Post by: Macs B on July 17, 2023, 02:54:12 PM
My scouting trips and cameras are catching Elk more often, and in larger numbers than I've seen in the past fifteen years. Herds seem to have more 1-3 year olds than in the past, and the general number of cows and calves seem up as well. We don't have the fires and the drought that we've had in previous summers so that might be part of the reason they are hanging in larger herds. The real surprise for me was seeing a legitimate bachelor herd. Haven't really seen one on this side for years.
Post by: Turkeyman on July 17, 2023, 08:57:56 PM
Post by: duckmen1 on July 17, 2023, 09:02:14 PM
Post by: Janitor123 on July 21, 2023, 05:03:14 PM
At least two of them half hoof rot (presumably) as they were limping in video.
Post by: Stevebrown on November 10, 2023, 08:31:00 AM
Post by: jrebel on November 10, 2023, 08:41:08 AM
Post by: Buzzsaw461 on November 10, 2023, 02:33:08 PM
I disagree with elk numbers being in good shape. The game department is allowing too many cow elk to be harvested. A cow can have 4-6 calf's, think about it.. taking one cow cost us 4-6. Guys think 8-10 head is a good group of elk, I disagree. I've been hunting south west Washington for 25 years herds were 30-40 head, now 8-10. Something has got to give. It's not just hood rot.I agree, I was drawn for the quality 516 Packwood unit and hunted the full 5 days. Saw only one decent Bull a 5 point that I couldn’t get a shot at and the last day had a 1x2 stand and look at me from 20 yards away but decided not to take him since I was still trying to locate that bigger Bull. In total I saw 4 elk. Hunted Low to high and put on the miles both driving and hiking. Didn’t hear a single Bugle. I’ve hunted the areas around Packwood for 45 years and always would see elk just east of town crossing over from the river but nothing in 5 days.
Post by: time2hunt on November 10, 2023, 03:28:23 PM
Are they gone or just stacked up in private? Went thru there a while back towing a big gooseneck trailer and it was like playing frogger the video game at night.I disagree with elk numbers being in good shape. The game department is allowing too many cow elk to be harvested. A cow can have 4-6 calf's, think about it.. taking one cow cost us 4-6. Guys think 8-10 head is a good group of elk, I disagree. I've been hunting south west Washington for 25 years herds were 30-40 head, now 8-10. Something has got to give. It's not just hood rot.I agree, I was drawn for the quality 516 Packwood unit and hunted the full 5 days. Saw only one decent Bull a 5 point that I couldn’t get a shot at and the last day had a 1x2 stand and look at me from 20 yards away but decided not to take him since I was still trying to locate that bigger Bull. In total I saw 4 elk. Hunted Low to high and put on the miles both driving and hiking. Didn’t hear a single Bugle. I’ve hunted the areas around Packwood for 45 years and always would see elk just east of town crossing over from the river but nothing in 5 days.
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Post by: Buzzsaw461 on November 10, 2023, 05:38:24 PM
Ha for sure. Saw a ton down around town just didn’t find them in the places I normally find them. The herd does move around a lot so maybe my timing just wasn’t rightAre they gone or just stacked up in private? Went thru there a while back towing a big gooseneck trailer and it was like playing frogger the video game at night.I disagree with elk numbers being in good shape. The game department is allowing too many cow elk to be harvested. A cow can have 4-6 calf's, think about it.. taking one cow cost us 4-6. Guys think 8-10 head is a good group of elk, I disagree. I've been hunting south west Washington for 25 years herds were 30-40 head, now 8-10. Something has got to give. It's not just hood rot.I agree, I was drawn for the quality 516 Packwood unit and hunted the full 5 days. Saw only one decent Bull a 5 point that I couldn’t get a shot at and the last day had a 1x2 stand and look at me from 20 yards away but decided not to take him since I was still trying to locate that bigger Bull. In total I saw 4 elk. Hunted Low to high and put on the miles both driving and hiking. Didn’t hear a single Bugle. I’ve hunted the areas around Packwood for 45 years and always would see elk just east of town crossing over from the river but nothing in 5 days.
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Post by: Turdle on November 10, 2023, 06:45:17 PM
Post by: Buzzsaw461 on November 10, 2023, 07:26:10 PM
Saw at least 150 elk between Packwood and Randle yesterday afternoon 3 pm ish. 3 big groups and several smaller groups. May have been 4 legal bulls. All on private right along the highway. Alot of pickups hitting the shoulder to look and drool.Yep that’s a popular place. We use to have a Cabin down at the end of stover rd between randle and packwood until the cowlitz river decided it wanted it more. We took a few elk out of there back then. But ya the private land between randle and packwood is loaded.
Post by: Tinmaniac on November 10, 2023, 07:30:10 PM
Saw at least 150 elk between Packwood and Randle yesterday afternoon 3 pm ish. 3 big groups and several smaller groups. May have been 4 legal bulls. All on private right along the highway. Alot of pickups hitting the shoulder to look and drool.How many were limping?
Post by: BA Mongor on November 11, 2023, 07:26:51 AM
The Toutle is better and has some areas that still hold decent numbers, but it is nothing near carrying capacity. In my opinion, Ryderwood is rebounding and I have far fewer limpers on cams and have seen far less limpers this year. Willipa Hills is petty stable and I've only seen (3) limper cows out of well over one hundred elk. Bear river is also pretty stable and I've seen no limpers. I'm running 22 cams currently and spend a lot of time in these units.
These are my observations for this year and the past couple years.
Post by: Humptulips on November 11, 2023, 12:27:18 PM
Post by: kball4 on November 15, 2023, 06:49:53 AM
Post by: Lapua07 on November 15, 2023, 05:02:34 PM
Old timer in 121 said he saw 400 head during late whitetail this year. I saw a lot of tracks and poo last weekend in that unit.
There's no elk in 121 .. least that's what the locals will tell ya.. :dunno: