Umtanum Muzzy Elk

[golfguy0912]

DISCLAIMER: I am not looking for your spots.

Now that that's out of the way, drew the tag, never been in the unit before. I plan on doing my own research, and wanted to know how you have done if you have hunted it. Looking over the unit on google earth looks like good country, and gonna make a few camping trips down there this summer. Anyone have any pics of elk taken out of there?

I saw the hunter reports from 2011, and it looks like out of of the 470 people that hunted it, only 70-80 were successful. I know its also open as a general unit, but was wondering what people thought of it that have hunted it.

[coachcw]

get away from the roads and you will do fine !

[Dan-o]

It's mighty pretty country.

The popular spots are VERY POPULAR.

Seems like most times you get away from the roads over there, you'll be where the elk are.

It's a good place to hunt.

[buglebuster]

I grew up in that unit, first off, is it a bull tag or a cow tag? PM me if you would like.

[golfguy0912]

it's the antlerless tag Oct 6-13 or so. Looking at the maps, doesn't look like there are too many roads throughout it which might be why the success rates are so low. I have a game cart and pack frames, and its been a while since I have hunted elk so I'm excited.

[400out]

I might be wrong in this but I think there is a chit load of wheeler trails in that unit. Remember I might be wrong

[Rainier10]

get away from the roads and you will do fine !

I hunted it a few years ago, wife shot a cow first year next year I shot a spike.  If you get off of the road you will be fine.  Go to the top and bail off into the canyons.  It sucks going back up but not when you have backstraps and quarters on that packboard.  You will see tons of guys on quads driving the roads, get away from them and the roads.

[adamR]

you can go in this unit before the season and scout and you will see elk everywhere, right on the roads!  DON'T TAKE THIS TAG FOR GRANTED!!! expect to walk your butt off and you will find a cow, GET OFF THE ROAD

[ribka]

I have 4 cow elk in my driveway as i am typing this. Elk are everywhere in this unit

[golfguy0912]

thanks for the input. I am looking forward to it as its been a few years since I have been able to hunt elk, and first time ever chasing them with a smokepole.

[C-Money]

I have 4 cow elk in my driveway as i am typing this. Elk are everywhere in this unit

You live in a great place Ribka!

[deerslyr]

A few people in my dads group drew it this year, and a few drew it last year. They got one last year the last hour of the last day on there way out. They saw a few elk but not a ton. They're older so they cant get 3 ridges over from a road and pack it out themselves now, im sure the farther you get from the roads the better. My dad drew it this year, along with goose prairie bull tag    Good luck

[golfguy0912]

Hopefully deerslyr your dad does well with the bull tag. there seems to be a pattern of replies with getting off the road. I have no problem doing so, figure since I'm young(er) now is the time to do it, and learn a new area. This is the one hunt this fall that I am unsure of, as the other two tags I got lucky enough to draw, I know the areas very well.

[conwaydave]

Good luck with this tag. My camp drew cow tags 4 yrs ago in that unit and not one tag got filled  We could not believe it. We hunted off the roads, hi and low. There were alot of cow tags not filled that year. it was about 75 degrees in the afternoon's. I't is nice to have options like a cow tag, but it sure is not a slam dunk! Our camp drew cow tags for manastash this year. I hope we can fill a few, Not trying to be a Buzz Kill, just saying.

[CedarPants]

I drew this tag last year and received a lot of great feedback from Hunt-WA members (met up with a couple of them while therer as well) on what to expect in the Umtanum.

Tagged out on the evening of opening day on spike at 35 yards.  Never used the cow tag.

My observations are similar to the feedback already provided - expect a LOT of people if you hunt near the roads, expect little to no people if you get away from them.  I know its general advice, but think like an elk - go where they go (nasty, deep, and dark) - be patient, and they will be there.

One piece of advice - make sure you have better footing than I do on steep hillsides covered in shale rock.  They make for a nice place to fall and slide downhill