GMU 578 and surrounding areas for deer, elk

[jneilson]

Hi, I live near Snowden and I'm getting back into hunting. Any idea of the outlook for deer and elk In west Klickitat, Skamania and the west part of Gifford Pinchot? I've also haven't found any info on antlerless hunts around here, is there some special permit or draw for those? Thanks.

[Shooter4]

Poor and poor

[Shooter4]

Poor and poor

What I mean by that is too many predators deer numbers have been decimated for 10 years and hoof rot for elk is bad there as well

[jneilson]

Poor and poor

Bummer

[high_hunter]

I hunted it for about 20 years and my father 10 years before that.  Used to be great but both stopped~ 5 years back due to low ungulate numbers, spotty success, higher hunter pressure across all seasons, and increase in prey including wolves.

Some great huntable country so hope it turns around someday!

Good luck,
HH

[birddogdad]

winterkill, hoof rot, poaching and predation has pretty much destroyed that entire area over past 10 years or so.... hunted this area for north of 30 years and its slim pickins now...

[LDennis24]

Used to be a paradise 20 yrs ago. Haven't been back in about 15 yrs... it was not the same

[elksnout]

Yes, what has been said is mostly true. Those areas at one time were a bit of an “destination” for deer and elk. Last fall for late muzzy elk was a huge eye opener as to how much it has slid. But… beings you live up there I’d suggest that you try to foster some relationships with private land owners. Saw lots of elk on private property. Predator numbers are high so perhaps bear and cougar hunting? West Klick is a solid producer for bear. I firmly believe that’s there’s now higher numbers of elk down low around Trout Lake and Glenwood than in the national forest.

Our hunting ranks need newbies. I applaud you. Figure out weapon of choice. Get the bear and cougar tags too along with deer and elk. Scout weekends and evenings. Meet local landowners who may tell you to piss off but maybe not. We did find access on a farmer who was tired of the elk tearing up his fences and getting free meals off of him. My point? Get out there and have fun. You’ll never get an animal if you don’t go…

elksnout

[YellowShells]

I'm pretty sure there aren't any doe tags available in those units - if there are, they'd be draw tags. Cow elk tags are draw, and will probably take at least a few points (years) to draw. They're listed in the regs. Keep in mind, 578 is a 3-pt min. unit for deer. They're all 3-pt min. for elk.

[MeepDog]

In 388 next door, the largest section of public access (Western Pacific timber) just closed forever. I think the gmu lost 80% of its public in one fell swoop last year.

[high_hunter]

Yes, what has been said is mostly true. Those areas at one time were a bit of an “destination” for deer and elk. Last fall for late muzzy elk was a huge eye opener as to how much it has slid. But… beings you live up there I’d suggest that you try to foster some relationships with private land owners. Saw lots of elk on private property. Predator numbers are high so perhaps bear and cougar hunting? West Klick is a solid producer for bear. I firmly believe that’s there’s now higher numbers of elk down low around Trout Lake and Glenwood than in the national forest.

Our hunting ranks need newbies. I applaud you. Figure out weapon of choice. Get the bear and cougar tags too along with deer and elk. Scout weekends and evenings. Meet local landowners who may tell you to piss off but maybe not. We did find access on a farmer who was tired of the elk tearing up his fences and getting free meals off of him. My point? Get out there and have fun. You’ll never get an animal if you don’t go…

elksnout

All great advice and good luck out there!

-HH

[dilleytech]

I'm pretty sure there aren't any doe tags available in those units - if there are, they'd be draw tags. Cow elk tags are draw, and will probably take at least a few points (years) to draw. They're listed in the regs. Keep in mind, 578 is a 3-pt min. unit for deer. They're all 3-pt min. for elk.

There’s antlerless hunting for archery. And special draw cow tags available. which was over the counter just 5 years ago or so.

I live close to you and have for 15 years. I have been hunting big game in the area for about the last 8 years. It’s certainly not great hunting but there’s animals and opportunity. I wouldn’t recommend anyone come here for destination hunting and putting in for the quality deer tags doesn’t make much sense anymore unless you live here, but if it’s your back yard it’s worth hunting.

I highly recommend taking up bear hunting. We have really really good bear hunting. Honestly I think killing a bear is easier than killing a buck in this unit. Baiting is a waste of time as the bears will show up within days if you try.

Also if you live in this area and aren’t salmon fishing you are really really wasting your time lol

 

[dilleytech]

Also for deer and elk hunting around here I would learn the tactics of blacktail hunting as best you can. Learning to hunt like a west coast blacktail hunter has probably helped me out the most. That and spring walks for mushrooms and turkeys. “Scouting”

[jneilson]

Thanks for the responses guys. The blacktails are showing up in my yard now along with turkeys. I gave a friend in the forest industry who told me about some nearby elk on public hunting land too. Thanks.

[tvandy45]

I'll take one of those turkeys off your hands if you find them being a nuisance haha I all but gave up on turkey this year and was prepping a nice bowl of soup with it

As far as BT i took a decent size 3/4 back in 2020 and saw a real nice 4/4 back in 2019. i've hunted it a few times since and haven't really seen much to get me excited. This unit would really benefit from a spring bear hunt to protect a lot of those fawns and calfs dropping but we all know how that ended up for us a few years back

Thanks for the responses guys. The blacktails are showing up in my yard now along with turkeys. I gave a friend in the forest industry who told me about some nearby elk on public hunting land too. Thanks.