Do backcountry elk hunts exist in Western Washington?

[TRD1911]

Get deep into the Packwood GMU 516. Or, head south to trout lake.

Looking at aerials on basemap and Onx it looks like there's sporadic logging; any issues with access/gates?

[westside Elkhunter]

More and more elk are moving down by Packwood. Seeing less sign in certain areas i have hunted. If you are looking at packwood. I would start looking at some of the trails up towards white pass. Then when the snow starts melting start checking certain areas out.

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[dvolmer]

I'm not sure if elk hunting even exists anymore in Washington!  More like a late autumn camping trip!!! 

[stlusn30-06]

I dig your thought process. A heads up someone gave me (not sure what archery season you are planning for), but keep in mind meat spoilage if you are planning on going in warmer temps. 4-6mi on foot, with 100+ pound packs for multiple trips = many, many hours of pack out. If you are thinking early archery (which would about coincide with your High Buck trips) do a bunch of research and practice on how to keep meat from spoiling.

[2MANY]

I would try a different approach.
Track the guys here that are giving locations out and follow them to their hunting spots.

[Sundance]

backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.

[TRD1911]

I dig your thought process. A heads up someone gave me (not sure what archery season you are planning for), but keep in mind meat spoilage if you are planning on going in warmer temps. 4-6mi on foot, with 100+ pound packs for multiple trips = many, many hours of pack out. If you are thinking early archery (which would about coincide with your High Buck trips) do a bunch of research and practice on how to keep meat from spoiling.

For sure. We've done that struggle for bear in the past. Coincidentally just finished the podcast with Newberg and Jacobson on the topic. Good info for sure

[Skyvalhunter]

backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.

But did you see any elk?

[2MANY]

Lucky he didn't see a yarder on that landing.

[Sundance]

backcountry in Western WA can look different at times. This was 14 miles in on bike and I didn't see a soul once I got past the 8-mile mark.

But did you see any elk?

Most definitely did not! Three years ago that area was holding lots of elk, this year was a bust. Ended up moving 75 miles and found them in a different GMU.

[scotbradly726]

Just curious, why not SE Wa? There's elk in the Blue's for certain, and with what you wanna do, is pretty much the only way you'll find them. They are in there deep off the beaten path. it's about as back country as you'll find in this state.

[TRD1911]

Just curious, why not SE Wa? There's elk in the Blue's for certain, and with what you wanna do, is pretty much the only way you'll find them. They are in there deep off the beaten path. it's about as back country as you'll find in this state.

My inlaws property is primarily where I can count on seeing elk every time and they live in Aberdeen. If I can fill my personal tag before my buddy flies out great, if not we both have a western elk tag.

[LDennis24]

 

Go up around Mt. Adams. I hiked up in there one time to a spot where the water was rushing underground beneath your feet and you could hear it but not see it unless you looked down between the tree roots of the old growth. It was awesome! There's alot of cool land in there. Go into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. It has elk and the worst biting insects I've ever been around. So bring spray!

[CoryTDF]

Go up around Mt. Adams. I hiked up in there one time to a spot where the water was rushing underground beneath your feet and you could hear it but not see it unless you looked down between the tree roots of the old growth. It was awesome! There's alot of cool land in there. Go into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. It has elk and the worst biting insects I've ever been around. So bring spray!

I hunted around Mt. Adams one season and it was really cool. I didn't tag out and the rain was merciless but it was beautiful and I would think about doing it again. Not a ton of folks up where I was other than the people I was hunting with. Certainly could have done some back country stuff. 

[2MANY]

Oh and the blue berries are to die for.