Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: McCRIZZLEY on February 25, 2014, 02:21:02 PM

Title: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: McCRIZZLEY on February 25, 2014, 02:21:02 PM: Heading out to Ellensburgish area this weekend for some well deserved time off. It'll be my first time out in that area, but I have heard good things, and the weather looks awesome! It's looking like I'll be coyote hunting in the 340 and 342 areas. That's about as far as I've narrowed it down. Anybody have any suggestions for some more zoomed in regions I should focus on, or even areas around ellensburg that like to hold the dogs? I know you gotta earn info like this, but its worth a shot to ask. Even just some hints or nudges in the right direction would be much appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance guys! :brew:
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: McCRIZZLEY on February 25, 2014, 02:37:37 PM: Thank you!!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: CAMPMEAT on February 25, 2014, 02:44:47 PM: Joe Watt Canyon, Robinson Canyon possibly. Snow dependent.
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on February 25, 2014, 02:49:15 PM: The median between east and west bound lanes... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: superdown on February 25, 2014, 02:56:03 PM: I have seen piles of coyote carcasses at the entrances to Lt.murry just past springwood ranch around thorp and have seen plenty of coyotes in that general area over the years. I don't hunt that area for deer and haven't gotten into coyote hunting yet (AR not finished yet)I just go out there to sight in rifles occasionally and sight see.
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: McCRIZZLEY on February 25, 2014, 03:08:41 PM: Thanks again gentlemen! Much appreciated!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: devldogs55 on February 25, 2014, 10:44:07 PM: I'm heading out there this Saturday for my first scouting trip in that area - so I'm in the same boat. Lt Murray is completely closed to all human access for another month or so... so be aware of that. My google earth "scouting" has me exploring Wenas WMA most of Saturday afternoon and possibly all day Sunday.
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: PlateauNDN on February 25, 2014, 11:44:18 PM: Takw umtanum rd feom e-burg and thatll drop you into the wenas (lt murray area) and lots of areas in there once you get away from the houses. Get off the roads and you can see some. Hanson po d off of wenas will get you into the lt as well and you might even see some elk amd deer while back there. The main gates are closed to motor traffic but you can walk in and still get into some action. I've seen them in there and you should be able to see some tracks since snow is still up in that area. If you get the yakima side of wenas being a spotter and the elk moght still be hanging around the hardy feeding area, at least they were a couple of weeks ago. Seen a few bulls thru thw binos up there.
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: devldogs55 on February 26, 2014, 10:55:23 AM: IMPORTANT NOTICE
L.T. Murray is closed to all human entry from mid-December until May 1st. Whiskey Dick, and a portion of the Quilomene Wildlife Areas will be closed to motor vehicles Feb. 1 through April 30 to protect wintering elk from disturbance, and in turn reduce elk damage to adjacent private lands.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/lt_murray/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/lt_murray/)

I'll be in Wenas for now. Anyone know how much snow is out there, or how low the snow is right now?
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: McCRIZZLEY on February 27, 2014, 02:52:20 PM: Thanks guys! I'll keep all this rollin around in my head this weekend!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: devldogs55 on February 28, 2014, 11:10:31 AM: Turns out I can't make it out to Wenas this weekend... would you mind giving me a snow report when you get back?

I'm curious how much snow is out there - and how low in elevation it starts.

Have fun, and good luck!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: McCRIZZLEY on February 28, 2014, 01:55:32 PM: Will do!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: McCRIZZLEY on March 05, 2014, 11:02:47 AM: No dogs. Crazy snow.

We spent almost all sunday and monday in the umtanum area. Due to heavy snow and ice, we were limited to our driving abilities. Couldn't go much past the hill with the cell tower. Sunday was snowing like crazy. couldn't find dogs, only saw a few sets of tracks, and not much moving. I have a hunch everything was just bunkered down for the storm, heading out at night, we saw quite a few deer. Sunday night saw a ton of snow. snoqualmie pass was closed for a long time due to avalanches and heavy snow fall. Monday was a bit more productive. snow settled down, and saw a TON of tracks. Multiple times we had some howling just over a hill, but never saw any.

Part of the issue is that the two buddies I go hunting with are a bit more relaxed, and didn't want to put in the effort required. But it was a fun trip. I'm excited to go back and hit up some more areas, and maybe find some friends that don't mind waking up early and doing a bunch of stands.
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: devldogs55 on March 05, 2014, 11:29:58 AM: Thanks for the report! That's great info... Sorry you didn't see anything, but I'm glad you had a good time.

I will definitely be headed over that way once the snow starts to melt a little - I'm excited to check out that area. Sounds like a cold weekend!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: devldogs55 on March 25, 2014, 07:24:04 PM: I'll be up in Wenas tomorrow for some scouting and looking for the random coyote while I'm scouting.

I'll post again once I check everything out. Should be up there most of tomorrow.
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: McCRIZZLEY on March 27, 2014, 12:02:24 PM: good luck!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: devldogs55 on March 27, 2014, 12:23:16 PM: Thanks! I was up there yesterday, and really just tried to scout more than hunt. I set up for about half an hour and called but didn't seen anything. We went west on Manastash Rd and there seemed to be a lot of private property on both sides of the road. We ended up turning around just before The Island because the slick, packed snow was becoming ridiculous.

We did some more exploring further south, and found some great spots to set up. Glad we went out there in person finally... we found out which gates were open and which ones were locked. Not sure if they open some in the summer or not though. We ended the day just doing some target shooting and getting rained on. This is coyote heaven compared to trying to hunt coyotes in W. Wa!
Title: Re: Finally a weekend off!
Post by: devldogs55 on March 28, 2014, 05:58:09 PM: Was there again early this morning... beautiful day on the Manastash Ridge

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi133.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq78%2Fdevldogs55%2FIMG_8003_zps5da7596f.jpeg&hash=c25f11d4ca7d8a09bac370d893353a19ac03b584) (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/devldogs55/media/IMG_8003_zps5da7596f.jpeg.html)