manastash elk

[deadwoodbuck]

I've hunted for over 30 years in the state.  Currently I muzzleload and just got a cow tag for the manastash gmu.  I have hunted extensively in the northeast and northwest corners of the state.  I've pulled many bird, blacktail, muley, whitetail, elk and a goat  out of the woods.  But I have never hunted this area.  I am looking for a different experience so I applied and recieved a cow tag.  Can anyone tell me if I will be dodging quads in this area?  Would I be better off scouting the lower mamastash road area or the upper area? 

[fishingnut71]

LOTS of people in the area. Good roads dont help. Hunt far away from any roads and all day long. Find a deep hole and wait.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Once we get to know you better, we will be more likely to answer some questions...
The people here are kind of sensitive about first posts being requests for advice,,
 
That said, yes the unit is "multi use" and there is a lot of quads, bikes, 4X4's, even horses.
The lower manastash road is pretty much a one sided deal, unless you like to climb down a bunch of rocks...
short spur roads up on the other side, we have harvested a few elk there, but there are more Elk from the lake trail (manastash) and on up past Buck meadows to Frost meadows/Mtn. and Quartz Mtn.
Although we usually hunted closer to Tamarack Springs and Taneum...

[carpsniperg2]

welcome, post up some pics and stories and then there is also a intro page under the genaral area you might stop by and tell us about yourself. there are a lot of people that come threw that post 1-5 times and then are never seen again. we like to get to know the people a little first before giving out hunting info. as far as that unit goes i have never hunted there. i know a few guys that hunted there a few years ago and they said there was a ton of people out there. i would really put foot to dirt and rock and get into the places most will not want to go. with that many people there are going to be a ton of road hunters. and like said from what i understand there is some nice roads up in that country that people really like to drive on.

[deadwoodbuck]

I definitly understand your reluctance to divulge the sweet spots.  I would never expect that kind of information.  Sounds like I need to spend more dirt time come back to let everyone know what I found.  Sounds like there are alot of elk in the area...just need to get 10+ miles off the road to really experience the herd.  Which are my plans.  I was looking for general areas to look.  It's the same way up here in the north woods...get out and find yourself a position to look, wait and see.  Of course a little estrus call now and then helps...no bugling necessary.  Thanks for the bit of info and I will report back after this weekends run.

[Cascader74]

I used to hunt that area and would see anywhere from 30-60 cows a season so if you have a cow tag you should be good.  My problem was I never got selected for a cow tag and its a spike only unit and all I ever saw were bulls never a spike.  There's people around but I never understand why people make that comment, everywhere you go there's going to be people, where there's game in season there's people.  I'd definately recommend bringing a good map with all the road #'s, there's tons of roads back there.   

[gasman]

You dont need to report what you have found to make friends around here (it helps   ) but being a part of this community will.  

We want to hear about you, share some story's, experiance, posting up on other threads are all part of being a part of this community we have hear.

[deadwoodbuck]

I have been a modern rifle hunter for years but in the last ten years or so I shifted to the muzzy front loader.  I have loved the switch as I am not a fan of the crowds.  There have usually not been very many people in the woods when I go out.  Probably not the case this year for this tag.  The shift was made when I was chumped out of a nice big whitetail by 3 guys on a quad.  So I retired the 03-A3 sporterized 30.06 and picked up the .54 cal knight.  The 03-A3 is a tack driver that has given me years of true service.  I brought home a nice,10 1/4" on the outside curl,  billy out of an old nooksack goat area back in the 70's.  I have pulled out blacktail from one end of whatcom county...the mountains to the bay...thats back when you could use high power west I-5...not anymore.  There have been a couple of nice bear out of church mountain and an elk out of the old nooksack herd.  Then the years of crap deer hunting turned into great times in the blinds shooting ducks and geese right across the road from my partners house in the flooded fields of the county.  Lately most of my hunting has been in the northeast corner where my longtime friend...runs with whitetail...lives and breaths hunting.  There have been many successful hunts and nice bucks.  However, I am a meat hunter primarily and will shoot any legal game.  So any whitetail means just that.  The blacktail still forage through my yard tempting my trigger finger.  These forest cows are going to be a nice change and a good challenge.  I also drew an antlerless whitetail tag for a gmu in the northeast...right where I use to hunt.  And an any buck out of the kahaltus gmu...of which I know squat.  The hunt is the same time as the elk hunt so decisions need to be made on both deer hunts...the elk is hunt is a go for shore  What to do?  A delima I have never had to make.  So thats me and my partner...my brother...hunting fools to the end.   

[gasman]

I, myself have only hunted the unit once, with archery equipment. I hunted up between Manashtash ridge to Quartz Mt to Frost Mt. I was not successfull in killing an elk but i did see plety and missed a shot at a spike. When i did my scouting, i found this area to hold the most game, but then again, i did not spend to much time in teh lower elevations.

There are some Jeep trails and Motorcycle trails that can helpyou get in to some back counrty. I know the closer to Manashtash ridge you get the thicker the tree get.

Don't know if any of this will help you but I widh you good luck 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The hunt is the same time as the elk hunt so decisions need to be made on both deer hunts...the elk is hunt is a go for shore  What to do?

I posted on your other question, but I am curious, I think (Not my permit, but) isn't the NE antlerless Sept, 25th-Oct 3rd, your "any Buck" Oct. 3rd-9th, and your cow permit, Oct 2nd-10th ?
Seems to me, I would go to Huckleberry, shoot some "Camp Meat", then to Manastash to get some "Freezer Meat", and not worry about hunting for a buck in an area you have never been, let alone have no private access in an area that is almost all private...  

[deadwoodbuck]

Having my plans confirmed by someone with your level of experience just means we are on the same page.  Those were my thoughts exactly.  I put in for the Kahaltus area cause there are only 2 areas for special buck hunt for muzzle.  I like the challenge of a new spot...but did not think I would get picked for 3 hunts.  It was a shot in the dark.  Thanks for helping me set my plans in stone.  Good luck with your hunt. 

[Recurve-Elk]

I definitly understand your reluctance to divulge the sweet spots.  I would never expect that kind of information.  Sounds like I need to spend more dirt time come back to let everyone know what I found.  Sounds like there are alot of elk in the area...just need to get 10+ miles off the road to really experience the herd.  Which are my plans.  I was looking for general areas to look.  It's the same way up here in the north woods...get out and find yourself a position to look, wait and see.  Of course a little estrus call now and then helps...no bugling necessary.  Thanks for the bit of info and I will report back after this weekends run.

You aren't going to really be able to go 10+ miles off the roads.  The unit is pretty much cheese graded with roads through out.  The north western portion has less, but it is hard to find secluded areas of that nature in this unit.  Just look on maps and try to find the deepest sections of land with out roads and head in there.  Yes there are a good number of ORV's in the unit, you just got to learn to hunt around them. 

[crazypatty]

I have hunted this area for over 20 years.  The key to hunting that area is GET OUT THERE!  It is so random there as far as seeing an elk goes, there are a million factors.  But placing yourself in the woods near or far away from hunters will bring an elk your way eventually.  Just keep pounding the woods and dont get discouraged!

[bassquatch]

They all ran to Naches from the fire!!

[jackelope]

I definitly understand your reluctance to divulge the sweet spots.  I would never expect that kind of information.  Sounds like I need to spend more dirt time come back to let everyone know what I found.  Sounds like there are alot of elk in the area...just need to get 10+ miles off the road to really experience the herd.  Which are my plans.  I was looking for general areas to look.  It's the same way up here in the north woods...get out and find yourself a position to look, wait and see.  Of course a little estrus call now and then helps...no bugling necessary.  Thanks for the bit of info and I will report back after this weekends run.

Is there even a place in the Manastash where you can get 10 miles from a road?

[jackelope]

Is this a resurrected 3 year old thread and I wasn't paying attention!!?!??
 

[PlateauNDN]

Hahaha, jackelope, you must be aging fast if you forgot the last three years.

[Ellensburg]

I have a cow tag and haven't been seeing jack crap. Any reports on where them cows at?

[coachcw]

you might try the sage !come weds

[Ellensburg]

Where them elk at

[bassquatch]

Where them elk at

Can't help you...been here since Friday and have yet to lay eyes on a live one?! Started in Watt Canyon, been all over Tamarack and went up Quartz today, saw the freshest sign there. Good luck! We got 5 days! 

[xXLojackXx]

There are three monster bulls that always hang out by the freeway at elk heights. I'd hunt there 

[Ellensburg]

Where them elk at

Can't help you...been here since Friday and have yet to lay eyes on a live one?! Started in Watt Canyon, been all over Tamarack and went up Quartz today, saw the freshest sign there. Good luck! We got 5 days! 

I feel ya bud. Was up watt last week. No sign. Its a tricky year in this unit. Good luck. I gotta get up in 3 hours for my first real day out this season.

[gunrinwa]

I hunted Bald Mt area first and second creek drainage for the last 4 days and didn't even see an elk. Most of the guys in our Elk camp saw animals Monday and yesterday. It snowed Sunday night which made for better tracking. There were animals around. I've got a cow tag for Umtanum, but work and kids make it so I had to come home today. Damn Trick or Treating.

Driving out I didn't see any animals hanging from meat poles along 1701. A first for me.
So I get to enjoy tag soup.  360 days till elk camp.