Free: Contests & Raffles.
I've never hunted Vail but from the threads I've read and followed I think this sums it up: 1) Get there way early2) Hike in and sit3) Wait for the masses to start blasting away and pushing deer every which way4) Shoot one before somebody shoots you5) Tag it before someone else does and then threatens to shoot you over it6) Get the hell out of there intactDoes that sum it up?
I think one of the main draws to Vail is that they allow vehicle access all over their tree farm. You can get limited vehicle access to the tree farms around kitsap/hood canal/olympic penninsula and get foot access to most except for maybe Pysht.
if you want to hope to get an elk to then Vail is not the place for you. very minimal elk in that tree farm. check out the Minot Peak area down near elma, deer, elk and bear. Kitsap pen is full of critters as well.
Quote from: zackmioli on March 16, 2013, 09:17:24 PMif you want to hope to get an elk to then Vail is not the place for you. very minimal elk in that tree farm. check out the Minot Peak area down near elma, deer, elk and bear. Kitsap pen is full of critters as well.Yeah Vail is off my list at this point anyways. I might check out Minot Peak area, but I hear that gets pretty crowded, and with the hoof rot to boot... I might look for deer on Kitsap, but there's no elk here
Quote from: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 11:30:20 PMQuote from: zackmioli on March 16, 2013, 09:17:24 PMif you want to hope to get an elk to then Vail is not the place for you. very minimal elk in that tree farm. check out the Minot Peak area down near elma, deer, elk and bear. Kitsap pen is full of critters as well.Yeah Vail is off my list at this point anyways. I might check out Minot Peak area, but I hear that gets pretty crowded, and with the hoof rot to boot... I might look for deer on Kitsap, but there's no elk here No hoof rot in Minot Peak that I've heard of.
Quote from: bobcat on March 16, 2013, 11:36:00 PMQuote from: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 11:30:20 PMQuote from: zackmioli on March 16, 2013, 09:17:24 PMif you want to hope to get an elk to then Vail is not the place for you. very minimal elk in that tree farm. check out the Minot Peak area down near elma, deer, elk and bear. Kitsap pen is full of critters as well.Yeah Vail is off my list at this point anyways. I might check out Minot Peak area, but I hear that gets pretty crowded, and with the hoof rot to boot... I might look for deer on Kitsap, but there's no elk here No hoof rot in Minot Peak that I've heard of. down in the valley near elma ive heard there is some but up in the hills i havent seen any.
Quote from: Pappy on March 16, 2013, 11:30:20 PMQuote from: zackmioli on March 16, 2013, 09:17:24 PMif you want to hope to get an elk to then Vail is not the place for you. very minimal elk in that tree farm. check out the Minot Peak area down near elma, deer, elk and bear. Kitsap pen is full of critters as well.Yeah Vail is off my list at this point anyways. I might check out Minot Peak area, but I hear that gets pretty crowded, and with the hoof rot to boot... I might look for deer on Kitsap, but there's no elk here I wouldn't mark it off your list. If your hunting archery you'll likely not see very many people but the gates are closed and your either hiking or biking. I hunt vail and the whole skookumchuck area every year (for archery) and I generally don't see people. I do however see their rigs parked behind mine when I go to leave. As for elk. There ARE elk in vail/skookumchuck It might not be a ridiculously huge herd but they are in there just gotta scout em out and figure where they are. Also the place is loaded with deer. I personally have never stepped foot in vail during modern. Although I hear the stories and I think thats why the place gets such a bad rap but the archery season is nothing like modern.