Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: RB on April 22, 2015, 09:38:32 AM

Title: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RB on April 22, 2015, 09:38:32 AM: Looking for opinions on the Weyerhaeuser Saint Helens access. If you had it last year and used it was it worth it? Did you have many troubles gaining access? Any troubles with non key holders?

I bought two last year and neither my hunting partner or I used them, due to a death in his family, and wanting to hear from those that bought it. If you do not want to leave a comment for the entire site please PM me with your thoughts and experience with the keys.

I have only hunted (modern) Winston and know how busy it was with the gates open.

Thanks in advance

Bob
(RB)
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: mpetersen on April 22, 2015, 10:02:30 AM: Would not purchase this pass again. The access gates were not on the main lines and the few they allowed you to utilize soon turned into torn up jeep trails. These access routs were hard on our vehicles and tacked on a great deal of drive time every morning/evening. One guy in our camp shot a 5x1 with hoof rot, I saw one bull (didn't get a shot) and four cows. The third guy in our camp didn't see a live elk all season and he hunted (on foot) every day of the season from sun up to sun down. Talked with other guys who hunted it and most were not happy with their experience, again hoof rot and crappy access. If you want a good idea about what's going on in the Winston look at the harvest report on the game dept web site for the last three years. This reflects a drastic decline in success rates in the Winston, repeat DRASTIC !! On the bright side we had a great camp set up and the mushrooms were thick. If you are an avid mushroom picker the fee might be worth it for you. Hope this helps, we are hunting Wyoming this elk season, good bye Washington !!
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RB on April 22, 2015, 09:16:32 PM: Ok thanks I started hunting there five years ago and the traffic on the tree farm was impressive never have seen so many rigs! With 159 reads I was hoping for a little more involvement I know it is a hard hunted unit and by the description given it sounds about what I envisioned. Have fun in Wyoming :tup:
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RadSav on April 22, 2015, 09:35:29 PM: Weyco access started out as a complete disaster. Everyone was complaining and the access gates were located way off on some terrible road system only used by bear and bunnies over the past 30 years. But, with constant complaining and carefully worded letters of disappointment they started to improve things rapidly. By the time the late archery season arrived the system was working rather well. At least from the Kid Valley side.

I would buy it again if they would let us kill bulls in there. I'm just not sure I can stand watching such majestic creatures begging to be put out of their misery, over and over and over, one more year. Just about drove the wife and I insane. If you don't mind watching animals suffering when you have no ability to stop it...then it's worth it. However, for us, I'm just not sure we can take it again. That was horrible!!!
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RB on April 22, 2015, 10:10:32 PM: Thanks RadSav the funny thing is I have yet to see a limper. I know it is really bad just by the posts I see here, but have not witnessed it first hand yet. I feel fortunate to have seen Elk every year and did notice a sharp decline in sign two years ago when I hunted there. Just trying to decide if I want to purchase the permit or try somewhere new.
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RadSav on April 22, 2015, 10:37:22 PM: Quote from: RB on April 22, 2015, 10:10:32 PM
Thanks RadSav the funny thing is I have yet to see a limper. I know it is really bad just by the posts I see here, but have not witnessed it first hand yet. I feel fortunate to have seen Elk every year and did notice a sharp decline in sign two years ago when I hunted there. Just trying to decide if I want to purchase the permit or try somewhere new.

Between the wife and I we ended up 30 yards or less from 11 branched bulls last late season. Nine of those probably did not make it through the winter. The two biggest I expect didn't even make it through the week. Wife was 17 yards, they knew she was there. They came out of the brush and seemed to be asking for help. Dang near begging. Afterward she told me she wanted to leave and go home. Then said, "I don't think we should come back. EVER!!"

I do not understand why the WDFW wants us to shoot healthy cows but would rather dogs and cats kill the suffering bulls. Just makes zero sense to me >:( Numbers are getting poor enough I've chosen to only hunt the sick in the Winston. A real shame as it really is one of my favorite places to hunt.

Good thing was we saw about 30 cows. One really bad being bird dogged by coyotes. Doubt she made it through the night. But we only saw two others that were in bad shape. Hopefully that means it's taking a turn for the better. One can hope anyway :'(
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: HntnFsh on April 23, 2015, 06:13:30 AM: Quote from: RB on April 22, 2015, 10:10:32 PM
Thanks RadSav the funny thing is I have yet to see a limper. I know it is really bad just by the posts I see here, but have not witnessed it first hand yet. I feel fortunate to have seen Elk every year and did notice a sharp decline in sign two years ago when I hunted there. Just trying to decide if I want to purchase the permit or try somewhere new.

That's hard to imagine. Count your blessings!
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: Greg Mullins on May 31, 2015, 01:10:52 PM: We took a drive up there yesterday. We saw 3 herds #24 in the first and 19 and 13 .We counted 11 total limpers and one bull growing 1 horn that almost fell in the middle of the highway.I wanted to shoot him I felt so bad.Im torn between helping thin the herd and letting warehoser.....deal with it themselves. I really dont feel like giving them more money to hunt elk that cant even get away once you find them. Just my thoughts.
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RadSav on May 31, 2015, 01:34:43 PM: Problem is these bulls are wintering in the same place as the cows. So I'm not sure how we plan to protect the cow numbers if we just let the infected bulls spread the disease. Seems we should be putting both down while the infected soil flushes itself clean. The infect cow numbers do seem to be getting better. Though I can't help but think they would get along even better if the infected bulls were taken out at a rate equal to the cows.

I have not seen a single infected bull I thought could actually breed a cow. They can not even stand on all four legs let along get up on heir infected legs and breed. Really makes you wonder if WDFW really wants to get this hoof rot thing under control or if they just have more interest in keeping the branched harvest numbers even so no user group gets their feeling hurt.

Here is an idea! Sell incentive tags for hoof rot areas. OTC either sex multi season elk tag for an additional $XX.00. That $XX.00 goes to a fund for the study and treatment of the disease. If the hunter tags an elk with hoof rot using this tag, and then takes said elk to a check station for identification, he gets one quality elk preference point and one OIL preference point. I think we could cull out the disease rather quickly :dunno:
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: shorthair15 on May 31, 2015, 02:05:41 PM: what a shame! i know i live within 15 to 20 minutes of the st helens herds. ive seen the pics but i have yet to seen one limping from the disease in the area's i hunt. i did not hunt elk the last two years due to surgery on my hand. i caved in and purchased a tag this year. im sure its gotten worse since the last time i hunted for them. i hope they recover from this. :'(
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: christopheri on May 31, 2015, 02:09:20 PM: Quote from: RadSav on May 31, 2015, 01:34:43 PM
Problem is these bulls are wintering in the same place as the cows. So I'm not sure how we plan to protect the cow numbers if we just let the infected bulls spread the disease. Seems we should be putting both down while the infected soil flushes itself clean. The infect cow numbers do seem to be getting better. Though I can't help but think they would get along even better if the infected bulls were taken out at a rate equal to the cows.

I have not seen a single infected bull I thought could actually breed a cow. They can not even stand on all four legs let along get up on heir infected legs and breed. Really makes you wonder if WDFW really wants to get this hoof rot thing under control or if they just have more interest in keeping the branched harvest numbers even so no user group gets their feeling hurt.

Here is an idea! Sell incentive tags for hoof rot areas. OTC either sex multi season elk tag for an additional $XX.00. That $XX.00 goes to a fund for the study and treatment of the disease. If the hunter tags an elk with hoof rot using this tag, and then takes said elk to a check station for identification, he gets one quality elk preference point and one OIL preference point. I think we could cull out the disease rather quickly :dunno:

There is a lot of logic in your suggestion. Hoof rot only tag. :dunno: Sounds like it might work and I bet we could get the hoof rot under control in a few years...
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: grundy53 on May 31, 2015, 06:34:42 PM: The wolves will take care of it.
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: millerwheeler on June 02, 2015, 11:07:35 AM: Are you not allowed to shoot the hoof rot elk?
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: MLBowhunting on June 02, 2015, 11:12:47 AM: I am seeing some hoof rot up my way.
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: Romulous on June 02, 2015, 11:53:27 AM: Is it the spray they use to kill scotch broom?

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Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: Big6bull on June 02, 2015, 12:15:24 PM: I like that idea rad :tup:
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RadSav on June 02, 2015, 01:01:38 PM: Quote from: millerwheeler on June 02, 2015, 11:07:35 AM
Are you not allowed to shoot the hoof rot elk?

They actually encourage it. As long as they don't have horns. Slaughter all the cows you want, but leave the sick bulls to die a slow painful death at the hands of coyotes, bear and cougar. At least that's how I read it :( :(
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: sthd system on June 02, 2015, 02:06:29 PM: I purchased the permit last year with reservations , but after motering around the tree farm grew to like the lack of traffic .

If any members really haven't seen a elk with hoof rot take a quick ride out Barnes rd north of Castle Rock and glass the clear cuts just off the road.

No need to get out of your rig to witness the suffering .

About 20 yr ago when the timber companies changed there spray thats when hair slip and hoof rot came into play .

I plan on purchacing the permit again this year , not a big fan of it but its cheaper than sitting in a bar .
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: TheHunt on June 02, 2015, 02:16:14 PM: I will most likely purchase it. I personally have not seen a hoof rotted elk. Seen pictures though.
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: steelhead59 on June 02, 2015, 04:01:46 PM: I hunted elk last year with my wife and we harvested a cow elk with hoof rot. The meat was just fine but the elk was a little on the skinny side. We saw 3 different elk herds in a week with animals limping. After I shot the cow and we walked up on it, my wife was horrified with what she saw (meaning the elks feet) and now she has no desire to hunt elk in that area again or harvest one. Winston Unit. My wife usually gets all fired up about hunting season, this year she didn't even want to apply for special permits.
Title: Re: Weyerhaeuser Permits Saint Helens
Post by: RB on June 02, 2015, 09:44:27 PM: Going to wait till draw is done then decide if I purchase access. Put in for the September rifle rut hunt and November buck hunt in Winston.