Late archery opener, Winston

[Angus]

Jumped a herd of elk right at daylight this morning, didn't see them, just heard them crashing off through the brush. After my morning hunt I was driving down the road I had parked on and there was a pickup parked in the road, an older gentleman and a boy about 12 and a girl about 15 jumped out and asked if I saw the herd of about 30 that came off the hill where I was parked, told them I heard them but didn't see any of them. they told me the herd split up and 4 or 5 crossed the road in front of them and they dropped a cow, think 1 of the kids got it . Put about 3-4 miles on the boots and only saw 1 grouse.
Not as many hunters as I expected but I think that will change tomorrow and through the weekend. Did they change the no camping rule or do people just ignore that, counted 6 camps in there today.

[carpsniperg2]

good luck, at least they got to get one always nice when young kids get them

[hunt4]

Did they change the no camping rule or do people just ignore that, counted 6 camps in there today.

Not according to there hotline.
How are the roads? going to take the wife and kid in there tomorrow. going to have to take the pickup and leave the jeep .  But it should be a good family outing.

[bobcat]

Maybe the camps were on state land?  

[Angus]

Roads are fine and all but 1 gate was open, was up at 2500' and didn't see any snow. Not sure where the state land is, I was on the 500/550 roads.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

See ya Friday!
Keep them rounded up for me

[THINK_N_ELK]

If you were on the Winston Creek side of the 500.  That's Port Blakeley and DNR land.  Kid Valley side of the 500 gate is Weyco.

The amount of people will change after Turkey day.

According to the hotline.  The gates that are open will change after this Sun. 11/29. 

[BLKBEARKLR]

Depending on what side you are on, there is State land that you can camp on

[Angus]

If you were on the Winston Creek side of the 500.  That's Port Blakeley and DNR land.  Kid Valley side of the 500 gate is Weyco.

Thanks for the info, wasn't aware of state land in that area!

[MLBowhunting]

was in there today. I saw 3 cows and 11 does with one crab claw 2pt.  lots of road traffic cuz of the rain i think   Beat the timber they are in there

[hunt4]

WOW ROAD TRAFIC!  me included, but i was packing a 5 year old . saw one truck parked and 31 differant rigs on the road in a 4 hour tour behind kid valley. No elk and one forky.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I am joining in the fray Friday morning,,,,"Road scouting" but I will have the wife, 7 year old daughter, 4 year old daughter, and 5 month old son. Scouting for Saturday.......

[barneyfife]

BOBCAT- I believe it was you I got the email from. Just an FYI about FS Rd 25 at 300 line. We ran 2 herds around for 2 days. Got 1 cow and my buddies are up today chasing them again today.
1 herd of 23 and a herd of 13.
The herd of 13 are all nice big cows, no calves or spikes.

[Magnum_Willys]

Holy cripes - drove 504 from Toutle to Kid Valley this evening and saw over 50 RV's moved in for the weekend - three times the camps there was during rifle season.  Gonna be crowded tomorrow.

[hunt4]

I am joining in the fray Friday morning,,,,"Road scouting" but I will have the wife, 7 year old daughter, 4 year old daughter, and 5 month old son. Scouting for Saturday.......

how did that work out?

Holy smokes, stayed in the brush until 11...picked up the kid and wife for a road tour after lunch...think i spent more time in the wide spots than the middle of the road fn ridiculous amount of rigs on the road. pretty sure i saw less traffic on the trip up and back from st. helens
did see two bulls one in the bush and one on the tour
oh and a bunch over one of the lookouts