Matheny??

[matlockmike]

With the fire season upon us and Private forest land beginning to close daily I'm looking at alternative locations. 

Two questions:

1.  How much pressure does this unit get for early archery season.

2.  I know a couple of guys that have hunted it in the pass and they say to hunt Sam's river.  Is this the only place for elk in the unit???  What about the middle of the unit where the bridge is washed out? 

I scouted a bit in early March to learn some new roads.  Saw lots of sign around Sam's river.  I tried to enter the unit from the Quinault side by the snow was too deep at the top of the mountain.

I'm most interested in areas where the roads have been blocked and I can get away from people.  Looking at the maps there are a couple of road that enter the SE corner but when I did my scouting they where blocked off and your enter point was through the park or the Indian Reservation (Wonder the the legality of that would be).

Any info would be great.

[bearmanric]

what you have said are all great choice's. one big camp beginning of sam's. and west boundry by washed out bridge is a great spot also. is were i use to cougar call.  if you find the big hole were there are bull rub's up there it's a good spot. not as many elk as 10 year's ago. they get one a year Rifle. i seen a small bull taken in archry. lot's of indian's hunting it hard.  road hunting only. get off the raod and you will locate them. they opened it this year for muzzle loader dont make sense. will be there tomorrow for 5 day's calling bear now i'll call a cougar in since i cant shoot them now. Rick

[matlockmike]

I guy I know has killed two nice bulls on the Sam early archery.  I just don't want to go in there crowd in on his action. 

[bearmanric]

cell

[javman]

There are elk all over the unit, but they're spread out and in small herds of 10-20 animals for the most part. You're only going to see them if you cover a lot of distance and get off the roads. The washed out road you're talking about is supposed to be fixed soon, but there are a lot of other washed out, overgrown roads beyond that.

As far as pressure, if you look at the harvest reports: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/harvest/index.htm

In 2007 there were 3 bulls shot by 26 bow hunters
In 2006 there was 1 bull shot by 39 bow hunters
In 2005 there were 7 bulls shot by 32 bow hunters
...
In 1998 there were 3 bulls shot by 60 bow hunters

I've hunted there a few times during modern firearm, and it looks like a zoo with camps all over, but I didn't see anyone off the road. Then again, you're lucky to see 50 yards once you get off the road  Got on a herd 5 miles deep one day, but no bulls.

Not a lot of bulls shot, but not a lot of hunters either. I don't bow hunt, and haven't been there during bow season, but when you step off the road, you're going to be in the thick stuff. Getting a shooting lane is going to be difficult. Get out there and explore! 

[WDFW-SUX]

Sams ridge!

[PolarBear]

Sams ridge!

[matlockmike]

Ya thanks guys.  The guy I know killed a couple of Dandy's, 6X6-2007 and 6X7-2008.  Both where from Sam's river/ridge.  He even said he was lucky.

Anyway, I'm going scouting this weekend.  It is just a back-up plan if the wood remain close in all my normal areas.

I will post back up with updates on the road wash-outs.

[PolarBear]

Great area for bear as well.

[matlockmike]

Got one of those tags also.

[PolarBear]

 A lot of bear around Matlock as well.  I was out at Mill 5 today and talked to a guy who has been seeing bear on south mountain and canyon river.

[matlockmike]

Ya, there is a lot of them in those areas.  Green Diamond (Simpson) has there lands closed to fire danger right now though. 

There is also elk, but the pressure these elk get is ridiculous.  I think the term "Long tongued elk"  was coined in Matlock.  Between the Skok & Squaxin indians and the local "Hunting Party"(Tag team hunting) usually no branch antler bull ever makes it through the year.  These elk don't stand a chance around here.  I've hunted other places and now feel sorry for these small herd or should I say bunches.

[PolarBear]

You are right about the tribes!  My cousin and I caught 3 Skoks dropping elk in a clearcut 1/2 mile behind the Matlock store years back.  They dropped 9 cows and were loading up the only one that wound up in the road.  We got on the radio and had some friends get a hold of the Sheriff.  We held the Skoks until the Sheriff and game cop got there, gave our statements and left.  The game cop called us a couple of weeks later and told us that he had turned the case over to the Skok tribal council and they laughed at him.  9 wasted cows and not a damn thing was done about it.

[Alan K]

Yeah, the I hate the Skok tribe. . . I used to go look for elk in the evenings around the Matlock store in people's fields.  I always thought it was weird the land owners would be honking their horns or driving a quad out into the field when a herd would start to feed out.  I finally asked a local about it and they said they don't want the Indians to see the elk because they'll shoot all the bulls (and maybe 9 cows too?  ). . . .

Also, a buddy of mine drew the Skokomish bull tag a few years back. . . Had a nice 6 point he was watching every night leading up to the season.  Well, he quit seeing it four days before season.  He later found out a couple Indians shot it and the smaller bull it was running with. Four days before his season started! Needless to say he was pissed, and you won't find a bigger racist anywhere, against the tribes that is.  And I can't say I blame him.

[Bob33]

I wasn't aware that Matlock is in the Matheny GMU.  I thought Matheny was further west by Lake Quinalt?