collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: West Side Fossil Creek Unit  (Read 1530 times)

Offline OOM

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2024
  • Posts: 3
  • Location: Port Orchard, WA
West Side Fossil Creek Unit
« on: June 25, 2024, 09:06:43 AM »
Hello, I decided to but a permit this year (first time) for the Fossil Creek permit area. This is my third-year elk hunting, and I am green with "e-scouting" and elk hunting in general. I will be hunting the entire early season for muzzleloader. Any advice for locations within that area? (I know no one wants to give coordinates). I appreciate any general advice for this region and elk hunting for Roosevelts in general and yes, I know about google and YouTube but would like any local working knowledge if possible. Thanks in advance.

Offline STIKNSTRINGBOW

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 4366
  • Location: Chehalis
    • https://www.facebook.com/stiknstring.bow
Re: West Side Fossil Creek Unit
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2024, 02:30:25 PM »
Check every entrance prior to season.
.
Find a good trail.
.
I believe that a lot of elk will leave the surrounding areas to enter a "relatively" safe area.
.
Any elk that has lived a few years knows what the crunch of tires on logging roads is.
.
Locked gates and restricted access is your friend.
.
But...
I also think they have learned to live on the edges.
.
By the time ml season opens they have met a few bowhunters on both sides of the gates..
.
Permit holders will (most likely) try "steep and deep", non permit holders will hunt to the boundaries..
.
That marginal area between the two extremes is made for old hunters, new hunters, and youth..
.
I'd rather be lucky than good, it's a lot less work.

The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor Trainer

Offline OOM

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2024
  • Posts: 3
  • Location: Port Orchard, WA
Re: West Side Fossil Creek Unit
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2024, 03:35:16 PM »
Thank you for the response (most people do not want to help young or new hunters but complain when the laws change, or land holders don't give any cares about conservation (fewer hunters = fewer people to "lobby" or "vote" for better access and laws IMO). I was able to glass two separate herds with legal bulls last year during the gun season (on non-permit land) in the southwest but hope to increase my chances of spotting a large bull before season (therefore buying the permit to hopefully cut back on pressure. If not, I will be back to look for the herds from last season as I have heard that they tend to stick fairly close to their territory from year to year (I know that there are a lot of variables obviously if someone bumps them out).

Offline STIKNSTRINGBOW

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 4366
  • Location: Chehalis
    • https://www.facebook.com/stiknstring.bow
Re: West Side Fossil Creek Unit
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2024, 03:52:22 PM »
If you saw them during modern season you have a VERY good spot to start.
.
Looking for big bulls is nice,  but any legal animal is a success.
.
Once you get one on the ground it's a whole different thing..
..
Unless you have help.
The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor Trainer

Offline OOM

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2024
  • Posts: 3
  • Location: Port Orchard, WA
Re: West Side Fossil Creek Unit
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2024, 04:08:46 PM »
Well, this is the guy that I got closest to out of the two herds (300win-mag at 85 yards). Both herds were approximately 1.5 miles from nearest gate/road in different areas. I am the most excited I have been preparing for elk season (getting the first one down helps with some confidence). I choose muzzleloader this year because my first year was during early muzzleloader and hearing them bugle and respond to calls was very exciting so hoping they are vocal some this year.

Offline STIKNSTRINGBOW

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 4366
  • Location: Chehalis
    • https://www.facebook.com/stiknstring.bow
Re: West Side Fossil Creek Unit
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2024, 04:13:15 PM »
Beautiful!
The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor Trainer

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Sockeye Numbers by nwwanderer
[Today at 04:46:16 PM]


Worksharp belts by JLS
[Today at 04:03:08 PM]


Public Land Sale Senate Budget Reconciliation by pianoman9701
[Today at 03:29:32 PM]


Yakima bow shop by Fireman10
[Today at 03:19:35 PM]


Tree stand for Western Washingtn by addicted1
[Today at 03:06:42 PM]


Early Huckleberry Bull Moose tag drawn! by HillHound
[Today at 01:18:10 PM]


Area 11 2025 - Well? by Crunchy
[Today at 01:07:09 PM]


Sportsman Alliance files petition to Gov Ferguson for removal of corrupt WA Wildlife Commissioners by timberfaller
[Today at 12:45:33 PM]


Article on the beaver trapping ban in OR by greenhead_killer
[Today at 12:41:42 PM]


Ten Years, and still plugging along by ghosthunter
[Today at 10:59:16 AM]


AKC lab puppies! Born 06/10/2025 follow as they grow!!! by scottfrick
[Today at 10:48:11 AM]


A lonely Job... by Loup Loup
[Today at 10:27:09 AM]


Need information on having a gunsmith thread a barrel for thin walled chokes. by Badhabit
[Today at 10:04:04 AM]


1st Quality Deer tag in Washington and its a muzzleloader tag by addicted1
[Today at 09:36:06 AM]


Archery Pins by kodiak06
[Today at 05:47:51 AM]


Blue Mtn Foothills West Rifle Tag by teanawayslayer
[Today at 04:32:16 AM]


2025 Quality Chewuch Tag by huntnphool
[Yesterday at 10:27:22 PM]


erronulvin trail cam photos by actionshooter
[Yesterday at 09:04:17 PM]


2024 Quality Buck coming home by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 07:17:01 PM]


2025 Washington Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Raffle by GurrCentral
[Yesterday at 06:50:57 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal