high hunt out of lake chelan........

[high country]

who has done it? I am thinking of boating up and hiking in. I have never been in that area, but I have been all around it. I am not too sure wat the past fires and water/creek stories are. seems like a good trip, but a bunch of leg work.

[spin05]

I always wanted to.I think a late hunt would be better. Its steep but all up hill so dragging deer down is cool. I always had Prince creek in mind.

[bobcat]

Downhill or not, I sure as heck wouldn't want to "drag" a deer out of there!   

My back would never forgive me.

[actionshooter]

This is from an old thread,  depending on where you want to go.
I was planning on running up and cutting cross country, didn't work for me.

 I went up lake Chelan in a 12' boat during high buck alone. In the afternoon the winds came up and it got REAL nasty. On the westside of the lake there is quite a stretch with no where to land the boat. I thought for sure I was gonna capsize, the waves were big enough to sink me. I motored around trying to find a place to beach and avoiding waves at the same time. Luckily I had 2 lifevests, one for me and one for my pack and rifle. I almost never put them on but I was SCARED bigtime. I wass out there for a while, not sure how long, I finally found a cove with a place to tie the boat up and the was a semi flat spot big enough for my tent. I spent the night and in the morning I got the hell out of there. Went back to the launch, parked the boat and went into Glacier Peaks the old fashioned way, via trailhead.

[clawdad]

I am thinking about it as well. I have a 16ft boat and a place I stay out there up lake of manson. I have talked to the game warden a little bit as well but I haven't decided where I am going yet. I went up to stehekin over the 4th of July  and one thing is for sure steep steep steep

[boneaddict]

You guys should go into advertising.  Take a great hunt then ask 1500 of the most dedicated hunters in the state to try it out.

[Slider]

I've been up there in a 24ft boat the wind kicked up and we had to turn around and get out of there!!! A 12ft boat is Suicidal at best!!! 

[clawdad]

You guys should go into advertising.  Take a great hunt then ask 1500 of the most dedicated hunters in the state to try it out.

?

[boneaddict]

wasn't for you clawdad

[PolarBear]

Bone, most guys wuss out when they actually get there and see how steep it really is.  Where the bucks get pushed to is right where you need a good set of balls and lungs to reach which leaves 98% of all hunters out.
I shot my widest mulie just above Cub Lake in the Prince Creek Drainage.  I started at the top and worked my way down towards the lake.  Shot my buck at Cub Lake and drug it down Prince Creek to Lake Chelan where my cousin picked me up in my boat.  We use to hunt a lot in that area by boat or using my boat as a pickup rig.  That was many moons ago thought.  I did spot a couple of ok bucks down by the lake at Prince Creek last summer.  Definitely be careful of the Lake in the evenings!!!  If you haven't run boats in rough water, I would not suggest that you try it.  Any boat under 18' would not be a smart choice.  The average "weekend" boater can easily find themself capsized in a heartbeat and up there help is a long ways away.

[high country]

well, I have an 18' walleye boat and plenty of hp, I expect to travel early in the am and the steep thing.......you guys ever do a high hunt where it ain't steep? I thank everyone for the info. anyone have any pics to share?

bone, don't sweat it......the majority will get to 4k feet and say screw this.....just helping to keep the winners up in the kings land.

[Vek]

You're looking at possibly the toughest hunt in Washington, physically.  You will have to backpack your deer ONE VERTICAL MILE down to the lake, or close to it.  The water can be very rough.  The ten mile stretch above 25-mile creek is usually a wind tunnel.  You need a very capable boat. 

[actionshooter]

You're looking at possibly the toughest hunt in Washington, physically.  You will have to backpack your deer ONE VERTICAL MILE down to the lake, or close to it.  The water can be very rough.  The ten mile stretch above 25-mile creek is usually a wind tunnel.  You need a very capable boat. 

Now ya tell me   

[popeshawnpaul]

I'm going early bow on Sept 1 there.  Turns out bear are legal too and I've seen quite a few of them from a boat before.  I'll throw the rifle and bow in.  I hunted it last year and didn't see a deer.  Unless a deer stands there and looks at me from 20 yards, I plan on only taking a bigger buck.  I've shot them up to 140" up off the lake.  I stayed down by the lake though, which I guess was the problem.  I got a 25 foot sportfisher so the lake won't be a problem.  Well, I take that back.  It can always be a problem.  I've been through some nasty stuff in large boats on that lake for over 25 years.  Seems like there use to be more deer in the 80's than now.  Incidentally, I spotted 2 moose last year but no deer.

Now, it is hot up there.  My plan is to try and get whatever I may shoot to the lake and put it in that ice cold water for a few hours.  Then clean and get the heck down the lake quick to cold storage.

[BC CHASER]

Pope just to let you know be very cautious about having a rifle with you when bow hunting deer.  I had a buddy go through the ringer with a local warden about that.  He did not get a ticket but the warden was trying to trap him.  I myself would not have a rifle in my hands with an archery deer tag during the season.  I know you would do anything bad but just a warning.

[high country]

I have another question that really has strong influence on my dedicatio to the area..................what is the availability of water on the hike up? not too sure about hauling a weeks worth of water up a cliff that is a mile high.

[Little Fish]

I've contemplated doing what you are talking about for high buck. After talking with a game bio he suggested I try a couple other areas that have higher animal populations since the areas around the lake have seen population declines in recent years. With that said I will probably give this hunt a try in the future because it looks like a great adventure. I was also told there are quite a few bear around the lake so I'd be prepared for taking a bear if the chance arose.

My loose plan would be to launch at 25-mile creek campground (or farther up the lake if I can find a launch), run up the lake and tie up at one of several docks along the lake and hike my way into the wilderness for a week or so. I haven't pinpointed which dock to use, but there are 15-20 federal camp areas along the lake...some have docks, some don't. I was in this area last weekend at 25-mile creek and can confirm it is a long steep hike from the lake to the top of the first ridge. I did see several creeks/waterfalls flowing into the lake so I don't think water would be a problem. Weather/water wise it was flat calm 3 out or 4 days, but blew up on the 4th day. I could have run my 16' boat in the water but it would have made for a bumpy ride. I would be reluctant to run something smaller however. I think the safest thing to do would be to build some time into your schedule for weather delays in case you have to wait an extra day going in or coming out.

[ICEMAN]

I have hunted this lake about five seasons, and my family over 30. This lake can be a killler. We took a rogue wave over a 21foot deep hulled boat that could would have swamped a boat with a walkthru... Wave crashed over our windshield. Be careful.

Also, not the best rifle hunt if no snow. Bring your trout gear...

[Muleyslyr]

Pope just to let you know be very cautious about having a rifle with you when bow hunting deer.  I had a buddy go through the ringer with a local warden about that.  He did not get a ticket but the warden was trying to trap him.  I myself would not have a rifle in my hands with an archery deer tag during the season.  I know you would do anything bad but just a warning.

 

[popeshawnpaul]

I wasn't going to carry a rifle and bow at the same time.  I was going to have a rifle in the boat in case I saw one and went and put a stalk on them.  I figure as long as I don't have a bow in my hands, I'm good to go.  I have seen them along the lake from the boat.  I'll have to check, but I think I can even shoot them from the boat if the engine is off and not moving.  My wife would just LOVE that...   

[Caseyd]

I think the VERY STEEP Country has been established. I have not hunted this area but have done some hiking in these parts. Most have been from getting dropped off in the north cascades then reaching the lake in a couple days(depending on which trail you take and pace).


If you are establishing a base camp for the week you could bring a weeks worth of water and take with you what you need for the day. If you will be on the move for the week i would recommend a water purifier with you, the process of filling a bottle will take a couple minutes but in the end it will save you time and strength vs. lugging around all that weight(8lbs per gallon)

Good luck!! I would like to hear about this hunt once you have returned!!

[75johndeere]

i planned out a hunt up there for this year and my buddy backed out  but you can take the ferry up to stehiken as well all you have to do is have the captain hold your rifle for the ride. They had no problem with bringing a deer on board either. It will be boned out and in your pack anyways. Pick up a good topo program like garmin mapsource or something like that and it has most of the hiking trails on it and if you plan a route you can know approximately how far your going to be hiking, where streams are at, etc.  From the info i got you have to get a permit to camp and be in a designated area but I'm not 100% positive on that.

[chukarchaser]

I have hunted this area a few times, both from the top down and bottom up.  There is not as much water as one mite think.  the biggest problem is the no water zone between the top and bottom.  Its very hard to pack enough on your back.

Good advice on the purifier