Info around Salmo-Priest Wilderness

[Mike_D]

Hey everyone,

I've been scouting the 113/117 pretty intensly this year (building a house north of Priest River ID), and I've been wondering about the Salmo wilderness...

Are there elk populated in that area?  I've only gone through on 302 once, and also checked out the Sullivan Lake area as well.  Didn't see much sign (at least from the truck), and I'm wondering am I too far north for 'em?  I've seen tons of sign (maybe its moose?) in the southern portions... (around Baldy southward...)

Regards,

Mike_D

[bearpaw]

RE: 113
More moose in the south half, more elk in the north half has been my experience. If the sign look like the biggest elk sign you have ever seen it's probably moose.

RE: 117
Elk are mostly middle to south end, moose scattered thoroughout.

[Mike_D]

I can agree with that...

I know during the spring I've several elk in the fields, both north and south of USK around 30 head or so in one field.. recovering the from the winter.  I've also bumped the damn things in 117 north of the ski resort and Chewela (?sp) while turkey hunting.

I got a reference from a different forum for a biologist a Mr. Dana Base with WDFW thats supposed the know the area real well.  I'm hoping they haven't laid him off with all the cutbacks and all. I hope to gather additional info from him.

With fewer enforcers, I fear more poaching with the bad times.

Even still,  I'm hoping the forums will be useful, this provides plenty of eyes on the ground.

[bearpaw]

Dana is alive and well and still with WDFW....great guy...

[clindsayrun]

On the Washington side of the salmo-priests along the south salmo river I've seen quite a few Mountain Caribou.

A few elk down there...and lots of bear.

[bearpaw]

that's cool I have never gone right down in there....I always wanted to hike in and fish it.

[Houndhunter]

say so long to the caribou with the wolf numbers rising

[Machias]

I'll be up there all day tomorrow clearing trails on Thunder Mtn.  Be staying in Gypsy Meadows, I'll post some photos and see what kind of sign I see up there.

[Mike_D]

Hi Machias,

Thanks I would greatly appreciate that.  I'll also be in the area around next Wed./Thursday or so, and hope to put in a weekend of scouting.

regards,

Mike

[Guy]

"say so long to the caribou with the wolf numbers rising"

Wonder if the wolf lovers have explained that to all their nature loving friends? I think it's pretty neat that there are caribou in Washington... Hope they manage to stay around..

[bearpaw]

that herd is struggling at best...it has been supplemented with transplants and still barely makes.....wolves are a 

[Machias]

Did not see much elk sign at all, did see quite a bit of bear sign.  Huckleberrys look like they are going to have a very good crop this year.

[Mike_D]

Hi machias,

thanks for looking during day.  I'll be checking out several different areas over there this next weekend.

[Mike_D]

I see nothing new has posted... too bad... I was hoping for some good info...

Got in touch with Dana Base, sounds like a great guy... We discussed the Salmo-Priest at length, and he put in an area just off Boundary dam... Damn... I thought where I was looking was north...

Didn't have time to head that far up this weekend...flat tires, water pumps... etc. etc.. 

But I did a quick run up to the top of Calispel peak...  Found lots of deer tracks and one lone Elk track.  Aweful dry right now... and hot.... so I suspect their staying bedded and near water...

 

[Pathfinder101]

I have thought about that area for mule deer before. 

[sjhgraysage]

IMHO
If you are looking near the tops of the mountains you are to high.
The bios have always said to me, stay close to the river or oin a major creek drainage, in other words a creek you may have trouble jumping across without touching water.
That is the thick stuff, its dang hard to glass elk in unit 113, not many openings that you can glass elk in.