GOOSE PRAIRIE RIFLE BULL PERMIT

[finnman]

I picked the right year to apply for a rifle permit! This was the only time I applied for rifle since I started! I had 12 points and wanted a rifle permit, too bad I didn't get one of my first 3 choices!!
Good thing my buddy Jared has horses, we will be hunting the area he goat hunted in last year, he saw some real good bulls up there!!
But any hints will be appreciated as I have never hunted this area!

Jason and Jared

[AlpineMuley]

I talked to guy to got drawn three years ago..   He saw the biggest elk by crow basin, back side of crystal mtn.  Just follow the Pacific Crest trail N until u run into it on the East side.  He killed a 330 bull and saw a 8*8 when they were packing out.   Also not a lot of people, because its 5 miles or so in a steep.

[bowhuntin]

It sounds like you are packing into the bumping for your hunt? Don't know really anything about that unit, but I have the same tag for archery and will be hunting the nile. Best of luck to you and I am sure some one here will be able to chime in and give you some pointers.

[Ridgerunner]

send me a pm, inbetween all my moose research I can give you a pointer or two.  That;s where I grew up hunting, lots of elk.

[finnman]

Well, we can scratch the whole wilderness adventure now that I know I have a complete tear of the ACL in my left knee!
I feel like I want to puke!
I find out the surgery date in a few days, so my question as a disabled person is can you use ATV's in the Goose Prairie unit?
Where would you place someone with a bull permit that can only bear his own body weight and can't hike steep terrain?
I am on my knee looking for tidbits, send me a PM.
I will have the wall tent and my Honda and any one I can talk into helping me out.
Jason

[bobcat]

That's terrible news about your knee, sorry to hear that. I don't believe there is anywhere in either of the Goose Prairie GMU's where you can legally ride ATV's. It's all forest service and they require that all vehicles be street legal. It sounds like you need to buy a Jeep or one of those Suzuki Samurais. There could possibly be a trail or two open to ATV's in the Nile unit but you'd need to check with the Naches Ranger District on that. I've never had much like getting information online. The Cle Elum Ranger District has good maps online that show what trails are open for what type of vehicles, but Naches does not.

[dreamingbig]

A significant portion of Goose Prairie is wilderness which implies no wheels of any kind.

Are you sure you have to have surgery right away?  It is possible to delay it and just wear a brace.  Doing so does put extra stress on your cartilage but it is manageable for short periods of time.  If you have surgery right away you might be doing pretty well in 4 months if you attack rehab aggressively.  I am sure you could find some buddies to do the pack out if you can get around yourself.

[bulldown]

Hey finnman, sorry to hear about your knee.  I am new to the site and just moved to Richland from Boise and am looking for an excuse to get and and see some of Washington's elk country.   If your still looking for someone to help out, I am interested.  Depending on where you hunt is.  I'm still trying to figure out where everything is  and I just flat out love elk hunting.  Hopefully your hunt is in October cause that month is open for me

Bulldown!

[bowhuntin]

There aren't any atv's allowed in the Nile unless they are street legal. Guys ride them around anyways, not sure if they are street legal, I guess for some rules just don't apply. There is a gated area for disabled persons in the nile, it usually has a good amount of elk in it and it is also fairly flat. The nile has a lot of roads, which makes it very easy to access pretty much the whole unit.

[Shannon]

The bumping unit has some trails that are legal to ride motorcycles on. There is one by the fire lookout that runs down to the lake. There is also a gated road in the Nile that has a sign for disabled hunters. There are elk in both areas it will be just trying to catch them walking by if you can't walk. Good Luck!