Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: RockChuck on June 18, 2023, 09:06:03 PM

Title: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on June 18, 2023, 09:06:03 PM: I got lucky and finally drew a quality tag! Watershed, never been in it but near it (it’s been more than a few years) I know it’s steep! I’m looking for pointers on best access points and if is possible to get a small travel trailer near enough to the boundary to hike in from? Any other tips about the hunt would be appreciated. When do they send out the packet/info? I plan to make a few trips over to get fresh eyes on it from the outside.
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: elkchaser54 on June 19, 2023, 01:25:45 PM: So first off you are not allowed to enter the unit outside your alloted hunt dates. This unit is just a giant drainage. A giant hole if you will. Every day will begin with you at the top and dropping down to find elk. It's all national forest around with lots of camping spots for trailers . However weather dependent it can get crazy . Just a few years back they got like two feet of snow the day before opener and I heard of wall tents collapsing and trailers getting stuck up there for a week. I've hunted in the blues quite a bit but never been lucky enough to step foot in the watershed. Shouldn't be too much different though. The bulls won't be rutting hard but they come out in to the openings and ridge tops at night and early mornings and then venture back in to the dark hidden timber patches of North facing slopes. Get in shape and be ready to hike straight up and down hill. Always hear the stories of people that hunt for two days and then give up . Don't be that guy !!!!!
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: sjhgraysage on June 19, 2023, 03:35:37 PM: If I had a tag I would be trying to get on Green ridge....
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on June 19, 2023, 04:23:55 PM: Thank you, yes I’m thinking trailer if weather permits and if not I’ll sleep in the back of my truck, Yes I’ve heard the same about people not being prepared for it and calling it early, that’s part of the reason I put in for it as I like a good exhausting challenge! :dunno: :chuckle:

Quote from: elkchaser54 on June 19, 2023, 01:25:45 PM
So first off you are not allowed to enter the unit outside your alloted hunt dates. This unit is just a giant drainage. A giant hole if you will. Every day will begin with you at the top and dropping down to find elk. It's all national forest around with lots of camping spots for trailers . However weather dependent it can get crazy . Just a few years back they got like two feet of snow the day before opener and I heard of wall tents collapsing and trailers getting stuck up there for a week. I've hunted in the blues quite a bit but never been lucky enough to step foot in the watershed. Shouldn't be too much different though. The bulls won't be rutting hard but they come out in to the openings and ridge tops at night and early mornings and then venture back in to the dark hidden timber patches of North facing slopes. Get in shape and be ready to hike straight up and down hill. Always hear the stories of people that hunt for two days and then give up . Don't be that guy !!!!!
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on June 19, 2023, 04:25:06 PM: Thank you, from looking at maps I was eyeing that ridge as a good possibility :tup:

Quote from: sjhgraysage on June 19, 2023, 03:35:37 PM
If I had a tag I would be trying to get on Green ridge....
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: bobdog86 on June 20, 2023, 05:42:00 PM: Should be some good historical info if you use the search feature here. It’s a neat experience if you want it to be or it can be a crap show if you allow it. Enjoy, only advice I’d give is, it’s steeper than it looks, research is essential. Since you can only glass from outside the unit, explore all options.
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on June 21, 2023, 09:24:21 AM: Yes, I’ve been reading some of the past threads, just finished a 20 pager last night.
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: Falcon on June 24, 2023, 10:32:37 AM: Never been in that unit, but it all points to steep. Having climbed Rainier twice back in the day, it comes down to one step at a time.
With your tough mind over manner attitude and some good tracking poles, you will get it done. Best of luck in this adventure, and stay safe. :tup:
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on June 25, 2023, 11:22:16 AM: Quote from: Falcon on June 24, 2023, 10:32:37 AM
Never been in that unit, but it all points to steep. Having climbed Rainier twice back in the day, it comes down to one step at a time.
With your tough mind over manner attitude and some good tracking poles, you will get it done. Best of luck in this adventure, and stay safe. :tup:

Thank you! :tup: And Rainer twice is quite the accomplishment!
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on July 03, 2023, 07:39:56 PM: Hiked some of the Intake trail today, didn’t see any elk but was mostly checking out the lay of the land. Any tips on where to camp out at close to the boundary? Didn’t see much off of biscuit the rd will check some other options next visit. I did see plenty of bear and wolf 💩
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: TimbersEdge on July 05, 2023, 11:51:34 PM: This is my 1st post so I'm sure I'm doing this wrong.

My hunting Partner drew this tag last year and unfortunately was not quite willing to put in the work needed, but somewhat disabled in his defense.

We watched from the top of the Watershed for 3 days on Radio with hunters in the thick of things with our spotting scopes and directed THEM to the elk.

The way to harvest the Elk in that hole seems to be to have a spotter at the top and good radios. Hike in hrs before 1st light so that you're in the bottom at 1st light. After the 1st day the hunters would have a decent idea of where the elk were after bedding them and even try and get a head start that direction.

As mentioned before the weather changes fast and the roads in and out are not forgiving. If we hadn't split on the 4th day we would've never got out in our rigs. The snow dumped!

Feel free to PM me and I can get you more details.

I drew White River this year and I know I need all the help I can get!

Quote from: RockChuck on June 18, 2023, 09:06:03 PM
I got lucky and finally drew a quality tag! Watershed, never been in it but near it (it’s been more than a few years) I know it’s steep! I’m looking for pointers on best access points and if is possible to get a small travel trailer near enough to the boundary to hike in from? Any other tips about the hunt would be appreciated. When do they send out the packet/info? I plan to make a few trips over to get fresh eyes on it from the outside.
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on July 06, 2023, 12:47:41 PM: Quote from: TimbersEdge on July 05, 2023, 11:51:34 PM
This is my 1st post so I'm sure I'm doing this wrong.

My hunting Partner drew this tag last year and unfortunately was not quite willing to put in the work needed, but somewhat disabled in his defense.

We watched from the top of the Watershed for 3 days on Radio with hunters in the thick of things with our spotting scopes and directed THEM to the elk.

The way to harvest the Elk in that hole seems to be to have a spotter at the top and good radios. Hike in hrs before 1st light so that you're in the bottom at 1st light. After the 1st day the hunters would have a decent idea of where the elk were after bedding them and even try and get a head start that direction.

As mentioned before the weather changes fast and the roads in and out are not forgiving. If we hadn't split on the 4th day we would've never got out in our rigs. The snow dumped!

Feel free to PM me and I can get you more details.

I drew White River this year and I know I need all the help I can get!

Quote from: RockChuck on June 18, 2023, 09:06:03 PM
I got lucky and finally drew a quality tag! Watershed, never been in it but near it (it’s been more than a few years) I know it’s steep! I’m looking for pointers on best access points and if is possible to get a small travel trailer near enough to the boundary to hike in from? Any other tips about the hunt would be appreciated. When do they send out the packet/info? I plan to make a few trips over to get fresh eyes on it from the outside.

Thank you for the tips and congrats and good luck on your tag!
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: elkchaser54 on July 07, 2023, 09:41:37 AM: Most camping accessibility will be off the 64 road. Which runs south out of dayton . Called the N touchet rd in town.
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on July 09, 2023, 02:39:00 PM: My next trip in a few weeks I plan to hike the trail from the 64 Side so will be checking out camping options :tup:
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: nwwanderer on July 11, 2023, 06:13:30 AM: Hunting it from the top, though possible, makes it nearly impossible to recover a bull with all of the rules involved. By luck you may catch one moving down for a garb meal but if you take one deep and weather goes against you there is simply not enough time. Be careful out there
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: Gringo31 on July 11, 2023, 11:30:48 AM: From the stories of a couple buddies who drew that tag, I'd advise you to try and take it easy. It's big steep country but pushing yourself too hard early will limit your time in there. Pace yourself.....

Good Luck!
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: trophyhunt on July 11, 2023, 11:52:46 AM: You get a good look from the top, even better if you work your way down a bit. A member on here had that tag a few years ago and hunted from the top, killed a great bull.
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on July 11, 2023, 01:31:03 PM: 🤔
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on July 12, 2023, 07:16:17 PM: All good info thanks! My permit arrived a couple days ago, still waiting on the “rules packet”
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: gramps on July 13, 2023, 05:50:14 PM: Congrats on drawing the tag!

Another option is Paradise Ridge, which is accessed on the Oregon side off of Skyline drive west of the Milk shakes.
I was last in there 38 years ago. The trail is on top of the ridge and about a mile across the Oregon portion of the shed. there used to be a sign at the stateline.
One can see the north end of the ridge from the Milk Shakes along the road.
If anyone is interested, I could provide more specific directions to the trail location.

Good Luck
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on July 14, 2023, 02:51:31 PM: 👍🏻 another spot to add to my list of places to check out
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on November 18, 2023, 08:10:36 AM: .
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on November 18, 2023, 08:11:15 AM: .
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on November 18, 2023, 08:16:33 AM: I hunted 7 days and saw a lot of bulls, lots that were bigger but they were a long ways away! I would make a move on them but they would move on before I could get anywhere close enough! Day 7 I was able to finally get close enough to this 5x6, it is tough country for sure but a really fun hunt. About 2 miles down into the watershed I shot him about 9 am, I hauled out a load then returned the next day with 2 helpers to pack the rest. Thank you to all that gave me the tips!
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on November 18, 2023, 08:31:41 AM: .
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on November 18, 2023, 08:32:22 AM: .
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: LDennis24 on November 18, 2023, 08:51:10 AM: Nice bull! My brother in law and father in law have had the tag in the last 5 yrs and both went home empty handed. Aside from a half dozen sheds they found while spotting. Did you take the sheds home also?
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on November 18, 2023, 08:54:27 AM: No I left them where they lay, I wasn’t packing anything extra out of that place! :tung: I also heard conflicting info on taking them from the watershed :dunno:
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: LDennis24 on November 18, 2023, 12:10:59 PM: In-laws took them and the warden stopped by their camp daily and never said a word. :dunno:
Title: Re: Mill Creek Watershed
Post by: RockChuck on November 18, 2023, 02:58:17 PM: I’m pretty sure it is fine, I should have taken that 7 point, couldn’t get my fingers around it until the top!