Willapa Hills Hunts

[MattySuto]

Hey Everyone...so i am a new hunter to this region ..station out here On Whidbey Island...have only hunted white tail and bear most my life...But am really trying to get some info on ElK hunting.... My Buddy's who have been out here for awhile have Said Willapa Hills is prolly the best place to hunt Elk... i have been reading a few post on this area and it sounds like it has a bunch of Elk... We are planning to come down early season to hunt for a week or so....I know people dont want to give out there spots where they have been scouting for years i am not asking that...just asking what might be some good areas to look into, as i see people say that theres public land off of private land and so on .....but we are looking to come down there and set up a few cams so we can start but we just arent to familiar with the area an dont want to be stepping on peoples toes or get our cameras damaged......  also just wondering if there are places we can set up our camper and go from there.....and are the private lands marked off in anyway..... any information would be helpful...like roads we can go off of or areas (obviously not the ones you guys hunt unless you want to help out .....but some areas were we can maybe get back an put on a good hunt....i hear its hunted heavily but maybe there are other areas around that you could lead us to?? Any an all info would be greatly appreciative.....thanks all

[Alan K]

No camping on Weyerhauser land, which a good majority of the unit is (or was anyways, we'll see where the land they sold is at for sure soon enough).  There are elk there but it's not what it used to be since the hoof rot has been prevalent the last several years.  Of those elk that are left, the locals put hurtin' on.  It's all rural living down there with not much else to do but be out there hunting/fishing/scouting and they know the animals really well.  If you do go you'd be best off getting as far behind locked gates as you can, but if you're doing that you may as well go bike into Winston.  Twice as many elk there and a decent chance at a bull nicer than your average rag horn. 

[MattySuto]

Thanks ALan, also what places down there can you or are you able to set up camp? I mean if we have to set up camp and drive a few miles to get to the hunting grounds then so be it...my buddys just think that we can go down there an everything will be AY OK....i am Like NO probably not a chance in hell.....so thats why i am trying to get as much info as i can so that way we dont walk over anyones feet and get ourselves in a bind..., and we will be able to set up some cams so we can scout a few areas.... for me personally i am over excited to go Elk hunting....i will be happy to take the smallest yet LEGAL Bull elk i can but if the locals are putting a hurting on them i hope theres somewhere else we can fall back on....

[MattySuto]

thanks sundance, we have a camper we plan on bringing down there, ill let my buddys do that work in finding a campsite thats not on private grounds im sure  that they can manage that...also did you read Alans post? he was saying something about Winston?? is that Winston Washington or is that all part of the same GMU?

[MattySuto]

we are going archery..... they want to go to GMU 506 but winston is 520..... im just trying to get familiar with the land and trying to find ways to be able to get down there do a little scouting with the cams and start to get familiar with the area, like i said earlier i dont want to be walking on anyones areas or anythign just looking for some real good areas to be able to take a nice bull....at least one of us there are 4 of us going.... im more of the plan way ahead type of guy while they are lets just go with it.... so any helpful information on where there are bulls and areas we can go down an scout for a few days is greatly helpful ....

[SkookumHntr]

No camping on Weyerhauser land, which a good majority of the unit is (or was anyways, we'll see where the land they sold is at for sure soon enough).  There are elk there but it's not what it used to be since the hoof rot has been prevalent the last several years.  Of those elk that are left, the locals put hurtin' on.  It's all rural living down there with not much else to do but be out there hunting/fishing/scouting and they know the animals really well.  If you do go you'd be best off getting as far behind locked gates as you can, but if you're doing that you may as well go bike into Winston.  Twice as many elk there and a decent chance at a bull nicer than your average rag horn. 

So let me guess, you will be huntin Willapa Hills next year?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Even if Hancock bought the land, there will be limited camping....
If you spend the time to poke around down there you will find some good areas, it will take some fuel $$$ and I suggest finding state (DNR) land, early season usually begins while entry to private (WH)timberland is restricted.
as a new Elk hunter, I don't recommend Willapa as a good place to start though, 3 pt min BULL ONLY during early season.
The area is so thick in places even the WDFW doesnt estimate how many elk live there, and getting to know an area well will take time.
You would be better off hunting a unit open to the taking of antlerless during early and getting to know a little more about elk before hunting bulls. 

So let me guess, you will be huntin Willapa Hills next year?

I will be spending a few days in the unit myself, if you put in some time scouting, you might see me down there, I drive a white f150, or white mini-van w/ Trad stickers, I dont usually give out info on the web, but if I see you in the field.....

[Alan K]

No camping on Weyerhauser land, which a good majority of the unit is (or was anyways, we'll see where the land they sold is at for sure soon enough).  There are elk there but it's not what it used to be since the hoof rot has been prevalent the last several years.  Of those elk that are left, the locals put hurtin' on.  It's all rural living down there with not much else to do but be out there hunting/fishing/scouting and they know the animals really well.  If you do go you'd be best off getting as far behind locked gates as you can, but if you're doing that you may as well go bike into Winston.  Twice as many elk there and a decent chance at a bull nicer than your average rag horn.  

So let me guess, you will be huntin Willapa Hills next year?

I'll be hunting Ryderwood myself, but it's all the same situation there too.  Knowing the area like I do and being local I can still get into the elk even with the hoof rot taking a toll on them.  Just trying to give the city folk an honest opinion.  Winston is about the best unit on the west side IMO to be able to just show up and get into elk. I generally hit it up in the late season.

[MattySuto]

No camping on Weyerhauser land, which a good majority of the unit is (or was anyways, we'll see where the land they sold is at for sure soon enough).  There are elk there but it's not what it used to be since the hoof rot has been prevalent the last several years.  Of those elk that are left, the locals put hurtin' on.  It's all rural living down there with not much else to do but be out there hunting/fishing/scouting and they know the animals really well.  If you do go you'd be best off getting as far behind locked gates as you can, but if you're doing that you may as well go bike into Winston.  Twice as many elk there and a decent chance at a bull nicer than your average rag horn.  

So let me guess, you will be huntin Willapa Hills next year?

I'll be hunting Ryderwood myself, but it's all the same situation there too.  Knowing the area like I do and being local I can still get into the elk even with the hoof rot taking a toll on them.  Just trying to give the city folk an honest opinion.  Winston is about the best unit on the west side IMO to be able to just show up and get into elk. I generally hit it up in the late season.

Thank you all for your your information, i greatly appreciate it, i will be heading down to do some scouting a little later on this year, the old lady is about to pop so i wount be anytime soon.... is there alot of private land over by winston?? or is it gated like everywhere else that people are saying... i dont want to piss off any locals cause we are coming from Whidbey, but just curious to how people ore if we were to leave a trail cam or two?? Dont all yall get any ideas about grabbing them now... but just want to start getting more familiar with the area....

[AKBowman]

Just b/C there are gates does not mean it is private...or does not mean you dont have access. Many of the private gated timber lands allow walk in access. I know you were asking about willapa specifically, the neighboring GMU Williams Crk is a good unit to hunt. Same type of terrian but a little less pressure. You can access a part of it just out of Pe Ell not far from the Chevron Station there. There is pressure there but like most places get off the beaten path and stay low and slow and you should get into the elk.

If you research a bit there are some places to stick a camper in the pull offs, I've seen people camped up in there during the late season. Never been up there for early season.

Best of luck to you.

[AKBowman]

No camping on Weyerhauser land, which a good majority of the unit is (or was anyways, we'll see where the land they sold is at for sure soon enough).  There are elk there but it's not what it used to be since the hoof rot has been prevalent the last several years.  Of those elk that are left, the locals put hurtin' on.  It's all rural living down there with not much else to do but be out there hunting/fishing/scouting and they know the animals really well.  If you do go you'd be best off getting as far behind locked gates as you can, but if you're doing that you may as well go bike into Winston.  Twice as many elk there and a decent chance at a bull nicer than your average rag horn.  

So let me guess, you will be huntin Willapa Hills next year?

I think if all the info you give someone about the location of you trail cam is in "the winston" you dont have to worry about anyone getting any ideas of tracking it down and stealing it...its a decent sized chunk of land

I'll be hunting Ryderwood myself, but it's all the same situation there too.  Knowing the area like I do and being local I can still get into the elk even with the hoof rot taking a toll on them.  Just trying to give the city folk an honest opinion.  Winston is about the best unit on the west side IMO to be able to just show up and get into elk. I generally hit it up in the late season.

Thank you all for your your information, i greatly appreciate it, i will be heading down to do some scouting a little later on this year, the old lady is about to pop so i wount be anytime soon.... is there alot of private land over by winston?? or is it gated like everywhere else that people are saying... i dont want to piss off any locals cause we are coming from Whidbey, but just curious to how people ore if we were to leave a trail cam or two?? Dont all yall get any ideas about grabbing them now... but just want to start getting more familiar with the area....

[grundy53]

Pm sent.

[MADMAX]

Hunted gun season for the first time down there
Was told no camping in the woods but saw many many camps and trailers
Big country up behind South bend
Tried it, but no luck.
I camped at the golf course in Raymond and it was nice to get a hot shower every night and prices were OK

[grundy53]

You can camp on state land.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Yoy can't camp on state land.