Satsop Hunting Area

[wby340]

Hello all, I'm new to the board and was hoping that I might be able to glean some information from you all.  After reading the Washington State Big Game Hunting Regulations several times front to back and back to front, I am looking at doing the late muzzleloader hunt in the Satsop GMU.  Military service requirements has kept me out of the area for the last few months so unfortunately I have not been able to do my normal scouting. I know my poor prior planning probably will not sit well with some of you, but I really don't want to miss another season. 

Does anyone have any information on Public Lands in this area?  I am not looking at squeezing anyone for their secret spot or anything like that, as I want to play nice.  If any of you could give me some info on where I can pick up the trail head or areas to definately avoid that would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks in advance,
Bill 

[Woodchuck]

i wish i had info to give you man, i havnt been there in a hundred years, hopefully someone will pipe up soon, it isnt like you had a choice about scouting.

thank you for your service brother

[Sneaky]

Tons of timber company land in that unit-much of it is VERY thick.  you can expect to see quite a few rigs driving the roads in those areas and very few that get out of the truck. I have seen some very nice bucks in this unit and there are quite a few deer, you just have to get off the main road to find them as they have been heavily pressured. Last year during the muzzy season in this unit I saw people in there with modern rifles as well...

[runamuk]

I havent spent much time in the Satsop area but have done a little scouting ran across some turkeys even...lol...a lot of that land is green diamond and they sell maps at their office in Shelton ...not a ton of help I realize but might get you started.

[ML_Hunter]

I hunt that area in the late season...but would be the wrong person to ask about what how and where  .  I live quite close to the unit, have pulled deer from the unit, and its a big unit to hunt, but i'm always a passanger and i'm paying more attention to whats outside the window than i am on how to get there.  I hope you make it out and good luck!!

[wby340]

Thanks everyone for your help.  I will definitely check with the green diamond logging company.  Given the good grace of the Almighty, a little luck and if I can manage to get the sights to stop shaking from buck fever I will not be sipping tag soup at Christmas. 

Best Regards,
Bill

[Morse_FJ40]

Bill, why don't you hunt mason unit? it is closer to you??

Ryan

[Little Fish]

sent you a pm

[wby340]

I had my first day out yesterday in all that rain.  I thought that you might enjoy a story, that now since I have calmed down is humorous. 

So yesterday my buddy and I brave the rain and head out for an afternoon hunt.  We find a promising area in Satsop, and the weather is perfect for a still hunt. No wind and heavy rain to cover movements in the forest.  So fast forward an hour, I am sitting in the middle of the forest and my buddy is about 500 yards to my right.  We have radios with ear pieces so we can talk to each other.  I get a transmission from him. "When you hit the road, turn right."  I key the radio and quietly I wisper, "Roger, when I hit the road turn right."  To this my buddy replies, "Say again, I can't hear you."  So I send again. My buddy sends back, "Bill, speak up I can't hear you."  So again, I send it.  I get, "Are you even speaking into the mic?"   This gets my temper a bit up, so I do a look around.  Nothing.  So I cradle the gun in one arm, and put the mic right net to my mouth with my other hand, and in a normal voice say, "Roger, road turn right."  At that very moment three deer bedded down not 30 yards from me, jump up and take off.  There I stand with my gun in the wrong hand, my other hand full with the radio, and with a very stupid expression on my face.  By the time that I get my rife to my shoulder and the hammer eared back, no shot what so ever.  Needless to say my buddy is getting a hearing aid for Christmas.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

Phunny!   But, I've got one that I can only blame on myself.  Goofing off with my GPS while on a trail, I missed seeing a nice buck walk right in front of me within pistol range. He ducked into the thick in seconds not giving me a shot with rifle. I put the damn GPS back in my pocket and began hunting the way I should. Hell, I wasn't friggen LOST anyway!

-Steve

[ML_Hunter]

I once stoped on a trail, pulled my Copenhagen can out of my pocket, shouldered my rifle and had one hand holding the can, the other hand inserting dip...Three elk jumped up and took off into some thick thick scottch broom.  Needless to say, i lost a new can of Cope that day and did not get an elk. 

Just seams like the second you let your guard down is when the animals jump    Its like they know 

[Blsum]

Similar situation. Was elk hunting when I noticed a rabbit chillin on the side of the old road grade I was hunting. I stood there and was watching it when all of a sudden a group of elk busted out of the trees right behind the rabbit. Of course my heart just about jumped out of my chest. And of course they scared that poor little rabbit out of there.

[Dirty Mike]

hows that Similar?

[Blsum]

Distracted. Not paying attention to the surrounding area. Let your guard down for just a second and they come out of no where

[ML_Hunter]

I hope your season produced a deer for you.  I was able to take one out of the same GMU yesterday.  My story is linked below.  I wish I could have helped you were areas to hunt earlier, but it had been a wile and I really did not know road names to get there lol.

Anyways, happy hunting and thank you for your service to our country.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,63959.0.html