Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Smokey Bear on June 30, 2018, 04:00:40 PM
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I drew a Lick Creek archery cow tag and I see there are 10 cow tags and 7 bull tags. The GMU is open for spike only and just curious what kind of hunting pressure I can expect? Are there a lot of hunters going spike only? Headed over there in a few days over 4th of July to hike around and get the lay of the land. Just curious what September will be like. Thanks
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It's a large area. Get a mile off the roads and you will likely be by yourself.
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Elk numbers are the lowest they have been in a long time.
They just established another wolf pack miles away.
And they have plans to eliminate all cow hunting over the next three years.
It’s a great unit, but it’s on the decline in regards to ungulates.
Best of luck filling your tag.
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With them taking the general cow hunting away, I think pressure will be down. Like others stated, get a few miles off the main roads and you will find elk. I'll be in the unit hunting also. I have one of the bull tags for archery.
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The pressure will be less this year since there are no otc cow tags. But the numbers are down. I spend alot of time in the unit and am not seeing what i usually have seen in the past the last couple of years. But i am hoping hoyt and his buddy will know where the big bulls are👍
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Elk numbers are the lowest they have been in a long time.
They just established another wolf pack miles away.
And they have plans to eliminate all cow hunting over the next three years.
It’s a great unit, but it’s on the decline in regards to ungulates.
Best of luck filling your tag.
:yeah:
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I usually apply for tags that have as little overlap as possible with the spike season. The pressure usually starts at least two days in advance of the opener as the fleet descends on the woods.
That said, you have the tag so it doesn't matter. Like others said, do some scouting on the internet and in the woods and have as many spots as you can a mile or more from a road or any trail you can get something with a motor on (open or not as there will be people using it either way). If you don't know the area well, assume your best spots will be a bust, so have as many in your GPS as possible.
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Thank you all for your comments. I am excited to get over there and hike the areas that I have identified on Google Earth. I will get my list of possible spots ready for September!
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I see the state acknowledged a second wolf pack in the Blues in their latest report. I saw 5 when I was in there a couple weeks ago and have seen or heard them every time I've camped over there the last couple years. Its a big area - there has to be a couple dozen roaming it to run into them that easily. Good luck on the tag - may be one of the last years someone gets to enjoy it.
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I had a cow tag a few years back in Lick Creek. A great deal of pressure and roads everywhere in the unit was my take away. Have fun with it and good luck.
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I was up there mushroom hunting this spring. My impression was to many roads, like many Washington units. And I saw a couple cow and calf kills either from winter or predators. The bones look busted up, guessing predators. I did see some tracks of live animals, hope is not all lost.
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Congrats on the tag, I got one also... The pressure should be way down due to them going to spike only which is a plus. We have 5 game cams out and there are a good number of smaller bulls around. Like everyone has said, get as far off the road as you can. As far as the roads go, a good portion of them get locked by the forest service before season opens, so that helps also. Good luck and if you get around Wikkiup campground during season stop by and say Hi.... Kenny
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Thanks for all the replies and information. I was over there two weeks ago and saw several cows. I stayed at Teal campground with an awesome view! (Yes I know Teal is actually out of the GMU) I have to say Google Earth looks A LOT flatter than real life. Holy hell there are some deep holes in there. I will be getting off trail and as far away from the roads as I can. I don't know exactly where I will be parking the truck but I may look you up at Wickiup. Thanks
Ed
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wickiup is a nice place to stay
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I didn't know that was a draw now :bash: hmmmm depending on what time you go over there and what the weather is doing a guy cant go wrong with water. This is a large unit for the area and believe me there is a lot of country in those drainages. With out knowing how much time you have to hunt and all, my only suggestion for that unit would be to use you bugle o locate the bulls and you might find some ladies with him. and you can always go camp hoping and ask anyone if they have seen anything. Earlier the better in that unit I would say.
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Pressure is the million dollar question, especially since the fire started the other day (Warner gulch fire) last report was about 75% contained, but you never know with the recent wind. Shouldn’t affect it much, just move stuff around. I think this year more than any other, scouting will be the utmost critical. Last I heard was about 600 acres which is nothing, but if it gets out of control who knows. Still a lot of ground. Good luck
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There's lots of roads in Lick Creek, really have to work to get away from them. I don't think it's all that important to get away from the roads. It's always a good idea, but the elk are not always down deep in Lick Creek.
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There's lots of roads in Lick Creek, really have to work to get away from them. I don't think it's all that important to get away from the roads. It's always a good idea, but the elk are not always down deep in Lick Creek.
:yeah: I’ve seen more elk driving the roads there than hiking my butt off. Lotta wolves too
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This is my first time ever putting in for a cow tag, never needed to as a bowhunter until this year when the cow options are limited. I found a total of 4 special permit options for eastern archery. I had 9 points from back when the elk special permit got divided into quality, bull, cow, etc.
The gmu is open for spike only OTC from Sept. 8-20. There are 7 bull permits that start on Sept. 1, and 10 cow tags that start on the 8th. I plan on sharing info with the bull permit holders when I locate bulls. I am cautious about bugling as I don't want to mess with anyone's bull hunt. I guess locating from ridges will be ok. I plan on camping down low for opening weekend and hunt from the bottom.
I didn't know about the fire, thanks for the info. I am crossing my fingers that fire and smoke steer clear of the blues.
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to late on the smoke :chuckle: was there 2 weeks ago and smoke was heavy in the morning filling the canyons and once the sun came up made glassing near impossible
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Yes the smoke is getting bad throughout the west, hopefully it doesn't stay that way. Monday night into Tuesday I drove to Utah and the smoke was bad throughout Oregon and Idaho. But not as bad as last year in Eastern WA.
