The Kamilche herd on hwy 108 between Shelton and McCleary numbers about 59. They generally hang out on McDonald's farm. You will see a number of green bldgs below the road grade on the North side of the road.

The Mox Chehalis herd is on the east side of the Mox Chehalis road that runs between Mcleary and Porter. The herd generally is in a number of fields starting at about 2.5 miles from McCleary. My highest count of this herd was 110.

The Grandaddy of the local herds is located between Porter and Oakville on the Southbank road. The elk generally hang out between Southbank Rd and the Chehalis River on the Porter Creek dairy farms, but will range as far as the Damitio Rd. I have counted as many as 270 elk in this herd. This is the primary herd that I hunt, 3 elk in 4 years.

All of these herds love to hang out on private property, so please respect the landowners (I have no worries about you, Marty, but you never know who reads this.)

You can drive by all of these herds in a half hour or less when you start out at the Little Creek Casino.

Andy, are those elk the same ones I see on Middle Satsop Road? Nearly caused me to wreck my truck one time!

No, those are not the same herd. I know of about 11 separate herds in my area, within 30 miles, and most of these elk generally hang out in a home range territory of 25 square miles or less. They will usually move .25 miles per day, unless pushed by hunters. They are real homebodies.

Two herds I know WILL NOT cross a paved road, kind of strange, but they have no issue crossing streams or rivers.

I had a chance to spend a day flying with a friend in his Hughes 300 copter last weekend and we spotted 4 small herds between the Quinault and Matlock. Even saw a few that had been shot on the Quinault reservation. It was a great way to do some post season scouting.

I'm through venting now!