White River Rifle tag for Elk

[gutsnthegrass]

Like Link said, try up around Crystal mt.  Corral pass area has some elk too, early snows might limit access though.  Good luck this can be a great tag if you put your time in and get behind some gates.

[WonkyWapiti]

The Snoqualmie Hancock property sold out their permits in record time this year, I missed out thinking I had plenty of time. 

[cem3434]

So after doing some research, it looks like the Mucks hit this area hard during the rut and then they leave it alone after the bulls stop talking.  Has anyone that had this tag in the past actually seen the indians up there hunting as late as the rifle season because it seems like they should be pretty calm by then.

[G.R.K]

The Mucks only hit it hard during the rut    I guess you need to spend a little time up there. 

[Falcon]

Do yourself a favor and stay off road 72, or better know as Dalles Ridge.

I ran into a tribal elk camp right in the middle of the road while trying to cut a Christmas tree.

All I can say is there was ALOT of blood.

[MooseStock]

The Mucks hit the entire White River area hard from August to January......they don't back off after the rut. Your best chance without a permit is to look at the Huckleberry, Suntop, West Fork and Haller pass areas especially if there is any snow and the Park elk come out. The West Fork could be good and it will be a walk in area and the tribes don't do any walking so that might be a good place to start. Hope that helps..................Les

[bigtex]

That is the one problem with this hunt, most of the land is private (Hancock). Every year more and more people are buying Hancock permits for all three tree farms (White River, Snoqualmie Kapowsin), up until a couple years ago only Kapowsin would sell out however now they all do. I hunt the Snoqualmie and every year come deer season they would still have permits available, went to get mine last May and they were sold out. So I made sure to get mine a week after they went on sale this year. Luckily most of the other land in White River is USFS, rarely when I am on 410 up in Greenwater do I not see an elk. But as many others have said, the Muckleshoots RAPE this area every year, in fact Hancock gives them a huge discount on their pass as well. White River is one of the few units in the state where the tribal deer and elk harvest out number the general citizen harvest, and it was the same when White River was open to all citizens... Good Luck!

[bigtex]

So after doing some research, it looks like the Mucks hit this area hard during the rut and then they leave it alone after the bulls stop talking.  Has anyone that had this tag in the past actually seen the indians up there hunting as late as the rifle season because it seems like they should be pretty calm by then.

Believe me they are up there year round doing "ceremonial hunts" just ask the local WDFW Officers. During hunting season I see Muckleshoot rigs up there all the time, no matter what month it is. I believe there are six tribes that hunt the area, Muckleshoots hunt it the most.

[bigtex]

The West Fork could be good and it will be a walk in area and the tribes don't do any walking so that might be a good place to start. Hope that helps..................Les

I agree, the West Fork road was washed out about four years ago in the big floods and the USFS still hasn't rebuilt it and I don't know if they have plans/funds to do so. The farther you get away from the road the better you will be because as Les said, the tribes basically just road hunt.

[bigtex]

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?

Well a reason why they sell those $100 permits is because you are basically doing Hancock a favor by killing a bear. The only reason there is a spring bear hunt in Kapowsin is because Hancock complains about bears killing their trees. The access permit issue is one reason why people really need to research their permit choices before they turn them in.

[slinger]

I also drew this tag. I have never been to the area but sounds like its got some potential. Are there some big boys in that unit?

[toe-jam]

O ya seen some big boys last week ,when i was up there  scouting last week ,but there is a lot of cow and calfs . i was hoping to draw that unit for archery.

[ihunt]

My dad drew the elk tag last year Hancock well sell permits to tag holders i think it was around 1st Oct when they were available he shot a nice 5x5

[royalbull]

P.M. sent

[BENCHLEG]

any-one have the archery tag. that is where the fun is at. good luck to all