Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?

[lkelly08]

I drew a cow tag for modern firearm season and I'm looking for any advice or tips you guys are willing to share. My brother in law and I are planning to go out there in a few weeks to do an overnight backpacking trip. Do you guys have an trails you recommend that we take? When it comes to hunting season my BIL are more than capable of hiking but our farther in law does not get around very well at all so he will be very limited. Any advice for him too? I've never hunted out there. Is there a lot of people? Things not to do?


Any advice at well would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Nmarth88]

Modern will be busy. It’s not over crowded if you get out a bit. I would be at the peak of Russell ridge by day break. Good luck!

[ducks4days]

First post, asking people for good spots in a popular unit.

Welcome, tell us about yourself!

[lkelly08]

I'm obviously new to this site and still learning how to use this thing. I am familiar with reddit where you can respond to comments but I don't see how to do that here. Been hunting in WA for 20+ years and I am not very good at it. I've never shot anything that was worth mounting and never killed an elk in WA. I shot a spike elk in OR about 8 years age and last year I finally shot a decent 6x6 elk in Montana! I know being the new guy and asking for help is pretty lame so sorry about that. Thanks for the few suggestions so far and I'll try to contribute more before I ask for help.

[TeacherMan]

No secret but the cedar swamps at the end of the lake always have cows in them. Canoe can be very helpful.

[lkelly08]

No secret but the cedar swamps at the end of the lake always have cows in them. Canoe can be very helpful.

That's a good idea. I have one of those inflatable two person Amazon things I got 5 years ago for $50 and have used it twice. Might be a good time to try it out. How long of a boat trip do you think it is? I've never been in that area before so I have no idea where that is but I can Google it.

[TeacherMan]

No secret but the cedar swamps at the end of the lake always have cows in them. Canoe can be very helpful.

That's a good idea. I have one of those inflatable two person Amazon things I got 5 years ago for $50 and have used it twice. Might be a good time to try it out. How long of a boat trip do you think it is? I've never been in that area before so I have no idea where that is but I can Google it.

Use google earth and the distance feature. The entire lake is like 3 miles long but you can drive down both shorelines quite a ways. One side has a trail that goes right to it. The other side is good 4wheeling and goes back a ways. 

[MIKEXRAY]

Bumping lake is a big reservoir and the wind comes up basically every afternoon.  Taking a blow up two man paddle boat down the lake is not to feasible . The state has maps online that shows red dots where the collared elk ping , it will show you exactly where the elk hang out the most.
Good luck .

[lkelly08]

Bumping lake is a big reservoir and the wind comes up basically every afternoon.  Taking a blow up two man paddle boat down the lake is not to feasible . The state has maps online that shows red dots where the collared elk ping , it will show you exactly where the elk hang out the most.
Good luck .

Would you mind telling me what I need to search for to find
these maps? I've googled different combinations or "Washington, elk ,map and collars" but u haven't found anything like what it sounds like you are talking about.

If you don't want to share I understand. Thank you.

[hughjorgan]

Bumping lake is a big reservoir and the wind comes up basically every afternoon.  Taking a blow up two man paddle boat down the lake is not to feasible . The state has maps online that shows red dots where the collared elk ping , it will show you exactly where the elk hang out the most.
Good luck .

Would you mind telling me what I need to search for to find
these maps? I've googled different combinations or "Washington, elk ,map and collars" but u haven't found anything like what it sounds like you are talking about.

If you don't want to share I understand. Thank you.

Google wdfw status and trends report, scroll to the elk section find the report for the Yakima herd. You’ll find what he is talking about there.

[yakimanoob]

Congrats on the tag! As you'll see by the number of hunters who show up for the season, it's no secret that unit holds lots of elk. You will have very little competition for cows though. Bumping is quintessential elk country - rugged, crowded, and breathtakingly beautiful.

As far as backpacking trips go, the William O Douglas Wilderness that this unit encompasses offers some of the best backpacking in the state. White Pass to Chinook Pass on the PCT is an absolute classic, and will introduce you well to the kinds of terrain and environments you'll be dealing with (you'll likely bump into plenty of elk in high summer there too). As with other places, some trails are washed out or decommissioned and keeping a flexible attitude will serve you well.

For hunting itself, this honestly isn't the best unit for road hunting - it's almost entirely Wilderness by land area %. Not to say there aren't roads, only that you will have plenty of company on the roads.

As for things not to do, talking specific locations on a public forum is probably at the top of the list. Otherwise just the usual advice: give other hunters plenty of space, be courteous, etc etc. Also, don't make me come get you (I'm on the SAR team that covers this unit ).

[buglebuster]

Don’t overlook the south side of the unit. When most people think of the bumping they head up around the lake and spend their time there. If I was you with a rifle cow tag I’d focus on the area up off of wildcat road above rimrock lake. The road washed out years ago and has drastically decreased the pressure in that area if you’re willing to hike in. I know people take dirt bikes and stuff around the washout now illegally.

[MackDaddy509]

Don’t overlook the south side of the unit. When most people think of the bumping they head up around the lake and spend their time there. If I was you with a rifle cow tag I’d focus on the area up off of wildcat road above rimrock lake. The road washed out years ago and has drastically decreased the pressure in that area if you’re willing to hike in. I know people take dirt bikes and stuff around the washout now illegally.

[Berin Denson]

First post, asking people for good spots in a popular unit.

Welcome, tell us about yourself!

give me break, is that how we as a hunting community respond to each other? If you have some intel for the guy share it, if you don’t, scroll along. I get so tired of guys on this sight getting on their high horse when others are seeking help for a successful hunt.  I help guys every year in a unit that is challenging to understand if you haven’t hunted it. I get all the jolly’s helping guys out year after year.
I need to add, I’m currently teaching my 7 year olds the old rule, if you Don’t have anything nice to say… well, ya, you can finish the sentence.

To the OG poster, haven’t spent much time in bumping but I will be sure to ask a few guys who have that I know and see if they have some info I can pass along. HAPPY to help.

[JWBINX]

 

First post, asking people for good spots in a popular unit.

Welcome, tell us about yourself!

give me break, is that how we as a hunting community respond to each other? If you have some intel for the guy share it, if you don’t, scroll along. I get so tired of guys on this sight getting on their high horse when others are seeking help for a successful hunt.  I help guys every year in a unit that is challenging to understand if you haven’t hunted it. I get all the jolly’s helping guys out year after year.
I need to add, I’m currently teaching my 7 year olds the old rule, if you Don’t have anything nice to say… well, ya, you can finish the sentence.

To the OG poster, haven’t spent much time in bumping but I will be sure to ask a few guys who have that I know and see if they have some info I can pass along. HAPPY to help.

 

[ducks4days]

First post, asking people for good spots in a popular unit.

Welcome, tell us about yourself!

give me break, is that how we as a hunting community respond to each other? If you have some intel for the guy share it, if you don’t, scroll along. I get so tired of guys on this sight getting on their high horse when others are seeking help for a successful hunt.  I help guys every year in a unit that is challenging to understand if you haven’t hunted it. I get all the jolly’s helping guys out year after year.
I need to add, I’m currently teaching my 7 year olds the old rule, if you Don’t have anything nice to say… well, ya, you can finish the sentence.

To the OG poster, haven’t spent much time in bumping but I will be sure to ask a few guys who have that I know and see if they have some info I can pass along. HAPPY to help.

 

I invited a brand new member to share more about themselves, I genuinely did not mean to come off as a dick. No need to take offense on their behalf, yall can let your hackles down whenever youre ready to.

Its hard to give good advice to somebody when you dont have any info about them to work with. Are they a triathlete or do they have an old leg injury that limits mobility to a certain distance? What range are they experienced shooting at? How close do they live and is it reasonable to take several scouting days or weekends before the season opens? What kind of gear are they working with and what access options do they have? Boat, Side by side, e bike, pack animals? Have they hunted elk before, or do they need to know more about herd dynamics to avoid spooking 60 cows while trying to close in on 1 they can see?

Theres so many different factors that can completely change things. Conversations are supposed to go two ways and having the back and forth on these things can help a ton.

[mcallahan]

Mt aix trail from the rattlesnake side is an easy hike for the first 3mi or so and it takes you into dog creek drainage I’ve had good luck in there and below buck lake. Schneider spring fire went through there a few years ago and torched some areas but not all of it. There’s elk all over in that unit do some google earth/ onX scouting and a few trips in there over the summer should be a fun hunt!

[lkelly08]

Update:

First off I want to say thank you to everyone that has commented. Hunting is challenging enough without telling other guys where to go find elk. My brother-in-law and I went up last Friday and did some hiking from Russell Ridge down to Wildcat Creek and spent the night out there. Saw a few cows and calfs while driving in and then again the next day while coming out. Didn't see anything while we were back in there but a saw lots of sign. Was kinda surprised we didn't see as much deer sign. I guess the elk must push the deer out of there or maybe down lower? Seems like a cool GMU. I would like to get out there a few more times before elk season. Looking at the map I was thinking the west side of the unit on the border with Parkwood might be cool to explore. I don't have any hunting buddies aside from my BIL and would like to meet some new guys. I know it is kinda weird meeting up with new people on the internet especially when it comes to hunting but if anyone wants to chat for a bit and see if we would be interested in going on a hike let me know. I'm just a regular dude who has been hunting off and on for 25 years or so and am trying to make new connections.


Thanks again for the advice!

[jdb]

I have a camera in that unit with almost daily cow/calf pictures

[Naches Sportsman]

I haven’t hiked anywhere over there since last year, so don’t know how the spring did for feed, but don’t put more miles on your vehicle than you have to. The amount of feed I saw in the burn scar right off a state highway is where I’d go.