Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: ML_Hunter on July 09, 2010, 12:42:35 AM
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Any one know how the deer population is in Toutle? I know they have tons of Elk, but not open to Muzzle Loader so I don't spend much time in there. I've heard of some deer being taken out of there but when folks talk of Toutle, they all talk elk, so I figure they must have good deer right?
I've taken many smaller deer, biggest one along with first one in WA was a 3x3 and every year they get smaller and the past 2 years I've taken does in the last week of the late season (there better eating anyways!). This year I want to actually harvest a nice deer. At least a 3x3 again, so I'm out looking for new areas with better genetics. Am I heading to the right area?
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I would pass on the Toutle for deer hunting. I hardly ever saw deer in there. I use to spend a lot of time in there looking at elk during the summer before the gates got put up and locked. I havent deer hunted that area in several years but I am sure it hasn't changed that much. Also I imagine gates will be locked up in the early season due to fire danger. If you want better genetics look at going eastern Wa. Hope this helps.
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You could spend your time wisely in other units with better deer numbers. Sure there are deer but not in the numbers you would think, most of the deer that are taken are taken in the late buck hunt.
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I went out and did some light scouting today. I was over by the S. Fork and saw several does, and all with fawns. I also counted 42 elk, 3 of which looked to be good bulls and one which made me wish I had a spotting scope to get a better look at him. I also saw a black bear...3 weeks away from bear season!
There were a lot of locked gates :'(, during hunting season are the gates open more, or do they close more?
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just remember this side of I5 doesnt open till aug. 15 :(
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Just opened the regs, Aug 14th! I recalled seeing that earlier in the year, but completely forgot about that. Now I'm unsure If I should go back there to hunt bear, or fish for kings?
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Is there better access to this unit from the south end? There is a good chunk of state land which I can access from the S. Fork Toutle side, but I havent found a way to travle south in the unit :bash:. I can wonder most of the Toutle Mountian Range.
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I think you would do better for deer much closer to home. Both in terms of quality and quantity. :twocents:
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I've spent some time in the Toutle scouting and elk hunting, and rarely saw any deer.
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if i was lookin for a little 3 point with a muzzy id go to the skook
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One of the top all-time bucks in the State was harvested in the Margaret unit in just the last couple years.
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Top in the state! I sure would like to see that!
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Margaret is not open for Muzzle loader. :bash: I saw a nice buck in the Skum unit #667 a few years back, maybe i'll scout that area more. Going to set up some trail cams this year so I can have eyes out when i cant be in the field. Maybe it'll help me locate some nicer bucks, and its close to my house, only about a half hour away.
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I hunted Toutle a few years ago with the muzzleloader. Drove all over the place, saw lots of elk. The only deer I saw were down low in the flatter areas. Ended up shooting a spike just over the line in the Winston. Good luck.
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Ya ive seen a few in the toutle my self.The biggest was just a 2 point.Seen a lot in the winston unit 3,4,5 points.got some nice sheds from up there.
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I've hunted the Winston Unit, but never really seen much there. On that same token, I've never put time in the unit and as we all know, if one dosent put time in...the season is a bust. I'll try to spend time to scout the area in the upcoming months.
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Is there better access to this unit from the south end? There is a good chunk of state land which I can access from the S. Fork Toutle side, but I havent found a way to travle south in the unit :bash:. I can wonder most of the Toutle Mountian Range.
Nope. Your not getting up on the 200rd area by vehicle until hunting season.
You could park at the gates along the S. Fork and hike in.
They open the gates on the weekends for the MF deer and elk seasons. I'm not sure if they open the gates for other weapon seasons.
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Sounds like I need to spend a lot more time in the Winston unit. Anyone have any suggestions as to where I should be looking? :dunno:
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Sounds like I need to spend a lot more time in the Winston unit. Anyone have any suggestions as to where I should be looking? :dunno:
Since your in Thurston County....why not save the gas and hunt in 666 and 667? :dunno: If you put the time in its not hard to find area's that will have less hunters than you'll see in the Winston.
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667 is closed to deer for muzzle in the early season and 666 is mostly owned by Ft. Lewis who dosent give us frontstuffers the time of day. I will get my Ft. Lewis endorsement to hunt there and check to see if they do open anything, but in years past its been grim. 667 does open for late muzzle and Ft. Lewis does open up a little more during the late season, but the bulk of my deer hunting will be spent during the early season for that's when I have all of my time off. I work retail and can't get a day off in the late season unless someone dies or I'm mortally ill...and I've already lost too many family members in the late season and I think my boss is catching on that they all die during the same time of year ;). 667 & 666 are close and I do hunt them in late season after or before work, but as I mentioned they don't help much for the early season. And if I don't get one early season, and he's still in the same area after all the other hunting pressure, I know where a nice 4x4 is in 667 just 30 minuets from my front door.
Thanks for the suggestion!!
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Don't forget Satsop, Lincoln, Mossyrock, Ryderwood, Fall River. So many places to hunt and just not enough time! I'm putting most of my time into the early muzzleloader season also.
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Is Satsop open early season?? 5 years ago I would have spent every waking hour in Mossyrock, but over the years the deer population has dropped. With the time I spend for Elk in there, i can count the number of deer i've seen over the past 3 years on one hand...good elk population tho. Lincoln and Ryderwood are both good units, and to be honest, I get lost in Fall River, don't know why, but I always do :rolleyes: so...I have tried staying away from that unit :). I actually spent 4 hours trying to figure out to to get the heck out of there on a scouting mission in June :(. If Satsop is open for early muzzle I may spend a lot of time in there... but I'm sure they are open late season. I may be wrong, both copy's of my reg books are in my truck and I'm feeling lazy right now :chuckle:
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I think you're right. Satsop, and Skookumchuck are only late season. I'll probably stay away from Skookumchuck because it's also open for archery at the same time.
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wdfw has pdf's of all of the game regs.....
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm)
click on the big game regs left side of the page
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why is it that even tho i'm on the internet...i forget about the internet??? I must be loosing my mind, or maybe its just way too late. Thanks haus!!
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why is it that even tho i'm on the internet...i forget about the internet??? I must be loosing my mind, or maybe its just way too late. Thanks haus!!
np....check your email :D
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ML Hunter, I can give you a few spots to hunt in the 666 if you are interested. Just PM me.
