Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: colockumelk on February 19, 2010, 02:27:20 PM

Title: West Side Help???
Post by: colockumelk on February 19, 2010, 02:27:20 PM: Okay so I'm going to be at flight school in Ft. Rucker, AL this year so I wont be able to scout for elk this year. IF I CAN HUNT!!!! I want to start hunting the West Side of the Mountains when I normally hunt the East Side. The reason is Cows are way too smart for me and I suck at hunting cows. I call in bulls every year that I could kill but can't since it's spike or antlerless only. So since apparantly the only thing that I can get close to are bulls; if I want to kill and elk I have to switch to a Western Archery tag.

So here's my question what are some good high country places to hunt on the West Side. I'm thinking around the Packwood GMU in the Goat Peaks Wilderness vicinity. Would maybe around Mt Adams be good. How about the Snoqualmie GMU. My goals are simple to call in any bull within bow range and then kill it. I'm not trying to kill a P&Y bull. Any bull will do. Whether it's a spike, a raggy or herd bull.

I'm not asking for any honey holes I'd just like to be pointed in the right direction. Also what can I expect in that area. Such as type of bulls, amount of elk, and most importantly (since I'm anti-social during elk season) how many people I can expect to run into and how far in must I go to avoid said people. Thanks for any advice you have to offer.
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 19, 2010, 03:34:23 PM: I will be after Roosies near the coast so I cannot help you with the High country thing, but the area I hunt is ALL walk in, and after a mile of two you are all alone......
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: passing-thru on February 19, 2010, 04:16:18 PM: Id look into 572 area, lots of berry/grass/mushroom/pain-in-the-a%$ people in area, but, If you don't mind walking more than couple hundred yrds off trail you should do OK. I cant bugle to save my life, but usually end up finding a tone deaf bull or two :archery_smiley:. Good luck
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: colockumelk on February 19, 2010, 05:01:00 PM: 572 I'll check into it. Right now I'm kind of either 513/South Rainier, 516/Packwood or 560/Lewis River. Although I'm sort of hesitant with the Lewis River unit because it looks like there's a TON!!!!! of hunters there. There's another unit that someone PM'd me that I'm also very heavily looking into but out of respect for that person I wont say where.

So can anyone tell me what those three units (512, 516 and 560) are like? Thanks.
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: ELKBURGER on February 19, 2010, 07:05:51 PM: I think you're looking into the right areas. I've hunted souixon, winston and lewis river. If you want to bugle some bulls, get away from the roads and cover some ground. The coweeman also is good if you get back behind the gates. Good luck @ ft. rucker. You learning helos?
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: Curly on February 19, 2010, 07:09:56 PM: Quote from: colockumelk on February 19, 2010, 02:27:20 PM
I'm not trying to kill a P&Y bull. Any bull will do. Whether it's a spike, a raggy or herd bull.

I believe all areas are 3 point minimum for the bulls on the westside.........I could be wrong though.
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: MikeWalking on February 19, 2010, 07:11:26 PM: Just off the top of my head I remember a guy who had good luck way up the Taylor river area on the Snoqualmie middle fork. many years in a row...
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: elksnout on February 19, 2010, 08:25:33 PM: PM sent
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: colockumelk on February 22, 2010, 07:51:31 AM: Quote from: Curly on February 19, 2010, 07:09:56 PM
Quote from: colockumelk on February 19, 2010, 02:27:20 PM
I'm not trying to kill a P&Y bull. Any bull will do. Whether it's a spike, a raggy or herd bull.

I believe all areas are 3 point minimum for the bulls on the westside.........I could be wrong though.

Yeah you're right it's 3 pt min. I just got carried away in my explanation of any legal bull will do.
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: passing-thru on February 22, 2010, 01:10:14 PM: Did you receive e-mail I sent. Some good info in it I think
Title: Re: West Side Help???
Post by: colockumelk on February 22, 2010, 01:38:22 PM: I did not receive a PM from you. The internet gods must have shot it down.