Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: outsider on June 15, 2017, 09:11:35 AM
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I drew my first bull elk tag in my home state. Any info on this hunt would be appreciated. From google earth scouting it looks like a glassing game.
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First off you need to get a pass at the military base ( Rainier training area) When you go in fallow the main road it takes you to the Columbia river focus your scouting south along the river to the area on the map they give you that says off limits. Scouting this unit is kinda challenging I've seen some good bulls in there but I've never seen one in the open. To me it seems the stay in the green drainages that flow down to the river. It could just be me but I've never seen even a cow on the North side of the unit but my god the deer 👍 Keep in mind if it rains the roads are like ice (hard red clay) I hope this helps you and congrats on your tag.
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Man that's a tough one with a bow. Wide open country. Good luck. And have good tires with spares.
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Could a guy scout from the river ? I know a guy who has a muzzy tag for that same unit. Is there access from the river ?
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Could a guy scout from the river ? I know a guy who has a muzzy tag for that same unit. Is there access from the river ?
No access from river. You must enter through main gate daily.
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The training center is huge: about 500 square miles. Except in the winter, elk are sparsely scattered throughout the area.
There are 16 training areas. The ones that are open for public access can change daily which makes it tough because you might find elk in one training area and not be able to hunt them the next day.
I'd suggest making four or five scouting trips at a minimum. Talk with the personnel on base and see if they've spotted elk recently.
Good luck.
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Man that's a tough one with a bow. Wide open country. Good luck. And have good tires with spares.
x2 lots of scouting and good ten ply tires plus spares and carry big cooler full of ice
I'm out there quite a bit training and the roads are terriblel
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I had the same tag a couple of years ago - only elk/sign I saw while scouting on multiple trips was in the northern units bordering the Kittitas Valley. Those never opened a single time during the archery season. I believe they did in muzzy and rifle seasons - with good results for some of those permit holders. Like others have said - have to go in through main gate daily and areas open/closed may change daily - can call after 5:00 pm the day before you go to find out if the area you want to hunt will be open. Good luck - hope you get to go where you want to.
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I had the deer permit in 2005 and they employed a biologist who was very helpful. Don't know if the range still employs one now, though.
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I also have an archery tag in there, what are the most common areas to close down in September?
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Well scouting is nice, just keep in mind. That Master hunters chasing cows, starting August 1, is very likely to re-shuffle your deck.
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As a former YTC employee I can say good luck. Not to be discouraging but anyone with an archery tag especially elk will have a most challenging hunt. It can be done I have seen it multiple times, deer is much easier I can't count the times I have stalked them to within bow range just to practice my stalking. Archery is so hard because in September the Japanese are training usually the week after Labor Day for about 3 weeks. If there are troops scheduled to be in a training area the entire TA is closed even if they decide to not use it. There are 3 areas I know the elk pass through and a 4th that is off limits and its where I have had 95% of all my encounters with them. As stated by others you may bed an animal only to have that TA closed the next day and your SOL. Good tires and 4x4 are a must, street tires will last you a couple days before a rock punches through. PM me for elk or deer info.
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