Washington Blacktail

Oregon Fishing Guide · Jan 6, 2003

Hey Everyone,
I am just curious if any of you hunt the winston creek unit or up behind winlock. I grew up in Toledo and I sure miss hunting up there. We knew that country so well and took a lot of deer. Before and after Mt. St Helens blew her top. I hear that weyerhauser closed all the gates so it is a hike in only now but my gosh that would only make for more and bigger deer. There was a couple hills we hunted that had a great blood line of big bucks. I shot a 4 point on this hill in early 80s then a hunting buddy got a 4x5 on it about 4 years later there and then we took another 4point on the hill about 6 years after that and when you put all these racks up to each other you can sure see thta they are all related. There were a couple spots like that.

Anyway, I guess I am just reminiscing tonight and was wondering if any of you hunt there and if so how are you doing.

Talk to you later, Jon

Blacktail_boy · Jan 7, 2003

I met a guy down at the gym where I work who has hunted this unit. Personally I have never hunted it or anywhere around it. Weyerhauser is starting to close her land in alot of places, not that this is bad by anymeans. My friend has taken a couple of nice bucks down that way but closer to the Lewis county unit I think. I'll be sure to ask him next time I see him and get some details. Jordan

Bob D. · Jan 7, 2003

Jon,
I have never hunted that unit but I've worked in there a little bit. Much of the unit is behind closed gates now, except for the state land. It does make it hard to access a lot of the unit. Did you mostly hunt the western side of the unit? That's the part that I'm familiar with. I know that it does get hit pretty hard during elk season.

Oregon Fishing Guide · Jan 8, 2003

Hey Guys,
Yes it was the west side of winston creek that I hunted. We hunted off of all the 1800 and 1900 roads. With those gates closed I'l bet there are some awesome bucks in there. There were so many logging roads that a lot of hunters would just road hunt the whole area. We hunted that area for so many years so we knew the canyons that were hid and a few of them were always full of deer and elk. I'll bet the elk herds have grown in good numbers also. We ran a lot of bear with hounds up there too. I called a old buddy yesterday to see how they did and he took another very good 4 point and he said that he didn't have to go far. He said he didn't see another person hiking in there. Boy,would I like to spend a week up there. His daughter lives right at the enterance of the 1800 road.

I also worked up there my younger years. When you graduated from high school it was just a right of massage to adulthood to work in the woods logging.

Well I will talk to you later. Keep a tight line, Jon

Blacktail_boy · Jan 8, 2003

Thanks for the info on the Winston Unit. I am moving out of my house later this month and in the search of a new area to hunt. I am moving up to Olympia so I will be closer to the more southern units. I am really looking into the Lewis county area. I use a muzzle loader so I am hoping to be able to find a really secluded area where a 'big' one is holed up. Jordan

wake1 · Jan 13, 2003

I hunted elk up there this year. Was unsuccessfull but saw a nice four by four buck. I went up this Saturday the 11th and got to about 10 yards of a nice four by three bull and saw another four by three buck. The weather was changing so the animals were out. I am going to try and get up there about every six weeks this summer and do some more scouting. If you have any suggestions feel free to pass them on. I will see you at the sportsmans show in Puyallup. I do know of about 4 nice bulls taken out of there this year and only heard of one buck being taken. The weather did not cooperate this last year. I am sure the harvest numbers are down all over the west side of the state. Take it easy.

Oregon Fishing Guide · Jan 13, 2003

Wake,
If you are coming to the show and plan on stopping by my booth to say hi bring a winston creek map and I will cirle some areas that I know have a good blood of deer. and I will also show you where we consistantly seen elk. See you there, Jon

wake1 · Jan 13, 2003

Thanks. I will do that. I am not sure what day it will be. I am going to check out the seminars and figure out which day would be best. Be safe and have fun.