Maybe East next year?

[OUTDOOR_BEAST-84]

I can certainly understand your frustration with the west side. I went out this weekend to Packwood/Randle and found a heard sitting at the local runway, 2 herds sitting on private property in Randle and a herd on the Morton Pass on Private Property. Opening weekend I hit the 300 line near Riffe Lake and FR21 which was like I-5 at the Tacoma Dome. I got out and hiked and hiked and hiked only to run into other hunters. However, I have hunted the East side from Yakima, 410 and saw twice as many base camps and orange. I would stick to your honey hole and maybe consider Muzzle loader as I. MR in this state is for the birds and should be banned. There is no sportsmanship for those 10 days. 

ya i was planning on buying a ML this spring. i went modern this year out of desperation, i was unable to hunt any of the early seasons this year so i did what i could... im also going out for mod late BT, im hungry for venison... after that its waterfowl and steelhead for a while...

[Buckrub]

Go east? and hunt spikes?  I guess 

me see bull elk... me live with elk... me kill elk.
They don't go far unless pushed hard and any good topo map will give you the clues you need.

Good luck....