White River Rifle tag for Elk

[cem3434]

So I got drawn for this tag and I called Hancock today to buy a vehicle permit since 90 percent of the unit is on their land, but they are all sold out for the year.  Anybody got any information on where to hunt in this unit that I can access with just my two feet or a mountain bike? I would hate to just throw the permit in the garbage and hunt in the Winston unit like usual.

[Elkpiss]

  Thats a *censored* tag... Get some maps around MT Rainer the White River Unit boundries the Park.. I would love to have that tag!

[toe-jam]

pm sent.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Clearwater Wilderness, FS road #74 West fork and all the way in.....

[cem3434]

We were in a party, so we all got drawn for unit and we also got drawn for anterless permits in Winston as well. We will probably hunt the first week in the White River unit and the last couple days for cows if we haven't filled all of our tags. I like the new system, but I am kind of irritated that I couldn't draw an elk permit for 9 years and now I got two the same year.  I guess its a good problem to have.

[link]

Are you sure that the white river permits were sold out? I know the Kapowsin permits always sell out early, but not the white river side. My dad drew the permit two years ago, hunted all over without seeing a nice bull, then the last couple of days, bought the hancock permit and killed a decent 300" bull.

[toe-jam]

Are you sure that the white river permits were sold out? I know the Kapowsin permits always sell out early, but not the white river side. My dad drew the permit two years ago, hunted all over without seeing a nice bull, then the last couple of days, bought the hancock permit and killed a decent 300" bull.

they are all sold out .

[cem3434]

I called the only Hancock Timber number I could find, which is 360-879-4200.  I think this is at Camp 1, but I explained where I wanted a permit for and she said they were sold out for the year.  I know that Weyerhauser still controlled this are 2 years ago, so maybe thats why he was able to get a permit later.  Anyways, did he have any luck?

[cem3434]

Does anybody know if the the permits transferable or if more come available later in the year?

[MooseStock]

Weyerhaeuser hasn't had control of that land for 8 years...I know because I worked for them when Hancock bought the land and it ended my job. The permits are all sold out for the year....there is a max of 500 and they have been sold out since something like February and they won't add any more. The Muckleshoot tribe will be hitting it hard anyway as they pretty much have a free roll on the treefarm from Sept-Jan. There are still lots of areas to hunt and you will want to get away from the roads anyway as the tribe hits them all hard. The West Fork and Huckleberry creek can be pretty good if there is some snow. Hope that helps....Good Luck.............Les

[cem3434]

I know that during spring bear they sold special passes for the bear season only to guys that had drawn a tag because the permits where already sold out.  WDFW gave them a list of hunters that had drawn the tag and if you were on the list, you could buy like a month month pass for like $100.
Does anyone know if they do the same for elk hunters? If not, shouldnt the WDFW list that access to this area is limited by the time they complete the draw?

[MooseStock]

This might seem strange but the HANCOCK holdings have different rules. White River and Snoq were owned by Weyerhaeuser and they use the same rules as when Weyco was the owner. Kapowsin was owned by Champion and it is different. You can walk, mt bike or horseback into WR or Snoq but Kapowsin is NO access without a permit. Motorized access is by permit only for all three treefarms and each has a seperate permit. They let them have that special 100$ for the spring bear but they do not do that at WR or Snoq because you can access either of those properties. Also, there is a great amount of the White River area not behind the Hancock gates that is Forest Service land so there is no reason for WDFW to list limited access................Les

[halflife65]

PM sent

[Falcon]

I live in the Claw.

Back in 89, the tribes took over, and the elk went down hill pretty quick.

That was then, this is now.

The last few years, there has been more logging, and the elk are making a decent comeback. There are plenty of places to hunt.

The tribal boys don't get out of the trucks very often, leaving a guy who will put in some effort a decent shot at a bull. I remember guys telling me how bad the early Matheny hunt would be due to tribal pressure. All I can say is I got into elk bigtime, but it was all off the roaded system.

Go behind gated roads such as Westfork, Huckleberry, and Buck Creek if it snows.

Get busy, and get rrrrrrrrr done!

[link]

There's always elk, and always a couple of good bulls up at Crystal Mountain.