mudflow access?

[bobear]

Hello,  new guy here!  My 14 year old daughter drew the mudflow cow rifle tag this year.  I have been in the Margaret and Toutle units a few times but have not been to the mud flow.  If any one has any advice, starting points or access advice I would really appreciate it.  We are going to go scouting in 3 weeks and trying to get some ideas of where to start before we go.  Thanks for any advice!

[grade-creek-rd]

I replied to your PM...sorry for the delay, I was on vacation.

Grade

[mallardaddict]

I have a mudflow muzzleloader cow tag.  Haven’t been in there for  probably 20 years so it will all be new to me.  If anyone has any leads as to where to start scouting I am all ears.

We plan to scout it several times in the next 2 months so if I come up with anything good I will let you know grade-creek.

If anyone has ideas feel free to pm me as well.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Drive up 504. Stop in toutle for donuts and coffee/hot chocolate. Continue to 2000 ft elevation marker and large yellow gate going downhilll. Drop to bottom of Hill looking for elk. If no elk found on journey to bottom continue up road on Mudflow you will find one soon. Shoot elk. Spend rest of day packing to top. The end.

[redi]

Don't forgot to stop at Toutle on the way out to get Chesters chicken and Jo's.

[blackveltbowhunter]

  Nice catch redi. How did I forget that!

At OP in all seriousness, it's not tough to find the elk. The main access is at the 2000 marker. Great hunt for anyone and should be a blast for the kiddo, congrats on the draw 

[grade-creek-rd]

I kept hearing this all last year when my son had the youth cow tag (I have drawn the toutle tag 3 times and know the area)...all we found in the bottom was bulls!...in fact we saw 27 bulls one morning when he finally got his cow up on a hillside way above the valley floor...it certainly CAN be an "easy" hunt if you catch them crossing or up on the tops along the 3000 line...the hike down the 2000 is "nice" but remember if you don't buy the wherehouser (sp?) permit than you CANNOT hunt on the way down to the valley floor as it is an easement only until you reach the WDFW lands (you will get a letter from WDFW explaining this in detail). For youth I really wish they would open the road in the bottom like they do for disabled hunters as it is a bit of a haul up and out of there (not bad, and a nice walk...just remember youth hunts are also supposed to be a way to get kids interested in hunting...a 2 mile walk in the rain uphill for a 12 year old kid isn't necessarily "fun"). Anyway, for what its worth we hunted every weekend day of the youth season last year, in the first 5 minutes we saw a cow with a calf and a 5 pt bull....and bulls every day but not a cow until the last day of the season (let the kid skip school as it ended on a Friday...again, that makes no sense by WDFW to have the last part of the season end on a Friday for kids). So, I highly recommend scouting and learning the entire area as it is a long ways around from one side to the other. You almost have to commit to one side for the day.

Yes, you "should" get your elk but it is not a "chip shot" or "easy hunt" all the time...I sent Mallardaddict and Bobear PM's on access points and trails...Good Luck! Have Fun as it is a cool place to see a lot of bulls.

Grade

[buckhorn2]

It's a long pack out of there better be in shape

[bobear]

Thanks for all of the help and PM's everyone.  I will have 2 other healthy males that have offered to help us pack out, if needed.  So I'm not as worried as I would be if it was just me and my daughter.  I will let everyone know how the season went after it is done.  Good luck to everyone this year!

[hunthard]

Good luck.

[Kdog]

I drew a mf quality bull tag for the mudflow. Did a little scouting last weekend from the 504 side. Been so long since I've been up to castle lake, will probably try and scout out that side coming up.  Anyone else draw the mf? Would it be better to hunt the opening part of the season,  or the last of the rifle season?

[millerwheeler]

I drew a mf quality bull tag for the mudflow. Did a little scouting last weekend from the 504 side. Been so long since I've been up to castle lake, will probably try and scout out that side coming up.  Anyone else draw the mf? Would it be better to hunt the opening part of the season,  or the last of the rifle season?

I drew the tag as well headed down next weekend to scout

[highhunter]

Anyone want to throw my 71 year old dad a bone and PM me ideas on access for the muzzleloader antlerless hunt? He can kinda still get around and I’ll be his packer so not an issue getting the meat out. Might be his last opportunity at an elk and he’s going to go scouting while I’m on the high hunt. Thank you anyone who is willing to help.

[grade-creek-rd]

highhunter...I sent you  PM...hope it helps, let us know how his hunt goes!

Grade

[bobcat]

In case you haven't seen the info on the WDFW site:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/special-hunts/mudflow-elk