Fire danger closures begin, PBTF, St Helens Tree Farm

[dr.derek]

Haven't heard an elk bugle after 3 a.m. down here in almost two weeks.  Two of us in the Toutle and five in the Yale and we have seen five elk - 3 cows, one spike and one branched bull in velvet.  All but one hunter with more than 20 years experience and some high success ratios.

 

[RadSav]

Guess that's one way to get your post numbers up 

[RadSav]

Well, I guess I need to make a correction.  The newbie in camp took a 5X5 this evening.  Showed up all us old archery elk hunters but good.  By the time I got down there only meat and horns to pack.  Not one person in the group thought to take a picture - idiots!  First bull elk and he'll have to settle for a picture of only the horns in camp tomorrow. (I'll post tomorrow hopefully) Better than nothing I suppose. 

Nice pack job.  Only 150 yards up hill to the truck!  Used the Bear Attack I gave him for Christmas which was sort of cool.

Only thing for us in the Toutle was a stern warning from Weyer. security stating we needed to "get the heck out!"  That takes about half of our hunting spots out of play.

[Cylvertip]

anyone know the status of Rayonier lands out on the penninsula?

[thorne27]

Looks like deer tomorrow up north and late season elk for me.  Unless anyone wants to share their DNR honey hole.   It will be too crowded on the DNR land for me.  Good luck to everyone else. 

[cem3434]

It looks like its going to be a bad year in the early seasons for Archery and Muzzleloader.  If you look at historical data and the current weather patterns, it doesnt look like we will be get any substanial amount of rain until the middle of October. 

I am hunting Modern this year, but I hope the weather breaks for the rest of you stick flingers and front stuffers!

[LC Hunter]

Coast units should still be open right? Bear river?

[bowkid]

Funny thing is that the 1900 rd is open, but the 1901 rd is closed??? Looks like the same trees to me. There are some "W" roads that do not have the orange keep out sign on them, but don't look that great. The only fire danger I saw was where they sprayed and killed all the plants next to the road.  I hope that everyone that reads this contacts W, F&WL, and DON'T buy anything that is made by these ANTI BOW HUNTERS!!! These roads that I mentioned are in the Kid Valley area.

[funkster]

It sucks yes, but we all know that this is a concern each year. It is private land and can be closed at the discretion of the timber companies at any time. Just got back home from down in the SW, the bulls where fired up and bugling. We had no problem getting on elk and got on the biggest bull that I have seen in the winston in years. A lot of work goes into elk hunting but what can you do. Their property is their property and it is more than that, it is their business and livelihood. If a fire did break out it would cost them hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. I doubt they open it back up but if they do I know where we will be.

[RadSav]

After that first day of closures the traffic slowed down to a crawl in the south end.  Bulls started to talk a little though not yet aggressive.  The Squaw passed on a small 4X5 this morning at 35 yards.  Not sure where the big bulls are.  We've seen three herds in excess of 10 cows and the herd bulls were all very small.  Makes me believe the cows are not yet in estrus.

Still guys at every Wey. gate walking in behind the extreme fire danger signs.  Not sure what that fine is.  Guess they figure it's cheaper than loosing their early season.  Quite a few guys left the day Security was leaving nasty signs on truck windows and campers. 

Looks like this next week is going to get better.  We decided to stick it out till the end.  Nothing like bone at 35 yards to get a lady's hopes up!