Toutle archery permit

northwesthunter · Aug 14, 2004

Hey guys my brother drew a toutle bow tag and we have never hunted there before so looking for any help. Anybody out here that has hunted there or knows anything that could help him out would be greatly appreciated. He is going down this next weeken d to look it over. 4 weeks and counting !! Tks nwhunter

huntnphool · Aug 15, 2004

I have the same tag and have drawn the same unit before. Estimates are at 40 bulls to 100 cows right now, the only problem is Weyerhaeuser has closed access the last couple years because of the potential for fires. The state is trying to work something out with them so all we can do right now is hope we get in. It took several days to learn where the animals were the last time I drew the unit, fortunatly I won't have to blow that amount of time this year if I can get in. I have spotted a couple 7x7's in the last couple weeks and several 6 points. Looks like its going to be an excellent hunt................rf

TheHunt · Aug 15, 2004

Weyerhaeuser has closed all their land in Oregon and Washington because of the fire danger. Be aware that bow hunters hunting deer will screw up your hunt if you do not get off the road.

Look at your topo map and then look for water. Way down in the valleys. I found a couple of huge alder flats that had some very nice bulls. Good luck..

TheHunt

northwesthunter · Aug 15, 2004

Thanks guys everything helps. the fire closure will be a bummer for sure. Am anxious to see what the toutle is like to see if I can quit putting in for the margaret tag and actually get a permit maybe if it looks good on the toutle side. Thanks again nwhunter

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Aug 17, 2004

Sounds like Huntnphool has it all figured out, but if you need some ideas drop me a personal message. I am very familiar with the Toutle and do a lot of shedhunting in there. Could point you in several directions, with backups in case WEYCO has her shut down this year. One condition, you gotta bring me all the sheds you find!

northwesthunter · Aug 18, 2004

mule Deer Crazy I sent you a pm. Thanks nwhunter

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Aug 19, 2004

Check your PM.

northwesthunter · Aug 21, 2004

Thanks to each of you for your help and info . Thats what I like about MM and its members. No secret honey holes given out on the net for every joe blow to see but helpful info that can pooint a guy in the right direction. Good luck to all and will be sure to post results from the hunt Thanks again NWhunter

huntnphool · Aug 21, 2004

Looks like Weyerhaeuser has opned up the 1900, 4100 and 4200 roads which will allow us to access the entire unit. I saw a couple very nice bulls on Thursday evening, your going to have a great time......................rf

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Aug 28, 2004

Check your PM again.

Hornseeker · Aug 29, 2004

Hey mule deer crazy, how long have you been shed hunting that country? I worked for Weyco in 97/98 and was all over that place. Man, lots of elk. We NEVER saw a big bull, not even in the monument. YOu see anything real big. My buddy grew up in Toutle and has sheds from before the blast that were unreal, but nothing big after the blast. Whatchya think?

HS

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Aug 29, 2004

I've shed hunted off and on in there for 10 years or so. Never really picked up anything big, but quite a few. If there was only a market for raghorn sheds! However, the biggest bull I've ever seen in WA was in the Toutle Unit and he was a hog!

It wouldn't be my first choice for a big bull, but it should be an action-packed hunt if a guy's not too picky. All depends on how the bulls are responding though, some years they're all cranked up during early archery and others you can't seem to get them to make a peep.

What'd you do for WEYCO? You still work for them? I'm not familiar with the Toutle before the blast, but interesting he has big sheds from before but not after? The Margaret is the same way, lot's of bulls but big bulls are few and far between! I got a buddy that spent 19 days looking for a bull for the rifle hunt and saw hundreds of bulls, but nothing that would even come close to 370, so...?

What I've seen tracks pretty good with what you're saying.

Hornseeker · Aug 29, 2004

I was a fisheries technician for them. It was a blast. Doing the same stuff in Western MT now. Definitely more big bulls here, but not quite as thick as in the Toutle!

Yeah, he has huge horns from before the blast. You say nothing over 370?? I'm talking almost nothing over 300. The years I was in there I didn't see a bull that would go 320, and only saw a couple, in the monument, that would go 300. In the open areas I saw TONS of bulls that would go 240, maybe.

My buddy got the archery tag and is an unreal bowhunter, kills a decent bull every year, he never killed a bull in there cause he couldn't find what he was looking for. He grew up there, worked for Weyco there and spent 300 days a year in the woods in there or near there hunting or working, and said he never saw anything bigger than a fat gnarly old 240ish bull.

Anyhow, like you say, should be a heck of a hunt, as long as a guy isn't looking for a monster bull. I'd love to have the tag, there are a few places in there that are so thick with bulls that its unreal!

Take Care and Good Luck,

HS

northwesthunter · Aug 29, 2004

Mule deer crazy check your pm

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Sep 1, 2004

Should be there Thursday.

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Sep 1, 2004

Check your PM.

northwesthunter · Sep 1, 2004

Thanks Mule Deer Crazy will call you thurs nite nwhunter

Muleyslyr · Sep 2, 2004

Another thing that's working in your favor is noise. Man, you get a decent size herd in there going and look out. They can be loud. Was in there for the late Btail hunt 2 years ago and that's all I saw was elk. Biggest one was a respectable 5x6. Unfortunatly some idiot got popped up there for shootin' a 7x7. What a waste that was....but did enjoy the hunt though. Good luck down there, keep us posted.

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Sep 3, 2004

Check PM again.

Mule_Deer_Crazy · Sep 30, 2004

If you get a chance, post a picture of your brother's bull for us to drool over! You guys must be hunting machines, he was barely there 24 hours and passed up two or three bulls and arrowed the one that kept him up all night right outside the tent! You guys need a camp cook on one of your CO hunts? I don't look good in a maid outfit, but I can cook!

Good luck on the rest of your ventures this year!