Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: shanevg on April 22, 2008, 08:47:17 AM

Title: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 22, 2008, 08:47:17 AM: Has anyone ever seen any elk in the Pasayten Wilderness? I know that they are in there, and I'd love to see them, I just don't know where to look. Does the herd just live in a small pocket in the wilderness, or are they pretty wide spread? Is it just by chance that you happen upon the herd, or can you see them at a pretty regular basis on one or two (or more) specific trails?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 22, 2008, 12:45:46 PM: I imagine it has changed a bunch with the last three BIG fires back there. There are a few, but not many. A few moose as well along with some Grizz if you are really lucky.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 22, 2008, 12:48:14 PM: Any idea about best place to find them?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 22, 2008, 01:27:33 PM: I'd hate to point you in the wrong direction since I haven't been back there since the the last two big fires. Its all different now, so the information is way outdated.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: Bearhunter on April 22, 2008, 02:27:12 PM: We seen a small bull a few years back up at the very end of the Sweet Grass butte road, about a mile out up in rocky ridge that runs back there. But that was a few years ago. The Cattle ranchers also told us that they here theme once in a while in September back there. Its a place to start, I quess.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: mkcj on April 22, 2008, 02:39:07 PM: I have been going there since we built our cabin in 68 and the only place i have seen elk sign was up out of twisp and I'm sure they came over from lake chelan maybe try up farther up towards 30 mile
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: bowpredator on April 22, 2008, 04:23:38 PM: I dont know about elk, but Ive seen moose and 2 grizz while hunting back up off of sweet grass.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: alecvg on April 22, 2008, 05:15:32 PM: Weres that at? Winthrop are?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 22, 2008, 05:41:41 PM: Quote from: alecvg on April 22, 2008, 05:15:32 PM
Weres that at? Winthrop are?

Unit 203 (NE of Winthrop)
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: long-shot on April 22, 2008, 06:28:39 PM: there's one old cow down on the river but she think's she's a whitetail, as far as sweet grass i would't waste my time up there because there not there, i never seen or hear them, i was told they were up towards 20 mile but after all the fires they probly moved on, there was just a few them.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 22, 2008, 07:02:07 PM: Quote from: long-shot on April 22, 2008, 06:28:39 PM
there's one old cow down on the river but she think's she's a whitetail, as far as sweet grass i would't waste my time up there because there not there, i never seen or hear them, i was told they were up towards 20 mile but after all the fires they probly moved on, there was just a few them.

How recently was this fire you guys are talking about? Was that the one from two years ago, or was there also one this past year (2007)?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: long-shot on April 22, 2008, 07:10:29 PM: two years ago was tri-pod fire and befrore that one was 30 mile fire that wasabput 2003 or2004 i think i might be off on the year but close
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: MADMAX on April 22, 2008, 07:15:26 PM: I have seen that cow up on the rendevous near the ponds in the snow one year, quite the surprise, I hear the cattlemen's lobby does not want any elk in the Methow
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: mkcj on April 22, 2008, 07:26:40 PM: Sweet grass is in unit 218 Madmax what pond are you talking about the 1 by the old orchard or farther up by the cattle guard
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 22, 2008, 07:32:42 PM: Quote from: long-shot on April 22, 2008, 07:10:29 PM
two years ago was tri-pod fire and befrore that one was 30 mile fire that wasabput 2003 or2004 i think i might be off on the year but close

Well the 2006 hunting report says there were 8 elk shot in the Pasayten unit. So unless the more recent fire pushed them out, there are still elk in there somewhere.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: mossback91 on April 22, 2008, 07:50:36 PM: There is a small group but somebody who doesnt live close by with lots of free tiem for searching is gonna have a hard time finding them.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: long-shot on April 22, 2008, 07:53:50 PM: the lobby is a new one to me, i've never heard that one? she spends most of year down at the old big valley ranch she thinks she a whitetail, if they shot 8 elk in 2006 then there aren't many left, because there was just a handfull of them
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 06:59:51 AM: THere have been three major fires back there I believe. The thirtymile which devastated most of the elk that I knew of, and two others. There are elk ALL over the valley if you spend enough time up there. The game department does not want elk in the valley. NEVER HAVE. Thats why the season you get. There have been several controversies over the years of them killing them. More good press. However there is some prime habitat up there for them and thus there will always be elk moving in. Last year I found elk where I had no idea they were there and they were quite established. This was not in the Pasayten however.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: long-shot on April 23, 2008, 07:41:05 AM: bones right there is some awsome areas back in there that would be perfect for elk but the wdfw doesn't want them in there! that doesn't meaNn they don't travel through, i know of a few little bunches up there.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 23, 2008, 08:44:30 AM: Never seen an elk in the valley. I did see a moose once. How often do you guys see moose over there?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: WDFW-SUX on April 23, 2008, 08:52:30 AM: There are more moose than elk now.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 23, 2008, 08:55:28 AM: Where is the best place to find the moose? The one I saw was just right along Highway 20.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: Bearhunter on April 23, 2008, 10:06:21 AM: Long-shot how can you say that there are no elk back in Sweet grass, because you havent seen them? We have seen one and a bull at that. Cant tell if you were disputting it or not :dunno: I have spent a lot of time back in that country, probably more than most on here and there is definetly grizz back there also. A small herd runs the valley floor between mazama and Winthrop we have seen them several times, although we did not see them last year. Its definetly not a good place to go and hunt them, I think Id focus somewhere else.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: coyotemadness on April 23, 2008, 10:46:00 AM: I've never seen any elk but have seen two moose in my travels near Winthorp. Saw both of them up 30 mile. This was after the 2001 fire up there. I have never seen any elk up near sweet grass. Makes me want to check it out.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 11:02:55 AM: Well considering how much I love elk, how much time I spend int he valley and how well I know it but don't hunt elk there, ought to tell you something.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 23, 2008, 11:27:07 AM: I see you guys talking about 30 mile a lot, where exactly is that? I couldn't find it on the map.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 11:55:05 AM: Go up the Chewack River. North of Winthrop
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: long-shot on April 23, 2008, 12:21:05 PM: Bearhunter I'm not saying you didn't see an elk, just you are a lucky one if you did, we have run cattle in there for almost 60 yrs, other then some tracks we saw down by copper glance trail a few yrs ago and a few down on the river thats all the elk i know about, i would love to see more up there but the wdfw don't want them in there. were did you see the grizz at?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 23, 2008, 01:52:48 PM: Why would WDFW not want elk in the Methow? Doesn't that just mean additional revenue for them with more licenses being sold? Doesn't really make sense to me. :dunno:
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 01:53:47 PM: THeya re afraid they will out compete the muledeer and damage one of the best herds in the state.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 23, 2008, 02:06:09 PM: How does WDFW feel about the moose? Do they want the moose out of there too, or are they not as damaging to the deer population?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: mossback91 on April 23, 2008, 04:55:01 PM: I think that the elk thing has more to do with competing with cattle and ranchers dontlike them for a combonation of things. they tear alot of stuff up. The methow/okanogan County does have the largest mule deer herd in washignton thouggh also
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 07:30:08 PM: I doubt it has much to do with ranching since the WDFW and ranchers don't historically get along. UNLESS of cours they don't want to build a huge elk fence etc and they don't want to deal with the expense.

I think they love the moose Shane. What is your interest. Just for fun, photography, future hunts. Are you a moose fan?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: shanevg on April 23, 2008, 07:38:20 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 07:30:08 PM
I doubt it has much to do with ranching since the WDFW and ranchers don't historically get along. UNLESS of cours they don't want to build a huge elk fence etc and they don't want to deal with the expense.

I think they love the moose Shane. What is your interest. Just for fun, photography, future hunts. Are you a moose fan?

Fun, photography, and a moose fan. I (like most people on these forms it seems) spend a lot of time in the Methow. I'm even getting married at Sun Mountain this coming December. I also love wildlife, so I'd love to be able to find the moose and elk while I'm going over there. I would never make a trip to the Methow just to hunt elk, I'd rather see a healthy herd there. I would love even more to see a healthy moose herd there! So yeah, mostly just for fun and enjoyment of a wider range of wildlife.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: mossback91 on April 23, 2008, 07:42:22 PM: I think it has more to do with complaints and getting them all the time. ALso how would a deer and an elk compete much they dont eat the same stuff do they?
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 07:43:10 PM: My brother got married at Sunmountain. Very nice spot. Congrats. I'll shoot you a pm with some good info and you can go from there.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: mossback91 on April 23, 2008, 07:52:17 PM: I think I'll ask the biologist next week and will ask for a straight up answer none of that politically correct BS.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: boneaddict on April 23, 2008, 08:06:46 PM: Good luck. They are under ALOT of pressure to say certain things.

THere are a couple that know what the heck they are talking about though, and I appreciate them. they don't usually last long though because the PC crap gets to them.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: coyotemadness on April 24, 2008, 10:12:43 AM: There are no wolves in WA either. :liar:
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: coastalghost on April 24, 2008, 10:29:15 AM: Quote from: coyotemadness on April 23, 2008, 10:46:00 AM
I've never seen any elk but have seen two moose in my travels near Winthorp. Saw both of them up 30 mile. This was after the 2001 fire up there. I have never seen any elk up near sweet grass. Makes me want to check it out.

Years ago we did alot of rafting in the Methow River doing fisheries surveys. One day we putting in our rafts at Winthrop....we just started the float and I looked up on top of the bank and there was a young bull moose standing right next to a house just watching us.....pretty cool. The moose ended up traveling all the way down the methow and was spotted in Twisp and kept going and was spotted down near the highway! Dont know what ever became of him. Crazy how they will just follow drainages...buggers really get around.
Title: Re: Pasayten Elk
Post by: coyotemadness on April 24, 2008, 10:40:13 AM: That would have been a sweet sight to see. I've never seen a bull moose in my life, just cows and little ones.