Late Archery Winston Creek 520

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

O.K. I know its a zoo, and you probably dont want more hunters here, but I am going anyways.

I am planning on hunting in Winston this November late archery. I used to hunt here about 15 years ago around the 1900 road system near Kidd Valley and along the Toutle. We used to do real good for deer, but elk were few and far between.
When they changed the regs and our east-side elk tags were no longer any good during late season we started running into elk everywhere!
I now hunt west-side for elk and decided to check Winston out for a cow this year.
My hunting buddies heard about my plans and now I have 4 guys wanting to join me.
Only 2 will have valid elk tags, but all will have deer tags.
I planned on driving down from my home which is only 1/2 hour away, but with the gang joining me I need to find a place to camp.
I plan on scouting out a spot prior to archery season and AFTER firearm elk season.
My question is could we still get in up Salmon Creek with a trailer?
Are there more locked gates? ( I hope)
If you are a Firearm hunter, could you please point me in a good direction as far as a camping spot or where you see a few fat cows hanging out after your season?
Also does anybody know the best road to get to a gate to walk in Winters Mountain or Elk Creek?

[Crunchy]

Well if you come up with some good info dont be afraid to toss me a crumb or two.  I think you will find plenty of areas to camp.  I hunted it last year, and will likely be out there this year as well. I dont know the unit very well but we didnt have a problem finding elk.  I'm gonna try to make a run down there to do some scouting in the next couple of weeks.

[rasbo]

some swamp east of winters mt are pretty good,dont know if ya can drive there anymore,been a while for me.Ive arrowed some there

[adam.WI]

that's the area I was looking at going as well. I know that there is plenty of places to camp, and will be up there during the modern season showing some guys that have never hunted around. I will let ya know if I find a couple promising places.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Funny you should mention the swamp thing, back when we used to go there we found the elk around swamps. It rained a lot and there was plenty of water around, but they still seemed to hang in the drainages. Just curious
I will let you know if I figure something out.....I think I might just head out next week and do some "bear hunting" and see how it looks.

[Bigfoot]

There should be plenty of places to park a trailer during late archery season and getting it down the roads shouldn't be a problem either.  There are lots of gates and lots of country to walk into.  As far as finding elk, as long as you don't hunt with your eyes closed, you shouldn't have a problem.  Getting a shot at the spooky *censored*s that time of year can prove a little more difficult though.  If you need any specific details about anything, get ahold of me.  I may be able to help.  Good luck.

[Bigshooter]

No problem getting a trailer up salmon creek.  But you can no longer drive from salmon creek over to the 1900 side,  because of locked gates.  If you want to go in on winters go in on the 550 line.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Thank you, that is what I was wondering.
 How far up Salmon Creek is the gate?
Is it just one gate or is it gated from the other side also?

[Bigshooter]

Thank you, that is what I was wondering.
 How far up Salmon Creek is the gate?
Is it just one gate or is it gated from the other side also?

The gate is locked a couple miles after the black top ends on salmon creek rd.  Can't remember the gravel rd. number you turn off on.  The gate on the 1900 is open on weekends during rifle season, but I don't know about archery season.  The gate is up the 1900 a few miles from the kid valley side.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

That answers my question, Thanks.
 I need to go check it out ASAP.

[Little Fish]

In recent years the gate a mile or so up the 1900 has been locked on weekdays, but opened on the weekends. I never went in during the middle of the week, but there sure was a lot of traffic on the weekends.

[Wild Bill]

I never have hunted the late season for myself (lucky, never needed to till this yr) but I have taken many a rookie/ vets retuning from the sandbox in there, and done very well. Till the "season chasers" started pouring over to archery, it was very productive, especially if you were open to shooting cows.

 Last yr was a mess. We walked in (even on the weekends) only to witness d bags attempting 70+ yard shots a elk on the move. "real good" hunters love that place!

All the lazy a$$ SOB's that like to drive around, spot from the truck, and put a stalk on while the truck is running. "Real good" archery hunters. *censored*s. 
After it switched too cows only, I'll never go back. Too many fools.

I'll go back to brush hunting in other units.

[h2ofowlr]

I believe the changed the rags to cow only for this late hunt.  Is this correct?

[carpsniperg2]

good luck

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Yes, it is cow only. I am just planning on driving down to hunt because it is only 1/2 hour from my home.
A cow would be a good supply of meat < YUM

[Wild Bill]

If ur down with a cow, go in and hunt hard during the week, and rest the weekend. If snow flies, go high. Hunt hard, daylight to dark. You'll get em.
Best of luck. Post ur picks.
WB

[actionshooter]

Its gonna be a freaking zoo   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Almost here, any other suggestions?
what about you late buck guy's?
seeing any critters?
any pics of harvested animals?

[Aneoakleaf]

Call wharehouser and ask which gates will be open. Ask about camping too.
The same areas that held elk before will always be good. Hunt all day, use your calls, sit still!
Annette

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

All good advice, but I will be driving from home, my group of partners will be staying at Kid Valley.
We are having a B-day party for my Daughter (7th) on Friday so I will be hunting with her and just wanted a good recommendation on a place to just see animals.
I plan on scouting tommorrow, wed the 25th, and that is what I plan on Friday th 27th because ....well you know....7 year old girl in the woods having fun.....not excactly the way to score a "booner" but I would like for her to see a few critters.

I will be seriously hunting Sat, Sun.

[Magnum_Willys]

No camping on Weyco lands.  Kid Valley has a small rv park.  Eco Park on 504 at mp 25 has cabins.  Seaquest state park at mp 5 on 504 is an option.  Many people camp alongside 504 on the way up - not sure its legal but no one bothers them ?    Check out the Winston area south of the sediment dam - saw some animals in there - spikes and cows mostly - there is a herd of 60 that hands around the sediment dam border.   The 4400 rd off the 4100 is the border with the tourtle unit that connects over to kid valley. 

[Wa hunter]

We camped at the 504-505 intersection and late season archery for years without issues.  I heard last year some tweakers stole some genrators from some rifle hunters.

[Angus]

No camping on Weyco lands. 

Apparently, not everyone can read those big yellow signs that say no camping, I saw 1 big camp and 2 other single rig camps in Winston last year

[funkster]

Was up there today, 4 inches of snow at winters and every gate is wide open,even the ones that are always closed! No "walk in only" areas this year either. Almost forces you to join the rest of the yahoo's road hunting Is there nothing sacred anymore The hotline said they will be open from the 21st to the 29th   I can't wait until next Sept.

[HerdBull]

Winston is going to be tough as always.  For the number of people in there I do not see many being taken.  Where were the hot spots this year?

Anyone know if the Beehive gate is open from the salmon ck side?  Hope not.

Good luck in there everyone!

[hunt4]

kinda glad to hear the gates open..what is safer parking at the gates or parking in the woods I am getting tired of hearing about the tweekers stealing stuff.
It is affecting how I go hunting

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

-Even if roads are not gated I will be pushing the brush, although many years ago in the Willapa I met an old (70+) man that just walked back and forth on about a 1/2--3/4 mile section of road, and said he got an elk every year from that spot.
I guess experience pays.....

[funkster]

The problem is that people drive down every 1/4 mile spur road,what are they going to achieve by this? Do they really think they are going to open the door, get out, nock up and get a shot at a spooked elk before they bust? Why do people see a rig parked at the begin of the spur and continue to drive down? I can count numerous times I had a spot I was going to and someone was already there, o'well, they beat me to it on to the next spot. That is common courtesy we all should share.

 I wish Wey co. would use the green,yellow and red dot system that is used on their properties west of I-5. They could do this with no cost, instead of dots just use the arrows that are already in place. This would leave the main lines open for the handicap,elderly and the "hunters" that don't want to get out of the truck. Best of both world and makes everyone happy. I have hunted both with the gates open and with them closed and believe me the hunting is much better with them closed. With that said see you all on the 25th

[barneyfife]

Go where you think the elk are (obviously) BUT.....don't count out the Randle unit. RUMOR has it (SSHHHHHHHHH) the elk are dropping down, outta them thar hills, near FS Rd 25 at the 300 line. This is where the Randle and Packwood units meet.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The problem is that people drive down every 1/4 mile spur road,what are they going to achieve by this? Do they really think they are going to open the door, get out, nock up and get a shot at a spooked elk before they bust?

In the '08 season, I was drawn "Any Elk" in the Manastash and was working a 6X7 Bull when a truck drove down the road we were near (within 75 yards). We BOTH watched it drive by, and as the bull tried to circle downwind of me, he was spooked back upwind as the truck drove back past us on the return trip....If I wouldn't have been busted by his cows my season would have been over......These guys drove right past a herd of 24 cows and 4 bulls without seeing a thing!.....I say let the road-hunters drive, and keep the animals in the woods for us that like to hunt for real.....
It doesn't matter if the roads are gated or not, the animals still are going to be there, and if you get out and hunt you will find them.....

[THINK_N_ELK]

It's just my 2 cents  worth here.  But I'd be cautious with hauling a trailer up to past Salmon creek.  That stretch of pavement going doing to Longbell road can get pretty slick.  Almost lost the truck there, two years ago after coming out the DNR 2000 line.  Fortunately slid towards the high bank and not the drop off side.  And that was with not having the extra weight of a trailer pushing me down the hill.   Some new fresh clear cuts off the DNR 1000 line as well. (Just an FYI)

Happy hunting

   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Last count we have 9 guys showing up at Kid valley for my daughters 7th B-day party.....3 of us have elk tags, 7 of us have deer tags, and there will even be 2 guys along just to help pack!.
 Friday night I am frying up some Razor clams and grillin' burgers.   My daughters love hunting season!

[Yelm hunter]

My hunting party and I were up in Winston Creek from November 4th until November13th and we seen a ton of cows and bulls. We passed up 2 legal bulls on Sunday one of them was a 4 point and the other was a 2x3. On Veterens day we went to a area that a camp across from us told us to go cause my brother had a cow tag. And the guys got 2 bulls and a cow out of the same area the day before. We go up the 130 road a few miles (6 +) and got on a nice clear cut with timber all around us. We turn off the trucks and we hear movement in front of us in the woods going up into the clearcut. we wait and wait until day light and we go up there and my dad walks down a timber road and my brother and his buddy goes up the skidder road. Well I go up this other skidder road and was watching and glassing this area for a few house and I get over on the other far side by a bunch of alder trees up the small hill from a road and jeep trail... I take a leak and start hearing movement down in front of me and earlier in the morning we kept seeing a couple of deer and they were moving back and forth through the timber and clearcut. Anyways I stopped and waited and sat down and heard the movement down in front of me. Well at that time my dad calls over the radio hey lets meet at the truck at 9:50am. We all respond except for me. And I get up and start walking slowly to a different area in the clearcut and would you not know a BIG BULL is walking up the timber line in the clearcut. I raise my rifle and oh yeah its a bigger than a 3 point. Hes walking up broadside and I shoot. his ass drops and he leaps to the left into the timber i shoot again and he runs. I stop and my brother calls out did you just shoot. I responded get your asses up here. I just shot a HUGE BULL. I start getting towards the timber and look for blood dont see anything at all. then I hear movement in the timber at least 50 yards in front. We all 3 run in there and find his trail and we follow his tracks. Well I get up in front of my brother and shoot again at his ass thats all i seen as he was going down a little embankment. He runs into a huge mud puddle and drops. We all run out of the timber and I shoot again. hes down for good. Come to find out he is a 5x6 bull. We get 480 lbs of meat out of him. Winston creek the 130 road. Good Luck

[fc2038]

pics??

[1bowhunter1]

?? Ya That!

[Cylvertip]

Was up there today, 4 inches of snow at winters and every gate is wide open,even the ones that are always closed! No "walk in only" areas this year either. Almost forces you to join the rest of the yahoo's road hunting Is there nothing sacred anymore The hotline said they will be open from the 21st to the 29th   I can't wait until next Sept.

If theres any work going on up there, they would have the gate open.  Did you come in off the 1100 line, 550, or up from Riffe side through Port Blakely?  If the border gate with Port Blakely was open, I would wonder a bit, but still a couple of days before archery starts and they button it back up.    Wait, never mind, there are no elk around Winters Mountain.......  ever!  total waist of time...    

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Winston creek the 130 road. Good Luck

  I looked all over my WH St. Helens Tree Farm map and could not find 130 (?) what road is it off of?

[dlaw]

its off the 500 line, 
I hope they are closing gates for late archery.   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I just got off the phone and they said nothing about closures through the 29th....Although there should be a few gates that wont be open, I hear rumors that more are open than in previous years.

Hopefully that will make the ones that are closed more productive I dont care, I will be walking anyways open or not.
A doe, a cow, a relaxing stroll with my bow.....it doesn't matter.
We used to do real good for deer by surrounding a cut and everybody walking in from different sides, they (deer) would pop-up like popcorn and run into somebody in the group. You couldn't tell they were there until you stepped into the cut.!
Lots of rigs would just drive by as we would get ready, and as we went in. Some even helped by stopping to chase deer that tried to jump road in front of them.!.

[funkster]

Winston creek the 130 road. Good Luck

  I looked all over my WH St. Helens Tree Farm map and could not find 130 (?) what road is it off of?

I bet you want him to tie the elk to a tree too?

dlaw,the gates will be open from the 21st to the 29th then they are going to update the hotline!

Cylvertip,I came in the 1100 and there was some work going on. Only cut one set of fresh elk tracks in the snow. We need some more.

I am packed and heading down now,good luck to everyone!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

If I wanted them to tie one to a tree, I would shoot one in my backyard  I am only asking suggestions, just because they recommend a road, doesnt mean I will go there and get one.

[THINK_N_ELK]

I was up this past sun.  11/21  the border gate at the 1100/980 was closed.  Both 550 gates closed.  And all are still posted no motor vehicles.  The 550 gate on the 100 side has been redone to prevent ATVs from getting around at least at the gate.  I don't know about the gates at 553/555 , 500/560 , or 1100/2568.   As far as I know that is still a walk in area.

Haven't done much looking around the Kidd Valley side.

Last year they were hauling out on the 1100 to 500 and out Kidd Valley. 

Last year,the gates that were open was the 500 gate at Camp Nine, and the 2617/440.  I have been told that the 2617 is blocked off at the 2600 with big rocks.     Have not seen for myself, so I can't confirm.

[Cylvertip]

There are always critters up the Green too, but it's pretty thick in upper valley.  If your up for a hike try between Vanson and Deadmans up on top ( if you can get there due to snow).  Just be careful getting twisted around in the big timber, and watch for the vertical rock faces.

[Magnum_Willys]

There's a ton of camps moved in around Kid Valley - counted over 50 RV's today along 504 between Toutle and Kid Valley - gonna be crowded tomorrow.   Wish there where that many elk there.   Did see 50 elk below the Forest Learning Center today and one guy pulling one out on the south side of 504 at mp 22 - wonder if he had a loowit tag ?

[actionshooter]

Its a freakin zoo! Wed and Thurs were pretty good, pulled stakes today to get the hell out of there.