Coweeman cow tag

[Ripper]

  Alrighty, my season is quickly approaching. Jan. 1-15. I'm stoked. I have never killed an elk, so needless to say, I have sky high hopes. I just my packet from wdfw today with maps and combo's to available gates, and a pass for the windshield. I've only hunted this area a few times, and never this late. Any advice anyone could give would be greatly appreciated.
  I live 3 hours north of Castle Rock so I haven't been able to properly scout. I am fairly familiar with the north east side road system, 4100, 4700, 6100, Rose valley(once). Anyway, I'm sure with all the snow, the elk will be in different areas, and access is going to be restricted. My hunting partner and I don't mind getting out and covering ground, we're not road hunters, unless we're looking for tracks.
  Any info would be appreciated.  Merry Christmas everyone.    Mark

[Roundhead]

You need to road hunt to be more successful.
If you find them in the clear cuts, then you can get out and stalk.
You shouldn't have a problem tagging you cow.

Good luck.

[funkster]

What weapon are you using?

[THINK_N_ELK]

While I was down for my late Toutle hunt.  Most of the cows were hanging low to mid.  Moving from reprod to reprod.  Anytime that they were in the open, they weren't standing still.  I think now that some of the pressure is off.  They are probably settling down.  I was concentrating mostly the Southfork.

They were logging off the 4700 mainline, how far up I don't know.  Plus fixing and repairing the 4100 from the train tracks up to the 4700.

I drove the Kalama River twice.  One night, the whole way out it was a skating rink.  Had a good pucker factor going.  So I would be cautious about Rose Valley being it is not a very wide road and fairly windy.  

Happy Hunting and good luck.

[SilkWWU]

I was in the Toutle for bulls, and those cows were everywhere.  Can't imagine it's any differnet in the Toutle.  Good luck.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

My buddies daughter has that tag, she is 13, we will find her, her first elk. It is like shooting fish in a barrell.... Nobody should have problems filling that tag.

[BULLBLASTER]

if you want to go out rose valley, but dont like the road, you can take the 6100 from goble creek road. it goes clear up to the top an meets up with the 1600 (rose valley road). there are also some good clrcuts around there.

[Ripper]

Thanks for the info everyone, I appreciate it. Funkster, it's a modern tag, I shoot a T/C Pro Hunter 338 win mag. WDFW, way to start that girl out right. Nobody should have to wait till they are 45 to get their first elk. I hope we're both celebrating next weekend. We'll be staying at the Timberland Inn in Castle Rock, I'm going to try to get down there early on the 31st. It would be nice to get out there a day early to look around. Good luck

[Little Fish]

Since you are staying in Castle Rock I'd go south on I5 to the next exit and head into the hills via Headquarters road. Of course you can simply head east from Castle Rock then cut south at the town of Toutle as well to get into the unit. All good areas and you shouldn't have a problem finding elk.

[Ripper]

Thanks Little Fish.

[rudedawg1085]

pm sent

[mtndew]

PM sent