GMU 572 and 560 Questions.

[colockumelk]

For those that don't know me I am originally from the East Side of the Cascades.  I am currently in the Army stationed in Alabama.  I am about to be stationed at Ft. Drum, NY.  I can't physically scout new places to hunt. I have never hunted on the West Side before and don't know much about the areas over there.  I am sick of hunting the East Side for elk with my bow and am planning on switching to the West Side and hunting with my bow so I can bugle for bulls.  That is half the fun of elk hunting for me, bugling for bulls. 

On my freetime (what little I have in flight school) I have been doing a decent amount of research as far as harvest reports, searches on this website and ALOT..... ALOT.....ALOT of scouting with my WA state Atlas.  My Dad just bought a bow and plans on hunting with me next year but he is busy and spends most of his time out of state as well so he can't physically scout an area just like I can't.  The only thing I can do is do map and internet research and hope I pick a decent area and then scout it during elk season. So I was hoping that someone on here whether it's PM or openly could give me some advice or input on two specific parts of these GMU's that I looked at and will describe below.  My goal is to find an area where we can get away from people no matter how far we have to walk and have a decent chance of seeing elk.  I prefer an area that has no roads or at least closed roads that I can walk in on or ride a bike.

So far I have found two specific areas on the map (One inside each GMU) that I am looking at.  Any advice or input on what the terrain is actually like, and amount of hunting pressure would be greatly appreciated.  Any input on elk density would be appreciated but not expected.  My main point of questioning is terrain and hunting pressure. 

GMU 560: Area Around
Northern Boundary: Badger Peak, Kirk Rock, Shark Rock, Hat Rock, Dark Mountain, Table Mountain
Eastern Boundary: Table Mountain, FR 9091
Southern Boundary: FR 90, Ichter Hill,, Quartz Creek Butte, Straight Creek Falls, Blue Lake
Western Boundary:  The Loaf,, Badger Peak
Basically the Quartze Creek Ridge, Quartze Creek Drainage, French Creek Drainage, Snagtooth Drainage is what I'm looking at.

GMU 572: Area Around
Northern Boundary:  Lewis River (Just below Swift Dam)
Eastern Boundary:  Mt. Mitchell, Huffman Peak
Southern Boundary:  Healy Rd/FR 57
Western Boundary: Yale Lake
Basically the North Siouxon Creek Drainage, Siouxon Creek Drainage, Ole Creek Drainage, Mt. Mitchell and Huffman Peak
 

[sneakyjake]

Pm sent

[colockumelk]

Thanks sneaky. I'd prefer PMs. I don't want to ruin someones honey hole.

[bloodhound]

the loaf isnt a bad area and ive chased elk all over that area including badger peak. in the past 3 years or so ive noticed a rapid decline in the amount of elk returning to that area every year and decided this year im not got hunt there at all. that being said to get to the loaf you have to walk in behind the handy cap gate. great right? not really. it sucks to walk for miles with not flat terrain and then have some guy whos handy cap wave at yah as he drives by. if your down for a long ride go right past the loaf and head all the way to snider pasture. more elk near there and you can walk in to where the handi's cant drive to. they are also less spooked because there is no roads near there except the one road leading in that dead ends before you get to the pasture. hope that helps. but its a long ride. and if you get one down theirs no roads and the pasture is at the top so you know hes heading way down hill so i hope your back is in good shape and you got trees for legs.

[colockumelk]

Thanks Bloodhood for the tips.  Not sure where Snyder Pasture is but that is the type of area I am thinking about.  Places I can get away from people but still has elk.  I don't care how far I have to walk.  I shouldn't have mentioned The Loaf.  I was thinking more to the east than the Loaf.  I had heard the same thing you mentioned as far as people driving in which is what I DEFINATELY want to avoid.  Thanks for the tip. 

[bloodhound]

if your going down the road past the gate headed to the loaf you pass the loaf and stay on the main drag and take it all the way till it dead ends. walk the trail out and your at snider pasture. is you type it in it will come up on google

[elksnout]

PM sent.

[elkontherun]

I have been hunting the area you are talking about in 560 for the last 15 years and have killed 8 elk in there but I have to agree with the other post on here there is less and less elk up there every year. I hunted 9 days last year in that area and put a minimum of 7 miles on each day and only saw 8 elk but it only takes one and I finally found the right one on day 9.  The numbers are just not like they used to be. That being said if you love hunting the high country and enjoy beautiful country and don't mind working your *** of when and if you get a bull than mabey we will see you up there goodluck!

[colockumelk]

Thanks for the input elkontherun.  I really appreciate all the advice I have received.  Thank you

[bench beast]

I have hunted both area's. I prefer the 572 unit. The north slope of Mitchel peak can be good, but now the acsess is gated off.

[colockumelk]

I have hunted both area's. I prefer the 572 unit. The north slope of Mitchel peak can be good, but now the acsess is gated off.

What does that mean.  I like access gated off.  Can you still walk or ride your bike back in?  Or do you mean gated off as in "No Trespassing."  I am kind of looking for no road areas or closed road (walk in or bike in only).

[bench beast]

not sure, the access is Thur private property. don't know if they allow foot traffic or not. I was told they wont let people Thur.

[colockumelk]

Thanks for the research bench beast