Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: fluentvoo on September 17, 2013, 02:30:11 PM

Title: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: fluentvoo on September 17, 2013, 02:30:11 PM: Looking to branch out a little farther than my normal spots for blues.
I've looked at satellite images and maps, but I've found a lot of the time, the roads that access NF aren't always open.
So I'm asking for some help here. Anything south of I90, 410 or hwy12 that offers access to the western/mid cascades to get up high for Blues with lots of roads and skids to walk? Just point of entry would be great.
Example would be take exit 1xx then turn left on xx then hit the gravel road at xx that feeds the fs road system.
Private message would be fine as well :) Might even be able to deliver a few pounds of fresh chanterelles in trade for the info if you live close by.
Thanks
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: bobcat on September 17, 2013, 02:45:53 PM: Lots of access to Gifford Pinchot NF if you head south from Randle off hwy 12 and get on the 25 Road.
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: fluentvoo on September 17, 2013, 03:06:13 PM: Is the elevation high enough for blues there? Looking at terrain maps it looks mostly below 3000ft. Looks a lot like the winston unit elevation. I've seen ruffed in winston, but not the blues. All my blues seem to have been taken at ~3500+ in elevation.
Not assuming anything, just wondering.
Thanks for the info ;)
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: Russ McDonald on September 17, 2013, 03:23:12 PM: Up 410 you can branch of FS 70 series road. That will get you up that high. You could get on the 73 road. I have seen some blues up there. You could go up to Stampede pass off of I90, don't know the FS road number that get up there pretty good too.
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: bobcat on September 17, 2013, 04:04:55 PM: You don't have to be that high in elevation for Blues. I've killed blue grouse in Thurston County, Grays Harbor, and west Lewis County at 1000 to 2000 feet in elevation.
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: Whitpirate on September 17, 2013, 05:57:50 PM: Take 410 to Peaches. Anything off the 1900, 1906, or 1902 has blues.
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: boneaddict on September 18, 2013, 08:24:15 AM: Quote from: russ_mcdonald on September 17, 2013, 03:23:12 PM
Up 410 you can branch of FS 70 series road. That will get you up that high. You could get on the 73 road. I have seen some blues up there. You could go up to Stampede pass off of I90, don't know the FS road number that get up there pretty good too.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: Russ McDonald on September 18, 2013, 09:04:10 AM: Quote from: Whitpirate on September 17, 2013, 05:57:50 PM
Take 410 to Peaches. Anything off the 1900, 1906, or 1902 has blues.
that was the other place I was going to recommend but it skipped my mind at the time of writing my reply.
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: fluentvoo on September 18, 2013, 09:25:55 AM: Thanks for the replies and PM's ;)
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: richardt on September 18, 2013, 10:02:25 AM: Some great info guys, coming from another new guy to the area, gives me some places to check out. If anyone has other places they can think of around the Monroe area, or along hw2 heading east I'd be grateful!

Sent from my iPhone
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: AspenBud on September 19, 2013, 11:57:24 AM: Depending on how reliable the info is I wouldn't count on those areas to be very good for much longer.

Nothing like the internet to get hunters to flock to an area and hunt it out. :bash: Of course if it's misinformation that could be a good thing... :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: Whitpirate on September 19, 2013, 07:25:27 PM: If you hunt out the Areas I listed you have about 20 years on your hands. Lots of country....miles and miles.
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: Shoffy on September 25, 2013, 11:33:33 AM: Where is "Peaches" of 410?? Over the pass??
Title: Re: Entry points to FS roads west/central cascades
Post by: bobcat on September 25, 2013, 12:02:53 PM: I think the "Peaches" was in reference to Peaches Ridge, which you would access from the Cle Elum/Ellensburg side. Some people seem to refer to the Little Naches area as "Peaches Ridge." I'm not sure why but I assume it's because of the special elk permit that the WDFW calls Peaches Ridge, but that permits actually takes in two GMU's- Taneum and Little Naches.

Peaches Ridge is actually in the Taneum GMU (close to Quartz Mountain.)