High Hunt - big bucks

[haugenna]

LOL!  That is a laughable comment.  Overselling it a bit?  Every year the parking lot around the major trail heads are packed. (Quoted From Haugenna)

It's pretty hard to oversell Icicle Outfitters.  I've worked as a hunting guide in British Columbia, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, and personally hunted in Colorado, Utah, California, and Washington as well.  I haven't seen very many places or outfitters who produce the type of success they do year after year, especially considering they are hunting the People's Republic of Washington.  Good work Muleracks.

 So you are comparing success ratio and quality of animals in states like Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming are nothing compared to Icicle and Washington?   

What rock have I been under the last decade?

My comment regarding "overselling it a bit" was referring to the crowds on the high hunt.

[RG]

I'm not talking average trophy quality I'm talking basic success.  Try packing 61 hunters into the backcountry in Washington yourself and have them do as well as Icicle's did.  Then come talk to me.  I'm not saying it's the best in the world but it's right up there with anybody's stats. 

[sirmissalot]

Obviously Haugenna has something against Icicle... oh well 

Nice going Muleracks congrats on another successful year 

[fillthefreezer]

i dont think it was about the animals, more the comment about solitude being spoken of, hence he mentions how crowded TH lots are

[CMG]

The lots could be twice as full as they are and still wouldn't see anyone while actually hunting, hiking/sight seeing maybe. Lots of territory.

[RG]

i dont think it was about the animals, more the comment about solitude being spoken of, hence he mentions how crowded TH lots are

My comments were directed toward the "oversell" statement.  I don't disagree there are quite a few people in the wilderness during high hunt.

[muleracks]

The High Hunt is pretty popular and if you just hike in 5 miles or hang around the trailhead, it is going to feel crowded.

[wiremonkey]

Dandy buck, no wonder the high hunt is getting more popular each year.

 

[Sawbuck]

The High Hunt is pretty popular and if you just hike in 5 miles or hang around the trailhead, it is going to feel crowded.

We camped in between your two camps where that pic of the two by three was taken. Saw that buck being packed back to camp. My buddy and I tagged out in the same area opening morning. Even with the number of people hunting we never saw anybody else while hunting except on the main trail.  Big country with lots of room for everyone. The guys whining about the crowds need to work a little harder at getting a little further back. We talked to the guys at the lower camp a couple times, seemed like a great group of guys and they seemed very happy with you, the camp, and the hunting. You guys seem to run a top notch outfit and if I didn't have my own horses id hire you for sure. Here is a pic of my friends deer.

[RG]

That's a nice buck too.

[muleracks]

Congratulations and thanks for posting that great buck. 
We do our best to keep our camps as isolated as possible and well away from each other. 
The ALW is always a favorite but we put clients in the HMJ and GP Wilderness areas as well.  Glad your spot worked for you and that our guys didn't disrupt your hunt.

[duckman40]

nice

[acorn]

Man, this thread is really bumming me out. Looks and sounds like everyone shoots and deer up there and half of them are monsters! A college buddy and I have been doing this hunt for three years now and we've only managed to see two freakin' deer, total. I know we've done plenty wrong but damn talk about opposite ends of the spectrum.

[muleracks]

We had people go home with a tag in their pocket too; 61 hunters with 22 bucks.  Most of them passed up legal bucks in hopes of tagging something really special.
For most hunters, success is more about the experience of being there rather than tagging a buck.  I'm sure that is what keeps you going back even though you have not been pulling the trigger.
Here are some guys that went home to hunt another day; Oct. 12-20.

[MLBowhunting]

Good looking bucks guys