Post by: Z_rock01 on June 29, 2015, 08:05:44 AM
Thank you
Post by: Magnum_Willys on June 29, 2015, 08:15:39 AM
Post by: coldsteel3d on June 29, 2015, 09:20:28 AM
Post by: Mudman on June 29, 2015, 10:07:49 AM
Post by: mburrows on June 29, 2015, 10:23:47 AM
Post by: Z_rock01 on June 29, 2015, 10:41:27 AM
Post by: Mudman on June 29, 2015, 10:49:15 AM
I was told that the North End held a lot more animals??? any truth to that? Well i guess i will see what happens?? I'll be up scouting this weekend, Maybe I'll hold out just shy of the wilderness...? :dunno:I would agree to that, but didn't see it this year.
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on June 29, 2015, 12:04:32 PM
Post by: bigbeamhunter on June 29, 2015, 10:55:26 PM
Post by: Elkterd on June 30, 2015, 05:16:59 AM
Post by: ELKBURGER on June 30, 2015, 07:21:55 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 30, 2015, 07:27:00 AM
The elk pops have decreased quite a bit in the last 10 years in the Adams area IMO. As with anywhere, there are pockets/sidehills/benches throughout the general area that the resident elk frequent at some point throughout the season (think 5300-5500' elevation, hint...hint). No big herds there come hunting season for sure but a handfull of small bunches seem to lurk in the same areas each year (I'm speaking of archery season only as that's where my knowledge base comes from). Some areas betwen the main road (west side) and the PCT trail are almost unreachable (from the main road, to the E) unless you work in on the PCT trail and drop into them (hint, hint). There are quite a few hunters that frequent the PCT during the archery season but many don't get too far from the trail. You'll hear them squeaking their hoochie mamas some days ;). Carry a few mini snickers and other small sweet snack items with you if you use the PCT for ingress at all; I share them with the long range hikers coming up from the south. In doing so, they'll be extremely gratefull for a non-backpack sack snack and happy to tell you where they've seen or heard elk on their trek thru the cascades ;). On those rare years when you get rain in archery season, the mushroom pickers swarm into the roaded areas. Watch what you leave in your truck at the trailhead and in camp. Most but not all mushroom pickers are good folks.
The woods on the west side of the mountain are so choked that the elk numbers have fallen steadily in the 20 years I've been hunting that area. If I had two good hips, I'd be working the burn area from a couple of years ago on the south-side. That should be rich with grasses by now and I imagine a magnet for hungry ungulates. Much of that is the MA Wilderness.
Post by: Elkterd on June 30, 2015, 03:47:03 PM
Post by: ELKBURGER on June 30, 2015, 07:57:36 PM
Post by: Elkterd on June 30, 2015, 08:49:37 PM
Post by: Magnum_Willys on June 30, 2015, 08:59:22 PM
Thats what I thought last year - looked great but no sign. Too dry and hot on the south side I guess.\\
The woods on the west side of the mountain are so choked that the elk numbers have fallen steadily in the 20 years I've been hunting that area. If I had two good hips, I'd be working the burn area from a couple of years ago on the south-side. That should be rich with grasses by now and I imagine a magnet for hungry ungulates. Much of that is the MA Wilderness.
Post by: nastybynature on July 02, 2015, 11:10:43 PM
So far on the short list is Morrison Creek Campground, Twin Falls Campground and Council Lake campground.
Post by: Mudman on July 03, 2015, 09:22:43 AM
Post by: nastybynature on July 03, 2015, 09:46:13 AM
Hoodoo from Oregon is running most camps now. They Charge$ I think it was 12$? Camp boondock close to a horsecamp(except Cody-No water potable) so you can grab some water if need be. Horseshoe Lake camp is one I like and the road has been cleaned up, but dusty.
Thanks Mudman. Filled the water tank last night so we should be good for the few days we will be up there. Will check out Horse Lake Camp on the maps.
Post by: Mudman on July 03, 2015, 09:50:30 AM
Post by: BUTTER on July 05, 2015, 02:52:39 PM
Post by: Patarero on July 06, 2015, 07:47:07 AM
Sounds like they closed most of the wilderness down now due to a fire had some friends backpacked in there and they got the boot
Yep. Plume was pretty impressive on Friday. Info:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4360/
Post by: dreamingbig on July 06, 2015, 02:31:41 PM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Pueblo on July 06, 2015, 03:28:16 PM
I hunted 5 days, trying to penetrate the deepest parts of this "dead zone". I found that the elk were far enough down from the PCT that they were equally accessible to the guys who parked their trucks down below and walked up with a day pack. I found no fresh sign anywhere above the trail but plenty below. I ran into no less than 8 other hunters, all of whom walked in from below. Every bugle I heard was a person. I also found one camp hidden like a Viet Cong encampment between two big meadows where the guys had hiked in through the woods with full packs and were living among the elk under a tarp.
I saw plenty of tracks and even spooked a couple, but saw no real action other than hunters. If I bugled I had company shortly...but always humans.
I'm still intrigued by the area and I know that elk are there, it's just too small of a wilderness to provide the solitude that one might expect.
Post by: nastybynature on July 06, 2015, 06:51:19 PM
Speaking of St. Helens, took 90 back to St. Helens and headed up off of 83 to an area I had seen a herd of cows cross in front of us last summer when scouting with the wife and there were plenty of signs of elk up there inluding fresh tracks and scat. I did see some spots I want to go scout in between the 2 mountains that looked worth checking out some more. Quartz Creek area being one of them.
It was a great trip though. Was able to shoot the bows with my wife and son a little bit and did some swimming with my 10 month old daughter. Didn't see or hear any fireworks the whole time and surprisingly, didn't miss that like I thought I would having grown up in Vancouver. Looking forward to getting back up there. Maybe time to buy a 4x4 quad and/or a couple kayaks. Scouting from a Kayak sounds like it may be worth trying....? :dunno:
Post by: Z_rock01 on July 07, 2015, 02:29:09 PM
I was also looking at checking out Quartz creek area. Now that i know that is one spot you want i'll lay low for a bit, don't want to step on your heels. You know if that area gets hit pretty hard or not?
Post by: nastybynature on July 07, 2015, 02:55:29 PM
Nastybynature,
I was also looking at checking out Quartz creek area. Now that i know that is one spot you want i'll lay low for a bit, don't want to step on your heels. You know if that area gets hit pretty hard or not?
While I appreciate the gesture, I lay claim to nothing in that area other than some interest so feel free to scout/hunt all you want. :tup:
There were several spots in between Adams and St. Helens. Quartz creek area was just one of the first I noticed as we headed west. It is a VERY large GMU and probably still has more hunters per sq. ft. than most of the other GMU's on the west side from everything I have read, heard and seen. Going to be hard to find an area with really easy access that isn't already "somebody's spot" I would guess. Not sure where I will end up come November although Marble Mountain area which is usually overcrowded is still looking good to me. Thinking I like the theory to go further and into more difficult terrain in order to escape the masses. Reality is, people go where the herd goes I suppose. :twocents:
Post by: Patarero on July 08, 2015, 12:04:27 PM
Nastybynature,
I was also looking at checking out Quartz creek area. Now that i know that is one spot you want i'll lay low for a bit, don't want to step on your heels. You know if that area gets hit pretty hard or not?
I was scouting that area quite a bit before the draw results (picked up a siouxon cow tag). Found 4 trails cams, 1 stand, some cold beer and some elk sign, all at least a mile from the closest road.
Post by: elkoholic on July 10, 2015, 12:24:39 PM
Post by: HUNT-HARD on July 10, 2015, 12:37:29 PM
Post by: huntinluva on July 10, 2015, 12:44:46 PM
Post by: elkoholic on July 10, 2015, 01:00:52 PM
where are the three new fires that started last night?
The largest of the three new lightning fires is the 100-acre Riley Fire which is burning in the Mount Adams Wilderness one mile north of the Horseshoe Fire. On Thursday evening, two loads of retardant were dropped on its northwest side to prevent potential spread towards recreation areas. The 7 Lakes Fire is a small fire burning in the Lewis River drainage, two miles south of Takhlakh Lake. The Canyon Fire is a small fire burning on the south side of Council Bluff, 1.5 miles northwest of Council Lake.
Post by: nastybynature on July 10, 2015, 01:05:42 PM
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4360/25756/ (http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4360/25756/)
Post by: HUNT-HARD on July 10, 2015, 01:28:44 PM
Post by: Fl0und3rz on July 10, 2015, 02:15:30 PM
The various fires, based on the descriptions.
Post by: spin05 on July 15, 2015, 02:22:24 AM
Post by: msg on July 15, 2015, 06:05:13 AM
Post by: nastybynature on July 15, 2015, 07:41:10 AM
I had the Oct. 1 rifle tag several years ago. Most incredible elk hunt I have been on. Went over three different times before the season. Talked to a lot of bow hunters that all had the same story, hard to find until the rut starts. Then it gets pretty wild. Walked for three days before the season without much sign then got a tip from a PCT hiker. Night before opening day we were at the top of the Stagmen trail listening to six bulls going off in the timber below the intersection with the PCT. Was back up there at daylight the next morning and the elk were all going nuts. One of the bulls sounded like a total terradactal. Did not ever see him. Saw two nice fives spinning in circles until a spike ran right between them. Blew it on a nice five, missed ahead shot as he was boiling downhill. Next afternoon after showers and laundry at Troutlake we walked up Riley creek from the highway. A mile or so up the hill my buddy said he thought he heard a bugle. A minute later a bull cut lose with a bugle that sounded like it was right on top of us. I about came out of my boots. He told me he was going to try to cow call, bugling in days prior brought no responses. I scooted up about thirty yards to be able to see better as it was still pretty thick. As soon as he cow called a bull came walking in, I thought it was a spike because of the thick brush, Above me about sixty yards I could see the branches on a large tree moving back and forth. It finally dawned on me that it was a big bull standing right behind the tree. The spike was still standing there at thirty yards looking right at me. He finally turned and I could see that he was a nice forked horn double. I shot him, with no regrets as I had to go back to work on Monday. My buddy said another bull came and went that I did not see and another was circling behind us when I shot. Muddy Meadows is another spot on the north side that has been good over the years. I believe we walked 10 plus miles a day up there so unless you spike camp be ready for that
Good info to have. Thanks for sharing that! :tup:
Post by: spin05 on July 16, 2015, 04:46:03 AM
Post by: haus on August 06, 2015, 11:12:51 AM
Post by: KDB on August 06, 2015, 03:33:42 PM
Post by: PlateauNDN on August 06, 2015, 09:40:12 PM
Post by: mburrows on August 26, 2015, 12:24:17 PM
Post by: motg9_6 on August 26, 2015, 12:40:35 PM
Post by: Little Fish on August 26, 2015, 02:12:52 PM