Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: CJ1962 on September 20, 2013, 12:39:26 PM

Title: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: CJ1962 on September 20, 2013, 12:39:26 PM: Being in the possesion of a Multi-Season Elk tag and an Observatory Bull Rifle permit. I'm looking at my Muzzle loader options on the west side. I'm not going to burn my permit on a spike, but if a good west side bull decided it wanted to commit suicide, I would oblige him. A friend of mine was hiking this summer in the far eastern end of the South Rainier unit and saw Elk and lots of Elky areas. A quick search of the forum showed that most of the discussions on the South Rainier unit are over 4 years old. So I was wondering if there are people on the forum that have hunted it in recent years during the muzzle loader season, and what are the crowds like and how has your hunting been in the far eastern end?

TIA
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: coachcw on September 20, 2013, 12:42:43 PM: what happens in elk woods stays there ! what do you have to loose ?
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: lagnar on September 20, 2013, 12:51:25 PM: Sent you a PM. Same situation here.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: HighCountryHunter88 on September 20, 2013, 01:19:33 PM: south rainier gets slammed during muzzy. i did it once, never again.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: fluentvoo on September 20, 2013, 01:52:51 PM: Maybe the reason there hasn't been a lot of chatter about the area is the lack of logging that has taken place there.
The spots that used to be newer clear cuts are now growing pretty thick. Has to be 10 years worth of growth on them, maybe more? I remember when I could walk through huckleberry areas. Now you can't see 20 yards. There are old growth areas still in the unit tho.
I blue grouse hunt the high ridges in that unit, and I do see elk sign now and again.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: Jayfire83 on September 20, 2013, 02:14:55 PM: Gets hit hard!
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: bobcat on September 20, 2013, 02:26:41 PM: All muzzleloader units get lots of pressure, due to the fact that there are very few units open for muzzleloader. If you decide to go muzzleloader hunting for elk, don't do it to get away from the crowds. The only way you won't have lots of company is if you're on private land or in an area with no elk.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: Rooster1981 on September 21, 2013, 09:23:16 AM: There is some steep country in that unit, and then you have the wilderness. If you are willing to get off the road and hike into the steep stuff you might have some luck.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: Elkstuffer on September 21, 2013, 09:26:26 AM: Quote from: HighCountryHunter88 on September 20, 2013, 01:19:33 PM
south rainier gets slammed during muzzy. i did it once, never again.
Quote from: bobcat on September 20, 2013, 02:26:41 PM
All muzzleloader units get lots of pressure, due to the fact that there are very few units open for muzzleloader. If you decide to go muzzleloader hunting for elk, don't do it to get away from the crowds. The only way you won't have lots of company is if you're on private land or in an area with no elk.

:yeah:
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: Dirty Mike on September 21, 2013, 09:43:55 AM: I hunted it for 8yrs. Then switched to bow. This was my last yr up there
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: ac_156 on September 21, 2013, 10:02:17 AM: I have hunted it the last three years way to many people last year the wilderness areas look like a koa camp ground had to be 300 camps setup within the first five miles of the trailheads.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: BENCHLEG on September 21, 2013, 10:04:23 AM: Way too many people in that area. I would hunt your permit you have better odds.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: bullcanyon on September 21, 2013, 03:15:45 PM: 64 rigs at one of the trailheads on last years opener. It ain't required, but hunter orange would be a good idea up there. You might want to get there the day before the opener so you can get a parking spot. I'm not joking one bit.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: ac_156 on September 21, 2013, 06:40:58 PM: Quote from: bullcanyon on September 21, 2013, 03:15:45 PM
64 rigs at one of the trailheads on last years opener. It ain't required, but hunter orange would be a good idea up there. You might want to get there the day before the opener so you can get a parking spot. I'm not joking one bit.

:yeah:
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: dreamingbig on September 21, 2013, 07:35:44 PM: There are a lot of different ways to access the unit. Probably best to hunt the escape routes.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: ac_156 on September 21, 2013, 07:51:29 PM: Tried that last year so many people up there the pushed the elk into the next county the night before. Most of the trails looked like tent city. Even the deep dark holes had people camped in them.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: buglebuster on September 21, 2013, 07:57:58 PM: I didnt have any problems, even with all the people in 2011 muzzy season. This boy came in screaming.
Title: Re: South Rainier - Muzzleloader
Post by: erk444 on September 21, 2013, 09:28:47 PM: Dang! That thing has a huge body!