Post by: scoutdog346 on May 22, 2016, 01:10:00 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 22, 2016, 01:26:09 PM
Post by: scoutdog346 on May 22, 2016, 01:28:21 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 22, 2016, 01:33:43 PM
I think huting the 346 border would b a good place to start that hunt?Horrible place :chuckle:
Post by: scoutdog346 on May 22, 2016, 01:35:42 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 22, 2016, 01:55:40 PM
Post by: scoutdog346 on May 22, 2016, 02:01:58 PM
Post by: yum tag soup on May 22, 2016, 02:07:35 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 22, 2016, 02:40:17 PM
What of a late season archery gen gen. season for that deer? I seen some big ones late nov early dec?ive hunted the white many years, the deer hunting in the unit just doesn't do it for me. I can count the number of decent bucks I've seen on one hand. They do have a late season rife quality tag now, should be in the buck category imho.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 22, 2016, 03:23:08 PM
When was the last time gmu 653 was open to gen season and does anyone think it will ever have a gen season again?Not positive, but I think it was 1988 when I had the misfortune of arriving up there for my week long archery elk hunt and saw all the fliers posted on the trees about the unit having an "emergency" closure and limited to spike only.
Post by: Duckslayer89 on May 22, 2016, 04:08:15 PM
What of a late season archery gen gen. season for that deer? I seen some big ones late nov early dec?ive hunted the white many years, the deer hunting in the unit just doesn't do it for me. I can count the number of decent bucks I've seen on one hand. They do have a late season rife quality tag now, should be in the buck category imho.
My buddy drew that tag as his fourth choice last year and saw 1 spike buck and hunted pretty hard multiple days.
Post by: trophyhunt on May 22, 2016, 04:11:23 PM
they went spike only for 3 years, then opened it back up to 3 point or better for three years, then to permit only.When was the last time gmu 653 was open to gen season and does anyone think it will ever have a gen season again?Not positive, but I think it was 1988 when I had the misfortune of arriving up there for my week long archery elk hunt and saw all the fliers posted on the trees about the unit having an "emergency" closure and limited to spike only.
Post by: tgray on May 22, 2016, 05:55:15 PM
Post by: Tbar on May 22, 2016, 06:00:06 PM
I had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 22, 2016, 06:02:32 PM
That explains it.they went spike only for 3 years, then opened it back up to 3 point or better for three years, then to permit only.When was the last time gmu 653 was open to gen season and does anyone think it will ever have a gen season again?Not positive, but I think it was 1988 when I had the misfortune of arriving up there for my week long archery elk hunt and saw all the fliers posted on the trees about the unit having an "emergency" closure and limited to spike only.
I switched to Manastash, spent the next 20+ years...
Came back to the west side to hunt branched bulls
Post by: tgray on May 22, 2016, 06:12:15 PM
elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Post by: SkookumHntr on May 22, 2016, 06:16:57 PM
were you in the tree farm? How many points did you have to draw?elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Post by: trophyhunt on May 22, 2016, 06:42:39 PM
:yeah: :bash:elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Post by: tgray on May 22, 2016, 07:18:17 PM
wasted 18 points. No didn't hunt the tree farmwere you in the tree farm? How many points did you have to draw?elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!wasted
For elk or deer?
Post by: SkookumHntr on May 22, 2016, 07:29:39 PM
Post by: Tbar on May 22, 2016, 10:12:22 PM
That sucks. This should be a PSA you may have wanted to release before the draws. At least weknow for next year. Hope I don't draw this unit. With the lack of options (especially in bull) I think I'm switching to eastside.wasted 18 points. No didn't hunt the tree farmwere you in the tree farm? How many points did you have to draw?elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!wasted
For elk or deer?
Post by: scottfrick on May 22, 2016, 10:27:24 PM
I had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!I agree with tgray! This unit has gone down hill way fast!! I wouldn't waste my quality points on this unit. Westside sucks for special hunt options :bash:
Post by: jmscon on May 22, 2016, 10:27:39 PM
Post by: scoutdog346 on May 23, 2016, 12:38:48 AM
Post by: Duckslayer89 on May 23, 2016, 05:18:28 AM
Looking at the topo and large arrangement of different habitats, variation in vegetation and kinds of environments and that its up up against an East Side unit that's pretty good and being adjacent to the park! it should be a very good gmu. It has a good wintering habitat, a good summer habitat, Alpine Meadows and clear cuts. The elk could venture over to the east side then the west side depending on whats going on. WHAT IS THE MANE REASONS 653 IS NOT A PRIME GMU ?????
It was already mentioned. A certain group, basically left unregulated.
Post by: pope on May 23, 2016, 05:22:30 AM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on May 23, 2016, 06:54:07 AM
Post by: ElaphusElatus on May 23, 2016, 06:55:07 AM
Post by: AlbinoRhino on May 23, 2016, 08:30:05 AM
elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Hmm my cousin drew the tag last year was into elk every day drilled a 6X6 only hunting weekends and missed a wall hanger there are definitely elk up there
Post by: scottfrick on May 23, 2016, 08:39:10 AM
elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Hmm my cousin drew the tag last year was into elk every day drilled a 6X6 only hunting weekends and missed a wall hanger there are definitely elk up there
Obliviously there are still some elk left there. But the unit is no way near as good as it once was.
Post by: AlbinoRhino on May 23, 2016, 08:41:15 AM
elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Hmm my cousin drew the tag last year was into elk every day drilled a 6X6 only hunting weekends and missed a wall hanger there are definitely elk up there
Obliviously there are still some elk left there. But the unit is no way near as good as it once was.
This is just in response to the comments that it's a waste of a tag and there isn't crap up there from previous posts.. Sadly this is arguably the 2nd best quality archery tag on the west side
Post by: scottfrick on May 23, 2016, 08:44:45 AM
elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Hmm my cousin drew the tag last year was into elk every day drilled a 6X6 only hunting weekends and missed a wall hanger there are definitely elk up there
Obliviously there are still some elk left there. But the unit is no way near as good as it once was.
This is just in response to the comments that it's a waste of a tag and there isn't crap up there from previous posts.. Sadly this is arguably the 2nd best quality archery tag on the west side
Just curious, was your cousin hunting public land or did he purchase a timberland permit?
Post by: AlbinoRhino on May 23, 2016, 08:48:16 AM
elk...... Indians Killed them allI had a muzzy white River tag last year and ate my tag. Not s#*t in that unit. Never put in there....Ever!For elk or deer?
Hmm my cousin drew the tag last year was into elk every day drilled a 6X6 only hunting weekends and missed a wall hanger there are definitely elk up there
Obliviously there are still some elk left there. But the unit is no way near as good as it once was.
This is just in response to the comments that it's a waste of a tag and there isn't crap up there from previous posts.. Sadly this is arguably the 2nd best quality archery tag on the west side
Just curious, was your cousin hunting public land or did he purchase a timberland permit?
Public... Hiked in each day definitely put miles on his boots
Post by: SkookumHntr on May 23, 2016, 08:54:50 AM
Post by: ElaphusElatus on May 23, 2016, 09:00:23 AM
"Obliviously there are still some elk left there. But the unit is no way near as good as it once was. "
If you look at historical WDFW harvest reports they report well over a thousand hunters in the White River during general firearm season. The 1997 report available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/1997/97harvst.pdf reports 1701 firearm hunters (GMU 472). The 1989 report has 2081 hunters. Sure there are errors in this report, but I'd take a permit hunt with far fewer people and maybe fewer animals than a general hunt fighting for every space and elk out there, so IMO, I'd say it is better now than it once was.
Post by: trophyhunt on May 23, 2016, 09:02:22 AM
Post by: lewy on May 23, 2016, 09:47:43 AM
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on May 24, 2016, 01:10:22 PM
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Post by: jvt on May 24, 2016, 01:20:59 PM
Don't forget to add the wolves to the mix, I remember the past for sure! Government meadows and bridge camp! Bridge camp used to be a city during rifle season. Down hill ever since.buy bridge camp and shut it down. I think it is still for sale.
Post by: trophyhunt on May 24, 2016, 01:25:31 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if one day the mucks shut down the entire Hancock property they bought. They already closed off a small section from any access.Don't forget to add the wolves to the mix, I remember the past for sure! Government meadows and bridge camp! Bridge camp used to be a city during rifle season. Down hill ever since.buy bridge camp and shut it down. I think it is still for sale.
Post by: westside bull on May 24, 2016, 01:57:30 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 24, 2016, 02:22:34 PM
I thought it was closed starting this year.I haven't heard that? I know they closed a portion just east of the fire station to the 70 rd, but pretty sure the rest of the old Hancock is open with an access permit.
Post by: ElaphusElatus on May 24, 2016, 02:31:07 PM
https://hancockrecreationnw.com/sites/default/files/rec%20map%20WR%202016.pdf
BUT property owners can hunt in "Wildlife Escapement Areas" - interesting term.
Post by: lewy on May 24, 2016, 03:20:33 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 24, 2016, 03:34:48 PM
Escape from what? Not Indians rifle hunting for 6 months out of the year, oh and having special "ceremonial" hunts the other 6 :rolleyes::chuckle: escapement and tribal hunting, riiiiight!
Post by: wsucowboy on May 30, 2016, 03:34:56 PM
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Post by: Lapua338 on May 30, 2016, 04:01:37 PM
Post by: liljozie495 on June 02, 2016, 11:52:23 AM
Post by: Falcon on June 02, 2016, 08:30:00 PM
Post by: Old Mule on June 04, 2016, 03:51:02 PM
Post by: kentrek on June 04, 2016, 05:18:13 PM
I drew the Bow tag last year and found a few bulls when scouting, after the first of September the tribes were hunting so I went high and away from the roads, was surprised and grateful that I could still get up the Mountain, the only elk I saw were decoys set up by other bow Hunters when they heard my bugle. I ended up back on the roads and I found a northeast facing bowl that was still green after the hot weather we had last summer and got into Bulls everyday, the first day it rained I ended up shooting the smallest Bull I saw a 5x5 that was 356 pounds skinned and hanging at the butcher shop it was the first branched antlered Bull I've Killed with a bow, I had buddy's say I should have waited for a bigger one because they just started rutting but I was happy and satisfied with what I got. I got him 1 on 1 by myself and with my emergency survival kit (nitro pills) in my pocket I packed him out buy myself just like the old day's, well not half at a time, I did have to quarter Him, Hey Im not 25 anymore. there are 350 class Bulls in this area but your going to have to bust your butt for them. Hopefully I"ll get drawn for the Muzzy permit this year and I can show everyone a picture of one.
That's awesome everything came together safely! I guided for a guy in the toutle that had some nitro pills at the ready..was kind of scary for me...guaranteed even the best of elk hunters would shoot a "smaller" bull with those kind of conditions to think about....
Post by: Falcon on June 05, 2016, 09:07:58 AM
I drew the Bow tag last year and found a few bulls when scouting, after the first of September the tribes were hunting so I went high and away from the roads, was surprised and grateful that I could still get up the Mountain, the only elk I saw were decoys set up by other bow Hunters when they heard my bugle. I ended up back on the roads and I found a northeast facing bowl that was still green after the hot weather we had last summer and got into Bulls everyday, the first day it rained I ended up shooting the smallest Bull I saw a 5x5 that was 356 pounds skinned and hanging at the butcher shop it was the first branched antlered Bull I've Killed with a bow, I had buddy's say I should have waited for a bigger one because they just started rutting but I was happy and satisfied with what I got. I got him 1 on 1 by myself and with my emergency survival kit (nitro pills) in my pocket I packed him out buy myself just like the old day's, well not half at a time, I did have to quarter Him, Hey Im not 25 anymore. there are 350 class Bulls in this area but your going to have to bust your butt for them. Hopefully I"ll get drawn for the Muzzy permit this year and I can show everyone a picture of one.
Old Mule,
Congrats for getting your bull, and on your own is pretty incredible. I live in Enumclaw and remember the good ole days of hunting this unit. It is forever changed being that's it permit only. Sadly that's probably only way there will be elk for our grandkids to hunt in the future. Too many tribes have access to a easy elk unit. Do me a favor. Post a picture of your hunt. Good luck with your future desire to hunt that unit with a smoke pole. That truly could be an epic hunt👊
Post by: trophyhunt on June 06, 2016, 05:58:31 AM
:yeah: and if you need help again, just give us a post! Lots of guys will come help you from here. Congrats.I drew the Bow tag last year and found a few bulls when scouting, after the first of September the tribes were hunting so I went high and away from the roads, was surprised and grateful that I could still get up the Mountain, the only elk I saw were decoys set up by other bow Hunters when they heard my bugle. I ended up back on the roads and I found a northeast facing bowl that was still green after the hot weather we had last summer and got into Bulls everyday, the first day it rained I ended up shooting the smallest Bull I saw a 5x5 that was 356 pounds skinned and hanging at the butcher shop it was the first branched antlered Bull I've Killed with a bow, I had buddy's say I should have waited for a bigger one because they just started rutting but I was happy and satisfied with what I got. I got him 1 on 1 by myself and with my emergency survival kit (nitro pills) in my pocket I packed him out buy myself just like the old day's, well not half at a time, I did have to quarter Him, Hey Im not 25 anymore. there are 350 class Bulls in this area but your going to have to bust your butt for them. Hopefully I"ll get drawn for the Muzzy permit this year and I can show everyone a picture of one.
Old Mule,
Congrats for getting your bull, and on your own is pretty incredible. I live in Enumclaw and remember the good ole days of hunting this unit. It is forever changed being that's it permit only. Sadly that's probably only way there will be elk for our grandkids to hunt in the future. Too many tribes have access to a easy elk unit. Do me a favor. Post a picture of your hunt. Good luck with your future desire to hunt that unit with a smoke pole. That truly could be an epic hunt👊
Post by: Old Mule on June 07, 2016, 04:04:05 PM