mica peak or thompson creek

[newred]

So I have been scouting pretty hard in both of these areas for the past few weeks and all I can find are a few white tail a few promising areas and lots and lots of moose sign (tracks upon tracks and tons of droppings) ...what gives I feel like I'm missing something I have been concentrating on the iep land but haven't been to the section north and east of mt spokane park. 

[jackelope]

You might be missing the part about there not being a lot of elk in there?

Not trying to be a wise aass but there's not.

[BULLBLASTER]

what season are you trying to hunt?

[CAMPMEAT]

There is elk there, but mostly on private property.

[newred]

I am going to hunt archery. I know that there aren't many elk up in much of those woods. But I would like to think if I do the work I could be one of the lucky ones. I was hoping that the iep land would be part of the private land that will hold elk come september but I am starting to second guess myself.

[BULLBLASTER]

there are elk around in 127, they are few and far between. hen they do find a spot they like they will tend to stay right there. sometimes in the least expected places.

[CedarPants]

My experience has been that the IEP land east of MT. Spokane always holds elk, until the last day of August.  It's any elk and those animals know it.  That area gets absolutely hammered during all seasons and the elk know when to seek private ground.

That said, there always does in fact seem to be someone that pulls a decent bull out of there each year.  Wouldn't be my first choice though

[Alan K]

Both my sister and father have draw Mt. Spokane bull moose tags in the last 7-8 years, and we spent a lot of time up Thompson Creek as well as up top around the ski place.  We saw very little elk sign, though we did glass a small herd up in the park one day during the hunt, as well as seeing a nice 5 or 6 point bull in velvet in the road in the Thompson Creek area during a scouting trip. 

While there aren't many elk, I'd rather hunt a unit with very few elk for a branched bull than a unit with a fair amount only being able to shoot a little spike. I'm a westsider though, never had to hunt spikes, and if I ever do I'll be moving! 

[piledup]

Those are the last place i would hunt for elk

[boneaddict]

Good luck.

[newred]

Thanks for the info. I feel like I have comitted myself to one those area's at least for this year. I have spent a lot of time up in those areas and spent the money on the pass. And it is close to home. I am hoping they just haven't moved into the areas I have been looking. We will see.Maybe I will broaden my search next year. I haven't run into any moose up there yet but man there is sign everywhere.

[sebek556]

historically the elk from mica peak will move north into Otis orchards then west along the ridgeline until they are in the bigalowe gulch area safely on private ground.. my neighbor has 40 acres on the ridgeline and says they pass through his property about 1 month to two weeks before season opens

[Miles]

I've spent quite a bit of time in the TC drainage, and I have never seen an elk in there.  I know there are some in there at different times, but finding one during the season is a feat in itself.  Sure there are some hunters that luck in to seeing one while driving one of the roads, but the chances are slim.  The further north of mt.Spokane you go, the better your chances get IMO.  The TC drainage really isn't all that big once you get a couple hunters in there pushing the animals around.

[newred]

It seams like most of the 70 elk harvested out of 124 would have come from iep land.

[Miles]

It seams like most of the 70 elk harvested out of 124 would have come from iep land.

Or someones backyard...

[newred]

Yeah...

[sebek556]

Primarily all private land holdings either residential or other.  The unit holds great numbers of elk, deer and moose.  If you can get into some of the private land, you have a good shot at getting into some great hunting.
straight from wdfw..

[JColony]

The IEP Land is fun to play in and not a bad option for a quick evening hunt when time is tight.  But I wouldn't want to make it my primary area, for elk atleast.  I was forced to stay close last year due to lack of vacation time.  Hunted the modern season (first mistake) last year and was up at the saddle just east of Round Top Mt at first light of opening day, not one gun shot all day.  And there were people everywhere!  I will say this, there are elk up there, not a lot, but they are there.  Something to think about also, there's a chunk of IEP land off the Blanchard hump.  I've seen elk up there a few times also.  Good luck! 

[DBZona]

It seams like most of the 70 elk harvested out of 124 would have come from iep land.

Or someones backyard...

Yep!  That is exactly where they are coming from.  Good luck Archery hunting during the rut, the elk in these units do not talk.  In 4 years of hunting I have heard one elk bugle and it was on private land.  You are better off going further north into 113 or 117. 

Or if you want to experience an "interesting" hunt, with lots of animals, go to the colockums or blues for a spike opening weekend.  But then again, there are no elk there either cause bigfoot ate them all. 

[huntnnw]

There is around 200 head of elk that live in the mica range and the herd north of otis orchards is not from the mica range...those elk are the herd that lives on the westside of the lake..there is another herd that lives east of  the lake close to trent and ID line. There is a herd of close to 70 that reside most of the time in ID on mica,but do frequent the WA side as there is a great wallow and bedding area in WA   Also a herd around 35 lives on private at the double barrel ranch. There is other herds on IEP mica range that are about knowing someone    There is the Peone praire herd that summers up on MT spokane on private and IEP and they come down to praire come Sept. Rock canyon holds elk,but is all private same goes for Tekoa mt.

If your new to these areas and are just starting t scout for elk I would move north....waaaay better elk hunting and not far from MT spokane

[Nape.257]

If u have a quad or bike go cruse the iep up camble Rd off Trent.

There were some elk taken out of there last year.

[CedarPants]

If u have a quad or bike go cruse the iep up camble Rd off Trent.

There were some elk taken out of there last year.

No ..... definitely don't go up there.  There aren't any elk up there, or turkeys for that matter.  If you do go up there and see me, i swear I'm only there to warn people that there are no animals up there 

[high country]

I promise you that you will get a ticket for trespassing if you do not reallllllllly know your way around mica. I live in otis and I can tell you the elk hunting here is only n opportunity thing. if you ride on that lakeview ground and ride across the gate, you need permission from the land owner, it is not iep's. if you cut across the logged area you will be in violation of the user agreement.....I see it happen often.