collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?  (Read 4217 times)

Offline lkelly08

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2024
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Snohomish
Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« on: June 16, 2024, 01:28:31 PM »
I drew a cow tag for modern firearm season and I'm looking for any advice or tips you guys are willing to share. My brother in law and I are planning to go out there in a few weeks to do an overnight backpacking trip. Do you guys have an trails you recommend that we take? When it comes to hunting season my BIL are more than capable of hiking but our farther in law does not get around very well at all so he will be very limited. Any advice for him too? I've never hunted out there. Is there a lot of people? Things not to do?


Any advice at well would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Offline Nmarth88

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Nov 2021
  • Posts: 38
  • Location: Puyallup
    • None
  • Groups: RMEF
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2024, 07:33:05 PM »
Modern will be busy. It’s not over crowded if you get out a bit. I would be at the peak of Russell ridge by day break. Good luck!

Offline ducks4days

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2021
  • Posts: 933
  • Location: Ravensdale
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2024, 08:48:35 PM »
First post, asking people for good spots in a popular unit.

Welcome, tell us about yourself!
What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

Offline lkelly08

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2024
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Snohomish
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2024, 08:25:25 PM »
I'm obviously new to this site and still learning how to use this thing. I am familiar with reddit where you can respond to comments but I don't see how to do that here. Been hunting in WA for 20+ years and I am not very good at it. I've never shot anything that was worth mounting and never killed an elk in WA. I shot a spike elk in OR about 8 years age and last year I finally shot a decent 6x6 elk in Montana! I know being the new guy and asking for help is pretty lame so sorry about that. Thanks for the few suggestions so far and I'll try to contribute more before I ask for help.

Offline TeacherMan

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4413
  • Location: North Idaho
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2024, 08:48:21 PM »
No secret but the cedar swamps at the end of the lake always have cows in them. Canoe can be very helpful.
If you shoot the first one you will never get that true trophy.

Offline lkelly08

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2024
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Snohomish
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2024, 08:59:54 PM »
No secret but the cedar swamps at the end of the lake always have cows in them. Canoe can be very helpful.


That's a good idea. I have one of those inflatable two person Amazon things I got 5 years ago for $50 and have used it twice. Might be a good time to try it out. How long of a boat trip do you think it is? I've never been in that area before so I have no idea where that is but I can Google it.

Offline TeacherMan

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4413
  • Location: North Idaho
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2024, 09:34:55 PM »
No secret but the cedar swamps at the end of the lake always have cows in them. Canoe can be very helpful.


That's a good idea. I have one of those inflatable two person Amazon things I got 5 years ago for $50 and have used it twice. Might be a good time to try it out. How long of a boat trip do you think it is? I've never been in that area before so I have no idea where that is but I can Google it.

Use google earth and the distance feature. The entire lake is like 3 miles long but you can drive down both shorelines quite a ways. One side has a trail that goes right to it. The other side is good 4wheeling and goes back a ways. 
If you shoot the first one you will never get that true trophy.

Offline MIKEXRAY

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2008
  • Posts: 1157
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2024, 03:09:54 AM »
Bumping lake is a big reservoir and the wind comes up basically every afternoon.  Taking a blow up two man paddle boat down the lake is not to feasible . The state has maps online that shows red dots where the collared elk ping , it will show you exactly where the elk hang out the most.
Good luck .

Offline lkelly08

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2024
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Snohomish
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2024, 06:49:51 AM »
Bumping lake is a big reservoir and the wind comes up basically every afternoon.  Taking a blow up two man paddle boat down the lake is not to feasible . The state has maps online that shows red dots where the collared elk ping , it will show you exactly where the elk hang out the most.
Good luck .


Would you mind telling me what I need to search for to find
these maps? I've googled different combinations or "Washington, elk ,map and collars" but u haven't found anything like what it sounds like you are talking about.

If you don't want to share I understand. Thank you.

Offline hughjorgan

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 2420
  • Location: Wilbur
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2024, 06:57:42 AM »
Bumping lake is a big reservoir and the wind comes up basically every afternoon.  Taking a blow up two man paddle boat down the lake is not to feasible . The state has maps online that shows red dots where the collared elk ping , it will show you exactly where the elk hang out the most.
Good luck .


Would you mind telling me what I need to search for to find
these maps? I've googled different combinations or "Washington, elk ,map and collars" but u haven't found anything like what it sounds like you are talking about.

If you don't want to share I understand. Thank you.

Google wdfw status and trends report, scroll to the elk section find the report for the Yakima herd. You’ll find what he is talking about there.

Offline yakimanoob

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 1162
  • Location: Naches
  • big game | SAR | mountaineering
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #10 on: June 18, 2024, 10:42:41 AM »
Congrats on the tag! As you'll see by the number of hunters who show up for the season, it's no secret that unit holds lots of elk. You will have very little competition for cows though. Bumping is quintessential elk country - rugged, crowded, and breathtakingly beautiful.

As far as backpacking trips go, the William O Douglas Wilderness that this unit encompasses offers some of the best backpacking in the state. White Pass to Chinook Pass on the PCT is an absolute classic, and will introduce you well to the kinds of terrain and environments you'll be dealing with (you'll likely bump into plenty of elk in high summer there too). As with other places, some trails are washed out or decommissioned and keeping a flexible attitude will serve you well.

For hunting itself, this honestly isn't the best unit for road hunting - it's almost entirely Wilderness by land area %. Not to say there aren't roads, only that you will have plenty of company on the roads.

As for things not to do, talking specific locations on a public forum is probably at the top of the list. Otherwise just the usual advice: give other hunters plenty of space, be courteous, etc etc. Also, don't make me come get you (I'm on the SAR team that covers this unit :chuckle:).
"master" hunter - still a noob.

Offline buglebuster

  • ELKOHOLIC
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 3621
  • Location: yakima
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #11 on: June 18, 2024, 02:09:42 PM »
Don’t overlook the south side of the unit. When most people think of the bumping they head up around the lake and spend their time there. If I was you with a rifle cow tag I’d focus on the area up off of wildcat road above rimrock lake. The road washed out years ago and has drastically decreased the pressure in that area if you’re willing to hike in. I know people take dirt bikes and stuff around the washout now illegally.

Offline MackDaddy509

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Nov 2023
  • Posts: 55
  • Location: Selah, WA
    • Carson Mackey
  • Groups: RMEF, NWTF
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2024, 08:40:59 PM »
Don’t overlook the south side of the unit. When most people think of the bumping they head up around the lake and spend their time there. If I was you with a rifle cow tag I’d focus on the area up off of wildcat road above rimrock lake. The road washed out years ago and has drastically decreased the pressure in that area if you’re willing to hike in. I know people take dirt bikes and stuff around the washout now illegally.
:yeah:
"Remember to Shoot right at 'em. No warning shots."
- Old Man

Offline Berin Denson

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2020
  • Posts: 105
  • Location: Chelan, WA
    • teamheavyhunting
  • Groups: NRA, RMEF
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #13 on: June 18, 2024, 11:09:46 PM »
First post, asking people for good spots in a popular unit.

Welcome, tell us about yourself!
give me break, is that how we as a hunting community respond to each other? If you have some intel for the guy share it, if you don’t, scroll along. I get so tired of guys on this sight getting on their high horse when others are seeking help for a successful hunt.  I help guys every year in a unit that is challenging to understand if you haven’t hunted it. I get all the jolly’s helping guys out year after year.
I need to add, I’m currently teaching my 7 year olds the old rule, if you Don’t have anything nice to say… well, ya, you can finish the sentence.

To the OG poster, haven’t spent much time in bumping but I will be sure to ask a few guys who have that I know and see if they have some info I can pass along. HAPPY to help.

Offline JWBINX

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2013
  • Posts: 515
  • Location: washington
  • Groups: LIFE NRA, RMEF
Re: Cow Tag For GMU 356 Bumping. Any Advice?
« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2024, 06:16:45 AM »
 :yeah:
First post, asking people for good spots in a popular unit.

Welcome, tell us about yourself!
give me break, is that how we as a hunting community respond to each other? If you have some intel for the guy share it, if you don’t, scroll along. I get so tired of guys on this sight getting on their high horse when others are seeking help for a successful hunt.  I help guys every year in a unit that is challenging to understand if you haven’t hunted it. I get all the jolly’s helping guys out year after year.
I need to add, I’m currently teaching my 7 year olds the old rule, if you Don’t have anything nice to say… well, ya, you can finish the sentence.

To the OG poster, haven’t spent much time in bumping but I will be sure to ask a few guys who have that I know and see if they have some info I can pass along. HAPPY to help.

 :yeah: :tup:

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Looking for Solid 22 LR input by Rat44
[Today at 12:26:36 AM]


Lynx kittens confirmed in the Kettle Range by dwils233
[Today at 12:04:14 AM]


Archery elk gear, 2025. by spin05
[Today at 12:03:42 AM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 11:33:25 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 10:19:01 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by Klickitatsteelie
[Yesterday at 09:23:56 PM]


2025 Canning by Twispriver
[Yesterday at 09:15:12 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by Edminsterquality
[Yesterday at 08:47:06 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Trapper John
[Yesterday at 08:00:27 PM]


First attempt at polish sausages by Stein
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 07:57:22 PM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 07:44:30 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by jjhunter
[Yesterday at 07:44:26 PM]


38% increase in fishing and hunting licenses by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 07:02:41 PM]


50 inch SXS and Tracks? by 92xj
[Yesterday at 05:34:03 PM]


3 days for Kings by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 05:06:49 PM]


Full moon and last week of September by pd
[Yesterday at 04:51:23 PM]


Hunting bears in the thick stuff by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 04:33:46 PM]


GMU 247 Entiat bear hunting by Ridgerunner
[Yesterday at 11:56:01 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal