Washington hunters-Anyone draw a Toutle tag?

[slivrslingr]

G'day fellas!

I drew a Toutle (Unit 556) cow elk archery tag, good for September and December.  Since I'll be home for the holidays, I'll be up there for the late part of the hunt.  I've never been up there and was wondering if anyone had any insight on the area.  Any info would be greatly appreciated!  

Thanks,
Chris

[Yeoman Bowman]

Toutle is in SW Washington, about 60 miles north of the border with Oregon. It's only about 40 or so miles west of Mount St. Helens, which blew up in 1980.

Can't tell you a thing about the elk hunting though, as I've never been there myself. (Sorry bout that). But have fun hunting.

G'day and good luck!

[slivrslingr]

Thanks for the response!  I'm looking forward to the late season with only a few guys in the woods.  The last time I hunted late was in a general season area and it was chaos!  

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm from Oregon but am a Washington resident.  Been living in Australia for a year or so.

[Longbowz]

Ask this question on the Traditional Bowhunters of Washington forum.  I'm sure someone will be able to help.

[slivrslingr]

Done, thanks for the suggestion.  I hadn't realized that TBW had a forum linked to TradGang!        :D

[Ragnarok Forge]

I live in SW and hunt the Coweeman unit that is next to the Toutle unti a lot.  By late season the animals have been hunted by the draw winners enough for them to have moved deeper into the unit.  The roads are usually open by December so you should be able to drive back into the unit. Getting a cow is simply a matter of putting in time.  The unit has a lot of elk.  I would arrange access to a mountain bike just in case the roads are closed.

[slivrslingr]

Thanks!  What's the terrain and timber cover like?  I don't know how many days I'll be able to put in hunting, but hopefully enough to make the trip up worthwhile.  I appreciate the help.

[flinter]

I live about an hour and a half north of the toutle. Never hunted that partictular unit, but hunted north and south of it. Lots of elk in that unit, but gamedept. is giving more tags for those areas around Mount St. Hellens, to reduce the amount of winter kill. You will be hunting big timber, clearcuts, and smaller thicker younger tree planted areas in various stages of grouth. good luck.