Burning Boot Leather GMU 520

[dawei]

My hunting partner and I spent 10 hours driving and walking around scouting for elk and sign. Just about all of the gates were locked; both DNR, and Weyerhauser. Because of this we were somewhat limited, so we hiked around for a good portion of our scouting. Do any of you know when the gates will be opened? 1 Sept, Deer Season? Elk Season? We plan to be out there almost every weekend to scout until the season starts. This will be our first year hunting here so we will spend the time to learn as much as we can about this GMU. I have reservations at Ike Kinswa State Park for 11/04-11/17. At the tender age of 60 this old soldier is done tent camping.

Any information you have about this GMU would be greatly appreciated. I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANYONES SPOT OR HONEY HOLE! I just want general information about the area, such as you saw elk in the north, south, east, or west section of the GMU.

I see by the 2009 Harvest Reports that 249 Bucks were harvested there, and 189 Bulls (Modern Firearms Season). I'll have to check it out for Bear also as soon as the blackberries ripen.

Best of luck to all of you this Elk Season!

[youngbull]

maps and bikes work well for scouting GMU 520 is that packwood or randle

[BLKBEARKLR]

It is Winston, if there is a fire danger then the gates will not open at all. If not then they will open some gates on the weekend

Joe

[dawei]

maps and bikes work well for scouting GMU 520 is that packwood or randle

Like BLKBEARKLR said,GMU520 is Winston. I will return there Saturday for some more scouting.

[MADMAX]

Lots of elk all over, follow the crowd.
Bad things are closures for fire if bow hunting and many inconsiderate slob hunters.
I have hunted it for years and am done and looking elsewhere.

[adam.WI]

It's a good place to hunt so long as you keep in mind that your on public land and any self entitlement you think you have there is false.

[dawei]

Lots of elk all over, follow the crowd.
Bad things are closures for fire if bow hunting and many inconsiderate slob hunters. I have hunted it for years and am done and looking elsewhere.

Why is that if I may ask?

[monster10]

My hunting partner and I spent 10 hours driving and walking around scouting for elk and sign. Just about all of the gates were locked; both DNR, and Weyerhauser. Because of this we were somewhat limited, so we hiked around for a good portion of our scouting. Do any of you know when the gates will be opened? 1 Sept, Deer Season? Elk Season? We plan to be out there almost every weekend to scout until the season starts. This will be our first year hunting here so we will spend the time to learn as much as we can about this GMU. I have reservations at Ike Kinswa State Park for 11/04-11/17. At the tender age of 60 this old soldier is done tent camping.

Any information you have about this GMU would be greatly appreciated. I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANYONES SPOT OR HONEY HOLE! I just want general information about the area, such as you saw elk in the north, south, east, or west section of the GMU.

I see by the 2009 Harvest Reports that 249 Bucks were harvested there, and 189 Bulls (Modern Firearms Season). I'll have to check it out for Bear also as soon as the blackberries ripen.

Best of luck to all of you this Elk Season!

Howdy, spend some time around Green Mountain .

[MADMAX]

Why I'm looking elsewhere is the constant group of hurray for me and screw you guys that are up there
I just have had to many experinces that were not fun so am looking at the Williams creek area

[Cedarcreekkid]

I live right in the middle of the Winston and have hunted it for years. Gone are the days of uninterupted hunting down her. People from up north by the thousands.T :bdid:he gates usually open on the first day of deer season. Like others have said, there are way too many people coming down here now. So, if you know of a less populated area, you might check it out.

[MADMAX]

The crowd is unreal
The only good thing is you can't camp in the woods in most places at the tree farm

[dawei]

My hunting partner & I spent almost all day exploring the 3000 line. While we didn't see any elk we saw tons of sign everywhere! It was a worthwhile day. Will continue to scout next weekend.Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions; it's very much appreciated.

[dawei]

Howdy, spend some time around Green Mountain.

Thank you! We will be there next weekend.

[dawei]

Why I'm looking elsewhere is the constant group of hurray for me and screw you guys that are up there. I just have had to many experinces that were not fun so am looking at the Williams creek area.

GMU673 - Williams Creek is THE BEST of all the 600 GMU's. That is the other unit I'm scouting.

[MADMAX]

Scouted it this last weekend
The loggers told me the rifle crowd is insane though and RVs on every landing
I'll be in the brush

[THINK_N_ELK]

rifle crowd is insane though and RVs on every landing

Now you are learning the real Winston Unit.

[MADMAX]

I was talking about Williams creek
Winston is just as bad but not as many RVs

[dawei]

I was talking about Williams Creek, Winston is just as bad but not as many RVs.

Does Weyerhauser only open the gates in Winston on the weekend, like Vail? Additionally, I ask the same question about Williams Creek.

[520backyard]

rifle crowd is insane though and RVs on every landing

Now you are learning the real Winston Unit.

There is no camping on Georges land and hasn't been in quite awhile so I'm not sure how there are RV's on every landing. And the real 520 unit didn't have any gates nor did any of Georges land. But then again most people who hunt it now did not 25 years ago.

[22-250]

hunted the 520 for years and years I agree with the others lots of people  and they are rude and crude Its amazing to me how many think they are owed an elk and you are in there way  no class whatsoever also our elk camp was broken into 2 of last 3 years we are also  looking elsewhere  gates are usually open weekends only.

[TheHunt]

I think I read on here that there was 17 or 18 rigs that were broken into last year in Winston.  Somthing to think about.

[MADMAX]

Winston is the craziest and yeah I heard about the breakins on camps and generators being swipped
'Questions , what is Georges land ?
The RV on every landing was a refernece to the Williams creek as told to me by a logger last weekend

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Heard people were falling trees across roads behind them last year... Crazy.

[520backyard]

Winston is the craziest and yeah I heard about the breakins on camps and generators being swipped
'Questions , what is Georges land ?
The RV on every landing was a refernece to the Williams creek as told to me by a logger last weekend

George Weyerhaeuser

[dad98684]

i will be running up to the winston unit this weekend to look around and stop in a pay a visit to what i hope to be new friends. this is our first time in this unit, we drew 4 cow tags, and were very excited to have these tags, we applied base on the numbers and the desire to hunt a new area & thanks to many of you we do anticipate a quick hunt. but after reading these post regarding the company we will be keeping, and all of the other trouble described , theft and such, i am just about ready to eat my cow tag. i don't need the meat that bad. elk season is my vacation, i don't need the stress. i will put in a couple weekends up there and look around and talk to some locals and we will make our call. we could be back to the Lewis and eat some permit soup.

[grundy53]

madmax Williams creek is just as bad. It's like i-5 during rush hour. Get off the road and into the brush. Weyerhouser sold most of their land in that area. And there are tons of rvs and camps.

[adam.WI]

i will be running up to the winston unit this weekend to look around and stop in a pay a visit to what i hope to be new friends. this is our first time in this unit, we drew 4 cow tags, and were very excited to have these tags, we applied base on the numbers and the desire to hunt a new area & thanks to many of you we do anticipate a quick hunt. but after reading these post regarding the company we will be keeping, and all of the other trouble described , theft and such, i am just about ready to eat my cow tag. i don't need the meat that bad. elk season is my vacation, i don't need the stress. i will put in a couple weekends up there and look around and talk to some locals and we will make our call. we could be back to the Lewis and eat some permit soup.

I've hunted up there the past couple years, I only had one run in with a guy "telling" me where he was going to be hunting. I told him that if I know where he is before I get in there that is fine, but it's public land and that if something drove me up that trail before he was there I would go that way. Everyone else I have met have been good fun loving guys looking for an excuse to be away from the wife. I've had a couple different groups that we exchanged numbers with so if anyone needed help getting an elk out they had some one to call.
My belief is that if your not an arse, they wont be either. Go kill some cows and have a good time with some friends.

[dawei]

i will be running up to the winston unit this weekend to look around and stop in a pay a visit to what i hope to be new friends. this is our first time in this unit, we drew 4 cow tags, and were very excited to have these tags, we applied base on the numbers and the desire to hunt a new area & thanks to many of you we do anticipate a quick hunt. but after reading these post regarding the company we will be keeping, and all of the other trouble described , theft and such, i am just about ready to eat my cow tag. i don't need the meat that bad. elk season is my vacation, i don't need the stress. i will put in a couple weekends up there and look around and talk to some locals and we will make our call. we could be back to the Lewis and eat some permit soup.

That  is why I'm camping in Ike Kinswa State Park; my "jump off area" to start hunting is 7 miles from camp.

[dadada]

this is my first post i hunt in the winston and off port blakley land. went scouting three weeeks ago to find all there gates locked so i called the number on the sign3605701992 and talked to a lady named britta she saidthey wont be opening there gates at all due to VANDALISM, THATS GOING TO MAKE ALOT OF ANGRY HUNTERS

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

I wish they would lock up every gate and make people hike & really hunt.  Get them out of their truck!!

[dad98684]

I wish they would lock up every gate and make people hike & really hunt.  Get them out of their truck!!

i am the last guy you would find road hunting. i would like to be able to look around the unit so i can decide where i am going to hunt, i put on almost 250 miles on my truck & a few on my boots yesterday. 1 cow 100 gates. i guess coming in from the south side is out of the question. but i did find a 62 jeepster, could be a good trip after all, never know. did a bit better from the north. next week we will go further up.

[colockumelk]

I wish they would lock up every gate and make people hike & really hunt.  Get them out of their truck!!

I agree.  I love it when they lock the gates in an area.  When they do, it eliminates 50% of the hunters.  Half of those leave the GMU entirely and the other half either find roads without gates in the GMU really rough it and walk in a mile and are back to camp by 9AM complaining about how the elk herd has gone to crap.   

Love closed gates. 

[funkster]

this is my first post i hunt in the winston and off port blakley land. went scouting three weeeks ago to find all there gates locked so i called the number on the sign3605701992 and talked to a lady named britta she saidthey wont be opening there gates at all due to VANDALISM, THATS GOING TO MAKE ALOT OF ANGRY HUNTERS

Angry? This news just made my sept

[dlaw]

I have seen the new gates and I am more happy than I can express.   
Thank you Port Blakely

[Drifterat]

this is my first post i hunt in the winston and off port blakley land. went scouting three weeeks ago to find all there gates locked so i called the number on the sign3605701992 and talked to a lady named britta she saidthey wont be opening there gates at all due to VANDALISM, THATS GOING TO MAKE ALOT OF ANGRY HUNTERS

I just called Britta, she told me the same thing. Sad that the actions of a few jerkwads ruins everything for so many hunters that may not be young or fit enough to hike up the road 15 miles to where they've been hunting for 20 years. 

IMO any loss of access is a blow to hunters. Today they shut it down for vehicles, tomorrow it will be closed to all access.

[GEARHEAD]

there web site says its closed to all access until further notice as of july29. another page says closed to motorized, open to foot and hoof. confused.

[colockumelk]

If the vehicle road closures stick you will see a DRAMATIC INCREASE in the amount of legal animals and in your quality of hunting. Due to the DRAMATIC DECREASE in the amount of poaching. You will also only have to share the mountain with half the people.  The is a VERY good thing for you all.

[funkster]

If the vehicle road closures stick you will see a DRAMATIC INCREASE in the amount of legal animals and in your quality of hunting. Due to the DRAMATIC DECREASE in the amount of poaching. You will also only have to share the mountain with half the people.  The is a VERY good thing for you all.

Finally someone with some smarts!