Post by: TRD1911 on November 30, 2020, 11:52:17 PM
For the past 4 years a Marine Corps buddy of mine has been making the trip for high buck and a backcountry experience that he can't get in his home state of Michigan. After some great deer hunts and many lessons learned (for both of us), we've decided that 2021 is the year that we turn our annual hunt into an archery elk pursuit.
So, that leads me to the point of my rambling; does the made-for-tv backcountry elk hunt exist in WA? I've done backcountry bear and deer in western Washington but these were areas that either don't hold elk or a general season doesnt exist. my buddy made an excel spreadsheet on harvest reports for the past two years, we've researched forums, reading trail reports and even social media in pursuit of narrowing down where our summer scouting trips should be focused next year.
Of course I wouldn't break the cardinal rule of asking for your spot but information and confirmation that such a place exists would be greatly appreciated.
my buddy's checklist on what he envisions-
See elk
at least 4-6 miles in
challenging terrain
(I know I picked the right hunting partner when he didn't list "killing a trophy bull" there).
as of now my summer calender is clear so here's the question. What three units that meet the above criteria would you recommend in W. Washington (west Cascades)? If I don't plug in a scouting plan soon my wife will find more "useful" ways for me to spend the summer, ha!
Post by: bobcat on December 01, 2020, 12:21:10 AM
Post by: MADMAX on December 01, 2020, 04:24:06 AM
Post by: nwwanderer on December 01, 2020, 05:26:21 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 01, 2020, 05:28:27 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on December 01, 2020, 07:19:56 AM
Post by: Stein on December 01, 2020, 07:33:15 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on December 01, 2020, 07:50:35 AM
Your summer being free is huge. Plan on a three month elk hunt starting in June. I would start as close to home as possible and expand from there.
Plan that everything will change day one of September.
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on December 01, 2020, 08:13:16 AM
Post by: kselkhunter on December 01, 2020, 08:38:56 AM
There are some backcountry hunt areas, and they get heavy hunting traffic (some areas have more guys packed into the backcountry than on the roads). That being said, the elk are still in there. They are just heavily pressured and behave a bit differently.....once you get their patterns figured out it's still a fun time. So go into it with a mindset that you're going to see/hear more hunters per day than elk, and it will help level-set your expectations.
The key is learning the area well. Learn the elk patterns once hunters show up, where the elk escape to, where they feel comfortable enough again to respond to a bugle, what their preferred travel routes are around where all the hunt camps are, etc. Scouting in advance helps learn the area and topography, but it could take a few years of hunting to learn how the elk behave once the throngs of backcountry hunters arrive. You're not just outsmarting the elk, you're outsmarting the other hunters as well.
My advice is to stubbornly stick with it at least 3 years....it may be discouraging the first couple of years but if you stick with it the payoff is worth it years later.
And it's western WA: you will likely hear elk, but it is entirely possible you can go an entire season without "seeing" the elk even though it's standing 30 yards from you. So maybe revisit the first item on your buddies checklist and revise it to "hear elk crashing through the forest", and that will be a better first year goal for your first backcountry elk hunt in western WA. That's not a joke, I'm being serious. In the thick stuff you can have a bull bugling at you at 30-40 yards and he won't step out for a shot attempt regardless of what you try (well educated bulls due to the heavy hunting pressure).
Post by: JimmyHoffa on December 01, 2020, 09:07:34 AM
638 will fit your requirements except you'll probably only be 2-3 miles in. But you will definitely be in back country. And you won't find any tougher terrain to hunt elk in.:yeah: That is one of the coastal areas that comes to mind. You can even find some decent trail access. A few of the other units in the area are similar in terrain, but have decommissioned roads. You can go 10-12 miles in. Trying to haul something out would definitely be a challenge.
Post by: TRD1911 on December 01, 2020, 09:17:38 AM
I just spent some time out in Clearwater for late archery. Initially I wrote it off as I only got into two herds of cows (and a spike) which were both near timber lands or private. Sign was very scarce in deep. If you're reading this and still out for late archery in Clearwater I'll send you some info on where I picked up the herds if it will help (like I said, didnt see any bulls though).
There has been a couple suggestions to give it another shot but I just didn't feel like it was "it". I'm by far no expert so when this suggestion keeps popping up I'd be silly not to reconsider. It's back on the list
Post by: Special T on December 01, 2020, 10:00:27 AM
Post by: tinsleystyle on December 01, 2020, 10:03:39 AM
Post by: TRD1911 on December 01, 2020, 10:34:20 PM
I won't narrow it down to a specific unit but if it were me I'd be looking at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Get deep into the Packwood GMU 516. Or, head south to trout lake.
This looks promising!
I really didn't expect so many great suggestions. That looks like some big country with lots of opportunity. Thank you
Post by: TRD1911 on December 01, 2020, 10:36:36 PM
Get deep into the Packwood GMU 516. Or, head south to trout lake.
Looking at aerials on basemap and Onx it looks like there's sporadic logging; any issues with access/gates?
Post by: westside Elkhunter on December 02, 2020, 07:04:36 AM
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Post by: dvolmer on December 02, 2020, 09:31:42 AM
Post by: stlusn30-06 on December 02, 2020, 09:41:57 AM
Post by: 2MANY on December 02, 2020, 09:43:40 AM
Track the guys here that are giving locations out and follow them to their hunting spots.
Post by: Sundance on December 02, 2020, 10:18:17 AM
Post by: TRD1911 on December 02, 2020, 01:13:20 PM
I dig your thought process. A heads up someone gave me (not sure what archery season you are planning for), but keep in mind meat spoilage if you are planning on going in warmer temps. 4-6mi on foot, with 100+ pound packs for multiple trips = many, many hours of pack out. If you are thinking early archery (which would about coincide with your High Buck trips) do a bunch of research and practice on how to keep meat from spoiling.
For sure. We've done that struggle for bear in the past. Coincidentally just finished the podcast with Newberg and Jacobson on the topic. Good info for sure
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 02, 2020, 01:27:25 PM
backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.But did you see any elk?
Post by: 2MANY on December 02, 2020, 01:33:40 PM
Post by: Sundance on December 02, 2020, 02:18:24 PM
backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.But did you see any elk?
Most definitely did not! Three years ago that area was holding lots of elk, this year was a bust. Ended up moving 75 miles and found them in a different GMU.
Post by: scotbradly726 on December 02, 2020, 02:44:26 PM
Post by: TRD1911 on December 02, 2020, 03:08:23 PM
Just curious, why not SE Wa? There's elk in the Blue's for certain, and with what you wanna do, is pretty much the only way you'll find them. They are in there deep off the beaten path. it's about as back country as you'll find in this state.
My inlaws property is primarily where I can count on seeing elk every time and they live in Aberdeen. If I can fill my personal tag before my buddy flies out great, if not we both have a western elk tag.
Post by: LDennis24 on December 03, 2020, 09:54:24 AM
Go up around Mt. Adams. I hiked up in there one time to a spot where the water was rushing underground beneath your feet and you could hear it but not see it unless you looked down between the tree roots of the old growth. It was awesome! There's alot of cool land in there. Go into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. It has elk and the worst biting insects I've ever been around. So bring spray!
Post by: CoryTDF on December 03, 2020, 10:00:50 AM
:yeah:
Go up around Mt. Adams. I hiked up in there one time to a spot where the water was rushing underground beneath your feet and you could hear it but not see it unless you looked down between the tree roots of the old growth. It was awesome! There's alot of cool land in there. Go into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. It has elk and the worst biting insects I've ever been around. So bring spray!
I hunted around Mt. Adams one season and it was really cool. I didn't tag out and the rain was merciless but it was beautiful and I would think about doing it again. Not a ton of folks up where I was other than the people I was hunting with. Certainly could have done some back country stuff.
Post by: 2MANY on December 03, 2020, 10:49:12 AM
Post by: LDennis24 on December 03, 2020, 11:30:18 AM
Post by: TRD1911 on December 03, 2020, 03:16:26 PM
The Goat Rocks are an awesome place as well. Go on the Southwest side of them and do some scouting between there and Mt. Adams and Walupt Lake area
I was looking at pictures on a backpacker forum from trails in this area. Looks like amazing country. That area is on the short list for sure. A coworker of mine who does a lot of hiking in that area expressed interest in learning to hunt so I may have a guide/student to help with the pack out (if the stars align, ha!)