Post by: addicted2hunting on January 07, 2013, 05:58:07 PM
Me and a few guys (Steeliedrew) are starting to plan next years early archery hunt. We are looking into the coweeman and of course winston and we are curious as to what access and camping is like for the coweeman during the early archery season and same for winston? We want to get deep in there and are not afraid to work for it. Also, can a guy hike and camp in there aways? Not worried about a campfire.
Post by: billythekidrock on January 07, 2013, 05:59:33 PM
Post by: bobcat on January 07, 2013, 06:01:34 PM
There is a new campground just outside of the town of Toutle, that is close. You could try that.
Post by: addicted2hunting on January 07, 2013, 06:06:37 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on January 07, 2013, 06:07:36 PM
Post by: sirmissalot on January 07, 2013, 06:10:43 PM
Post by: addicted2hunting on January 07, 2013, 06:11:44 PM
No access period to private timber land if it is closed to fire danger.ok thanks.
Post by: addicted2hunting on January 07, 2013, 06:12:15 PM
I hunted the coweeman one year and it was enough for me. Spent some time scouting and was excited with seeing a lot of elk and good country. Opening morning got to the spot early with our bikes ready to go and there were.... Literally... 17 rigs at the gate. Found a new area I hadn't stepped foot in before which had less people, but still saw a ton of people on bikes, more than anywhere I've ever been. That was probably 3 years ago and only one weekend of hunting but that was my experience. Saw some elk but not a lot, scouting they were plentiful.
Ouch that many people even during early archery?
Post by: billythekidrock on January 07, 2013, 06:13:32 PM
I hunted the coweeman one year and it was enough for me. Spent some time scouting and was excited with seeing a lot of elk and good country. Opening morning got to the spot early with our bikes ready to go and there were.... Literally... 17 rigs at the gate. Found a new area I hadn't stepped foot in before which had less people, but still saw a ton of people on bikes, more than anywhere I've ever been. That was probably 3 years ago and only one weekend of hunting but that was my experience. Saw some elk but not a lot, scouting they were plentiful.
Same with the Winston unit. If you go in real early and come out real late you will not see many people or rigs, but go in early and come out early and you will see that a dozen guys have come in behind you.
Post by: addicted2hunting on January 07, 2013, 06:26:16 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on January 07, 2013, 06:28:09 PM
Post by: addicted2hunting on January 07, 2013, 06:35:26 PM
Unless you are looking for a backcountry experience, don't give up on the two units you mentioned in the original post. There are plenty of elk. Tons of people, but that is everywhere in the early season.
Ok i hear ya.
Post by: steeliedrew on January 07, 2013, 06:39:00 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on January 07, 2013, 06:40:28 PM
Post by: Deer slayer on January 07, 2013, 06:41:20 PM
Post by: bobcat on January 07, 2013, 06:46:14 PM
I think I can speak for Brandon when I say we want to go in deeeeep and are more than happy for the adventure. I want to go somewhere that we don't have to go in and out of everyday. Somewhere we can go deep and legally camp out there. find animals, stay on them and make shiz happen. haha. Is that just a pipe dream?
You should look at units with lots of National Forest then. Maybe Packwood, Lewis River, South Rainier.
Post by: addicted2hunting on January 07, 2013, 07:04:38 PM
Post by: Lcl 66 Tinner on January 07, 2013, 10:12:37 PM
Post by: bobcat on January 07, 2013, 10:22:17 PM
Post by: sirmissalot on January 07, 2013, 10:30:43 PM
Post by: Deer slayer on January 07, 2013, 10:40:29 PM
Post by: steeliedrew on January 08, 2013, 05:03:25 AM
Post by: billythekidrock on January 08, 2013, 05:33:55 AM
ok so it sounds like no camping in the tree farms? I saw a ton of people camped in Winston during late archery but I assume that's because there was no fire danger? if we want to get in deep we need to go into a national forest? Just not a national park. Haha.
If you are talking about camping in the Camp 9 area that is because that is state land.
Post by: steeliedrew on January 08, 2013, 06:06:46 AM
Post by: kenzmad on January 08, 2013, 10:33:19 AM
it may have been the camp 9 area. As far as the coweeman goes, is there no state land in there to camp?
None that I know of.
Post by: addicted2hunting on January 08, 2013, 04:21:16 PM
Post by: AKBowman on January 08, 2013, 09:19:47 PM
I think I can speak for Brandon when I say we want to go in deeeeep and are more than happy for the adventure. I want to go somewhere that we don't have to go in and out of everyday. Somewhere we can go deep and legally camp out there. find animals, stay on them and make shiz happen. haha. Is that just a pipe dream?
When I first moved down here I thought the exact same thing. I want to go in deep. Well I quickly found out that if you go in deep someone will get to the same deep spot but from the backside and a shorter walk/ride to get there! There's roads everywhere you go in those two units, the key is to learn the roads and find the units where it's tougher to get into. Before you ask there are not really any good maps that show the roads in any detail, you have to go ride the roads with your bike in the off season. You'll find there's nasty holes and sections that are mostly roadless or washed out and those get better as the season goes on. But it's tough because if your hunting on timber land you cannot sleep over night and the ride/hike in and out after 4 or so days makes it much tougher than hiking in 12 miles and hunting staying over night.
Post by: BowHunterZ7 on January 08, 2013, 09:45:55 PM
Post by: jbeaumont21 on January 08, 2013, 09:56:51 PM
Post by: blacktail luv on January 08, 2013, 10:31:45 PM
Post by: Quarteredaway on January 17, 2013, 04:36:05 PM
Post by: Deer slayer on January 17, 2013, 05:30:59 PM
Post by: MLhunter1 on January 17, 2013, 06:46:17 PM
Post by: Thehowler on January 17, 2013, 09:08:40 PM