Author Topic: ELK in Vail Tree Farm (Read 8223 times)

Yelm hunter · « **on:** October 17, 2011, 12:27:43 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2011, 01:33:13 PM »

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 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2011, 02:26:33 PM »

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 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2011, 03:03:20 PM »

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

bikenut64 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2011, 03:43:39 PM »

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 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2011, 04:58:41 PM »

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 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2011, 05:47:17 PM »

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 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2011, 05:50:31 PM »

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 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2011, 06:01:14 PM »

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2011, 06:29:27 PM »

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 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2011, 06:44:05 PM »

Quote from: Yelm hunter on October 17, 2011, 06:29:27 PM

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 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2011, 06:46:37 PM »

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 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2011, 07:30:46 PM »

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 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2011, 07:53:52 PM »

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 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2011, 06:19:37 AM »

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

bankwalker · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2011, 07:14:31 AM »

I have seen a few elk over the last 5 years. I found one spot that had a bunch of rubs about 6ft up the trees. The guys at the check station said no way there is elk in vail...those were deer rubs. I didn't know deer carried ladders

Yelm hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2011, 09:32:43 AM »

:yeah

Well I guess them guys at the check station better get out there and check for them self and here the elk that were bugling over the weekend...

I'm really hoping we can get our deer earlier if we don't get one during the week cause I wanna try and call one in maybe and get some photos or a video. We'll see what happens??

PolarBear · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2011, 09:39:46 AM »

I know of 2 monster bulls that were taken out of there by Weyco employees on opening day of muzzleloader season.

Yelm hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2011, 10:49:08 AM »

Really... Are there any pictures of them anywhere?

PolarBear · « **Reply #19 on:** October 18, 2011, 12:14:38 PM »

Not at liberty to give names or specifics. I have seen a cel phone pic of both of them. I am sure they will surface some time soon.

deerslyr · « **Reply #20 on:** October 18, 2011, 12:15:39 PM »

How big is big PB, you can at least give us some specifics on that

PolarBear · « **Reply #21 on:** October 18, 2011, 12:19:01 PM »

One is a 7x9 (counting a couple of stickers) and the other is a 6x7. Both shot towards the South end of Vail.

LincolnTWilliams · « **Reply #22 on:** October 18, 2011, 12:26:34 PM »

Can you get to the back side of the vail tree farm via Forest Rd 74 to 72? I was back in there a few weeks ago with a bycyle from pleasent valley rd and then the next weekend I was scouting from the truck, seems like you can go forever back there. STEEP country thats for sure!

fernsjd41 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 18, 2011, 01:16:59 PM »

U can get to vail from rd 74, if u go way up by newakmen lake, there is a couple gates that go into there, but there always locked. It would be a long drive from that side and theres not much for dee
r, lots of poaching.

Yelm hunter · « **Reply #24 on:** October 18, 2011, 06:31:22 PM »

That's what I heard.... Them people need to be poached them selves!!

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Author Topic: ELK in Vail Tree Farm (Read 8223 times)

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