White River Rifle Elk

[cem3434]

Has anyone seen any bulls in the White River unit?  My fiance and myself have rifle bull permits and we have been out in the woods every weekend for the last six weeks.  We decided to take the day off today to go to the fair and wouldn't you know that its raining. 
We have seen plenty of cows and calves, but we haven't seen many bulls.  Most of the bulls we have seen are spikes or 2-points and they have been up the 7000 line on Hancocks property. We have been all over Hancock, the 70-75 roads, Buck/Ranger Creek and Crystal Mountain Blvd, but we have only seen one mature bull. All of my past experience is telling me that the big bulls are still higher, but I have never hunted elk in this unit and don't know what to expect.
I have a feeling that it will be a totally different ballgame come elk season because the weather will change and hopefully the snow is flying. My fiance has never shot an elk and I would really like to help her fill at least her tag, so any information would be helpful. 

[bigtex]

The unit can be a great one, especially if you start getting snow at Mt Rainier which will push some elk into the White River Unit. Personally I would stay on Hancock lands, just simply too many people on the USFS lands, especially the 70RD system as well as Buck/Ranger Creek. Just remember that the unit is hunted heavily by the tribes, the Muckleshoots "elk season" started the 15th so there have been some elk taken.

[gasman]

My brother was riding up Goat Lake and seen soem elk and talked with some bow hunters that were persuing a 6x6 near the lake. Don't know how long of a hike it is though.

[backcountry55]

My brother was riding up Goat Lake and seen soem elk and talked with some bow hunters that were persuing a 6x6 near the lake. Don't know how long of a hike it is though.

actually your brother saw me and my buddies i asked him if he was going to the lake because i had a six point bugling down there he said ya but just going to get the horses a drink and he would be on his way so i said ok cool thanks we waited 4 hours and they were taking pictures messing around so we headed 4.6 miles back tothe truck on foot! got to love hunting public ground

[gasman]

My brother was riding up Goat Lake and seen soem elk and talked with some bow hunters that were persuing a 6x6 near the lake. Don't know how long of a hike it is though.

actually your brother saw me and my buddies i asked him if he was going to the lake because i had a six point bugling down there he said ya but just going to get the horses a drink and he would be on his way so i said ok cool thanks we waited 4 hours and they were taking pictures messing around so we headed 4.6 miles back tothe truck on foot! got to love hunting public ground

Its amasing, i have ran in to two random people in the last moth that have ran in to my brother while riding up there. One around Goat Lake and another in Basin Lake area.

What a small world.......


By the way Backcountry, did you guys get the elk?


And my brother don't hunt, just rides around in the hills. He is trying to get me up there with him  

[bigcuz]

i got that same tag

[spin05]

Has anyone seen any bulls in the White River unit?  My fiance and myself have rifle bull permits and we have been out in the woods every weekend for the last six weeks.  We decided to take the day off today to go to the fair and wouldn't you know that its raining. 
We have seen plenty of cows and calves, but we haven't seen many bulls.  Most of the bulls we have seen are spikes or 2-points and they have been up the 7000 line on Hancocks property. We have been all over Hancock, the 70-75 roads, Buck/Ranger Creek and Crystal Mountain Blvd, but we have only seen one mature bull. All of my past experience is telling me that the big bulls are still higher, but I have never hunted elk in this unit and don't know what to expect.
I have a feeling that it will be a totally different ballgame come elk season because the weather will change and hopefully the snow is flying. My fiance has never shot an elk and I would really like to help her fill at least her tag, so any information would be helpful. 

sent ya a PM.....

[cem3434]

Everyone talks about the Mucks killing everything, but I havent even seen or heard of them shooting any elk yet. I have been out scouting both weekends since their season opened and I havent even bumped into the Indians. Has anyone heard if they have been killing any elk this year?

[bigtex]

Everyone talks about the Mucks killing everything, but I havent even seen or heard of them shooting any elk yet. I have been out scouting both weekends since their season opened and I havent even bumped into the Indians. Has anyone heard if they have been killing any elk this year?

Well the unit is pretty large so not seeing people is pretty easy to do. For example, I have friends that hunt the Snoqualmie Tree Farm every year and I haven't seen them in five years, even though we hunt the same days. The Mucks tend to stay on the tree farm and they frequently hunt during the week because of less people and less chance of an confrontation. And yes I have heard of a few being taken so far. Be aware that they will continue to hunt them WELL into the winter especially once the snow falls and starts to push the elk out of the Park. I've talked to a couple WDFW Officers and they have told me stories of the mucks going after elk in 4+ feet of snow.

[MooseStock]

There have actually been many taken already by the tribes. My hunting partner is the security for White River and he saw three come out of Bridgecamp one day last week as he was checking Log loads in a pretty short amount of time. He has heard of many taken the last couple of weeks. Any scouting you have done will mostly have to be re-done and re-done again as they will be hitting it hot and heavy before the Rifle permit hunt starts......they always do..........................Les

[bowpredator]

A buddy of mine drew a muzzle loader tag and just tagged out on opening day with a nice 6x6. Called it into 50yrds and put the smack down on it and dropped it in its tracks.

[cem3434]

There have actually been many taken already by the tribes. My hunting partner is the security for White River and he saw three come out of Bridgecamp one day last week as he was checking Log loads in a pretty short amount of time. He has heard of many taken the last couple of weeks. Any scouting you have done will mostly have to be re-done and re-done again as they will be hitting it hot and heavy before the Rifle permit hunt starts......they always do..........................Les

I kind of figured this was the case.  I have noticed that in areas where the elk were hanging out closer to the roads, they have all but disappeared now.  I would also guess they wont hunt during the rifle permit hunt because they dont want to bump into pissed off hunters with guns. 
I guess we should probably wait until the season opens and start scouting again, so we arent chasing ghosts!

[cem3434]

Did anyone have the archery or muzzy tags for this unit? I have only heard or seen a couple of bulls taken on the permit hunts, so I am just wondering how everyone else did.

[backcountry55]

Did anyone have the archery or muzzy tags for this unit? I have only heard or seen a couple of bulls taken on the permit hunts, so I am just wondering how everyone else did.

i had a white river tag and shot a 5pt fun hunt. you need to quit driveing and start hiking there are plenty off elk hit the trails and glass you will do fine!

[cem3434]

Did anyone have the archery or muzzy tags for this unit? I have only heard or seen a couple of bulls taken on the permit hunts, so I am just wondering how everyone else did.

i had a white river tag and shot a 5pt fun hunt. you need to quit driveing and start hiking there are plenty off elk hit the trails and glass you will do fine!

Did you shoot him up by Goat Lake?