I set up a solo camp Friday early morning after Turkey Day, up Clover Springs 1600 road, below in the first big meadow just past the Nat'l Forest boundary sign.
thank goodness for the Rainier 10x12 wall tent and wood stove! It was frigid COLD, overnight in the teens, maybe lower.
Over 5 days, I saw only 11 elk total; a group of 4 cows, 5x5 bull and 6 cows/calves. But none in bow range and moving steadily. Fresh snow on ground, areas had 3-6", so cold it was powdery making good, silent walking conditions.
Came across 2 kill sights, squawking ravens gave away the locations, close to the packed snow-icy roads.
Saw a few deer, mostly low country.
lots of UTV's. But seeing bundled up COLD riders, I was glad to be in warm cab of my Tundra, chains on all 4 tires.
oh and lots of Xmas tree cutters out there for their holiday tree.
Went back past Saturday, Sunday, the last 2 days of the season. Weather warmed up considerably, lots of snow melted and roads slushy, packed snow-ice in the shady areas. We didn't have to chain up. Set my Kifaru Tut tent/stove for the one night.
Only observed old elk tracks, nothing fresh and saw no elk so moved over across Hwy-410 in unit 342 for the Sunday hunt. No elk spotted but good amount of fresh deer tracks, one main frame 4x4 buck spotted but at 100 yards, moving on trail with a purpose and out of bow range.