Post by: jmden on November 09, 2013, 04:20:26 PM
My brother and I drew cow tags as mentioned in the subject line. Saw lots of easily shootable elk in the general season, just no spikes... So, would really like to capitalize on this cow tag in the Teanaway. Don't know the area that well, but at that time of year, I would guess the cows would be down in the valleys feeding and then finding a place to hide during the day. Don't know of any private land to hunt on, so that'll make things more difficult.
Post by: jmden on November 12, 2013, 09:15:32 AM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on November 12, 2013, 12:10:30 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on November 12, 2013, 12:13:41 PM
Post by: nw_bowhunter on November 12, 2013, 06:31:15 PM
Post by: jmden on November 12, 2013, 10:24:32 PM
Post by: alpha_hoyt1987 on November 14, 2013, 04:05:39 PM
Post by: LarMar14 on November 14, 2013, 04:33:29 PM
Post by: jmden on November 14, 2013, 08:45:48 PM
There is a Teanaway wolf pack, I understand. Great...
With the new land swap creating the Teanaway Community Forest and that being under state control now, it will be interesting to see how much more opened up to hunting that area will become. My understanding is that, for now, nothing will change in regards to which roads are open and closed in the formerly American Forest Holdings land until there's been a process of public input. But, in the meantime, I'll be hunting and not being from the area, I'm not sure which roads off the Teanaway and it's forks are open onto the old AMF land. Then, of course, the snow will be a huge player.
Post by: wheels on November 14, 2013, 09:10:45 PM
Post by: jmden on November 14, 2013, 09:46:18 PM
Post by: alpha_hoyt1987 on November 15, 2013, 03:49:32 PM
Post by: jmden on November 16, 2013, 07:42:09 AM
Do any of you guys know which roads are gated or not gated onto the old American Forest Holdings land on the main fork of the Teanaway. On the north side of the main fork: Mason Creek and Storm Creek roads...are they gated? I know Carlson Canyon Road is gated on the south side there of the west fork.
I've got the huntinggpsmaps.com program on my phone (OnX) and also their program that inserts itself into Google Earth so that I can see property lines and who owns what, which is helpful in trying to figure out where to hunt, but local knowledge is often key in these endeavors, to being successful in the end.
I'd like to get up into the trees just a bit just north of Swauk Prairie, but that's all private for a bit anyway and getting back to state or national forest land there is a bit problematic with all the private land surrounding the public.
What about the Plum Creek/National Forest land just west and north of Easton?
Post by: jmden on November 16, 2013, 08:21:51 AM
Post by: alpha_hoyt1987 on November 18, 2013, 01:24:31 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on November 18, 2013, 01:30:18 PM
Post by: bobcat on November 18, 2013, 01:48:15 PM
Quote
Do any of you guys know which roads are gated or not gated onto the old American Forest Holdings land on the main fork of the Teanaway. On the north side of the main fork: Mason Creek and Storm Creek roads...are they gated? I know Carlson Canyon Road is gated on the south side there of the west fork.
I'm pretty sure all the roads are gated.
Post by: alpha_hoyt1987 on November 18, 2013, 03:31:54 PM
Post by: jmden on November 19, 2013, 08:24:22 AM
Yeah, I figured most roads there would be closed. Bummer in some respects but good in others respects.
Post by: alpha_hoyt1987 on November 19, 2013, 12:52:31 PM
Post by: jmden on November 29, 2013, 08:43:05 PM
Post by: bobcat on November 29, 2013, 08:50:49 PM
Post by: jmden on November 30, 2013, 11:14:54 AM
Access is the issue. I see a small chunk of state land divided by the powerline right above and just south of the Suncadia LLC golf course, but not sure how you'd legally get to it. Any ideas?
Does Suncadia allow folks to hunt on their property? I doubt it. Even if they are having elk trouble...
Post by: Huntbear on November 30, 2013, 12:09:32 PM
IF you want to fill a cow tag, there are a lot of places to hunt that are not close to Suncadia...
Post by: jmden on November 30, 2013, 08:36:30 PM
I work at Suncadia... and they will call the Sheriff even if they THINK you are hunting on their property... just FYI, they do not give access, they do not allow firearms/weapon on property, etc... and they are going to feed the elk this winter to keep them on property...
IF you want to fill a cow tag, there are a lot of places to hunt that are not close to Suncadia...
Answered that question...guess I won't bother calling them. Thank you.
Any idea where I should hunt!
Post by: jmden on December 02, 2013, 06:50:28 PM
Post by: jmden on December 14, 2013, 09:00:18 AM
A lot depends also on how much snow we get by then. They are there, just don't see them as much with the wolves pushing them around. My dad, uncle, and I all drew this tag this year also so we'll be in the woods the same time. I live in this unit and have a lot of private land to hunt so shouldn't be too difficult. (But you never know, thats why its called hunting.) PM me a week or so before the hunt opens and i wouldn't be opposed to given ya little info. :tup:
Trying to get ahold of LarMar14. Anyone know how to get ahold of him? Thanks, Jon
Post by: jmden on December 18, 2013, 10:18:36 AM
Post by: bobcat on December 18, 2013, 11:28:57 AM
What about the Plum Creek land just west of Suncadia (just east of WNF land) on both sides (N and S) of Easton Ridge. Elk in there?
There are a few in there at times but I don't know if they'll be in there this late. I really think you'd be better off on Cle Elum Ridge.
Post by: wheels on December 18, 2013, 10:57:35 PM
Post by: bobcat on December 18, 2013, 11:18:49 PM
Post by: littlemac on December 18, 2013, 11:37:34 PM
There are some elk holding west of Suncadia, just not sure where you get in there.
Post by: teanawayslayer on December 19, 2013, 05:46:26 AM
Post by: alpha_hoyt1987 on December 19, 2013, 09:55:17 AM
Post by: jmden on December 19, 2013, 10:18:35 AM
not many elk on the cle elum ridge. It's been a weird year with no weather. There are elk in the valley as usual on private ground. I was in tumble creek working the other day and there was a herd of 50 or so cows. They know there safe in there! good luck guys
Which Tumble Creek is that?
If you guys know of any private landowners that have an elk problem and want elk of their land, please let me know and I'll contact them. Both my brother and I have this tag and might be able to help with a landowner/elk issue if in a safe place to do so. Sometimes I hate to mention it because of the reactions you can get, but I am a state certified master hunter (think that's a lousy term) and have studied this landowner/hunter issue a bit. Thanks, Jon
Post by: jmden on December 19, 2013, 10:19:21 AM
I hate to tell you guys this but I was late archery hunting last Saturday and a pack of wolves killed an elk Saturday early morning. I've been hunting it since it open. I've seen them one time but it was before shooting hours. last Friday didn't see any tracks then Saturday morning covered in tracks on this ridge we hunt. but once we got to the top we found blood and elk hair everywhere. least they are there that's a good sign.
That figures. I hope you are successful in spite of the wolves!
Post by: jmden on December 19, 2013, 10:20:29 AM
watch weather my dad had the tag last year and there was like 2 ft of snow on the ground
Yep. That's pretty key...
Post by: jmden on December 19, 2013, 10:22:03 AM
The snow between 2,000 and 2,500 feet is gone.
There are some elk holding west of Suncadia, just not sure where you get in there.
Like your pic. Can almost taste 'em! So are you saying that the snowline is at about 2500' elevation?
Edit: Forgot to ask...do you mean there's some elk holding west of Suncadia up on the Forest Service and Plum Creek land along Easton Ridge? Thanks.
Post by: littlemac on December 19, 2013, 10:26:04 AM
Post by: teanawayslayer on December 19, 2013, 11:23:01 AM
Post by: jmden on December 19, 2013, 12:44:10 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on December 19, 2013, 04:24:00 PM
Post by: bobcat on December 19, 2013, 04:53:08 PM
Do you guys know if there is access to the Teanaway Community Forest (formerly American Forest Holdings) from Ley Rd. in the Swauk Valley area? It looks like the end of Ley Rd runs west and then takes a turn to the north where it looks like it could continue up into the Teanaway Community Forest.
The county road doesn't make that turn to the north. So if you're at the end of the county road you're still a half mile south of public land. There is a way to get in there but it's a long walk.
Post by: danderson on December 19, 2013, 04:57:27 PM
Post by: littlemac on December 20, 2013, 08:54:20 AM
Post by: jmden on December 21, 2013, 01:32:54 PM
Post by: littlemac on December 21, 2013, 01:38:11 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on December 21, 2013, 05:12:59 PM
How much snow over there now?snow is gone. Warmer than hell out!
Post by: jmden on December 29, 2013, 07:21:16 PM
I elected to set up camp up at 29 Pines campground up the N. Fork of the Teanaway. I think that my not have been a good idea. A quick jaunt x the river and up the hill that afternoon 'til dark revealed a bit of snow, frozen everything and essentially zero sign, except what looked like one decent sized deer track--no fresh elk sign at all.
Next morning up at 5a to get up on a ridge about 3 miles S of camp but north of Lick Creek a drainage or two. Darn fog...I tend to 'specialize' in long range shooting and fog does not allow that. What I did find up this particular drainage from about 2800' on up was, again, next to zero ungulate sign, but lots of wolf tracks and a few human tracks in the little bit of snow. After figuring I should probably try somewhere else, I hoofed it down a closed road thinking there are lots of wolf trax around here. Part way down the road, I stopped for a couple of minutes. I was in a very narrow valley at that point. I then heard a sound like something moving (kind of a swishing sound) through underbrush angling just a bit from my 12 to my 230 or so though the bottom of the little ravine/valley. Bigger than a small animal, but too small and wrong sounds for a deer or especially an elk. Could not place it. Sound stopped for 30 sec or so and I looked up the road from where I'd just come and locked eyes with a very healthy looking, good sized grey wolf at 50 yards max. I made sure my sidearm was handy and it ambled off away from me as I headed on down the road keeping a wary eye all around as I was not in a good location to see something coming from very far. The word decoy came to mind more than once given the characteristics of the location and the lack of stealth that wolf displayed. I'll not include anymore description of that encounter.
I have had numerous wolf encounters over the years, mostly on the west coast of Vancouver Island on many remote beaches while sea kayaking along the island and I know a wolf when I see one. There, I've had more than one night with wolf tracks ringing the tent in the sand when we woke up in the morning. There have been several well documented wolf attacks on sea kayakers on the island up there--even the sea kayaking guidebooks for up there talk about these. Lotsa wolves up there.
I drove around to the main Teanaway and took off N into the now Teanaway Community Forest area. Found an awesome long range spot and spotted/glassed with binocs and scope until shooting hours were over. Went back down the hill and met my brother who'd had trouble finding me as he came over to hunt that afternoon.
Next day, we went back up into that area and spotted in the morning, still hunted in the day, and spotted in the evening. At one point mid-day, we split up and at about 3300' my brother spooked a cow, but had zero time for a shot at it took off like a rocket. They have got to be on edge after been hunted all fall and chased from birth to death all year long by wolves.
That was all we saw--one legal critter and were fortunate to see that given being in a new area where access is problematic. On the way out in the dark this morning, my brother spotted some elk shape/color just off the road. We turned around and as it got a bit more light, watched 14 bulls cross the road over the the Lookout Mtn. side of 970. Looked like they may have come from Cle Elum Ridge, but who knows. We hunted a different area about 4 hours this morning/afternoon and then briefly checked out another area on the way home to no avail. Man, I hate eating cow tags, but that's the way it is sometimes.
Post by: bobcat on December 29, 2013, 10:35:36 PM
Post by: HHPro on December 30, 2013, 09:04:22 AM
Post by: sagewalker on December 30, 2013, 10:12:32 AM
Post by: jmden on December 30, 2013, 11:02:44 AM
This year would have been the easiest year to get an elk without having private access in my opinion.Sorry you couldn't make it happen but the elk were in there normal transition spots as they were during modern general season.
This post has been active for most of 2 months. I would've appreciated your input before the hunt.
Post by: HHPro on December 30, 2013, 12:01:11 PM
Post by: jmden on December 30, 2013, 12:53:45 PM
Post by: HHPro on December 30, 2013, 01:34:09 PM
Post by: Bob33 on December 30, 2013, 01:38:10 PM
Not sure where I gave you attitude I simply was responding to bobcats post take it for what you want doesn't matter to me either way.I did see your post back in October offering to help Teanaway permit holders. That was generous of you. :tup:
Post by: HHPro on December 30, 2013, 01:47:50 PM
Post by: jmden on December 30, 2013, 04:29:48 PM
Thank you bob33 my intentions were to help and nobody took me up on it maybe next year :tup:
It's too bad I didn't see your post a couple of months ago or I would've been happy to contact you. Maybe next time. There certainly appears to be some differences of opinion on how tough a cow elk tag is to capitalize on in 335. I received more than one PM from locals even that said they wouldn't even put in for that tag. Oh well.
Post by: HHPro on December 30, 2013, 05:10:11 PM
Post by: littlemac on January 06, 2014, 08:49:50 AM
The morning commute in Suncadia!
Post by: fisheral87 on January 16, 2014, 10:55:10 PM