Willapa Hills Info

[Hurricane]

 We went scouting there this past weekend off the Elochoman Valley RD. At the end of this RD is a gate owned by Hancock Forest Management. Does anyone know if this gate is open during the Hunting Season? We went back about 4 miles behind it and looked around. Some of this area looks ok. Also is any of the gated Roads off highway 6 worth the time? I have no problem getting back miles past the gates. Any info would be much appreciated. I am trying to learn a new area to hopefully get My first ever Elk this year. My area we have been hunting is way over hunted and I want to learn a new area. Thanks for the Help. Bob

[chester]

so your going from a over hunted area to one of the most popular/crowded elk areas in the state? Interesting. Hancock is a new owner of alot of land down there. I believe this will be the first year they will be controlling it during hunting season. Its a toss up on if they will open the gates or not. Off of hwy 6 alot of the gated stuff can either be Private or bordered by private. So it gets hunted very hard as most of the locals between raymond and centralia like to hunt right off of their back porch.  What area were you hunting before if you dont mind me asking?

[rtspring]

Folks use to live in right outside raymond. East oh hwy 6. greencrick road i think it was. lots of country back there. Gates always open.
my parents had deer, elk, cougar, bear in the yard all the time.......

drive around some, the locals will not help outsiders much. But lots of elk in the brushy stuff.......

[Hurricane]

 We have been hunting Packwood. Last year the late season we were in the Winston Unit. We Archery hunt.

[chester]

Archery season the gates are usually still closed.so it will be a hike or bike show. Make sure you check fire restrictions. they do close the woods down in sept often. Good luck to ya.

[Hurricane]

 I have never hunted in the Willapa area. During Archery does this area gets hit hard? With a 3pt min or antlerless area I thought it might be worth looking into.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have visited it the last couple years, rumour has it as being heavily hunted, but I only see a few trucks parked at gates, also, as far as I know it is 3pt or better BULL ONLY during early season, antlerless ONLY during late.

[bucklucky]

Yes it gets hit hard.

[AKBowman]

I have never hunted in the Willapa area. During Archery does this area gets hit hard? With a 3pt min or antlerless area I thought it might be worth looking into.

Its not a three point min OR antlerless unit during any season. That changed about 3 yrs ago. Like STIK said three point min during early and antlerless during late. I've hunted both units and even thought the Winston is more crowded if you get off the roads I've had better results/seen more game in the Winston. Ryderwood is a good unit with lots of good walk-ins if you know where to go...its a huge unit good mix of private/public

[Alan K]

It's heavily hunted, and the locals know the herds well.  Throw in the 3 pt. only and hoof rot and you're better off elsewhere. 

I've always had a blast in Winston Creek.  Never been there during the early season, but during the late season I've never had trouble getting into elk.  True, there are a lot of people, but there are more than enough elk to go around! You can even get away with just driving roads until you cut fresh tracks and go on them.

[brichards44]

I've been hunting the Willapa hills for three seasons now. Very tough and thick terrain and like Alan says the locals know the herds very well. There are tons of elk there, thats why the kill record is the highest in the state for the SW units. In order to get a crack at one, I suggest you scout very hard or get really lucky.

[Hurricane]

Thanks guys for all the info. Much appreciated. I have yet to get an elk and I am trying to get a feel for a different area. I am starting my scouting early this year and trying to see if this unit would be worth it.

[WSU]

Pick an area with a lot of elk and learn it.  Jumping from one place with elk to another place with elk will make it that much harder to learn the area and be successful.  My  .

[bucklucky]

Pick an area with a lot of elk and learn it.  Jumping from one place with elk to another place with elk will make it that much harder to learn the area and be successful.  My  .

I kill elk all over the state ..... just sayin. I have found its not so much learning an area but learning elk habits and knowing what they do that makes me more succesful elk hunting.

[Utah]

We went scouting there this past weekend off the Elochoman Valley RD. At the end of this RD is a gate owned by Hancock Forest Management. Does anyone know if this gate is open during the Hunting Season? We went back about 4 miles behind it and looked around. Some of this area looks ok. Also is any of the gated Roads off highway 6 worth the time? I have no problem getting back miles past the gates. Any info would be much appreciated. I am trying to learn a new area to hopefully get My first ever Elk this year. My area we have been hunting is way over hunted and I want to learn a new area. Thanks for the Help. Bob

Someone else nailed it..    CROWDED!