high buck hunt alpine lakes or glacier peak or olympics wilderness for blacktail

[savagehunter]

taking my 17 year old son high buck hunting as his birthday present his request  LOL just trying to narrow down to which wilderness to research for a four day hunt 3-5 mile hike to camp then hunt from there he is in great shape me im 45 what more can I say any suggestions or ideas thanks in advance kind of leaning toward alpine but they all sound great

[Pigfuz]

Never understood what the high buck hunt was.  do you mind explaining?

[norsepeak]

Is it hunting bucks that are high, or hunting buck while high?

[grizzlyadams]

Age has nothing to do with it. I've seen 60 year old men out hike 25 year olds. All depends on what kind of shape you're in.


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[savagehunter]

I do alright but my shape definitely has more rounded edges I am thinking west side of alpine lakes or glacier henry Jackson?? never been above the treeline except on roads excited and figure now or never any help appreciated

[Skyvalhunter]

Depends if you want to target mule deer or Blacktail. Expect some people if you go in via a trail.

[Colville]

At 3 to 5 miles as a base line to be "there" and then hunt out, you can expect people.  If pack hunting like this is new to you, I wouldn't want to be in some deep thick valley floor and humping up every day, it's not going to work out based on how you've described your fitness etc  So look at trails that start at, or gain elevation quickly and leave you in a place where you are hunting out without serious elevation gain.  There are a number of trails that access wilderness very quickly.  As long as your expectations are for a good camp and scenery and that the aloneness factor is low and success expectation miniscule, you'll have the right idea.

[savagehunter]

I do not mind company in the woods so hikers and other hunters are cool I am looking for an access trail around 4000 feet go in the day before season opens get to a ridge and set up camp three days of sight seeing and if we get a deer a lot of work getting it out success for me is getting to do something with my son that we have never done I have killed plenty of deer so I am happy to just be in the woods my son on the other hand lol we spent last season putting a lot of miles on the south side of rainier around 4000 feet in some pretty diffacult terrain and really inclement weather and only saw one doe so he would like to do more then hike with guns I figure the scenery may inspire him more than still hunting reprod on 20 degree slopes

[Skyvalhunter]

Just as a note to you the west side of ALW is not particulary good hunting. If you go in off the Cle Elm side you might have better luck. Best bet is to stay away from the areas with larger lakes i.e. Foss Lakes, or the Enchantments as they are over run with hikers.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

From your description of how you have hunted, what your expectations are, your lack of preparedness and preparation, this trip sounds like a disaster.  I'm not trying to be rude, but at best you will likely be hiking with guns.  Wilderness area hunts and areas are fiercely guarded secrets, and the help you get here will be directed towards trails covered by the masses. No one is going to give you a jumping off point to an area that will be successful.

My advice would be to spend the entire year researching and actually putting boots on the ground, not asking ten days before for a spot.

Good luck.

[danderson]

I just spent the last 7 days hiking in the ALW, 64 miles total that's what you do before the season starts. I wont be hunting up there because I don't have horses, my suggestion is take time and explore first, find a spot that you both like then make plans for next year
 

[savagehunter]

thanks skyvalhunter  i am considering going above cle elum north up to lake waptus another option is around  mt stewart area also cup lakes  chiwaukum ridge though i have never hunted mule deer maybe. As for the advice of waiting well his birthday is 9/11 and he will be seventeen and the only thing he asked for was to go hunt the early high hunt he is driven and helping do the research so i am kinda roped in if it turns into hiking with guns ill consider it the first scouting trip for the high hunt we will be careful and not push it go slow and just enjoy it and be prepared wish us luck LOL

[grizzlyadams]

Savage,

Don't listen to these guys talking down your hunt. Time with your son in the backcountry is the only thing that truly matters. Have fun, make memories, build that father son bond and be safe. I think what you're doing is awesome. Way to be an excellent dad and pass on the tradition!!!!! A huge thumbs up from me!


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[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Savage,

Don't listen to these guys talking down your hunt. Time with your son in the backcountry is the only thing that truly matters. Have fun, make memories, build that father son bond and be safe. I think what you're doing is awesome. Way to be an excellent dad and pass on the tradition!!!!! A huge thumbs up from me!


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I'm not talking down his hunt, his expectations were to not hike with guns. I was informing him that those expectations were extremely high considering he has no idea where he's going, and hasn't done a luck of scouting.

To the op, just curious, how's your gear situation look?  I'll be posting my gear list in a few days.

[grizzlyadams]

Hey you never know. He may just nail one on the first day right on the trail. The good lord has a way of blessing us unexpectedly.  I've seen weirder things happen and that's not at all out of the question.


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