elk are.

My advice...

Go in the Mill Creek Rd.- where it turns right and crosses the bridge to start climbing the mountain, stay straight and try to catch the 'caretaker' that lives in the cabin right there.  I don't know if Larry Sherry is still the person doing it, but whoever it is, they'll know more about the current state of the 'shed than anyone else; it's their job.

The trail system is not what it used to be.  They quit clearing a lot of it several years ago, and packing out, even with stock, can be a nightmare out the bottom.  Just because the map they send you shows a trail, doesn't mean it's useable anymore.  Find out BEFORE your hunt.  Again, these are questions for the person above.  You can also contact the USFS office in Walla Walla for some help.

Plan on being there at least a full day before your hunt starts to try to find a bull you really like in the spotting scope.  If you 'put him to bed' at dark, he'll be nearby at first light the next morning.  If your plan to get him doesn't work out, the hunt begins and believe me, your gameplan will be constantly changing from there on out.  Just remember #3 above as the days click away.

Be prepared for clouds/fog.  Some years the entire unit is fogged in (at least on top) the entire hunt period.  Adjust your plans...while it may be a pain to get below it, your odds of shooting a bull go up exponentially with the distance you can see.

Good luck!

[HUNT]

Sounds like good solid advice to me....  Thanks!!!!  I'll get in touch with the caretaker and have him show me around.  I plan on being there at least a day ahead of time...  I like tucking in those elk.  I heard that from someone else about the fog....  Didn't know however that it could last 9 days...  Wow

Thanks again.....  I just want to do the tag justice!

[General Disarray]

I remember Ipkus's hunt in the shed.  Daily report for 8 days was FOG... If I remember correctly a November bugle was the undoing of the bull he killed.  I know him well and he hunted hard every day and stuck with it.  We left for Montana the day or two after he killed that bull in 04.

[HUNT]

Heading down to do some scouting again tomorrow.  Hopefully it won't rain and fog in again..... 

[rosscrazyelk]

Hey Hunt,
I have the number of the guy who  is in charge down there. I will try and dig it up. I called him a couple years in a row and he was really helpful even said he would show me around. Ya never know What he might show ya.