Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on October 25, 2008, 04:07:48 PM
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I am attempting to get info on this area for next year. Anybody know if A-holes on ATV's ride into this area, or is it really all walk-in? Do the "Natives" hunt this unit with their own rules? I know it is steep in places and really thick, but looking on my maps I see that there are several mainline roads that run along ridges that would make great places to hike and call for elk during early season, but I dont want to spend the time and energy getting back there if some jerk on a quad or motorcycle is going to roar past me at first light. I also was wondering if the age class of the bulls is worth passing on an opportunitty to harvesting a cow. How many deer are in the unit? How many bear? where is a good gate to park w/o some knucklehead breaking into my rig? Any good places to camp? Any info would be appreciated.
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I have yet to hunt there but know some guys that do.As far as i know everything is gated and no motorized vehicle .Atleast for archery.Couldnt tell ya about the age class or anywere to park.
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I've hunted there a fair amount. Like anywhere, there's always guys that cheat on quads. For the most part it's gated. Lots of low elevation development where previously good hunting spots have given way to posted land and new homes. Sometimes the gates are open, during rifle season of course. 3 point min in the early season, cows ok in the late. Not much logging going on in recent years, so it's getting pretty thick. Just have to go check it out and see if it's your cup of tea or not.
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I'm a little curious about this unit as I've been muzzleloading in the Longbeach unit next door the last couple of years. What about using a bicycle on the gated roads?
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bicycles are O.K., they are non-motorized and don't disturb the animals like ATV's.
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:dunno: is that all?
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Make sure you have a bear tag in your pocket, cuz there are more than just a few bears roaming them there hills.
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I always have a bear tag, I have been applying for the spring permit season since it started and have yet to get drawn, Late season I have seen a few bears but not within recurve range :archer:. If I ever get within 35 yards of one I will be happy. Do you know when they open gates? or what Timber company owns most of it? I plan on hiking in for 2 5 day trips next Sept. If I can scout some roads it might give me an Idea of where to start, If the gates are open during season I need to find which ones so I can avoid them or use them depending...... :4w: :mor:
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Check this link out for who owns what. I just found this today. I didn't realize that much of the unit was timber company property. I'll be over that way hunting in Long Beach after Thanksgiving, so maybe I'll have to sacrifice some elk hunting time for some scouting time.
Dave
http://www.inforain.org/willapa/catalog/maps/owners.htm
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That link has a lot of old info, many of those landowners have changed in the last few years, but its all still industrial forest land other than some development stuff; but thats all to close to town to hunt anyway. Good map
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It must be a pretty good unit, nobody seems to want to talk about it much, I read the wdfw trends status report and saw 673 has almost double the animals, although it appears almost double in size. I am planning on doing some scouting down there this weekend and seeing how many gates are open and how many trucks are parked at closed gates. maybe do a little walking around looking for a deer.
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only 2 hunter in this unit so far?
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Check out http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,8300.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,8300.0.html) in the Bow Hunting forum.
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Hey great link on the distrubution of land. Thanks
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I quit hunting the long beach and bear river areas about 10 years ago. I had a serious issue with the locals there. I was camped at the beginning of a gated road off to the side in the brush with a tent. every afternoon when I would come back to camp, my tent had been pulled down. after 3 days of this, I was getting ready to go home. on the last day I come to camp and find that they had dumped my 5 gallons of chainsaw gas into my firepit. now this could be all due to the fact that while bowhunting a muzzleloader came up to me and told me he had accidently shot 2 cows and would I help him get the animals out to the road. I took him to where the elk were but the gamey was already there. he got popped for hunting with an illegal weapon(bear river is archery only) as well as wastage and a few other things. the locals 6-8 of them were there also and saw me with this guy. as one of the locals was pulling out, we noticed an elk on the trailer hitch rack. full elk, hide,hooves, guts but no head. I asked the warden if she thought that was unusual to bring a whole animal out of the woods but leave the head and she said it is legal as long as the sex organs are attached. I know she is right on that but we only were able to find one of the 2 cows this muzzleloader shot and he had already told her that one of them was a head shot. I go hunting for peace and solitude, not to set up camp 5 times in a week. not saying it is still going on but I will not partake.
kenzmad
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That is too bad. That is one reason I am going in at least 5 miles before I pitch my tent and am trying to find info on safe place to park my truck.
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I have been told by some friends that there have been instances of the locals blocking in hunters trucks in 681.
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We saw four separate herds from the hiway as we drove by at 60mph this morning, between Longbeach and Southbend...
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If thet go past a gate Block them in, call the cops,whatever. I follow the rules and respect private property.
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I agree STIKNSTRINGBOW but from what I was told the roads were gated timber company and state owned roads and the vehicles were parked off the roads. Whether this is true or not I can't say 100%. I heard this from a father and son who had been hunting the area for 6 years. I hunted the area for the first time this year.
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If the roads are gated and you park at them and hike in, as long as you are not blocking gate/road you should have no problem with anyone. If you drive in closed area you get what you deserve. Motorized cross-country travel is illegal in most areas and I detest offenders. If I am abiding by rules/regulations and someone has a problem with me........They have a problem. On a different note, How did you do this year? Archery, or modern? How many animals did you see? How many hunters? A-holes on dirtbikes/quads? Any decent bulls? any decent bucks?
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I agree! I have hunted way back in the woods to get into better game areas but also to get away from the motorcycles and quads. As long time rifle hunters on the eastside, my son and I finally bought new bows and decided to try the westside for elk this year. One of my friends has hunted around the Naselle area for several years and he recommended the area to me. I missed the early hunt because of two deaths in the family but was able to get out four days a couple weeks ago and beat the brush. My son and I saw several elk (86) but they seemed to concentrate in the fields on private property. I passed on a cow at 12 yards with the hope of finding a good bull. It seemed like the hunters concentrated fairly evenly between the walk-in roads and the timber. I did find a few spots that looked good with fresh sign. I am sure there are allot more but it takes time to get familiar with the lay of the land. We will get out this spring and summer and do some scouting.
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Hey Charlie, your friend who told you about naselle, wouldn't have been Mark B. was it? I have been hunting with Mark for 25yrs. You really need to hunt down there in the early season with us.
Rodger
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Is that what you guys were doing Friday night Rodger? Hunting?? :whoo: LOL I agree! I had a great time with your pards the week before last. Paul and Dean are a hoot.
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I live down here by bear river its nothing but a brush hole. If you like doghair then its your spot.The gates are locked year round except if we are falling timber behind one or logging activity . Dont believe in what happened to your camp years past but what you need to understand is that for myself I spend alot of time in the woods watching animals then all you out of towners come in and put your camps right where maybe I had been watching a bull for the last 3 months not your fault but it makes alot of people not very happy. As for the quads totaly agree with you ,WALK IN MEANS WALKIN ONLY. I hunt with a rifle to so that changes thing again 10 fold.
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Charlie, No I didn't make it down there, I shot my bull in the early season. I was going to go down and bird dog but my boy didn't feel like going. I might go down this week end just to get out of town.
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That's right, congratulations on that great bull Rodger and the nice shot you made! Mark said he will never be able to get you up early again.
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Yep, no need to get up earlier than 8:30-9:00.HA HA. I was pretty beat from the day before, put in 12 miles behind a gate.
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The hard work makes it all the sweeter Rodger!!
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That is true.
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300winmag I like your handle and this is nothing against you but... over the years I've read your post several times now and just have to respond. The one where you make a case as for why locals get upset with out of town hunters and mess with their stuff... Some people just seem to think they own the woods? Well as a business owner I pay my fair share of taxes and have just as much access Rights as locals! Walk-in or no walk-in. Unfortunately in Washington State our hunting is controlled politically and by Liberal thinking. So is our fishing and I for one as a law abiding citizen, am tired of being harassed every time I go in the field by law enforcement- sometimes twice a day! They remind me of the Nazi SS with nothing better to do and unfortunately I have to comply with their "Power Kick" demands! The last thing I'll put up with is to be additionally harassed by local hunters who think they own the land! Get angry at the Dept. of Wildlife for the lousy hunting they've created for us- not at each other! Locals have no Right to destroy my property just because I'm from out of town! Some may find this funny... but to them I say be careful who's stuff you mess with, because you just might mess with the wrong person :chuckle:
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You've been holding that in for 7 years?
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Wow!!
not sure why this thread was drug out of the archives. or why you blasted 300winmag...
Seems like he was understanding both sides... :dunno:
After 7 years of hunting down there I still have yet to have any issues with other hunters.
Made some new friends that I see every year, shared rides and campfires (and a little whiskey)
Even have the ph# to get a guy to come unlock the gate if I get an animal down.
Not sure why you have an issue with LEO's, the ones I have met have been very helpful.
But then, I like getting information from them, locals also.
Most locals I have met only hunt in morning, then go fishing.
They do not care where you are camped, they have houses...
I agree that nobody has the right to mess with your stuff, but I would not be blaming "locals".
I also do not understand how someone could pitch their camp right where you have been watching a bull for 3 months in an area closed to overnight camping?
but then, a 7 year old :jacked:
THERE ARE NO ELK IN 681 !! they all ran over to 506
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They are certainly not in the 506.
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They are certainly not in the 506.
Sure they are, you just have to have a WH permit. :tung:
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Nope, I think most swam the Columbia and are in Oregon. The rest headed for the blues.
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O.K., I will go along with that.
Heading down for the 4th to check my trail camera, was a herd heading south when I put it up...
Hopefully a few stragglers wandered past on their way to Oregon.
