Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Thanny78 on June 20, 2011, 11:11:45 PM
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Evening all,
I have been reading the Elk forum for a while now and thought that I would join in. Heading to the Rimrock GMU this fall for MF spikes (sounds like with the rest of the hunters in the known world), following my bro who drew a cow tag for the same area. Spent some time in the Bethel GMU but it sounds like they are two totally different worlds. Planning on doing some scouting over there this summer and early fall. It is a bit of a drive since I am a coasty...sorry. Haven't done much Elk hunting in the last few years but am really looking forward to it. Also going to head up to Pasayten for the high hunt as well. Looking forward to getting out in the woods. Hope to see you out there! Well, not really but you know what I mean. ;)
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Good luck and welcome to the site. I love the rimrock unit havent been in there a ton but a few times. If you guys hunt hard a cow should be pretty easy in there for your bro. Spikes are not easy to come by but there is some in there for sure.
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Thanks, I have some ideas on where to head. Some of my dad's old hunting parners have pointed me to some spots along with some greats previous posts.
Just have to get out there and scout around...
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The power of the net 8)
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Right on! You guys will have fun filling that cow tag. Having a special permit in your group always makes the up comming season a bit more exciting! Welcome to the site!
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my dad got drawn for that cow tag as well so i will be up there helping and trying to get him on some cows. i wont be packing a rifle since i am westside archery this year but i still look forward to the hunt! congrats to your bro, good luck and maybe we will run into each other up there.
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I am planning on heading over in a couple of weeks to start scouting...we plan on setting up a camp in the same general area as we are hunting. Does this place get packed full like the Bethel GMU did the last time I was hunting there?
If I do find a good spot to camp is it most likely to be occupied when I gead over there for the hunt?
Thanks.
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Road 1207 West of Clear Lake is closed from a washed out bridge at Miriam creek according to the forest service. If that is where you were planning to go you may have to alter your plans some.
I am planning to go over Chinook pass this weekend. They plan to open Thursday I hear. Supposedly 15 feet of snow in spots still.
Enjoy your camping and scouting.
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I hear that they are still skiing at Crystal too...crazy.
I was thinking about scouting out the area between lost lake road and the FR557? not sure if the map has the right number on the FS road but the two roads split apart and kind of make a big "C" next to a steep set of ridges.
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It will be busy come hunting season that is for sure :chuckle: If you want to camp out in the woods you might do a little better then rubbbin elbows at the camp grounds.
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Yea, I would rather find a spot to set the tent off of some FS road somewhere... Out of the way so we don't get run through too much.
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That's what we do. If I don't sell my camp trailer "trying to" I will probably drag it up there again. Plenty on little spots to get off the main road and camp. Just make sure you have room to turn around :chuckle:
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I am finally going to get over and scout this weekend? I had a quick hiatus due to e-coli..that really sucked. Can't wait to get over and check things out
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I don't know if i consider them totally different...they're just on different sides of the river. Lost lake will be good area to check all the way up to Jump Off Joe...there's been some road closures up there too. so that may be a good thing for guys willing to do some work ;). Off campsite camping...ie along a road somewhere is still viable, but with the road washouts in the Lil Rattlesnake, Umptanum and Manashtash, I expect there will be alot of displaced hunters looking for new places to set up.
Another thing that is disturbing is the USFS actively destroying dispersed camping areas over there left and right.
So ya, i expect it will be packed full. We have far fewer hunters now than we did when I was a kid, (80's), but we're now we're much more crowded due to USFS and WDFW
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i filled my cow tag up there and hunted spikes with multiple camp success i would hunt low with the crowd to fill the cow tag the pressure will help to get one pushed into you. there will be a few spikes down low but with the crowd your odds are one in a million i would hut up high or even back at the bethal where you know the area more it will help when the shooting begins good luck
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Thanny Im headed that way for scouting as well, and I live in Oak Harbor. If you wanna for scouing maybe we can work something out.
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Sounds good, we just got back from Pearrygin but never made it down to Rimrock. We were planning on heading for the Pasayten for the highhunt but my Dad has a new knee and a sore hip. We made the 5-mile trek to Black Lake in the Pasayten but I don't think that with 40-60 lbs of pack on that the Dad is going to fair so well. So the plan now is to go the same time as the high hunt and do some scouting and some bear hunting in Rimrock.
I will be sure to share and good finds that we have.
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For bears I would hunt the swampy areas down low along Fish Creek with a predator call and then try up near the burn areas up high below the base of the cliffs to see if there are any berries there. You will also find good grouse hunting in the lower wet areas if there was a good hatch.
Good luck and it's a beautiful area for sure.
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Thanny Im headed that way for scouting as well, and I live in Oak Harbor. If you wanna for scouing maybe we can work something out.
When are you heading over? I am shooting over Friday night by myself. I plan on taking my mountain bike and getting back in the woods.
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Thanks for the heads up on the bear spots...got the OK from the better half to get a rug made if'n I get a nice one. A few years back a guy from our group saw a very cinnamon colored black bear but didn't have a tag nor did he want a bear. Would love to see one like that again, I guess he was just gorgeous
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Ya no problem Thanny...but it's not a bear hot spot or hot area by any means. In my 30yrs of tramping around over there I've only come across 3. But hunting them is going to teach you the country and you're gonna see elk that way. You're gonna have much better odds if you grouse hunt.
Let me know how it goes. I will be over rafting the Tieton in late Sept and will file a scouting report for you then.
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I may have to do a little grouse hunting with the scattergun then...bring a couple of slugs along just in case I cross paths with a bear.
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That's what I'd do. Or enjoy the beauty of carrying a handgun / long gun combination. If you carry a rifle for bear, carry a small .22 for grouse & rabbits. If you carry a shotgun for grouse & rabbits , carry a bear capable handgun. :tup:
Good luck...it's a gorgeous area.
