Has anyone had any luck with elk on Fort Lewis? I just started hunting the property this year for deer and would like to hunt elk if there on the land? Any help and locations (area #) would be very appreciated.

Ft Lewis does not allow elk hunting. That was the last official word I got early this year. I hunt the Ft every year and have seen many deer, no elk though. I have a friend who saw a cow last year, but the area he saw it in has never been open for modern or muzzle seasons. Not sure about archery. I am sure that some elk do move through the Ft but I have no idea of a good area. I would imagine areas 21-23 might get a push off the Steam plant and Macintosh Lake area. There are elk near there. There also use to be a small herd near Yelm. Areas 13-15 may get some from the Krager/Silver Lake area if the herd is still there. A WDFW biologist I know asked me this year about elk on the fort also. He knows I spend a lot of time out there. Must be getting some reports of them. If you find out more let me know too. Do you modern or other hunt? I went muzzle because the season is so much better.

I know when I was stationed there in 1978-79 there were elk out there. We saw them lots of times at night out near the artillery range.

Last time I went modern for elk I thought we were on the artillery range!

lol--

Some of the "rifles" I've seen guys use for elk are actually more like artillery.

-Big Jim
I reconfirmed with the nac this morning and there said "If you can find them, then you can shoot them". I just moved out here last year and missed the hunting season. This year I had something lined up with a friend down in Klickitat but he got pulled away on a family emergency so that left me with no back up plan. I wanted to stay in area 666 cause I'm mainly looking for meat not horns. (Horns would be nice, though) but I already decided the 1st one I see is dinner. I don't bow hunt or have a muzzleloader but after just now looking at the dates you have I think I should invest in a muzzleloader for next year. Since this is my 1st year trying for elk I didn't want to go to the timber farms and possible mess up someones hunt since I didn't scout anything. I'm planning on trying to find a trail somewhere, putting up my treestand and praying something walks by close enough. I do know fort lewis somewhat from deer hunting and have some maps just now need to find an elk.

It seems wierd that in march I was told no elk, but I will also double check. We know some people who work at NAC and maybe be able to get the scoop on a good area. The end of the month my ML season reopens and 666 is any elk for me. I think I will try some of the apple orchards in the south areas. While looking for deer too. Good luck. My wife and Dad are going to try around St. Helens this weekend for their elk.

Out by The town of Rainer on the fort