Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Nice Racks on July 28, 2013, 08:44:57 PM
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Went down to the Mudflow area around ST Helen for the first time. Impressed with the amount of elk we saw from the observatory parking lot, but something tells me this isn't going to be as easy a hunt as it may look like. Anyone care to share some advice? Packing one out isn't going to be fun either.
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Drew the rifle a couple years back. Cow tag filled it first afternoon. Thay was the easy part. The pack out was a pain. I heard that you can contact the WDFW if you get one down they will let you drive in to retrieve it. Not sure if true,bu worth a call. If I'd heard that before I definitely woul'e called to find out. I'd recommend a deer cart ay least. Get the animal to the road then wheel it up the roads helps. Good luck. I like the hunt and the pack out isn't enough to keep me from applying again.
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I would double and triple check to see if they will let you in because my buddy had the tag and he wasn't able to (if I remember right). You may have to carry it out. It will be very important to know ahead of time because when that elk goes down, the timer starts to tick and may be a long day.
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I had a friend that had the archery tag the first year they had rifle and archery hunters in there at the same time. He said the pack out was the hard part. not only because of the closed gates but was also very hot.
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i like this thread because my son drew a rifle antlerless tag for the mudflow, but the season starts nove 2nd, so it should be fairly cool by then. will definatly be bringin the cart for the haul out. he is 17 and in alot better shape than dear ole dad, so guess who will be doing the hard part, have fun son :chuckle:
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During the early season it probably will be shut down, but you can go in the toutle side and get down within 50 yards of the flats by logging road. Thats how we did it! but, if I had the tag again, I wouldnt be hunting the flats. PM me for more info
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Lots of elk around the observatory. To bad your way outside the unit at that point. Different story in the huntable portion of the unit. Come the end of August when it's 95-100F elk go deep shortly after sun up. A lot better tag for muzzy and rifle.
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If you can find them there is a couple of abandoned logging road systems that lead all the way to the bottom. That's what I use to get in and out while shed hunting........
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If you can find them there is a couple of abandoned logging road systems that lead all the way to the bottom. That's what I use to get in and out while shed hunting........
Are you talking about the Observatory side or the Toutle side of the unit?
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If you guys need help packing pm me. I live in kelso. Just a short drive up the highway. I know the unit well.
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Nice racks- I sent a pm but I'm not sure it went thru :dunno:
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I just posted on this We went to the observatory Johnson and they have free hand outs that show where you can hunt, They let us know it is FEDERAL OFFENCE if caught in the monument area! We were pretty bummed when we left.
