wenaha east tag

[jackelope]

I always though our vehicle pass trumped a fs pass and that was for people who didn't hunt or fish but want to bird watch or something. When did they change that?

I'm fairly sure this is accurate...
The vehicle pass from WDFW is for WDFW land only. Has no bearing on other public land. Not sure anything's ever changed. At least not back as long as I've lived here which is not very long relatively speaking.
I could be wrong.

[dhorn]

you are right about that. just checked on it this morning!!!

[Dan-o]

Holy crap...   I just watched the video on page 7 (posted by Jackalope) and I'm experiencing huge amounts of sympathy soreness and aching!!!

I've done some elk pack outs in my time, but that dude looked like he was one tired/resolute/happy camper.

I just love how his buddy videoing him shows absolutely no sign of sympathy....    you shoot a bull that freaking big, you get to enjoy every single painful step of the trip out!

I think even as old and fat as I am, I'd have to shoot a bull that big no matter where I found myself. 

[jackelope]

Pretty sure that the bull that Bowsnhose is packing out in the still pic is not even his bull.
 

[bucklucky]

Pretty sure that the bull that Bowsnhose is packing out in the still pic is not even his bull.
 

Thats my bull from the week before.

That guys buddy that was filming is his Dad and he is in pretty good shae for an old guy  Travis is a fire fighter and in some damn good shape. That is an easy pack compared to what the east will be. The pack on my bull was 2 1/2 miles and a pretty easy pack for alot of it but the first part sucked something fierce. I think Travises pack was a mile and a half if I remember right . At least there was a little down hill on Travises, mine was all up .

[Shawn Ryan]

Mtncook,  That was 34 years ago by my counting.  Slim was old and slim by then--classic cowboy, but that was the only way I ever knew him.  I hope when I'm that old, I'm still charging as hard as he was.  Did you ever meet him or just hear the stories?

[mtncook]

I was packing for the outfitter with the adjoining permit.  Which Slim sold to.  Yes we heard some stories, but he was a straight operator.   

mtncook

[Pathfinder101]

Well, this thread actually turned out pretty cool, with the horse packing pictures, big bulls being hauled out on dude's backs, scenery...
...in retrospect, I am glad that I didn't ruin it...

[lukuss]

Its pretty steep there

[Pathfinder101]

Steep, big, and (just to be clear, since I am pretty sure this has already been mentioned) what really makes it so intimidating is that it is a wilderness area, so there are no roads.  There are a lot of steep, nasty areas in Washington, but if you have a map and a little working knowledge of the area, you can walk up or down till you hit an old logging road, and then work your way out.  You can't do that in the Wenaha.  One you are in, there's only one way out. 
Up.

I am headed up there this afternoon with PathfinderJR to cut a load of wood.  I'll let you guys know how far we get...

[Elkpiss]

I think i better chime in here, My dad, Brother and  I hunted it last year and to hunt it most effectively and time efficiant is with a packer to get you in and camp already set up and pack the meat out.. Like Deer Slayer said this is a no brainer, you have 2 elk to kill brother, there is no way in hell you will pack 2 elk out of the East time efficiantly and still have plenty of hunting time.. And I know when my dad seen the unit for the first time his balls dropped and thought he got in a little over his head and had MT Cook on the horn the next day.. He is 53, and  I told him this is your hunt and make it enjoyable as possible and drop camp was nice... The only country that has been the same or a little steeper that i have hunted is the Eagle Cap.. Good luck dude, but this is a No Brainer, Im sure you have already booked with MT COOK.. He is a good dude and packer, just dont stair at the Mule thats packing out the Kitchen....

[Shawn Ryan]

Mtncook,  From all I can tell, Slim was a straight-up kinda guy.  A man's man, who called it like he saw it.  My Dad and his friends enjoyed telling stories of his toughness.  I can't blame him for railing on my Dad at first; Slim had the kind of honesty that allowed him to take a position, then later say out load that he had been wrong in his initial opinion, and to take a new position without having been arrogant in the beginning.  He reminded me of my grand parents and great grandparents in that way.  That kind of honesty can evade a lot of people.  The fact that I remember him and his words 34 years later is a testament to his character.

In my apparent advancing age, I have found that time spent in rugged wilderness, like the Wenaha, tends to distill a man's character and you find out who you really are.  Shooting the bull of a lifetime deep in a Wenaha canyon on a hot September day would certainly put a guy's character and decision making to the test.

[Deer slayer]

I think i better chime in here, My dad, Brother and  I hunted it last year and to hunt it most effectively and time efficiant is with a packer to get you in and camp already set up and pack the meat out.. Like Deer Slayer said this is a no brainer, you have 2 elk to kill brother, there is no way in hell you will pack 2 elk out of the East time efficiantly and still have plenty of hunting time.. And I know when my dad seen the unit for the first time his balls dropped and thought he got in a little over his head and had MT Cook on the horn the next day.. He is 53, and  I told him this is your hunt and make it enjoyable as possible and drop camp was nice... The only country that has been the same or a little steeper that i have hunted is the Eagle Cap.. Good luck dude, but this is a No Brainer, Im sure you have already booked with MT COOK.. He is a good dude and packer, just dont stair at the Mule thats packing out the Kitchen....

My dad went on one of the scouting trips with me.  He said the same thing.  Eagle Cap is the only thing that compares to it that he has hunted.  He even said that parts of the East are worse.  The part he is probably referring to is leaving from Teepee and climbing Mt Misery.  It just keeps pulling. 

[BLUEBULLS]

I think i better chime in here, My dad, Brother and  I hunted it last year and to hunt it most effectively and time efficiant is with a packer to get you in and camp already set up and pack the meat out.. Like Deer Slayer said this is a no brainer, you have 2 elk to kill brother, there is no way in hell you will pack 2 elk out of the East time efficiantly and still have plenty of hunting time.. And I know when my dad seen the unit for the first time his balls dropped and thought he got in a little over his head and had MT Cook on the horn the next day.. He is 53, and  I told him this is your hunt and make it enjoyable as possible and drop camp was nice... The only country that has been the same or a little steeper that i have hunted is the Eagle Cap.. Good luck dude, but this is a No Brainer, Im sure you have already booked with MT COOK.. He is a good dude and packer, just dont stair at the Mule thats packing out the Kitchen....

My dad went on one of the scouting trips with me.  He said the same thing.  Eagle Cap is the only thing that compares to it that he has hunted.  He even said that parts of the East are worse.  The part he is probably referring to is leaving from Teepee and climbing Mt Misery.  It just keeps pulling.

I spend quite a bit of time in the Eagle Cap and to me, the eastern portion of the wenaha is quite a bit tougher to navigate. 2 years ago we packed a deer 11 miles out of the eagle cap on our backs and it was by far a lot easier of a pack than packing one 8 miles out of the wenaha last year.

The majority of the wenaha involves packing "up" to get anything out.

oh yeah, Wastickslinger, I'm not the crazy one, my dad is. He's 54 and goes with me to pack even when he doesn't have a tag!

[dhorn]

well i better get ready for a rough hunt! looks like we are doing it by foot!!!!!!