If you want an enjoyable hunt during the rifle season for Elk I'd encourage you to "walk" atleast 4-8 miles behind any gate legal to hunt behind from Longview to Aberdeen to Chehalis. Yeah you could try your luck hunting field Elk but good luck. Too much pressure, hassle, and risk. Elk hunting, as many will tell you, is just insane anymore. Willapa Hills has plenty of Elk to kill if your'e willing to go after them. Do your scouting, sell yourself on an area, and commit. I don't claim to be an expert at all, but I can't over emphasize the quality of hunt you'll have if you forego the mayhem.