Post by: Dbax129 on February 10, 2013, 08:09:23 AM
Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!
Post by: bobcat on February 10, 2013, 08:13:31 AM
The elk from the St Helen's and Mt Rainier area don't need to go that far.
Post by: dreamunelk on February 10, 2013, 08:16:06 AM
Post by: Dbax129 on February 10, 2013, 11:21:53 AM
Post by: Mudman on February 10, 2013, 11:24:42 AM
Post by: bobcat on February 10, 2013, 11:39:16 AM
Post by: kisfish on February 10, 2013, 12:03:22 PM
Post by: Dbax129 on February 10, 2013, 01:31:16 PM
Ok, south facing hills more in winter. I suppose that makes much more sense anyway, if they are trying to catch some rays. 8)
Post by: Mudman on February 10, 2013, 01:33:57 PM
Post by: skywalker253 on February 10, 2013, 03:37:58 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on February 10, 2013, 03:52:50 PM
Pacific County = Thick Ass Brush!!!!!
:yeah:
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on February 10, 2013, 11:15:47 PM
Pacific County = Thick Ass Brush!!!!!
If youve never hunted here thats an understatement
Post by: Dbax129 on February 10, 2013, 11:29:18 PM
that being said, should I expect to only have short range shots, or are there ways to look across from one hill to the other and take a 400+ yard shot on some unsuspecting grazing monster bull? Do folks use tree stands for elk or is it more about covering ground? Also, there are a lot of clear cuts out there of varying size, do the elk like these areas for food?
Post by: skywalker253 on February 10, 2013, 11:53:47 PM
Post by: Dbax129 on February 11, 2013, 09:32:48 AM
What are "jack firs" and what is drainage? I've heard the term, but I have no idea what that feature is. I assumed it was the low point between 2 steep hills, where water funneled through going down a hill side or something. probably wrong though
:dunno:
Post by: Lcl 66 Tinner on February 11, 2013, 09:58:17 AM
Post by: DoubleJ on February 11, 2013, 10:01:46 AM
Jack firs, reprod are terms used for newly replanted trees that you can not see more than 25yds through, if your lucky. Really dense cover
And you can guarentee that, if you're 5'9", the jack firs will be 6'4". If you're 6'5", the jack firs will be 7'.
Post by: Tbar on February 11, 2013, 10:02:33 AM
Thanks Skywalker. A mountain bike was actually my plan.Dbax an honest question. Are you serious? Many questions you ask could be answered with a simple google search. Maybe go to the local sporting goods store and buy a book, check out nw sportsman mag, that will answer more questions than asking in an open forum. Also get a gazetteer and google earth. Google earth will give a deceptive view on some of the areas down there, it will look almost open and when you get there it's a jungle. Have fun and good luck it gets busy during rifle season.
What are "jack firs" and what is drainage? I've heard the term, but I have no idea what that feature is. I assumed it was the low point between 2 steep hills, where water funneled through going down a hill side or something. probably wrong though
:dunno:
Post by: iRem on February 11, 2013, 10:08:36 AM
Isn't that the truth! I guarantee if the trees are wet, you will get soaked!Jack firs, reprod are terms used for newly replanted trees that you can not see more than 25yds through, if your lucky. Really dense cover
And you can guarentee that, if you're 5'9", the jack firs will be 6'4". If you're 6'5", the jack firs will be 7'.
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 11, 2013, 10:15:44 AM
Thanks Skywalker. A mountain bike was actually my plan.Dbax an honest question. Are you serious? Many questions you ask could be answered with a simple google search. Maybe go to the local sporting goods store and buy a book, check out nw sportsman mag, that will answer more questions than asking in an open forum. Also get a gazetteer and google earth. Google earth will give a deceptive view on some of the areas down there, it will look almost open and when you get there it's a jungle. Have fun and good luck it gets busy during rifle season.
What are "jack firs" and what is drainage? I've heard the term, but I have no idea what that feature is. I assumed it was the low point between 2 steep hills, where water funneled through going down a hill side or something. probably wrong though
:dunno:
Tbar, lots of people come here with questions that could be answered in a Goggle search. That's what the site is for - the civil exchange of information and ideas; opinions. I see from the number of your posts that you're not such a veteran on this site. The more you're here, the more you'll understand that many will come here first for information and then hopefully, will offer information, as well. :tup:
Post by: Lcl 66 Tinner on February 11, 2013, 10:38:55 AM
sounds like we have all had the same experience with "jack prod"Isn't that the truth! I guarantee if the trees are wet, you will get soaked!Jack firs, reprod are terms used for newly replanted trees that you can not see more than 25yds through, if your lucky. Really dense cover
And you can guarentee that, if you're 5'9", the jack firs will be 6'4". If you're 6'5", the jack firs will be 7'.
Post by: Dbax129 on February 11, 2013, 10:49:33 AM
Thanks for the info about gates too. I'm hoping that most (better yet, all) are closed during hunting season. I would love to get out beyond that normal threshold most people have of a few miles of walking out... though not sure how far out i will have to go to get some isolation, if any is available out there.
Post by: Tbar on February 11, 2013, 11:03:22 AM
Post by: skywalker253 on February 11, 2013, 11:21:00 AM
Post by: headshot5 on February 11, 2013, 11:25:17 AM
Post by: bullkiller on February 11, 2013, 11:25:54 AM
Post by: skywalker253 on February 11, 2013, 11:42:01 AM
Post by: Dbax129 on February 11, 2013, 12:51:42 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on February 11, 2013, 12:58:58 PM
sounds fun skywalker. I don't know that I'll be close enough to a road to get back to the beach for mid day. my hope is to find a way to b 5-10 miles from a driveable road. I think I'll set up a little camp and plan on being out for 4-5 days.
That's almost impossible in those units. There are nothing but roads in and through there
Post by: skywalker253 on February 11, 2013, 01:27:08 PM
sounds fun skywalker. I don't know that I'll be close enough to a road to get back to the beach for mid day. my hope is to find a way to b 5-10 miles from a driveable road. I think I'll set up a little camp and plan on being out for 4-5 days.
For years you could camp anywhere in most these units. But with the locals poaching, shooting up logging equipment, and leaving their garbage; it has pissed off the tree companies to the point that they don't want anyone in there camping (depending on the property and GMU). There are plenty of state parks and camp grounds avaliable.
Sounds like you are trying to avoid people, roads, and you plan to hunt alone. I don't think it would be very safe for you to go out elk hunting alone as a green horn. If you go back in the miles you are speaking of and shoot one; you have to be able to get it out. And if you fall and bust an ankle; you have to be able to get yourself out. I strongly suggest you get together with an experienced groups of hunters. This site has a "hunt partners forum", which can help put you in contact with some people. I have met several people on here in my short tenue, who have been very helpful.
Post by: Dbax129 on February 11, 2013, 02:32:18 PM
double J, I heard most gates are closed to driving, and are walk/bike in only... looking at unit 673.
Post by: Alan K on February 11, 2013, 05:32:02 PM
Like others have mentioned the coast is very well roaded and there is no shortage of people. One thing about elk hunting, there is always someone going in further than you. It's nearly impossible to get away from people. Just when you think you've gotten away from them, you bump into someone who came in from the other side of the mountain. :chuckle:
Much of the timber company land is open for their employees to drive in while the public must walk in or ride in on a pedal bike like you mention planning to do. Be prepared for them to cover nearly all of the clearcuts in the first half hour to hour, and potentially blow your hunt. That said, they don't get out of their rig and into the timber much unless they know there is a bull in the bunch.
Post by: DoubleJ on February 11, 2013, 06:48:36 PM
I was looking to hunt south of raymond, between there and naselle. between hwy 6 and 4, with 101 to the west. I know thats kind of a big area, a little vague, but I haven't started scouting yet, so that's all I know. Somewhere out there looks like a lot of land, with some state land spread throughout. I don't plan on going alone, just with a couple of buddies who I backcountry hike with. We also plan on riding a mountain bike in with a kid trailer in tow (for the pack and hopefully some meat on the way out) on logging roads as far as we can. I would like to go with some folks that are more experienced with hunting, but we are all new to it, and I don't think anybody out there wants to take us along, we'd probably hold them back too much! :dunno: (unless you're offering!) The back country living isn't a new thing for us though.
double J, I heard most gates are closed to driving, and are walk/bike in only... looking at unit 673.
Those gates are mostly open come Sept, unless there's fire danger. I did that my first year. Scouted a bunch in June, July, and Aug and found a few places behind locked gates, walkin in access only. Come Sept, they were all wide open with trucks zipping in and out all day
Post by: DoubleJ on February 11, 2013, 06:51:03 PM
Post by: hiway_99 on February 11, 2013, 07:42:42 PM
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Post by: DoubleJ on February 11, 2013, 08:02:14 PM
Post by: Dbax129 on February 11, 2013, 08:36:23 PM
I don't know if the cascades north of cowlitz would be ideal for me, because I was hoping to use the logging roads for the bike trailer at least the first half of the way.
Peninsula sounds nice, I just didn't know there were any elk outside the park up there. After some googling, it looks like 615 and 618 might not be terrible. Small small harvest numbers, but sounds like very few people up there, and its a little closer to me, as I'm on the kitsap peninsula. Darn darn. I think it rains on that side of the pen like every day. Why can't I hunt in sequim again? I think they are like pets there!
Post by: hiway_99 on February 11, 2013, 08:53:29 PM
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Post by: Tbar on February 11, 2013, 09:02:31 PM
Post by: skywalker253 on February 11, 2013, 11:57:29 PM
Post by: bod on February 12, 2013, 06:38:19 AM
Post by: snowpack on February 12, 2013, 12:04:33 PM
Gmu's 615 and 618 are some rough places hunted there many years, can't get anyone to go with me anymore.:yeah:
And they actually have quite a few people on the roaded areas. Lots of old camps that have been set up each season for years (some around 35 years that I know of).
Post by: Dbax129 on February 12, 2013, 01:21:45 PM
Post by: skywalker253 on February 12, 2013, 02:04:44 PM
So locating elk in the timber is the key to have less competition out there huh? Is it a good idea to "push around" any elk I see while scouting, to see if I can get a feel for where they would go under pressure during the hunting season? Or would I just be training them how to notice me sooner? Btw, this single thread has taught me more than any of my reading or video watching! Thanks for all the help so far! I may have to start a similar thread about the peninsula later! :chuckle:
Any elk that are out in the clear cuts off the main logging roads are going to get shot on opening day. There will be a ton of road hunters driving the roads looking for elk throughout the season, which drives them into the thick drainages, reprod, and or jack firs. We usually put a couple of guys out in an area where they can get a shot, and send a couple of guys in to push thru the brush. This year I was fortunate to meet a few guys to hunt with. Normally it is just my dad and I. He is 70, so we don't hunt that hard. We pushed thru the jack firs and saw a ton of elk. I ended up filling my cow tag, and one of our other guys missed a big bull on 2 seperate days. We had 6 hunters, so it makes it a little easier. In the past, we have always gone into the timber and sat down over a drainage for a few hours to see if anything is moving. I have never gotten an elk that way, but my father and his group have gotten several. If nothing is moving, we will slowly walk thru the timber towards each other or push down a ridge with guys waiting on the bottom or across from us (depending on the direction). IMO- The big bulls go find the deepest darkest drainage they can find and sit there until something pushes them out. Timber may not be you best bet. It just depends how you want to hunt and where. I would worry about finding elk first, and that will help you determine how to go about hunting them.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on February 15, 2013, 05:00:53 PM