550 Coweeman or 554 Yale?

[PNWCOONASS]

Ok, need some adice.  I have never hunted neither 550 or 554.  This will be my first year hunting late muzzle loader.  I have put in for cow tags in both areas.  Which one do you think will be best for general hunting if I don't get picked for tags and which one if I do get picked. 

I will be hunting late M/L starting Nov 19th..

thanks Pete


PS, just about half way of our deployment.  keep the post coming, I'm learning alot..

Thanks Pete

[Curly]

554

[PNWCOONASS]

Why 554?  Is it because it will not be open for regular late M/L?  What is the area like?  Mountains, snow, deep valleys?  What is the best way to get into the area?  road access? 


Sorry for all of the quesitons Curly, this website is my scouting for the season.  I'm on an aircraft carrier near iraq...

Thanks for the help.. Pete 

[DeKuma]

Thanks for your service, Pete!

[popeshawnpaul]

It's thick nasty timber country with clear cuts.  Usually the roads are closed and you have to hike in.  You usually can't see more than 30 feet in any direction.  It's not for everyone and can be really frustrating...

[p-ohana]

I've been into elk everytime I've been in 550. The last 2 years I got a 4x4 and 4x2. There are alot of cows. It doesn't matter if I'm hunting deer or elk I always seem to run into elk. I've never hunted 554.

[aspshannon]

I would say Coweeman is your better of the two. 

550 is a larger unit - spreads the hunters out.
550 has more elk per square mile. (Yale unit 554 was created to control the elk population down and around the Lewis River HWY) However this unit should produce some cows)
550 will be open (GATES) for late ML season (should I say usally is.) They typically dont lock the gates until all seasons are done.

Keep in mind the late ML bull hunt is a tough one. Dont expect to just drive around drinking coffee and bag your bull. Instead prepare to hike down dug up roads and through reprod and timber patches. The majority of your mature bulls will be off on their own by this time. You my get lucky and find some younger bulls still hangin with the girls.

As far as where to go in 550.... Pin a Map on the wall and throw a dart... there will be elk there... Seriously there are elk everywhere you go in the Coweeeeeman.

[MIKEXRAY]

I've only hunted 550 and like p-ohana said lots of elk. They are smart though and by late season pretty educated that hunting is on. Watch for locked gates and no access in 550. My buddy got locked in last year late season and had to stay the night. Good luck

[PNWCOONASS]

Thanks guys,  I appriecate the help. 
Aspshannon- Don't worry I will be out of the truck pounding the brush.  No HO-HO's and coffee.
P-ohana, was that early or late season?
Pope, I take it you are talking about 554?
DeKuma, your welcome.  This year will be 19 great years of service.
MIkexray, was that the main road 1600 that was locked or a spur road? 

Man I cannot wait to get out in the woods.  4 months to go and counting. 

Pete

 

[Ghost Hunter]

I'd have to agree with 550, due to area and access.  Yale is small but did increase in size with the Green Mt. area being added.  But if Yale it is, give me a PM if ya need a place to park and camp.  Heck, I'll even help pack it out.  Haven't managed to catch one in the yard during season......yet

[Houndhunter]

yale can be good if you know some guys that have some private land

we find them in the summer but during fall they seem to go onto private land, they are really spread out

this is from my small amount of expeirence though, dont know a thing bout 550

[Little Fish]

Another vote for Coweeman. I'd go in on Headquarters road or through Rose Valley. I'm sure there are plenty of other ways in though.

[LongTatLaw]

Ive never hunted either but I did the same thing last year...I was about to move up to WA after getting home from Iraq so I used this site to do some "scouting"

This fall Ill be in Iraq before season starts so Ill be watching the site like u are for one season!

dave

[spin05]

I used to hunt 550 for muzzleloader .Saw alot of elk never got one thou. I went in headquarters rd. And went almost all the way to the back by the toutle unit.

[PNWCOONASS]

Ghost, I"ll keep you in mind depending on the result of the drawing.

Dave,
Good luck, keep you ass down and your head on a swivel.


Thanks for all of the help and keep it coming.