Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: AKBowman on December 09, 2008, 06:39:27 PM

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Title: Windward Olympic Range GMU's
Post by: AKBowman on December 09, 2008, 06:39:27 PM

Any of you die-hards ever hunted the Sol Duc, Clearwater or Hatheny for Big Bulls? If so how does the herd size/pressure/terrain/gated roads compare to the Willapa Hills/Ryderwood units?
In regards to Archery hunting

Title: Re: Windward Olympic Range GMU's
Post by: Roger on December 09, 2008, 07:05:28 PM

The group that I hunt with for archery elk spent a lot of years in the clearwater and matheny. We did very well by averaging over 2 a year for 4 hunters. We went through very dramatic decline in overhaul numbers to many rumors and some first hand information of vast numbers of native hunting.

We quite hunting out there when it went to 3 point only, so that is quite a few years ago. Another factor that was showing its results was the lack of logging due to endanger species, no new cuts and everything growing up.

I do know that there are still good elk being taken out there in archery seasons. Yes there are a lot of gates and if you spend your time behind them you will increase your chances and also get away from the native hunting. Some of the gates are open at certain times for fire wooding.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Windward Olympic Range GMU's
Post by: AKBowman on December 09, 2008, 07:27:14 PM

Is it as steep as Willapa where you can get back to the end of the drainages and away from the lazies?
Maybe fewer cuts means congregating the elk in areas that are clear?

Title: Re: Windward Olympic Range GMU's
Post by: Roger on December 10, 2008, 06:20:35 PM

Yes it is.