Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 06:30:04 AM

Title: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 06:30:04 AM: Well drew a antlerless winston tag, and now time to start doing my homework, and get some meat in the freezer. Never hunted that area so any help be greatly appreciated. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: bobcat on June 20, 2013, 06:49:51 AM: January season? Or November?
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 09:02:55 AM: November looking forward to it
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Screaminreelz on June 20, 2013, 09:51:20 AM: Shouldn't be a problem whatsoever.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: haus on June 20, 2013, 10:26:52 AM: Quote from: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 06:30:04 AM
Well drew a antlerless winston tag, and now time to start doing my homework, and get some meat in the freezer. Never hunted that area so any help be greatly appreciated. :rolleyes:
Overall the GMU has a high density of elk, and you shouldn't have an issue filling the tag. That being said its a big gmu, there are large areas within the gmu that have a low density of elk. One of the higher density areas is in the corridor near the Toutle River east of highway 505 and north of highway 504. There is a Weyco mainline entrance just west of Kid Valley on 504. Start there, stay low near the river you'll do fine.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bigshooter on June 20, 2013, 10:31:44 AM: I drew a antlerless muzzy tag for winston creek. It should be pretty easy to kill a cow in this unit no matter what season.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 10:51:23 AM: Thanks for the info (haus) Never shot any elk yet, maybe this year will be the first, will start with cows and work my way up :)
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 10:55:28 AM: Ill probably start hiking it taking a look at that area in a couple weeks. Just so when i get there i know exactly where to go. Good luck to everyone.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 09:03:28 PM: How busy does this gmu get? Winston 520? Is it hunter on top of hunter there?
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: bobcat on June 20, 2013, 09:07:19 PM: I'm not sure there's a busier GMU during elk season than the Winston.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 10:10:17 PM: Well ill start scouting that area either way, need to see what that area looks like.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: cem3434 on June 20, 2013, 10:14:20 PM: Hit the 1900 line and you will find elk.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 11:36:26 PM: Ok ill try that, thank you. Ill start my scouting soon. Ill take my camera and hopefully add some pics to the thread.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: elkslayer069 on June 20, 2013, 11:53:50 PM: Bear hide you better pull a number, and be prepared for combat elk hunting it was pretty discusting last year with the few shut downs that weyco did during during the week had everybody bunched into about a 1/6 of the area discussed above.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: ICEMAN on June 21, 2013, 06:43:18 AM: Hate bringing it up, but beware of limpers in there... You may have to be a bit more selective about which elk you shoot...
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: funkster on June 21, 2013, 09:09:10 AM: Is 2,452 hunters busy enough for you? You will not be alone! Make sure if you plan on camping near by to make reservation now(it may be to late). Don't let the high number of hunters scare you off, have patients and you should get an opportunity.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: bobcat on June 21, 2013, 09:27:01 AM: Kill the hoof rot elk. Put them out of their misery.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Huntbear on June 21, 2013, 09:38:38 AM: Quote from: Bearhide on June 20, 2013, 06:30:04 AM
Well drew a antlerless winston tag, and now time to start doing my homework, and get some meat in the freezer. Never hunted that area so any help be greatly appreciated. :rolleyes:

The cows will walk out in front of you all day long, on the edges of reprod and clearcuts. Hell, you can probably do it opening day about 10 min. after shooting light if you know what road to walk down.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 21, 2013, 10:31:40 AM: Thank you for all the help fellow hunters. Yeah finding a place to stay is no problem, i live only hour and a half from there. Plus will bring a trailer with us. Heck if i have to ill sleep on the tree :chuckle: what ever it takes im getting that elk meat in the freezer. Again never shot an elk before so will start off small and work my self up maybe to 300+ someday :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: dr.derek on June 21, 2013, 10:48:17 AM: Quote from: ICEMAN on June 21, 2013, 06:43:18 AM
Hate bringing it up, but beware of limpers in there... You may have to be a bit more selective about which elk you shoot...

A lot of hoof rot in that unit. Not to be subjective but I believe the late rifle tag should be a chance for hunters to take out some of the hoof rot elk.
anyways should be an easy hunt.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Screaminreelz on June 21, 2013, 11:10:14 AM: 2400+ hunters and less than 20% actually get out of their trucks. Don't worry about it just get off the beaten path and you'll be fine.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 21, 2013, 11:37:35 AM: Now when they have the hoof rot, is the meat still good?
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Screaminreelz on June 21, 2013, 12:15:09 PM: My understanding from a Gamewarden is that as long as it's not above the knee you should be fine. If the meat stinks above the knee don't eat it just get rid of it. We knocked one down last year with a touch of it in the left front hoof that wasn't bad at all. I've see some out of there though that were not in good shape at all and it's too bad we can't just put them out of their misery.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 21, 2013, 01:16:09 PM: Heres a stupid question you guys can laugh at, is there a way i can see if it does have the hoof rut with a spotting scope if im close to the elk? And say i do kill one that has the hoof rot above the knee, what can i do with the meat? I cant just leave it ther. :dunno:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: ICEMAN on June 21, 2013, 05:52:25 PM: This is why they are referenced as limpers.....if they limp...you may want to pass on it. Just sayin'
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: billythekidrock on June 21, 2013, 05:53:58 PM: Quote from: Bearhide on June 21, 2013, 01:16:09 PM
Heres a stupid question you guys can laugh at, is there a way i can see if it does have the hoof rut with a spotting scope if im close to the elk? And say i do kill one that has the hoof rot above the knee, what can i do with the meat? I cant just leave it ther. :dunno:

The meat is still edible.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 21, 2013, 06:19:30 PM: That makes since. Thank you for the info :)
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 22, 2013, 01:43:22 PM: Yeah i personally hate hunting from the car, so ill be doing alot of hiking for sure. Love to get away from everyone else as far as possible. Just turn on my gps and go for it. Good luck to everyone.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: elkslayer069 on June 22, 2013, 02:03:27 PM: You wont do a whole lot hiking to get away from people roads everywhere and a person on almost all of them
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Goshawk on June 22, 2013, 02:24:30 PM: The problem is not necessarily is the meat any good, it's more like is there any meat left on the animal?
A three year old cow I shot there last year, minus hide and ribs hunt at 150lbs. Ground it all into hamburger. The backstraps were just sinew, nothing you could cut a steak out of. Starving to death is a pretty rough way to go. At least 75% of the elk I saw there last December were limping or leaving blood in their tracks.
Consider your tag a culling tool more than a freezer filler.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Eli346 on June 22, 2013, 03:58:11 PM: They've had so many cow tags the last few years that its not as easy as it used to be. They're on the run from day 1 of archery until after the January cow tag is up. Tues or Wed after opening weekend it starts to thin out a little bit on the hunters because a lot of them give up and go home or are tagged out. It's still a pumpkin patch down there and it does take a lot of patience. Get out of the truck and hit the timbered draws and you'll find elk! Good luck.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 22, 2013, 04:42:24 PM: Thanks for all the tips. Well if i cant find a healthy cow, i guess ill just help put one out of its Agony.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: HntnFsh on June 22, 2013, 04:49:02 PM: Quote from: Bearhide on June 21, 2013, 11:37:35 AM
Now when they have the hoof rot, is the meat still good?

Between me,family,and friends we have killed about a dozen with various stages of hoof rot. Only 1, I didnt feel was edible. Last day of muzzy. it was a scrawny bull. I killed it to put it out of its misery. Notched my tag and called it a sour,but succesful season. Usually if you get a somewhat decent look you can tell which ones wouldnt be edible. We have several cow tags between us again this year. I'm sure we will kill a few more with hoof rot.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 22, 2013, 07:20:26 PM: Yeah im just looking forward to seeing some elk. Only hunted elk once before, with no luck. So whatever i get ill be happy with it. But ill defiantly do some scouting before i go there.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: whtbuck on June 24, 2013, 01:55:48 PM: cant wait to hunt again.Finally got my mount back from Taxidermy got tired of looking at pics i had on my phone.Winston bull shot opening morning first light.20 minuets after my shot the woods lite up.5 and a half hrs to quarter and get to the truck.will post picture when i get home to computer
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on June 26, 2013, 05:22:08 PM: Lets see that bull :drool:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: kglacken on June 26, 2013, 05:47:19 PM: Quote from: bobcat on June 20, 2013, 09:07:19 PM
I'm not sure there's a busier GMU during elk season than the Winston.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on July 08, 2013, 05:45:00 PM: Well will see what we can do. Ill go scout that area here pretty soon. Busy or not im pulling that cow out :chuckle:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: gonehuntin68 on July 08, 2013, 09:06:50 PM: Walk behind a gate and shoot one, then pack it out. Done :tup:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: cem3434 on July 08, 2013, 09:45:51 PM: Quote from: Bearhide on July 08, 2013, 05:45:00 PM
Well will see what we can do. Ill go scout that area here pretty soon. Busy or not im pulling that cow out :chuckle:

Get a map and then PM me, so I can help you out.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: chevyistop on July 15, 2013, 03:25:55 PM: Hey, congrats on the draw Bearhide! I also drew the same tag. Do you have a scouting trip planned? maybe we can team up and scout it out. PM me
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Yelm hunter on August 14, 2013, 12:34:57 AM: :yeah: :yeah:
Quote from: Bearhide on June 26, 2013, 05:22:08 PM
Lets see that bull :drool:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Yelm hunter on August 14, 2013, 12:36:13 AM: What Gate?? There are only like 3 gates up there that were locked last year and that's because they were logging...
:(

Quote from: gonehuntin68 on July 08, 2013, 09:06:50 PM
Walk behind a gate and shoot one, then pack it out. Done :tup:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: cem3434 on August 14, 2013, 09:48:58 AM: There were still many of the lower gates locked outside of main tree farm. I walked behind a few last year East of Toledo! :dunno:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on October 02, 2013, 03:55:04 PM: Well went to do some scouting in winston by the 1900 mile road, was there from about 6:30 till 3. Didnt see any elk, i think we spooked one in the timber, herd the hoofs hitting the ground pretty good, sounded bigger than a deer, but didnt see it. Rainy of and on but didnt see any elk. Started off by the river and worked up about 1500 feet elevation. Do they come down lower, come november? And all the gates were locked, which i like but dont know if they will stay locked. Because if i choose a good place now and than they open them up, there goes all my work down the drain.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Screaminreelz on October 02, 2013, 07:59:32 PM: Where did you go in at? There's several access points.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on October 02, 2013, 09:28:51 PM: By kid valley. All gates are closed on that side. But don't know if they will open them up later.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Screaminreelz on October 02, 2013, 09:37:08 PM: Usually lots of pressure there so my suggestion is to go in the merchant road and head in that way up towards hatchet mountain. Or even hang west towards the 1825 I think it is. Little easier walking for you and not as much pressure meaning more road hunters less brush beaters. Grew up down there so if it's a cow you're looking for shouldn't have a problem. Be careful and have fun kill a big one!
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: RB on October 02, 2013, 09:49:03 PM: Drew same tag two years ago the cow ran and the four point bull stood and looked at me so I shot him instead :) Drew the tag again this year hope to find a cow did lots of walking last year and only saw one cow one spike and a nice five point I bird dogged out and someone else shot :'( lots of people!
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on October 03, 2013, 08:27:23 AM: Yeah hopefully they keep some gates closed i rather hike in or ride my bike in. I'll try scouting next week again.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Screaminreelz on October 03, 2013, 10:59:25 AM: those gates are usually always open at the start of MF which is why there is such a high density of hunters.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on October 03, 2013, 11:17:24 AM: I see. Well I guess I'll go scout there after deer season begins. That way I don't have to scout the area where there's going to be 20,000 trucks rolling around. Yesterday the weather was perfect to cloudy rainy but not to much action.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bow tech hunter on October 03, 2013, 01:20:55 PM: That's awsome I didn't draw anything for bow season but I was in Winston early seen a lot of bulls and cows but no shot I was 24 yards away of a cow and didn't stick the cow you should have no problem finding a cow if u can find the 1100 line just drive that main line it comes off 500 line there's a lot of elk up there on 1100 goodluck
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on October 04, 2013, 09:52:56 AM: Going out tomorrow do some scouting will post some pics after. Hopefully of some nice looking elk. :tup:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 04, 2013, 10:12:05 AM: Or, put it out of its misery. Some of the hoof rot elk have fine meat and some are gangrenous.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on October 05, 2013, 03:01:29 PM: Well went out today to winston on the 1900 road the gates are open now so access is there, saw a lot of fresh deer and elk sign didn't see any animals.
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: SFD2015 on October 05, 2013, 06:33:44 PM: I drew the January tag the first year and it was EASY!!!!! My group has taken a number of elk (cow and Bull) out of the Winston. We have taken 2 with Hoof Rot. They seem to be in the swampy areas, so stay out of there and you should be good. There are allot of hunters out there and opening weekend pressure is INSANE, but park your rig and head out in to the deep dark woods and you should be fine.

I wouldn't worry about the gates being closed this year. Even if they are, you should bee able to get a Cow without having to go to far.

A buddy of mine drew the Muzzy cow tag and all he ran into were Bulls. Unfortunately, I heard that all the Bulls have been transplanted to the Blues due to the Federal Government Shutdown, so it would be better for Elk Hunters without Cow tags to head down there.... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Awesome drew a antlerless winston tag.
Post by: Bearhide on October 06, 2013, 10:31:57 PM: Thanks to all you guys for great tips. Couple weeks to go and pictures will follow. Hoping to seal the deal and can't wait, sleepless nights here I come.