skokomish unit

[bankwalker]

Can anyone enlighten me as to why the skoke unit is permit only for elk?

Considering the wynoochee and satsop are both open for regular seasons. It kinda boggles my mind the skoke isnt.
 I've been out shed hunting all 3 units and there is alot of elk in the skok. Ive seen elk a lot more often in the skoke then in both the satsop and wynoochee combined.

[bobcat]

I think they're wanting to let the indians have all the elk in that unit.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I saw a lot there last year and seen it was closed and thought why.  Then I was going to a gate to hike for deer archery and four different elk carcasses we're stacked in a pile it was dec I seen a native pair of hunters later that said "it's to clean to be Indians". Implying he would have left/wasted more meat.  I laughed and kept on but I wonder the herd looked healthy and sign was every where

[bryg_12]

I had this particular tag last year for rifle. This Unit is by far one of the hardest Unit to hunt this side of the mountains, due to the overall terrian. Dont get me wrong their are elk, but its not easy. This hunt was a great experiance, but it did have its downfalls. 1) the first 5 out of 6 bulls i saw had their horns cut off, 2) After i found some really nice bulls, OUR  wonderful WDFW was up their pushing the elk with helicopter and plane towards the park. The closer you get to matlock and shelton, their is alot of poaching that transpires.

[westside Elkhunter]

The unit got hit hard for years. Then I think they shut it down for a couple years  Then they opened it for permit only . They elk herd in certain spots are doing good and nice bulls have been seen the last couple years. What side of the unit was wdfw flying the helicopter?. Been a few years since I seen them doing that. Last time i saw them doing that was elk hunting the humptulips. Also I heard the skok is permit only for the indians. Would like to have this permit again

[dreamunelk]

I had this particular tag last year for rifle. This Unit is by far one of the hardest Unit to hunt this side of the mountains, due to the overall terrian. Dont get me wrong their are elk, but its not easy. This hunt was a great experiance, but it did have its downfalls. 1) the first 5 out of 6 bulls i saw had their horns cut off, 2) After i found some really nice bulls, OUR  wonderful WDFW was up their pushing the elk with helicopter and plane towards the park. The closer you get to matlock and shelton, their is alot of poaching that transpires.

What a bunch of BS!  It is post like this that makes us hunter look stupid!  1) No one cuts the horns off bulls!  Why would they?  If you new anything about elk you would know that this would hurt the herd and not help the.  2)  The WDFW does not herd elk with a helicopter into the park.  Actually they very seldom and almost never fly a helicopter during an established season for obvious reasons.  Again if you new anything about elk especially Rosies then you would know that you can only herd for short distances with a helicopter.   Also show me an area in the skok that a helicopter could move elk any real distance at all.  Way to much cover. 

Shameful!

The truth is that the forage base in the Skok unit favors elk over deer.  It has never help high number of elk.  Both the tibe and the state hunt elk only by special permit in the unit.   Yes, there are some monster bulls in the unit.  Just have to work for them.

[rb2506]

got to go on this hunt last year with my hunting partner that drew the 1 of 8 tags. He put in a lot of time scouting. Night before opener we put to bed the elk and they were there in the morning. He got a great bull big 5x5 body was huge.

As far as horns being cut off by wdfw, heard from a friend of a friend long time ago that they cut them off a an 8x8 down in the Naselle region but that was awhile ago, for what it's worth

[JimmyHoffa]

The helicopter could've been working with the park if you were close enough to the boundary.  The park does elk and mountain goat surveys with helicopters.  About two years ago, they were doing an elk survey and supposedly along with WDFW doing thier survey too along the Sol Duc....at the end of September.

[DoubleJ]

Just looked at last years regs and, with 1 archery permit for this unit, I would personally consider this a OIL tag.  Can't see ever getting drawn for this tag

[kyle p]

Scouted and hunted and toke a bull out of here only problem I had was the tribal members rifle hunting way before my rifle season and hiking in scouting an area that atv's are not permitted and walking in 4wheeler tracks not that this not a problem any were else but still a problem  for me I had a great hunt and a lot of fun hunting but if you hunt it you got to know you will be hunting a unit that there is tribal hunting and if you scout  a great bull and the wrong person finds that bull it can be taken a few weeks before your season starts by tribal member that also drew a tag but can hunt way before you if this happens to you it is very frustrating
But there are plenty of elk up there for the tag holders I do like that there is not thousands of people in the unit the first week of nov would I put in agin  no If you give say 5 rifle tags to the tribe and 5 to the public then there should be 10 hunters hunting in the unit at the same time not 5 tribal members hunting the unit with a rifle for what is it like 6 months I don't know the exact season dates I don't blame the hunter heck if that told me I could hunt 11 months a year I would but that doesn't make it right something needs to change what do you all think

[bankwalker]

The locals all hunt off 4wheelers.....gates or no gates.

Ive actually witnessed first hand 2 helicopters circling a herd of elk a few weeks ago. About half mile north west of Matlock. Simple 100% fact....whether it was WDFW i dont know.

[Tbar]

The fact that the tribe draws tags only illustrates the fact that they are taking a conservation and management approach to the elk. They make this decision by choice. I respect the fact that they have gone to a draw hunt to ensure the future of the resource. It so easy to dwell on the negative side of tribal hunting and it seems even harder to recognize a tribe doing good for the resource. No it doesn't right all wrongs but I tip my hat to anybody with a conservation mindset especially with elk.  Knowing the tribes have the ability to open any unit within their ceded area 24/7/365  tells me they do care and are being proactive in management.

[PlateauNDN]

The fact that the tribe draws tags only illustrates the fact that they are taking a conservation and management approach to the elk. They make this decision by choice. I respect the fact that they have gone to a draw hunt to ensure the future of the resource. It so easy to dwell on the negative side of tribal hunting and it seems even harder to recognize a tribe doing good for the resource. No it doesn't right all wrongs but I tip my hat to anybody with a conservation mindset especially with elk.  Knowing the tribes have the ability to open any unit within their ceded area 24/7/365  tells me they do care and are being proactive in management.

   Very well said.  I'm not to familiar with this part of the State and I'm not sure which Tribe hunts this area so I won't speculate but, the fact is they've limited themselves by CHOICE to draw only and only hand out a small number of permits by CHOICE.  I applaud them for that management tactic because it shows they are in it for conservation.  Yes, it sucks they are allowed more time to scout and fill their limited tags but would you rather them not have a draw system and tags and be limited to a smaller time frame or have a larger time frame with a draw system and tags.

Again, rather than seeing the positive side of the spectrum most jump to conclusions and point fingers.  Maybe another member on here can shed some more light on the situation in that area if he wishes?  Coastal?

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

It's the skok tribe I believe.  The pile of elk bones I saw must have been the whole tribes permits then all in one pile all killed the same day.     I had a butcher with me and he counted five different elk and another small calf or doe as well.  I seen the herd in June fishing.  30 or so cows.  Probably come back strong in that area if poaching could be stopped and the "locals" would quit trespassing behind gates with there quads.  I'm a local to this area live very close to the unit five min drive and I don't drive behind gates.  That is no excuse bankwalker I'll be calling forest service dnr wdfw the green diamond resource company all of them next time I'm hiking out after hunting duiring archery season and a quad passes Me on a closed road.

The locals all hunt off 4wheelers.....gates or no gates.

Ive actually witnessed first hand 2 helicopters circling a herd of elk a few weeks ago. About half mile north west of Matlock. Simple 100% fact....whether it was WDFW i dont know.

[Tbar]

 I believe you are more than likely correct that it was the Skok tribe, however there is a good chance that the elk could have been harvested outside of that unit (636). Their ceded area encompasses the hood canal area all the way up to the north side of the OP. I don't have any first hand knowledge of their workings, however I do know for fact they along with several other tribes on the Westside have become more proactive in resource management.  The helicopter sightings lately were probably doing a spring survey on the elk, weather it was wdfw or nwifc I have no idea, but the timeframe for a survey would make sense.

[PlateauNDN]

Just some info. in regards to the Skokomish Tribes efforts in preservation of elk.

http://nwifc.org/2010/03/skokomish-elk-survey-brings-home-a-lesson-for-kids/

Skokomish Tribe Elk Survey Brings Home a Lesson for Kids
Mar 29th, 2010 • Category: News

MATLOCK – A group of homeschooled siblings got an unexpected lesson in wildlife biology outside of Shelton recently.
Skokomish tribal natural resources staff were out on an elk collaring survey when they spotted an uncollared herd in a private pasture.  With permission from the property’s owners, the tribe was able to track, capture and collar a female from the herd. The Global Positioning System (GPS) collar allows the tribe to follow the herd’s movement for the study.
 
The herd is a regular visitor to the Hager family, which owns the 41-acre pasture. But being able to witness and participate in a real-life science study opened up the eyes of the five homeschooled Hager children. The two oldest boys, 13 and 11, helped administer medicines given to the elk while she was sedated.
 
“That was pretty interesting,” said Tomokazu Hager, 13. “It felt like we were kind of part of Animal Planet.”
 
“We’ve never seen an elk that close before,” added Wes Hager, 10. After the elk was collared and released, the kids received a quick lesson in elk behavior, as well as a tour of the helicopter that was used to track the herd. The family also decided to name “their” elk Sacajawea and will integrate their observations into their studies.
 
Since 2008, the tribe has been tracking the herds within its primary hunting area, Game Management Unit 636, counting only about 150 elk.
 
“That is way too low – the herd population needs to be up around 500 elk or so,” said Bethany Tropp-Brinkerhoff, the tribe’s wildlife biologist. “We have several herds that we’re focusing on, trying to mark their foraging ranges and population growth.”
 
The tribe’s goal is to collar several elk in each herd so movements can be tracked year round. The tribe will also enhance elk foraging areas this fall with the Olympic National Forest by planting native trees and plants, such as dogwoods, snowberries and willows in areas where the elk are known to feed.
 
“Preserving the area’s elk population is key to supporting the tribe’s treaty-reserved right to hunt elk, which contribute to the tribe’s subsistence and ceremonial needs,” said Joseph Pavel, the tribe’s natural resources director. “Elk is a traditional food that is low in fat and a good source of protein.”
 
The tribe is partnering with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife on this project.
 
END

Another story in regards to their efforts for preservation and restoration.

http://nwifc.org/2011/01/skokomish-tribe-forest-service-collaborate-on-elk-habitat-restoration/

Skokomish Tribe, Forest Service collaborate on elk habitat restoration
Jan 4th, 2011 • Category: News

The Skokomish Tribe and U.S. Forest Service collaborated this fall to plant native trees and shrubs on 30 acres of previously pre-commercially thinned stands in the South Fork of the Skokomish River to improve elk habitat in the Olympic National Forest.
 
Plants included red elderberry and snowberry bushes and willow and red osier dogwood trees. During the fall of 2009, cuttings of the four species were obtained from the watershed and the plants have been growing for the last year with Sound Native Plants of Olympia, Wash.
 
The native plants make for good habitat because they appeal to the animals and are highly nutritious, said Bethany Tropp, the tribe’s wildlife biologist. She hopes the herd of 43 elk that live in the area, State Game Management Unit 636, will use the area more now that there is better habitat.
 
“These plants also provide food for a number of other mammal and bird species,” said Betsy Howell, an Olympic National Forest biologist who worked with Tropp on the project. “We know these stands that have been clearcut generally have lower plant species diversity. Augmenting what is there with nutritious wildlife forage is one way to improve that.”
 
Slash in the stands was cut and piled to make planting easier and eliminate migration hazards for the herd.
 
“Elk won’t enter areas full of brush because they can break their legs easily,” Tropp said. “They are more likely to go through areas with easier access such as clear cuts, but those areas may have lower quality nutrition. Hopefully they’ll utilize these improved areas more.”
 
Funding for this project came from the tribe and the Olympic National Forest.

Sounds like they're doing a lot more than what some might think for their area.  A pile of bones on the side of the road could have came from anywhere and who's to say it was the Tribes pile of bones?  Did anybody witness the incident?  It could have been a number of things and unless somebody actually witnessed the event nobody will know for sure. 

[Tbar]

Thanks for posting that.  Their  biologist is one of the best in the west.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I never said I knew hence the  in my previous post and the natives I seen said the bones were way to clean to be natives  so must of been dumped from another area or poached.   

[bobcat]

What is needed is some logging and some fires to increase the feed for elk in the area. A lot of that area was logged back in the 80's and there hasn't been much logging since. So mostly it's 30 year old reprod, kind of like the Mt St Helens area where the elk are dieing off in the winter due to a lack of quality feed.

[dreamunelk]

Green Diamond has logged a lot of land with the home range of many of the marked groups.  Unfortunately soil conditions are not the most favorable to good forage for elk.  However, black-tailed deer do well on the forage.  hence more deer than elk.

[dreamunelk]

I believe you are more than likely correct that it was the Skok tribe, however there is a good chance that the elk could have been harvested outside of that unit (636). Their ceded area encompasses the hood canal area all the way up to the north side of the OP. I don't have any first hand knowledge of their workings, however I do know for fact they along with several other tribes on the Westside have become more proactive in resource management.  The helicopter sightings lately were probably doing a spring survey on the elk, weather it was wdfw or nwifc I have no idea, but the timeframe for a survey would make sense.

Depending on the time in the Archery season he was hunting it could also have been state hunters.  Many harvest and elk opening day, Cut and wrap the next and dump the bones soon after.  If it was not close to the rez it was not likely tribal because they have lots of place close to home to dump the bones.

Also I am pretty sure almost 100% the Skoks did not do a comp flight during state archery season. 

[Tbar]

I was referencing a recent late winter early spring flight not during state season.

[dreamunelk]

My bad!  Should have read a couple of times so it would sink into my over worked brain.

[bryg_12]

I had this particular tag last year for rifle. This Unit is by far one of the hardest Unit to hunt this side of the mountains, due to the overall terrian. Dont get me wrong their are elk, but its not easy. This hunt was a great experiance, but it did have its downfalls. 1) the first 5 out of 6 bulls i saw had their horns cut off, 2) After i found some really nice bulls, OUR  wonderful WDFW was up their pushing the elk with helicopter and plane towards the park. The closer you get to matlock and shelton, their is alot of poaching that transpires.

What a bunch of BS!  It is post like this that makes us hunter look stupid!  1) No one cuts the horns off bulls!  Why would they?  If you new anything about elk you would know that this would hurt the herd and not help the.  2)  The WDFW does not herd elk with a helicopter into the park.  Actually they very seldom and almost never fly a helicopter during an established season for obvious reasons.  Again if you new anything about elk especially Rosies then you would know that you can only herd for short distances with a helicopter.   Also show me an area in the skok that a helicopter could move elk any real distance at all.  Way to much cover. 

Shameful!

The truth is that the forage base in the Skok unit favors elk over deer.  It has never help high number of elk.  Both the tibe and the state hunt elk only by special permit in the unit.   Yes, there are some monster bulls in the unit.  Just have to work for them.

DREAMUNELK. If you don’t think these acts transpire, then you are mistakenly wrong, this not some crazy conspiracy. I know exactly what I saw and experienced, I saw multiple bulls with their horns cut flat above their eye guards. I have witnessed this firsthand two years ago, in a different unit also. Lastly In regards to helicopter and plane, whether they were pushing the elk or taking a head count, still didn’t help my situation. I didn’t say they were pushing the elk into the park, I said they were pushing towards the park, which would be NORTH.   Please see the link below where another individual posted basically the same thing I saw on my hunt a week after. Kinda weird?

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=87345.0

Before you judge, you should probably get your facts straight.