Post by: MeetEaters on July 09, 2019, 10:18:59 AM
1) There is very limited hunting opurtunity here for the general early season, is this because of low density elk?
2) From the maps it looks like frost mountain (gmu 340) looks like a super fun place to hunt (rugged mountains no roads), but with it being big country and only 1 weekend to scout I am a bit concerned about locating elk. Are there lots of elk here or are the numbers fairly low? Any advice here?
3) GMU 342 has no early season general tags so elk here will have no pressure and my theory is have never been buggled at so thinking I may be able to fool one into coming into a buggle. Any advice here?
4) Any general info would be much appreciated
FYI this is not my normal stomping ground and will only be hunting it because of this tag so any info given will be used only in this context. Any detailed info you may want to share with only me please send a mail and I will never share it online or with other hunters.
Post by: Gringo31 on July 09, 2019, 10:41:09 AM
Post by: elkchaser54 on July 09, 2019, 11:21:19 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on July 09, 2019, 11:34:26 AM
Post by: MeetEaters on July 09, 2019, 12:15:24 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on July 09, 2019, 03:30:10 PM
Used to be a lot of elk in there.
340 has 4x4 and motorcycle trails throughout, but the animals were pretty used to traffic all summer.
I really liked hiking the single track (motorcycle) trails between Hereford Meadows and Shoestring Lake, or backside of Frost Mountain to South Fork Meadows (Taneum)
Probably had the most action between Frost and Hoyt.
You can save yourself a long uphill hike if you park up by Taneum Lake and follow ridge out towards Frost.
Check out the goats on the big cliff face above lake, and look for thunder eggs while your there. :twocents:
Post by: MeetEaters on July 10, 2019, 08:48:45 AM
Post by: gasman on July 10, 2019, 08:53:42 AM
Was in to elk every day, didn't fill my tag, but that was more of passing on small bulls early in the hunt, poor decision making on my part.
Many of those smaller canyons and ravines hold elk ;)
Good luck and have fun :tup:
Post by: Twispriver on July 10, 2019, 06:16:08 PM
Post by: kevinlisa06 on July 10, 2019, 08:43:47 PM
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Post by: ThurstonCokid on July 10, 2019, 09:02:40 PM
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Post by: Austinwarne on July 10, 2019, 11:31:28 PM
Post by: MeetEaters on July 26, 2019, 02:40:14 PM
Here is my current plan.
Plan A: A fellow on this forum sent me some great pointers in 342 to check out (wont betray his honey holes publicly sorry) =)
Plan B: 340 manastash ridge - i looked at the collared cow elk tag data and have put together several spots I will visit. Number 1 spot is a big burn north west of manastash lake. My big concern here is the number of atv trails.
Plan C: Manastash ridge near hereford meadows
Plan D: Hike till my feet bleed.
Looking forward to my laborday scouting trip, All pointers/advice is much appreciated.
Post by: 7mmfan on July 26, 2019, 05:19:24 PM
Post by: bigdub257 on July 26, 2019, 05:35:33 PM
Post by: Dan-o on July 26, 2019, 06:45:43 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on July 26, 2019, 07:39:27 PM
Post by: bigdub257 on July 26, 2019, 08:24:17 PM
I don't even remember where I found it. I was sent a link and haven't looked at it in a while.
Well if you run across it let me know if you would. Didn't know that info was even available. I'll check with the WDFW also.
Post by: MeetEaters on August 01, 2019, 10:47:11 AM
Post by: tallcooljuan on August 30, 2019, 06:47:44 AM
The ATVs tend to slow down when it's very dusty. I saw absolutely none. I camped at Riders Camp and could listen to bugles at night from camp. I scouted the burn hard and that's where I was trying to focus. There's water everywhere so I'm not sure waiting on water holes would have been a good tactic. The elk stayed hidden in thick trees. I was walking an average of 13 miles per day and blind calling to find them. I finally realized they were coming in silent and I was patient enough.
Good Luck!
Post by: MeetEaters on June 11, 2020, 01:46:23 PM
I spent 9 days hunting this area.
First day I spent on umtanum ridge and didnt see any sign of elk (gmu 340)
I moved over the gmu 342 north of clemans mountain where i spent the rest of the hunt.
I did not get any elk to respond to bugling, though I am a novice at this.
I did get a bachelor group of bulls to respond to some cow calls however.
I also got into a group of 15+ cows for about 1 hour with some getting as close as 10 yards, was really disappointed there was not a bull with them. From my experience over the last few years of archery hunting elk in Washington is that the rut seems to come on in the later part of September.
it was a super fun trip and I found a cool shed but unfortunately did not fill my tag.
Post by: mburrows on June 11, 2020, 03:06:29 PM
Had another fellow hunter ping me about details so figured I should update this to share the wealth of info.
I spent 9 days hunting this area.
First day I spent on umtanum ridge and didnt see any sign of elk (gmu 340)
I moved over the gmu 342 north of clemans mountain where i spent the rest of the hunt.
I did not get any elk to respond to bugling, though I am a novice at this.
I did get a bachelor group of bulls to respond to some cow calls however.
I also got into a group of 15+ cows for about 1 hour with some getting as close as 10 yards, was really disappointed there was not a bull with them. From my experience over the last few years of archery hunting elk in Washington is that the rut seems to come on in the later part of September.
it was a super fun trip and I found a cool shed but unfortunately did not fill my tag.
Honestly man im really glad you posted this. Nothing wrong with being new to hunting or a style of hunting/area and not harvesting an animals. Congrats on the good hunt, glad to hear you appreciated the opportunity and kudos to you for sticking it out 9-days.
Post by: hughjorgan on June 11, 2020, 04:26:56 PM
Where do you find the collared cow data?
For the past few years they have put that information in the hunting prospects in district 8. It is a map with dots of locations of cows...
Follow this link, scroll down to page 5 for Yakima units and page 6 for colockum
https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/02103/district_8_hunting_prospects_2019.pdf
Post by: tgray on June 11, 2020, 04:56:39 PM
Post by: jrebel on June 11, 2020, 05:11:51 PM
Post by: jstone on June 11, 2020, 05:38:58 PM
Post by: MADMAX on June 11, 2020, 05:49:28 PM
Post by: riverrun on June 11, 2020, 10:24:10 PM
Post by: elkrack on June 11, 2020, 10:34:24 PM
Fricken stud!
Post by: FamilyMan01 on June 13, 2020, 03:15:39 PM