Hancock/Kapowsin Rookie Observations

[Bullkllr]

Well, sprang for the Kapowsin pass this year looking for some closer to home deer hunting. Basically as a newbie. Last time I was in there at all you could buy a day pass. Last I was in there very much was before the "fee" idea was even thought of.

Anyway, haven't killed a deer yet. I would like to share some observations I have made on my experience thus far. I'd like to here from some old hands in there. Is my experience typical for a rookie in the tree farm (I have hunted blacktails with some success in other areas), or am I totally screwing up somehow? I'm hoping for better results for late season.

Observations:
1. Cool people in there. Most wave and even move over on tight roads. Even had several turn around when I had a landing staked out, instead of driving right up to me. Appreciate that.
2. Pressure from hunters seems pretty well spread out. Nowhere I've been is real bad.
3. Gated areas seem to be where I see the biggest concentration of rigs.
4. Seen way more elk sign then deer sign.
5. Actually have seen more elk than deer.
6. Decent population of relatively dumb grouse.
7. I see more deer driving on the mainlines before/after hunt than anywhere else.
8. Many of the clearcuts are either brand new or past huntable. Few "just right".
9. Deer have been scarce. Haven't actually seen a deer in the open that was not on a road. Most sitings were once I got into the brush.
10. Shots heard anywhere near have been minimal/nonexistant.
11. Haven't seen or talked to any hunters who have taken a buck.
12. I didn't scout enough. Fire closure kinda screwed me.
13. Found a cool 7 point shed. Still had decent color and non-chewed. Probably shortest mainbeam I've ever  seen on an honest 7- about 36 inches but shortest tine is about 3 inches.

Like I said; does this sound about typical for a newbie in there, or I have been doing something horribly wrong?

[gotshot]

Sounds right to me. So much area sometimes it is haed to choose a section to hunt. You can find good places for mushrooms on good years this not being one. Most people are pretty nice but the last couple years have had an influx of not so nice. I pulled up to the bridge gatethe other day and someone was closing the gate. He saw I was coming in and seems like he could not lock it fast enough. The deer are there but they have so much thick cover why come out. I've been in for 8 yrs. some are better than others. In this pay to play society nowdays right or wrong ( mostly wrong it's not too bad right now IMHO )

[woodman]

Bullkllr

I think you are calling this dead on in my opinion.

I have hunted there for over forty years and the deer are harder to come by than in the past. I keep trail cams in special locations year round and the deer count is way down for me. I get tons of predators on my cameras though. I truly believe one is related to the other. I see lots of bears now where I did not years ago. It is easier to get bear than deer for me. I get deer, but have to work harder for them now.

[dkecoleman]

Seems that your spot on, I have been in there for two years now, and have had minimal sucess. For me picking a spot has been alot of the problem, I have one that I'm kinda staying with now, but I'm not too confident with it. I guess we have to keep at it, at least thats what they say. Most people I have talked to have been really nice, I did see a dad and his son both got one last week, it was the kid's first deer, I was really happy for him. Good Luck in the late season, I'm going to give it another try all day Tuesday.

[fire*guy]

I think that you are seeing the same thing as all of us. I also hunted the timber company years ago when we used to pay by the day. I used to see many more deer back then, The escapement areas had great clearcuts and seem to be maintained much better.
 I have hunted the last few days hoping to help my son get his first deer (he has a doe tag) but it has been a real struggle to even find a deer, when we have seen deer they are gone in a split second. 
My true feelings are that hancock timber company is just in it to make more money and take advantage of the hunters. The company knows that hunters will pay the price to hunt, so they just keep on increasing fees, then charge even more money to let you camp on the property. 
Sorry guys I will get off my soap box now

[Bullkllr]

Thanks for the replies and insights.

Hancock seems to be cutting a lot of timber. And most of its not very big stuff. All those new cuts may be good for a while, but in a few years I see miles and miles of reprod  in there and not much else.

My trips in this year remind me of places I have been that have decent deer populations but are severely overhunted (ie deer holed up). But Kapowsin sure doesn't seem over hunted, at least not by humans...

I have one spot I've seen deer in the last two times. No bucks yet. I'll probably focus on hitting that one and trying some others. I like to hunt gated areas. Most of them I checked out in the tree farm are pretty overgrown.

[Lefty315]

I'm fortunate enough to live within 5 minutes of the gate.  Based on my observations and those who have been in there for decades I think the deer are being hunted hard by the 4 legged hunters.  Some other timber companies use contract hound hunters to control the bear damage.  I'll make the assumption that dogs running bears also scare off cougars too.  Talked to some guys who hunt some of these other properties and they are seeing a lot more deer.  Hancock puts out feeders to detract the bears from peeling the trees.  Just my opinion.

[trophyhunt]

I was in there today and yesterday. Yesterday was the most wettest I think I've ever been! The weather was miserable but it was good for hunting I guess. I saw 14 deer in the day light and 2 were bucks (too small to shoot). I walked for 11 hours nonstop to keep warm, so today I tortured my self and mostly road hunted . God I hate road hunting, I don't know how people do it. I didn't see any deer while in the truck, but forced my body to hike a couple miles behind the gates and that's when I saw the only deer of the day, 4 does. Watched them till dark, no bucks. I think they need more gates, I see way more animals when I'm in the walking areas. We need to be able to bait and run hounds to get some of these predators in check, It's still a good area but not like it has been. I checked out one of there campground today, what a joke. They just cut out spots that are kinda level, no fire pits (for times when you can have fires), and no port-o-potty's. I figured the would put some bathrooms close by to keep from people doing it all over the camping area, waste of money in my opinon.

[Crunchy]

there are a ton of deer in there although you may not have been seeing them.  Here are my thoughts. 
1,  You have the first two hrs of daylight and last two to hunt where the deer are most active.  If you arent on a "money" spot then its too late to move.
2.  I like the gated areas, not sure how many there are but it gets you away from the rigs constantly driving by. 
3.  I dont hunt weekends.  Too many other hunters.  Weekdays I pretty much have the entire joint to myself (not that kinda joint  )
4.  Preseason  this year was a not with the fire danger.  it really did mess this year up as far as scouting deer.
5.  Dont give up.  it takes a few years to figure how to hunt hancock.

[Bootfish]

Pretty good observations in general.  This year was the first I have bought the permit in five years or so.  Seems to me there are more people now, maybe they have increased the permits since then.  Their can be "traffic" jams at the gates an hour before daylight, or on some of the mainlines as guys try to "race" to their areas.  I would say at least 50% of dudes never get out of their truck, and a lot of the rest only walk gated roads.
I scouted a bunch of times in the summer, and I can assure you that there are plenty of deer, although I did not see lots of bucks, even when they were in the summer red.  Although it was nothing to go up and see 25 does/yearlings/fawns in a few hours of driving/glassing.  Lots of elk, dont see why they cant give a few more cow tags to balance things a bit.  Tons of bear sign, although I still havent seen one.
The blacktail seem to do there traditional disappearing act around the end of September.  My son did shoot a nice forkhorn last week, his first blacktail,  which made both his and my season special this year.
I think the last couple days of early and the late season will be good this year, I dont think they are rutting yet.

[bwhntr350]

My first time in there since, I think, 1995. My wife and I decided to buy the permit. One thing that I do not see that I see most everywhere else, is deer hookings. I can go just about anywhere else and see many trees tore up from the years past, not necessarily this years. I have seen only a few on Hancock and none from this year.

 Maybe there are no trees left to rub on as it appears that the elk got to them first Just kidding, of course.

 Overall, we have enjoyed it in there, though. See lot's of deer, no bucks, yet. Saw a huge bear but out of range. Seen some elk and lot's of grouse.

 Seems to me like I need to avoid the Eatonville side. Kind of like nickle day at the whorehouse over there. Once we started keying on the Kapowsin side, we are much happier. Much less pressure, it seems, and it is not like Grand Central getting through the gate.

 Also, agree with the post about seeing more deer in the roads. I have seen a total of 3 deer in a clearcut, a doe with two fawns. Pushing 30 other deer that we have seen and all in the road or feeding on the road edge.

 My buddy caught a big forked horn in the road this evening but his kids scope was fogged up from hunting earlier and could not get a shot. The buck was alone, still. It will only get better and we are looking forward to finding a buck or two.

[sakoshooter]

A 36" main beam is not short.

[Bullkllr]

A 36" main beam is not short.

Yeah, I guess not. Seems kind of short for as long as the tines seem. I'd take him.

  My son did shoot a nice forkhorn last week, his first blacktail,  which made both his and my season special this year.

Congrats to you and your son. That is and always will be a special one!

there are a ton of deer in there although you may not have been seeing them.  Here are my thoughts. 
1,  You have the first two hrs of daylight and last two to hunt where the deer are most active.  If you arent on a "money" spot then its too late to move.
2.  I like the gated areas, not sure how many there are but it gets you away from the rigs constantly driving by. 
3.  I dont hunt weekends.  Too many other hunters.  Weekdays I pretty much have the entire joint to myself (not that kinda joint  )
4.  Preseason  this year was a not with the fire danger.  it really did mess this year up as far as scouting deer.
5.  Dont give up.  it takes a few years to figure how to hunt hancock.

Thanks, that's good advice.

[Bullkllr]

I've got some questions about some of the gated areas. Specifically the 7 and the one right by town. If anyone would care to share, feel free to pm or let me know and I'll pm.

Thanks all...