Rattlesnake Hills or Oak Creek area elk??

[BIGINNER]

anyone know anything about elk on the rattlesnake hills or the oak creek wildlifearea?   hows the access?  is there any good elk hunting around there?  any special restrictions?    thanks for the help

[270Shooter]

Oak creek has lots of access and lots of hunters and it is spike only.

Rattlesnake hills has very little public land and tons of hunters because it is an any elk unit. Very few elk are actually killed on public land. If you want to hunt out there you better have a good chunk of change with you.

[BIGINNER]

Oak creek has lots of access and lots of hunters and it is spike only.

Rattlesnake hills has very little public land and tons of hunters because it is an any elk unit. Very few elk are actually killed on public land. If you want to hunt out there you better have a good chunk of change with you.

how do i get a hold of the landowners?       about how much is a chunk of change?


thanks

[bobcat]

I bet you couldn't get on private land there for less than $5000.

Yes, that's THOUSAND.    Just a guess though. I really don't know for sure.

How much would you be willing to spend?

[bobcat]

If you have some spare time, read this:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/elk/hanford2.pdf

[BIGINNER]

I bet you couldn't get on private land there for less than $5000.

Yes, that's THOUSAND.    Just a guess though. I really don't know for sure.

How much would you be willing to spend?

wow!!!    not that much,  well i'm a biginner hunter,  i'll try my luck at oak creak or in public land,  this is my first year hunting and don't have much money laying around

[270Shooter]

I couldnt hurt to ask around you know. What area in the rattlesnake hills unit are you looking at? Its a huge unit... It has some smoker animals, deer and elk. But most dont come cheap.

[BIGINNER]

how would i get a hold of the land owners?                                                                                                                                                                     i scouted the benton city unit today, stalked 4 huge mule deer bucks for about 3 hours,   2, 10 point bucks an 8 pointer and 6 point,   was pretty fun, (considering that i,ve never hunted in my life before,)        lots of elk sign,  and bobcat signs all over the place,

[270Shooter]

how would i get a hold of the land owners?                                                                                                                                                                     i scouted the benton city unit today, stalked 4 huge mule deer bucks for about 3 hours,   2, 10 point bucks an 8 pointer and 6 point,   was pretty fun, (considering that i,ve never hunted in my life before,)        lots of elk sign,  and bobcat signs all over the place,

Are you talking about the Thorton wildlife area?

[BIGINNER]

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT,  EITHER WAY THAT SMALL HERD GOT SCARE OFF WAY RAR INTO PRIVATE PROPERTY WHEN BOW SEASON STARTED,   BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN HUNTERS OUT THERE THOUGH,   

[couesbitten]

Just had a look through the regs. The only hunt that is open in the "rattlesnake hills" (unit 372), is an antlerless only, modern firearm hunt in elk area 3722. Otherwise, the general season elk hunting in that unit is shut down. There are some limited entry hunts for Master hunters, persons with disabilities, and youth.

BIGINNER, I'm curious what area you were referring to as the "Benton City unit". I grew up out there and still live close. If it's the area I'm thinking of, I'd say that you were fortunate to see the bucks you saw, because in all the time I've spent out there, I've probably seen less than 20 deer total in that area and never saw a buck I'd be willing to shoot. I'm just hoping that you weren't on private property, because it is not that well marked.

[BIGINNER]

YA I KNOW I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY DEER OUT THERE EITHER, UNTILL I OVERHEARD SOME GUYS AT SPORTSMANS WAREHOUSE TALKING ABOUT 5 HUGE BUCKS OUT THERE,  SO I CHECKED IT OUT,  AND THERE THEY WERE,   BUT ONLY TWO WERE HUGE,  THRE OF THEM WERE DECENT,   BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS,  THEY DISSAPEARED INTO PRIVATE PROPERTY,  NEVER SEEN THEM SINCE,  AND I'M OUT THERE ALOT,  (HIKING)  BUT THE RATTLE SNAKE HILLS IS A PRETTY BIG AREA, IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HUNT OUT THERE YOU CAN FIND SOME GOOD BUCKS, OR BULLS,  BUT HUNTING OUT THERE IS NEAR IMPOSSBLE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NICE STASH OF DOUGH. $$$$$

[270Shooter]

Coues, GMU 372 is 3pt min for deer and any elk for rifle, there arent any general seasons out there.

Biginner, nevermind, if you were infact on the state land, I think I know which piece it was, I've never been to it but I know what you are talking about. I have heard of some bruiser bucks out there, and even seen a good 4 point, big 3 point, and a small 4 point with great genetics out there last year. They all stood about 100 from public land just decieding whether or not they wanted to go to the state land, they decided to stay put. The good 4 was shot on the last day, it was a 4x1, but his 4 point side had great mass and good forks.

I may or may not be hunting down there this year, opening day I have decieded to go duck hunting, because I have the MT tag, WA deer is not that big of a deal to me. But I may change my mind.

Are you planning on hunting this GMU?

[BIGINNER]

TRYING TO MAKE UP MY MIND IF I SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T,  I DIDN'T EVEN GET A DEER LICENCE THIS YEAR YET,  SO FAR JUST SHOOTING COYOTES,  BUT I'LL HAVE TO GO CHECK SOME PLACES OUT BOFORE OPENING DAY TO SEE IF I SHOULD GET A DEER LICENCE,   (WIFE IS GONNA GIVE BIRTH THIS WEEK SO DUNNO HOW MUCH HUNTING I'LL BE ABLE TO GET IN)  BUT I'M ALREADY LOOKING FARWARD TILL THE KID IS OLD ENOUGH TO GO WITH  ME 

WELL BACK TO THE POINT:  IF THERE IS GONNA BE TOO MUCH TRAFFIC THERE I'LL JUST GO SOMEPLACE ELSE.

[elk311]

You didn't happen to mean Rattlesnake Creek did you. Rattlesnake and Oak creeks are next to each other and hold a good portion of the Yakima herd. It's also very huntable for the "public lands" hunter like myself.

Good luck in any case, just be it known that if you are lucky enough to "get one down" be prepared for a new life-long hobby!!! This stuff is addicting !:chuckle: