Ryderwood help please

[mrmoskillz]

I am going to try my hand at muzzy hunting elk in this unit this year and have never been there before.  I am just wondering if you can camp in the unit.  I have already tried reading through old post on here but didnt find much info.  I did find access can be hard with the closed gates but dont have any idea where to look for camping info.  Please help.  any other tips would be a big help also.

[furbearer365]

I dont really understand you question.  Asking if you can camp in the unit is a little vague.  Of course you can find a campground and go there, but no timber companies will let you.  There is access all over if you do some digging.  If you want to drive there is plenty of that and if walking is your game there is plenty of that.  Do some research about the timber companies that encompass it and you will find more than you need.  Good luck

[Jayfire83]

There is camping off of the PE Ell Macdonald & 5000 line out of Boisfort. You wont be alone but if you put in foot work and you are good at tracking there are lots of Elk

[mrmoskillz]

Thanks guys.  I didnt know that that unit was timber companies. The unit I usually hunt you can just camp wherever you want.  I plan on going up there a lot this summer for scouting. So its sounds like its kind of like Vail you have to be out by dark?  If thats the case I'm not sure thats the unit for me.

[Chesapeake]

Its not like Vail. Its not managed like a tree farm. Its just primarily timber company lands that most of the spur roads are gated on. Many of the primary roads are open. Of course active logging areas are off limits.

There is some state land in there also I believe. (not looking at a BLM map right now)

I'm not sure about you dropping your chips there for muzzy though. Its only open for the early season. Thats all you get and its only 7 days. For the late season you would have to hunt somewhere else. Lots of guys all trying to cash in on the tail end of the rut. Lots of elk, but lots of reprod with no apparent honey holes. You need to scout and learn where the elk go when pressured and when they leave the cuts.

You would need to invest some scouting time into an area you could only hunt for maybe 1/3 of the season. You may be better off investing your scouting time in an area you can hunt more of the season in. But maybe you plan to camp out and hunt the entire early season and not concentrate on the late season. I dont know.

Another thought; If you consider closed gates, "hard access", Ryderwood may not be your deal.

[BowBender87]

There isnt much area here you can drive into...most everything is walk/bike in.  Good numbers of elk but they dont come easy here! Lions Park, as stated above, is about the only place you can camp.  One thing to consider is that weyco employees are able to drive into parts of this unit and hunt.

[mrmoskillz]

thanks chesapeake.  I just tt the lady at weyehouser who updates the info line and she said she doesnt think they will open any gates at all this year because of damage last year. She said she will update closer to hunting season.  she said you can always hike in or use a non motor bike.  I dont mind hiking in.  I planned on hunting this unit the 6-12th of Oct.  I thought about camping near there and hiking in each day.  The reason I picked that unit is because of the harvest report.  Some of the units open to muzzy had 0 kills and ryderwood had lots.  I guess most of the kills were from modern.  I have yet to kill a elk so I am doing all my homework now to give me the best odds.  I thank you guys again for all the help and hope to post a pic of my 1st elk this year.

[deerslyr]

thanks chesapeake.  I just tt the lady at weyehouser who updates the info line and she said she doesnt think they will open any gates at all this year because of damage last year. She said she will update closer to hunting season.  she said you can always hike in or use a non motor bike.  I dont mind hiking in.  I planned on hunting this unit the 6-12th of Oct.  I thought about camping near there and hiking in each day.  The reason I picked that unit is because of the harvest report.  Some of the units open to muzzy had 0 kills and ryderwood had lots.  I guess most of the kills were from modern.  I have yet to kill a elk so I am doing all my homework now to give me the best odds.  I thank you guys again for all the help and hope to post a pic of my 1st elk this year.

If you like to hike a lot its a good unit, good numbers of elk. One of the better west side muzzy units imo if you dont take the late season into consideration. I dont care much for the late archery or muzzy elk seasons any ways.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

You better do your home work and scout a bunch! I've never just looked at a harvest report and said yup I'm gonna hunt that unit and never been there. You may scout that unit and not see an elk especially if your not sure where to go. Another thing is hoof rot. This is a major problem in the unit. Lots of private ground too that is not hunt able. If your going on Weyerhauser keep in mind that you may be 5 miles in and a Weyco employee may drive right past you. There is a decent elk population but as bow bender said they don't come easy. Good luck

[IBspoiled]

Dont bother walking in past the gates, just drive a quad or motorcycle in there. everyone else does!!!

[kentrek]

Dont bother walking in past the gates, just drive a quad or motorcycle in there. everyone else does!!!

 

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Ya that would be best just hop on a quad & join them ; )

[mrmoskillz]

You better do your home work and scout a bunch! I've never just looked at a harvest report and said yup I'm gonna hunt that unit and never been there. You may scout that unit and not see an elk especially if your not sure where to go. Another thing is hoof rot. This is a major problem in the unit. Lots of private ground too that is not hunt able. If your going on Weyerhauser keep in mind that you may be 5 miles in and a Weyco employee may drive right past you. There is a decent elk population but as bow bender said they don't come easy. Good luck

Lol I have never looked at a harvest report and said yup 0 kills for the last three years I think I'll spend my summer scouting that winner

[Huntbear]

Ummmmmm Ryderwood has a crap load of state land in it...  We hunted deer in there this year, drove anywhere we wanted to go to take off hiking.  A lot of clearcuts and older clearcuts and reprod..   you can spend a lot of time glassing.

[Chesapeake]

In this case (you never harvesting an elk, and I assume dont have a better place to hunt lined up) then I would say, YES go for Ryderwood.

Get yourself a game cart and a mountain bike. Go and scout, look at maps, ect...... Its a fine unit, with good elk numbers. Get off the roads and work the reprod. Find the holes the elk like after they leave the cuts.