Siouxon

[Karhu]

New here want to say hello and love the site been reading non stop for a week.  Grew up in SW WA spent the last 11 years in AZ hunting there Deer, Elk, Quail and Dove mostly, moved to the Seattle area (unfortunately the pay check dictates)  with that out of the way here's where I'm at.

My plan A for this year is closed and burning (everybody knows) and my hunting partner called 20 min ago and said he can't go at all this weekend his wife is mad at him so plan b is shot as well (we were going someplace I had never been in the NE).  So here I am all packed and ready to leave in the morning and nowhere to go.  Called a buddy in Vancouver and he said that him and some friends were going camping this weekend (no hunting for them just camping) up in the Siouxon around Calamity peak.  So obviously my question is. Is it worth my time and far more importantly my resources to try to go there?  I hunted that area 20 years ago back in high school almost religiously with some decent success and haven't even driven into it in 7 or so, last time I tried the road we used to take to our "spot" was tank trenched at least 4 miles down from where we used to start walking.  Being stuck in yuppie-vile I mean Seattle I obviously didn't get to spend any time anywhere near that area of the state. I know what the weather is supposed to be and it or a decent hike don't scare me. Some help would be appreciated as I don't know anybody down there anymore who hunt's and am starting blind again.

Just like everybody else I am not asking for a honey hole but being it my first time back in the state and my buddy bailed on me I would like to be at least close to friends in the woods in case something... well you understand (and my wife won't let me hunt by myself anymore now that we have kids  but it's no use arguing about it she always wins anyway 

[Wildsau]

I feel your pain.

I was born in Vancouver, and spent most of my child-hood between Mt St Helens and Mt Adams.  I came back, (due to pay-check dictation), to the Seattle Area, after a number of years hunting for wild boar, roe, Red Deer, etc. in Germany.  I know no-one, here, who hunts, don't know the area, and find that so much of the land, that looks promising, is owned by 'Bambi lovers'.  Most other areas, that some know about, they call their "noney-spots" and won't let you know anything about them. (WOW! have things changed since I last hunted in WA) 

I had to leave my rifles in Germany (long story), and because my sister offered me a Bear-Hunter, like new, 65# bow, at a good price,  I took up Bow-Hunting.  I have been hunting, this year, on Ft. Lewis, but, due to the dryness of everything, the deer have been abnormal and staying down so you can't find them.

It's  little late for anything, this year, for MR, except for bear, but you might want to look into Ft. Lewis Archery Hunting next year.  All you need do is, after Jul 1, register, pay $10, and take an orientation.  The biggest problem is competing with the training and bad information from Range Control.  The hunting is hard, but I have seen pics of the harvest and it is worth it.

You could, also, register, pay your fee, and take the orientation and hunt for bear, the rest of this season, on Ft. Lewis, if you were of a mind to.

[Karhu]

Wildsau thanks I will look into the Ft. Lewis stuff for next season a friend of mine who's an retired MP mentioned it once but he's old and when he remembered again it was past time  .  As far as bear goes I've never hunted it I think i was turned off of it as I only hunt for for meat and the bear I ate the one time tasted so bad I really never wanted to eat it again 

[brokehunter]

Welcome to the site
I, just like you, have lost my plan A. At least until it rains enough to open. And I was really looking forward to it as well. Originally from Oregon, but I've been hunting here for the past few years, but unsuccessfully. So my plan A was and is a very promising area, so hoping that changes soon. Anyway, with that being said, most of my hunting has been in the southeast corner of the Siouxon and the Wind River unit, both a little north of Carson, WA.

In any other year, I would probably point you in another direction, as the animals I've seen in this area have been hit and miss. And most of them I have seen stay on private property and don't move much into NF land. However, being that everything is closed, and you already have friends camping there, I say go for it. Since most areas are closed, be prepared for huge concentration of hunters and some competition. The incoming rain will help get animals moving, but the Gifford Pinchot will be packed.

I haven't fully decided where we're gonna be this weekend. Either up above cougar on NF land, or possibly north of Carson in where we usually go. Maybe I'll see ya up there if we decide to head into the Siouxon. I know there's some better hunting much closer to your Seattle location, so if the season gets more wet and they open up some areas, PM me and I can give you a location or 2 that's a little closer to where you are. Good luck! 

[ELKBURGER]

Its been awhile since I hunted up there but remember how it was growing into a huge brush hole and reprod nightmare. Has there been any logging activity up there in the last 5 years or so?

[brokehunter]

Its been awhile since I hunted up there but remember how it was growing into a huge brush hole and reprod nightmare. Has there been any logging activity up there in the last 5 years or so?

None that I'm aware of. A few spots on private land, but yeah, it's all grown up quite a bit now. One of the big reasons I moved on to a better area.

[Karhu]

Thanks, The place I used to go (many moons ago) was actually north east of cougar in the NF.  Looking on google earth there seems to be some older clearings south of swift but not sure how up to date those pics are.  I was thinking of getting to the souixin trailhead and getting out to the roadless western boarder against the private property

[brokehunter]

Thanks, The place I used to go (many moons ago) was actually north east of cougar in the NF.  Looking on google earth there seems to be some older clearings south of swift but not sure how up to date those pics are.  I was thinking of getting to the souixin trailhead and getting out to the roadless western boarder against the private property

Just found out this morning that State has some of that area closed.

http://washingtondnr.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/hunting-alert-whats-open-and-how-to-stay-fire-safe-this-season/

Check out the link and see if it applies to where you'll be.

[Karhu]

Thanks after looking at that might work in my favor