The Coast or Mount St. Helens area?

[BaseballStud20]

Ok...I am completely new to bowhunting...I just turned twenty and decided to take off some time from school to go hunting for deer and elk. I live in Vancouver and did a little research that suggested the coast or mount st. helens areas would be best. I really have no idea where to start...but after reading some of the posts it seems like there can be a lot of hunters in these areas. I would really like to get away from all the other hunters and am willing to hike back several miles. If there is anyone with some local knowledge of these areas that would be willing to help me out I would greatly appreciate it...thankyou.

[WDFW-SUX]

Go to Winston unit 520 or Ryderwood unit 530. Tons of elk and deer both places.

Try way back on the 500 line in Ryderwood. its gated down low and the elk are up high.

Elk are like rats in the Winston unit a ton of people though.

[callthewild]

Sux is right! i have never hunted ryderwood, but i know winston has elk everwhere. i dont think that you will have to worry about all that many people this weekend if they keep the gates locked to motor vehicles. that will cut down on alot of lazy hunters and limit the people that will travel in further.

[BaseballStud20]

Ok thanks a lot...the only thing im worried about is walking back on one of the gated roads and finding people back there who found a quicker way...or open road. Its not gonna be like that is it...I mean is everything pretty much gated off up there? Also...are the elk at this time of year at the highest possible elevations? I read they like to stay up high until snow levels push them down to lower elevations?

[callthewild]

where are you planning on accessing the unit? what gate or corridor?

[BaseballStud20]

Thats the thing...I really dont know. I have never been to these units before...just heard about the crowds of people that could be there.

[callthewild]

PM sent

[280ackley]

Being from Vancouver don't over look the Coweeman (GMU 550).