Off season elk education

[jsteplee]

So I've hunted WA for elk the last three years, and I haven't seen a single one.  I've hunted Wind River, Siouxon, and Washougal.  This last season I actually cut a few tracks in the snow (a pair at one spot and a small herd up the mountain).  I'd like to get out and actually see some elk in the off season and maybe learn a little more about them.  Is there anyone in SW WA who would be interested in partnering up for some scouting in the offseason?

[Special T]

I rifle hunted that area for a few years and there is Elk all over that area!

[elksnout]

You could wander for a long time in the Wind or Washougal and not see an elk. Each of those units have elk, but they seem to favor certain areas. And they are both heavily timbered too. And the places they hang out in will also have two legged company to some extent. Soiuxon is another story. This is an elk unit....3 years should have seen some elk. Get out of the truck and hit the timber behind the gates. Stay out all day, keep your eyes and ears open. A good share of our elk have been shot between 11:00 and 2:00. So stay at it. Most of the cuts are getting or already overgrown so it's no cake walk to get a bull. They seem to like the heavy reprod but it's very hard to get them in it. I've also found them bedded on small benches in 20-30 year old reprod butted up against the old growth. Watch the edges of the reprod from the timber at first and last light. Our group ranges in size from six to nine or ten guys. We go from no tags getting filled to as many as four tags but not once have we all gotten elk. And they all come from behind gates in the timber. Each and every ounce of elk meat has come with sweat equity.

[wormfood]

come over to pierce county in the off season. We have this one place you will pos....a...tively see Elk. Its right off Meridian, Its called N.W. trek. All kinds of ELK to see, and up close too.

[buckreaper]

I agree with elksnout.  We have hunted the Wind River unit for deer for well over twenty years.  We have anywhere from 5 to 10 guys in camp each year.  We hunt some of the most remote and hard to get to areas in the unit and in all those years we have seen a total of 6 elk.  Some of the areas we see sign but most of the areas none at all.  Just pockets.  Out of the 6, 4 hit the ground.  Used to be either sex elk at the same time as late buck.  Game dept wants the elk out of there.  Deer wintering area.     

[Special T]

We mostly hunted the siousxon, down in the flats by the fish hatchery.  One of the guys from our camp would walk down some of the logging roads in the middle of the night and call to locate... worked pretty good. Bring a gun thou he had been stalked by cougars doing that...

[shoot-em-dead]

All of the areas you said are the ones I hunt- I too have not seen one during rifle season but that is because I do not get too far from the main roads. If you hit the same areas during the summer months you should see lots of animals. Scout Scout and Scout some more to find their holes they use in bad weather.

[elksnout]

This year I hunted seven straight days on my late buck permit in the Wind River with me barely seeing camp in the daylight. This means I was in the woods. And in that time I never saw any elk or any decent sign to tell me there were elk in my chosen area. Elky looking country with no roads meaning no pressure. But I could have been only one or two draws away from elk too. I'v hunted them long enough to know this. Tons of old sign from what I would say was from wintering. So if I could hunt them now, I'd head to those areas. I've also spent a considerable amount of time hunting deer and bear in the Three Corner Rock area of the Washougal. I'd see pocket areas with sign of small herds or singles. This past summer was the first time I actually found elk at the end of the tracks. What I'm trying to say is do some research, pick three or so areas and when the snow melts this spring start scouting to learn the road systems and the lay of the land and such. Get some decent maps, do some family camping. Hike, bike those areas and you will soon narrow them down. Find the gane trails. Look for last years bull rubs. Take each of those pcs and start putting the puzzle together. And it will take years to do. And heres another thing. Don't be one of those guys who moves to another area every year just because you didn't get an elk and Joe Blow from work got one twenty miles away. If you did your homework your area will hold elk. Have faith in that area. Stick with it and success will come. You are far better off knowing an area well than barley knowing any. Hey, I do not get my bull every year in the Souixon. Look at the harvest stats for that unit. Not very promising is it ? But our group knows where we are likely to find the elk, we know our way around so we do not waste time getting turned around and we also know where to expect the hunting pressure. When we get one on the ground we know the best, easiest way to get it out. We have our own names for the ridges, cuts, stumps etc. If someone gets one down in the SW corner of the Dead Cut we all know where to converge to help out. Well you get the picture. Main thing, HAVE FUN !!

[jsteplee]

Thanks for the replies.  I think I'm getting closer.  This was the first year I cut tracks that fresh--a little earlier, and I think I would have seen them.  Anyway, thanks again.

[Little Fish]

If you live in La Center why are you driving to Wind River, Siouxon, and Washougal? You can drive 20 minutes north on I5 and head East or West and be into elk.

[h2ofowlr]

Yes, you can locate them in Amboy, around Lake Merwin, Yale, Swift, etc.  You need to get out and scout.  There are a lot of elk to be found if you are looking for them.  They just know when hunting season is and they know where to hide.  Find the spots they like to go when all the road hunters show up.

[jsteplee]

If you live in La Center why are you driving to Wind River, Siouxon, and Washougal? You can drive 20 minutes north on I5 and head East or West and be into elk.

I know the public land in those three GMUs somewhat, and I haven't identified a better area or areas northward.  I'm open to suggestion, but I also don't want to hunt with hordes of people--I'd rather walk a little farther and hunt a little harder.

[elksnout]

PM sent

[Little Fish]

What weapon type are you hunting?

[jsteplee]

I've been hunting modern firearm.  I've toyed with the idea of going with the smokepole or a bow, but I figured I need to see some elk before I can concern myself with getting closer to them.  Last year and this year I've already put in for the multi-season.

Anyway, I actually started this thread because while I read every book or magazine article I can get my hands on, and I've spent some time in the woods (never enough), I haven't seen anything.  I realize the key is to get out and scout, and that's what I want to do between now and next season.  I'm not sure whether it's best to wait until after the snow melts (to avoid pressuring the elk), or whether I should  already be out there already.  That's why I'm asking--to get some advice, as well as any suggestions.  I also wouldn't mind finding someone to scout with.

[Wazukie]

I was out Thursday and saw a herd of about 40.  The elk where I alive are still up about 3000-3500 foot lvl.  We havent had a lot of snow to push them any lower.  Get some snow shoes, a good pack with the essentials and make a day of it.  You wont put any pressure on the the elk unless you begin to push them.  I was probably about 200 yrds fromt he herd the other day and just sat and watchem them a bit.  Best way to have a better chance is to spend more time in the woods.  GL

[funkster]

I would say go to the wdfw and check out some harvest reports http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/ . Three years and no elk is not a good ratio.Get into an area that holds more elk and learn how to hunt them.Then if you want to go back hunting your area you at least have some experience hunting elk. Elk are big critters and leave tracks,rubs,wallows..etc. Get a spiral note book and hit the woods and start writing down notes from now until weeks before the season. It does take a good amount of time to find a "honey hole" so don't give up.

[Little Fish]

I know a number of guys who do well during the modern firearm and muzzleloader seasons and I've had fun when I hunted those seasons. After switching to archery a few years ago I see a lot more animals which keeps things exciting even if its hard to get close enough to shoot.