ELK in Vail Tree Farm

[Yelm hunter]

While up deer hunting in Vail we ran into alot of Poop and beds from Elk... We also heard a nice bull bugle. We ended up using our cow calls to see if we could get him closer to take pics but we couldn't ever see him. Were going to be going back up there again this weekend so maybe we'll use the calls again and have our video and still cameras ready for pics...

HAVE ANY OF YOU HEARD OR SEEN THEM IN THERE LAST WEEKEND OPENING WEEKEND FOR DEER?

[cbzdel]

I seen the backside of an elk while there on Sunday, tried to get around to see if it was a cow or bull and it took off.  First time I have ever seen an elk in person.

[Stilly bay]

we had about a 10 cows and calfs run past us opening morning. one cow appeared to be wounded and they all look rough from being pushed around by the opening morning crowds. 

[deerslyr]

Im assuming all of you were on the steam plant side?

[bikenut64]

My son and I were hunting over North side of Deschutes and found fresh sign from 1 Elk. Tracks and scat were from after last rain.

[Yelm hunter]

No I wasn't on the steam plant side at all!! I was on the 3000 line heard the one bull and seen were they have been laying down and old *censored* everywhere... But fresh beds in that same area.

[gasman]

back in the day when you could camp on the tree farm, I seen a few elk and all ways seen beds and poo around the rock and Bass lake.

[cbzdel]

Yelm hunter, sounds like I found a similar place as you.  It was my first time there, i have no idea where the 3000 line is or the steam plant though, I had a handheld GPS, I need to get a hard copy map sometime..

I went in the main gate and went to the left, and was down in the flat land areas.

[akashasdaddy]

I am new to the area (Olympia) and have read a lot about this vail tree farm. I looked it up on google but coouldn't find anything definitive. I am looking for a place to hunt close to me (west side of Olympia right off mud bay exit) and what I have found about vail says it is in or near Rainier. Is this the right place and if not can anyone give me an address or directions.

[Yelm hunter]

    Yes it's between Yelm and Rainier!! Come into the town of Yelm make a Right at the 2nd traffic light follow into the town of Rainier and make a left onto Vail Rd just past the Rainier Market thats on the right. Follow Vail Rd up to Vail Loop and continue on  Vail/ Vail Loop Rd.

Make a Right into the Tree Farm gate 101

[akashasdaddy]

  Yes it's between Yelm and Rainier!! Come into the town of Yelm make a Right at the 2nd traffic light follow into the town of Rainier and make a left onto Vail Rd just past the Rainier Market thats on the right. Follow Vail Rd up to Vail Loop and continue on  Vail/ Vail Loop Rd.

Make a Right into the Tree Farm gate 101

Thank you. Think I may go give it a look sometime this week either after school or on a day without school. I have read that it is a very highly used area and full of people. Is this true all the time or mostly on the weekend?

[Yelm hunter]

It's ONLY open on the weekends.... Saturday & Sunday (October 22nd & 23rd) and Saturday and Sunday Octover 29th and 30th... Then Saturday and Sunday November 19th and 20th....

[heavy hauler]

i have seen elk all over vail. they are more common on the steamplant side. if you arent familiar with the steamplant, just get to a peak and look for a couple of smokestacks putting out steam.there is elk all over that side

[Yelm hunter]

Oh I know that there are alot of elk over there at the steam plant but not so many elk inside Vail. This year we have found alot of sign from elk so that means that they are coming back. Maybe in a few years they will open it up to drive in during Elk Season since the elk are coming back in there slowly... They were closer to the check station on both sides around the 4 or 5 mile marker on the 2000 side and around the 6 mile marker clear up past that on the 3000 side...

[deerslyr]

huh now that you mention it a few years ago my buddy and I swear we saw elk sign up the 1060 but we just couldnt beleive our own eyes, didnt think there were many on the 3000 side. good to know