New to Rimrock

[Thanny78]

Evening all,
I have been reading the Elk forum for a while now and thought that I would join in. Heading to the Rimrock GMU this fall for MF spikes (sounds like with the rest of the hunters in the known world), following my bro who drew a cow tag for the same area. Spent some time in the Bethel GMU but it sounds like they are two totally different worlds. Planning on doing some scouting over there this summer and early fall. It is a bit of a drive since I am a coasty...sorry. Haven't done much Elk hunting in the last few years but am really looking forward to it. Also going to head up to Pasayten for the high hunt as well. Looking forward to getting out in the woods. Hope to see you out there! Well, not really but you know what I mean.

[carpsniperg2]

Good luck and welcome to the site. I love the rimrock unit havent been in there a ton but a few times. If you guys hunt hard a cow should be pretty easy in there for your bro. Spikes are not easy to come by but there is some in there for sure.

[Thanny78]

Thanks, I have some ideas on where to head. Some of my dad's old hunting parners have pointed me to some spots along with some greats previous posts.
 
Just have to get out there and scout around...

[carpsniperg2]

The power of the net

[C-Money]

Right on! You guys will have fun filling that cow tag. Having a special permit in your group always makes the up comming season a bit more exciting! Welcome to the site!

[zackmioli]

my dad got drawn for that cow tag as well so i will be up there helping and trying to get him on some cows. i wont be packing a rifle since i am westside archery this year but i still look forward to the hunt! congrats to your bro, good luck and maybe we will run into each other up there.

[Thanny78]

I am planning on heading over in a couple of weeks to start scouting...we plan on setting up a camp in the same general area as we are hunting. Does this place get packed full like the Bethel GMU did the last time I was hunting there?
If I do find a good spot to camp is it most likely to be occupied when I gead over there for the hunt?

Thanks.

[Sunbkpk]

Road 1207 West of Clear Lake is closed from a washed out bridge at Miriam creek according to the forest service. If that is where you were planning to go you may have to alter your plans some.

I am planning to go over Chinook pass this weekend. They plan to open Thursday I hear. Supposedly 15 feet of snow in spots still.

Enjoy your camping and scouting.

[Thanny78]

I hear that they are still skiing at Crystal too...crazy.

I was thinking about scouting out the area between lost lake road and the FR557? not sure if the map has the right number on the FS road but the two roads split apart and kind of make a big "C" next to a steep set of ridges.

[carpsniperg2]

It will be busy come hunting season that is for sure If you want to camp out in the woods you might do a little better then rubbbin elbows at the camp grounds.

[Thanny78]

Yea, I would rather find a spot to set the tent off of some FS road somewhere... Out of the way so we don't get run through too much.

[carpsniperg2]

That's what we do. If I don't sell my camp trailer "trying to" I will probably drag it up there again. Plenty on little spots to get off the main road and camp. Just make sure you have room to turn around

[Elkrunner]

I am finally going to get over and scout this weekend?  I had a quick hiatus due to e-coli..that really sucked.  Can't wait to get over and check things out

[Glockster]

I don't know if i consider them totally different...they're just on different sides of the river.  Lost lake will be good area to check all the way up to Jump Off Joe...there's been some road closures up there too. so that may be a good thing for guys willing to do some work .    Off campsite camping...ie along a road somewhere is still viable, but with the road washouts in the Lil Rattlesnake, Umptanum and Manashtash, I expect there will be alot of displaced hunters looking for new places to set up.

Another thing that is disturbing is the USFS actively destroying dispersed camping areas over there left and right.   

So ya, i expect it will be packed full.  We have far fewer hunters now than we did when I was a kid, (80's), but we're now we're much more crowded due to USFS and WDFW 

[blacktailcrzy]

i filled my cow tag up there and hunted spikes with multiple camp success i would hunt low with the crowd to fill the cow tag the pressure will help to get one pushed into you. there will be a few spikes down low but with the crowd your odds are one in a million i would hut up high or even back at the bethal where you know the area more it will help when the shooting begins        good luck