Post by: Ajj828 on May 27, 2019, 06:27:43 PM
Post by: bkaech on May 27, 2019, 07:23:19 PM
As for elk behavior, elk like to take cover in thick stuff but feed in more open areas, generally feeding at dusk and dawn. Where you find the elk can change depending on time of year. Elk won’t always be in the same place in July as September as November.
Post by: Ajj828 on May 27, 2019, 08:38:09 PM
I don’t know the St Helens area, but in general if the area is open to hunting I wouldn’t worry about going off trail if you are going far off trail. The biggest problem is cutting switchbacks and multiple people going off trail in same spot which degrades the plant life and makes “footpaths”.
As for elk behavior, elk like to take cover in thick stuff but feed in more open areas, generally feeding at dusk and dawn. Where you find the elk can change depending on time of year. Elk won’t always be in the same place in July as September as November.
So if the elk are not in the same area is it even worth scouting in the summer? Do they travel super super far away? I was planning on finding an area that has elk and just keying in on that area. I’m assuming hunting pressure is totally crazy on them too. I was hunting the unit last year and it was just a mess of road hunters and hunters who go a mile or 2 down main trails. Right now I’m just going to look for a nasty ridge and go for it hoping to find something
Post by: medic6 on May 27, 2019, 08:39:47 PM
Post by: Ajj828 on May 27, 2019, 10:55:04 PM
St. Helens has a lot of reasesrch areas on the south east, east, north east side of the mountain. You are not allowed to go off trail in certain areas deem environmentally sensitive. They will make u pay the price if u do. You may also need a permit to go above tree line around the climbing routes depending on the time of year. Fs.usda.gov will give u all the info you will ever need. Best of luck out there.
Am I allowed to hunt elk areas that are around saint helens during the general season or are these draw only areas?
Post by: MADMAX on May 28, 2019, 05:39:05 AM
some are closed
some are open
some are permit
some are Weyerhauser $$$$$ pay to play
welcome to Washington
Post by: boneaddict on May 28, 2019, 06:41:19 AM
Post by: fireweed on May 28, 2019, 08:47:32 AM
Post by: Crunchy on May 28, 2019, 10:30:09 AM
Post by: bkaech on May 28, 2019, 08:57:46 PM
I don’t know the St Helens area, but in general if the area is open to hunting I wouldn’t worry about going off trail if you are going far off trail. The biggest problem is cutting switchbacks and multiple people going off trail in same spot which degrades the plant life and makes “footpaths”.
As for elk behavior, elk like to take cover in thick stuff but feed in more open areas, generally feeding at dusk and dawn. Where you find the elk can change depending on time of year. Elk won’t always be in the same place in July as September as November.
So if the elk are not in the same area is it even worth scouting in the summer? Do they travel super super far away? I was planning on finding an area that has elk and just keying in on that area. I’m assuming hunting pressure is totally crazy on them too. I was hunting the unit last year and it was just a mess of road hunters and hunters who go a mile or 2 down main trails. Right now I’m just going to look for a nasty ridge and go for it hoping to find something
Go for the nasty ridge plan. The more you know about elk in that area the better off you will be. Just know that in summer old elk sign, like month old feces and game trails are good indications of elk and know that November elk are a little different than September elk, so weapon choice may also affect where you will find bulls during hunting season.
Post by: chad24n on May 30, 2019, 08:49:35 AM
I don’t know the St Helens area, but in general if the area is open to hunting I wouldn’t worry about going off trail if you are going far off trail. The biggest problem is cutting switchbacks and multiple people going off trail in same spot which degrades the plant life and makes “footpaths”.
As for elk behavior, elk like to take cover in thick stuff but feed in more open areas, generally feeding at dusk and dawn. Where you find the elk can change depending on time of year. Elk won’t always be in the same place in July as September as November.
So if the elk are not in the same area is it even worth scouting in the summer? Do they travel super super far away? I was planning on finding an area that has elk and just keying in on that area. I’m assuming hunting pressure is totally crazy on them too. I was hunting the unit last year and it was just a mess of road hunters and hunters who go a mile or 2 down main trails. Right now I’m just going to look for a nasty ridge and go for it hoping to find something
Go for the nasty ridge plan. The more you know about elk in that area the better off you will be. Just know that in summer old elk sign, like month old feces and game trails are good indications of elk and know that November elk are a little different than September elk, so weapon choice may also affect where you will find bulls during hunting season.
So many variables! Elk you find in the summer will most likely have highest chance of finding them in same spot at archery opener... however... the bulls routines change due to rut and they will start roaming looking for cows or herding cows up. I quit using trailcams for bulls due to this. Summer patterns are almost never the same come September when their whole 'needs' in life change.. to mate. As for November elk, who knows where they'll be from summer grounds. A month of the rut and multiple hunting seasons and pressure could have them miles from where they were in summer. Hope this helps.