Jefferson County/ Quimper Penninsula

[mtmn35rem5]

Hey guys, been a member for quite a while but mostly just read. I have been in WA on an off working for the last few years but always time huntin season wrong. This year looks like I will be around most of the fall. Looking at gettin out for deer an bear, I have never hunted elk, not sure were to even begin there. What kind of oppurtunitys are there in this area? I have an  apartment in P. Townsend, not afraid to travel however. Anyways any help or gettin me pointed in the right direction would be great! Here are some pics from back east... were I have hunted most of my life. Thanks!
Last years buck

[mtmn35rem5]

[JimmyHoffa]

For elk, the closest elk can be hunted with the Olympic special permit or a Dungeness special permit.  The general season says 624 is open, but they are usually in a protected part of 624, or occasionally a few get lost and wander into the another part of 624.  If no luck drawing a special permit, then probably have to head out to your west--from just past Lake Crescent on.
Deer and bear, you are in a good area.  Not much of a drive to get to good bear spots, and even less of a drive to get to the deer.  Last few years, most of the guys on the OP have been favoring 624 and the lowland parts of 621--seems to produce the most consistent numbers of bigger deer.  Not far from high buck areas, but they tend to be in lower numbers than the lowland area deer areas.
What do you hunt with?  muzzy/bow/rifle?

[mtmn35rem5]

Thanks for the information, I mainly hunt with rifle (.300wsm).  Lookin to get back into bow this year though. Ive spent some time drivin around checkin a few areas out. Theres a lot of land out there, almost makes it harder to decide on were to start an focus my time. Guess thats why Im starting now!

[Kowsrule30]

Port Townsend is a great area for BT.... So you're already there..... Just have to figure out what season you want and go from there along with some scouting.... I know PT has a late season for bow and rifle..... Not muzzy.....

[JimmyHoffa]

The Olympic permit (for 621) is good for people that live near those areas and can keep tabs on the herds.  Those elk can be hard to find sometimes and then just appear on some land where they can't be shot (like Dosewallips SP).  You might be able to find the areas they transit through though.  The Dungeness permit usually covers mostly private property--and firearms restriction.  The elk don't want to leave the area even after the forest circus spent something like $85K building them meadows to pull them out of the town.
Since you mentioned mainly hunting with a rifle (if you don't draw a special permit), might want to go scout GMU 602/603/601.  Lots of land with big clearcuts and roads all throughout.  612 is like that too, but more gates--they open during the season MF, but are closed most of scouting time.  If you like the areas that are more like jungle, than any of the other OP units should be fine.
There is a lot of land like you say for the PT area, but tough to find what is legal.  You could head out to Hwy 104, there are some powerlines that have critters along them.  And also some areas along the N side of 104 that have been cleared that attract animals and hunters.  How far are you looking at driving for scouting? 

[mtmn35rem5]

How about the elk huntin that you mentioned out past P Angeles, better chances of getting into some elk on huntable ground?
I have been checkin out the areas your talkin about on 104, seems like they held some promise. Ill have to get out there more an narrow it down.
I don't mind driving a couple hours or so if it is going to improve the huntin. I should have plenty of time between now an fall to do a lot of scouting an pokin around. Ill keep the units you mentioned in mind.
As far as fall bear go, higher elevations? glass cutovers an berry patches? Should I head more west to get into animals? Thanks for your help, really appreciate it. -Zach

[JimmyHoffa]

When you get past PA, there are some isolated areas--but hard to describe until you get past Lake Crescent.  Then you have more land than you could ever really hope to hunt.  During the season there are lots of people, so the animals start to break from normal patterns you find during scouting especially after being chased around by archers and muzzies.  The Sol Duc area gets lots of attention because it is close to PA.  Just mostly depends on if you have a preference for type of terrain you want to hunt.
For bears, there's plenty on the eastside of the OP, but you can go west--there's a bunch there too.  Seems to be a few more in the areas where not as many people go--like around the FS land.  You can go to Quilcene and talk to the rangers.  You can go scout around Rocky Brook Rd and FS Rd 27 (starts as penny creek lane).  I find the bears try to get away from areas with people, after all the tons of hikers that scare them while trying to get pictures of them.