Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: jackelope on March 22, 2011, 11:27:12 AM

Title: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: jackelope on March 22, 2011, 11:27:12 AM: Has anyone ever hunted the Upper Smith Creek elk permit hunt?
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: 400out on March 22, 2011, 06:14:55 PM: Nope sorry :) Where is it at anyways :dunno:
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: jackelope on March 22, 2011, 08:13:10 PM: Quote from: 400out on March 22, 2011, 06:14:55 PM
Nope sorry :) Where is it at anyways :dunno:

On or near Mt. St. Helens. The way the WDFW warns all about what you need to know about it before you apply is what got me wondering. It seems it would be a pretty rugged hunt. I was just curious what it's all about from anyone who's done it or any of the other ones in there.
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: Bob33 on March 22, 2011, 08:27:22 PM: Here is an image:
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: 400out on March 22, 2011, 08:28:18 PM: I like the look of that area Jack.
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: dscubame on March 22, 2011, 08:29:13 PM: Ziltch for Elk.
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: jackelope on March 22, 2011, 08:55:54 PM: I saw some photos on some hiking sites...man it looks brutal. Those lines are really close together. No wheeled carts, no stock, etc.
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: Ghost Hunter on March 22, 2011, 09:58:20 PM: I'm a glutton for punishment. :dunno: Why I keep putting in for it. Besides I have hunting buddies that owe me a lot of packing ;) :chuckle:
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: HntnFsh on March 23, 2011, 05:39:51 AM: Quote from: Ghost Hunter on March 22, 2011, 09:58:20 PM
I'm a glutton for punishment. :dunno: Why I keep putting in for it. Besides I have hunting buddies that owe me a lot of packing ;) :chuckle:

They wont be your buddies when the time comes! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 23, 2011, 05:49:10 AM: :chuckle: Yea those buddies find something popped up and they can't make it.
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: Skywagon_185 on March 23, 2011, 06:47:01 AM: Upper Smith Creek is all located in the St.Helens blast zone. It's all spot and stalk. You can see every elk for miles if the weather is good. It's all in the Loowit unit which has never been open to general hunting since the mountain blew. It is brutal due to the fact that the only access is at the top of the ridges (USFS 99 road out of Randle). Success would be very dependant on the weather as it gets heavy snow early.
I worked as a logging engineer in (surveying land lines and laying our logging roads) in the '60's and 70's in the entire area of Smith Creek and Bean Creek. I also worked as a logger in the salvage after the blast in '81 and '82.
Mike
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: jharstad on March 27, 2011, 02:47:24 PM: I'm curious about mount whittier same scenario but i heard its easier to access. but I'm still trying to do my homework on it. does any body know if wdfw would send me any info on these hunts. outher then whats on the website.
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: PolarBear on March 27, 2011, 03:50:30 PM: We use to very well early archery in Smith and Bean Creek drainages. The pack out sucks but there are plenty of roadhunters on the 99 to push those bulls that venture out of the monument down to the bottom. I got into 6 bulls one day that were all 5x5 or better. Stuck a nice 6x6 and spent the whole night packing that s.o.b. out.
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: SkookumHntr on March 27, 2011, 04:02:19 PM: -That tag would be a Blast!! Good luck getting it though! :(
Title: Re: Upper Smith Creek
Post by: kalamasasquatch on June 15, 2011, 07:31:03 PM: I drew this tag archery! Hunted the boundry of this unit about 5 years ago and that area is steep but has some monster bulls in there. its a 4-5 mile hike to get in, the south access is flat the north access is steep.