Packwood

[JT1021]

Hey all. I'm a new elk hunter to the state and was looking for a little feedback on packwood area. Im not looking to get directions to your favorite hunting hole, just a little info on area. I'm gonna head up to check it out tomorrow for myself. Just wanted to hear about some past experiences from some of you.

Thanks
Jon

[grousetracker]

we went ther last year, saw lots of elk in downtown ,hunted 4 days there and saw no elk out of town , there has to be alot up by highvalley park and the pacific crest trail,we just didnt see them.

[IronMike]

I hunted there last year too.  It was too blasted hot in the high country, all the Elk were down on the River near town on private lands with no luck getting permission to hunt any of it.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Packwood area is not a good place unless you have access to private property...

[MuleySniper]

Packwood area is not a good place unless you have access to private property...

Huh? Ever heard of Gifford Pinchot? I have a buddy who has killed a bull there 4 out of the last 5 years. If you think you need to have private property to hunt Packwood, you must not own a pair of hiking boots.
MS

[BLKBEARKLR]

Actually I have heard and read alot about Gifford Pinchot, there is a National forest named after him. I think the question that I answered was hunting Packwood, not a thing was asked about Gifford Pinchot National Forest. I do own some hiking boots to be exact probably 15 pairs. So once again PACKWOOD not a good area to hunt unless you have access to private property.

[stumprat]

I was up there on Saturday. FYI.......Forest road 21 is closed at Hwy.12

[bobcat]

So are you talking about just the private land in the valley adjacent to the town of Packwood, or the Packwood GMU

[stumprat]

Get a room at the hotel. And you will be able to hunt from your window

[jackelope]

there's lots of good public ground to hunt in the packwood gmu. tons of elk...
i will repeat what  one of the others said...the weather was tough last year. i hunted 4 days without seeing elk or hearing a bugle in the same areas we had elk scouted a couple weeks before the season.

[tonymoe]

there are elk everywhere, you just need to put in the time. With that being said, last year in the local packwood paper (name), they talked about how more and more elk are coming in to town for winter and staying, rather than go back to where they hang in hunting season.

[Kain]

GMU 516-PACKWOOD (Lewis and Skamania counties):

2006 General Harvest = (Deer - 279) ( Elk - 115) ( Bear - 11) ( Cougar - 4) (Turkey - 1)
2007 General Harvest = (Deer - 199)  ( Elk - 119)( Bear -29)  ( Cougar - ?)(Turkey -0)
Johnson Creek, Hagen Creek, and Lake Creek to the south of Packwood are productive areas.  Lots of deer are taken out of these drainages. Forest roads 21, 23, 26, 27 and 28 will all get you up into some great areas.  Remember to find yourself a gated road or clearcut and get out and walk.  The other guys road hunting will push the deer and elk to you.

The Spears Unit (418 acres) south of Randle is managed for black-tailed deer. The area also provides wintering habitat for area elk.

[MuleySniper]

Actually I have heard and read alot about Gifford Pinchot, there is a National forest named after him. I think the question that I answered was hunting Packwood, not a thing was asked about Gifford Pinchot National Forest. I do own some hiking boots to be exact probably 15 pairs. So once again PACKWOOD not a good area to hunt unless you have access to private property.

PACKWOOD is pretty general. When most people mention hunting PACKWOOD, I hardly think they are talking about the 10 square mile town itself. So Im pretty sure when he mentioned he was going to go check it out, he wasn't referring to the field across from the Chevron. Also I didn't mean for the boot comment to sound personal, I was speaking in general so sorry about that.
MS

[jackelope]

do people hunt in the town?

[MuleySniper]

Im sure some of the locals that hunt year round don't have a problem hunting in town every now and then

On another note... I have access to 40 prime private acres between Randle and Packwood on the river side that is completely loaded with elk. I usually set up my camp there.  There are constantly hunters stopping there at the gate glassing the elk in the evenings. Its posted NO HUNTING. I don't even hunt it. The friend that owns it saves it for his paralysed brother to hunt on. We actually caught some poachers on it two years ago that snuck in off the road and shot a cow. The unit isn't even open for cows. So yeah, there are a lot of elk down low on the private land, but there are just as many up high, you just typically don't see them from the comfort of your truck.
MS