Scouting Access - Margaret, Coweeman, Winston, Etc

[zackmioli]

My dad, godfather, and I are planning out our elk hunting season and it is looking like we are going to move to the West Side this year. Previously we have always put in for Rimrock but the general season without a Cow tag sucks. So we are going to move a bit closer to home to allow for more scouting time and a better general season opportunity if we dont get drawn for a tag. We are all meat hunters. I have 7 points this year and plan on putting in for Margaret, Coweeman, and Winston; bull and cow permits. I checked out harvest reports and those seem to be the three with the best success ratios. Now I am just curious what the preseason access for those units is like. I want to get in and do as much scouting and preperation as possible. If gates are locked I have a mountain bike that I recently purchased to get in that way.

Is Margaret part of the old Marble unit? We hunted Marble one year so I slightly remember that area.

Any help will be very appreciated! Thanks.

[zackmioli]

after reviewing some maps i can tell margaret was not part of the marble unit.

[WSU]

Scouting will probably be mostly by bike, at least in the areas I hunt down that way (weyerhauser).

[rackattack]

Access will be very limited until rifle deer season as Weyerhaeuser keeps the gates locked.  Walk or bike in if fire danger is not an issue will be your main options.

[Curly]

Scout as soon as possible before they shut the areas down in the summer for fire danger.

[Alan K]

If you're doing anything for general season in Winston and Coweeman, there isn't much use in scouting.  Guaranteed the animals will be shoved around hard.  That said, there are plenty of elk and you shouldn't have a problem bumping into some.  More often than not though, they won't be the same animals you'd scouted earlier in the year.

About the best thing getting in there preseason will do for you is familiarize you with the area.

[funkster]

What weapon are you using?  Pre season scouting is all by bike or foot. If you check the hotline often,they might open up the roads a few weekends before the season.

[Magnum_Willys]

If rifle don't bother scouting.  The animals are there its just a matter of who can get the shot off first - odds are any animal you see is being looked at by several other hunters.  Usually someone touches off at 700 yrds and then the fun starts.  Good Luck.

[washelkhntr]

If rifle don't bother scouting.  The animals are there its just a matter of who can get the shot off first - odds are any animal you see is being looked at by several other hunters.  Usually someone touches off at 700 yrds and then the fun starts.  Good Luck.

That is an understatement!

[zackmioli]

thanks for the info guys. i am going to put in for margaret as my number 1 for a cow tag since there is no general season in there. i have no problem getting on the bike and riding the roads to get familiar with the area. *censored*, thats what i bought the thing for, haha.

as soon as im done moving into my new house and stuff im going to plan my first little trip out. ill be sure to post pictures from my adventures and hopefully my first elk!

[Magnum_Willys]

You want a cow put in for the toutle too.  You won't need to scout just drive up and pop one.  Only problem this year is that all of us with a doz. points can put in for cow tags in those areas now this year without affecting our trophy points so your odds are going to be sliiiiiiimmmmmmmm.   

[zackmioli]

ya i understand the odds will be lowered by quite a bit. hopefully i get a bit lucky and can draw something. if not, ill go after a bull in the general season. im still new to elk hunting so itll be quite the learning process. ive learned quite a few things from here so hopefully i can put it all together.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

If you want an education to west side general rifle hunt the general rifle hunt in winston. The guys will teach you a ton about west side elk hunting...

We do not hunt it but it is a zoo.

[grundy53]

hunting the south west washington for elk.... there are a lot of elk... a lot of cover... and a lot of hunters. the best way to describe it is JUNGLE WARFARE!

[Little Fish]

So what is your weapon choice?