Mashel/Skookumchuk Units

[hawksfan75]

Ok, so bear with me... I'm looking for information (of course) on the Mashel/Skookumchuk units (654/667).

I only have late modern white tail open to get out in the woods and have been trying to track information down on this unit (the posts on here from 2007 are quite entertaining) but I can not find solid public land maps for these areas.

My understanding is that the Kapowsin Tree Farm takes up most of this area, but I see that the Elbe State Forest is an option as well. I have also seen information that the area off of Carbon River Road is a good place to get out. But I am having a hard time finding the boundaries of the Kapowsin farm, as well as what is public, huntable land and what is private/timber.

Does anybody have a good online map that shows this information or can point me to the best possible map for this area. Conversely, if there's a better GMU to consider for this hunt, it would be greatly appreciated.

[JBar]

Not going to find too many whitetails in those units! But if you're looking for lots of land to get a Blacktail try the Vail treefarm just outside of Yelm. It's open for the late hunt Nov.18 - 21 and gives you free access to lots of Weyerhaeuser property. Good luck!

[gasman]

if you are just looking to put meat in the freezer, head to 667 and hunt Vail. Everyon eelse will be. Some nice bucks do come out of there durring the laste season but it is a zoo. There is no public land in 667 just private, but lots of it is huntable.


Elbe hills is OK but not my first choice. Lot of poaching up there and activity year round, 4x4, hourse back riding, OHV, crosscountry skiing, snowmobiling, firewood cutting, etc. I do believe most guys hunt champion, but there is some NF land up around Evans Creek (not sure if it is part of the Mashel unit or not. not looking at the regs for boundry).

[krout81]

Pack forest is in 654 on the west side of the unit off of hwy 7 just after the second cutoff to eatonville.  its gated lots of deer the last time I went up there.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 I would head south from Elbe and hunt the numerous hike-in roads off of the Morton highway. Stormking GMU 505 on the left, GMU 667 on the right heading south.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Pack forest is in 654 on the west side of the unit off of hwy 7 just after the second cutoff to eatonville.  its gated lots of deer the last time I went up there.

 I hunted pack forest last year and it is getting very overgrown. Animals are in there, but tough to find.

[Fish4Fun]

I would head south from Elbe and hunt the numerous hike-in roads off of the Morton highway. Stormking GMU 505 on the left, GMU 667 on the right heading south.

   I used to hunt late buck on that stretch of road, get there and walk in behind the gates. If you see a gate with no truck stop for sure and walk it out. Some of them are just short roads up to a landing, more than once I have found deer on the shortest walks. Some of the roads are long walks, I have gotten there and walked in after the others have walked in and taken deer behind them. So, just because there are trucks parked at a gate don't be afraid to walk in behind them.

[hawksfan75]

You guys rock. I'm still learning areas and I don't want to head out on a four hour drive only to have to go to a different spot because it's private or logging land. Bing/Google maps don't have it and GoHunt wasn't being particularly helpful because it's technically huntable land.

So, on to my next question. I live in Kent, does it make sense to just get up at 3 am and head out or should I be camping down there?

I'll pour through these maps and look for the locations you all mentioned. I appreciate it.

[Fish4Fun]

I live in Renton and always just drove down there each morning. Just go to Elbe and then head South towards Morton, any of the yellow gates just get in there and hunt behind them.

[Dmanmastertracker]

You guys rock. I'm still learning areas and I don't want to head out on a four hour drive only to have to go to a different spot because it's private or logging land. Bing/Google maps don't have it and GoHunt wasn't being particularly helpful because it's technically huntable land.

So, on to my next question. I live in Kent, does it make sense to just get up at 3 am and head out or should I be camping down there?

I'll pour through these maps and look for the locations you all mentioned. I appreciate it.

 Kent is really only an hour and a half from these area's in the early AM with no traffic. Camping is pretty limited, you might try Mineral resort, or some of the resorts around Ashford which have some camping.

[OUTDOOR_BEAST-84]

if you need a spot to camp theres plenty in the elbe hills. theres actually a campground with a dumper if you turn left at the lions club (off of 706, 278th i think but not labeled well) a few miles back. theres a road through the campground that leads to roads on top of roads and lots of state land and one of the roads . im also in renton area and work saturday morning so i drive out around noon get an evening hunt in then wake up early sunday and hit it hard all day... not light til 7 or even 730 these days tho so no point in leaving kent at 3, only an hour and a half in there. theres also a shortcut if you turn left at first stop sign in eatonville (scott turner rd?) then that road splits and winds through some private property and heads back to that same area. cuts about 15 miles off and a windy, slow 706 trek...

[gasman]

The camp ground up at Elbe Hills is run by teh DNR and gated. You can get a key to it but you have to contact Nancy ?, with teh DRN and she can give you teh code for the gate, but don't expect her to get back real fast, may take as little as a few days to a few weeks for her to return you call 
Not 100% sure but you may be able to camp at the Horse Camp 

Other wise, there is camp grounds at Alder Lake, two of them. There is also some resorts and cabins that can be rented close by.

[Bofire]

off the Morton Elbe Road is Pleasent Valley Road, goes in for miles.
Carl

[gasman]

off the Morton Elbe Road is Pleasent Valley Road, goes in for miles.
Carl

I was under the impression that it was still closed 

[OUTDOOR_BEAST-84]

i saw 6  or so camps set up off the road in different spots. theres plenty of space to post up if you want. i just lay down my seats and sleep in my rig. makes for a quick pack up...