High Hunt Strategies

[pope]

I've never hunted the high hunt wilderness areas in September. What specific type of habitat should I be looking for? I'm very familiar with hunting managed forest at lower elevation. BTW, I'm not looking for ideas on where to go and I don't need advice about general mountain survival/travel. The area I'm looking at is west of the divide in the Alpine Lakes and off trail. I can't seem to find any information about it on hiking websites so I think it might be a good place to hunt.

[GUscottie]

Most hiking sites won't give any information on hunting deer. The best resource I've found to date is Hunting High Country Mule Deer by Mike Eastman.

He gives wonderful information and the book is a pretty good read. The best info I can think to give you: Get high and away from other hunters. If the deer are used to hikers, they'll be "ok" with hunters until gunshots ringout. Deer will bolt from one canyon to the next if scared out of their "safety zone". Also learn the deer by observation from afar. Watch their escape routes and their typical behavior for the best bet at a deer.

[Stein]

Honestly, the habitat you are looking for is the one that doesn't have a bunch of orange blobs everywhere.  The thing I have figured out is that on public land, you don't go where the habitat is best, you go where the hunters push animals.  This often time ends up being places where nobody expects to see animals.

Last year, I shot my elk about 100 yards from the road because the guys in the hills pushed them out and I happened to be at the right place at the right time.

[pope]

Thank you.

[grizzlyadams]

ALW is filled with tree hugger environmentalist granola eaters from Seattle in September. If you're going to hunt there, you need to wear rainbow camo, not use deodorant, and sing songs while skipping and hiking if you want to fit in. Don't forget to try and pet the bear, cougar and wolves while you're there.

[Tbob]

Being a Seattle resident myself, that sounds like some sound advise.

[pope]

I guess there's plenty of room for everybody. I'm hoping to be far away from anybody dressed in rainbow, camo, or orange. A friend spent a weekend up above Pete Lake during high buck and he reported seeing orange people around every corner. Which western approaches seem to get the most pressure from hunters?

[grizzlyadams]

Honestly I don't think it matters. All kidding aside the ALW has always gotten a lot of action and the high hunt is getting pretty crowded everywhere as all of us look for the lesser packed seasons. My advice is to stay away from the trailheads that lead to the wilderness areas by only hiking a few miles. Pack as light as possible and go as far in to the back country as you can. The farther you go, the less crowded it will be. The more work it is to get there, there will be fewer hunters. You're still going to see other hunters. Probably from outfitters packing in drop camps for paying customers but out that far you'll be able to find an area you can stake your claim to.

[pope]

Thanks, Girzzly. That's about the way I thought it would work. I'm going to give it a try, just to add a few days to my season.

[fishngamereaper]

Steep nasty and no trails. The ALW is not what it used to be. 15-20 years ago I could spend 10 days in there and maybe see 3 other hunters. Rarely saw recreational hikers, and once in a while the part time USFS trail clearing girls( never saw dudes, dont know why)...

I always went in from the east, better country. Never went in more than a day early, didnt want to spook bucks from summer haunts, and always carried less than 40lbs of gear. That way when I was successful I would always be able to pack out deer(boned out) and camp at the same time.

Stay at least a mile from the crest trail, to many hikers. Glass, glass and glass. Be able to shoot straight 400-500 yards. Be able to read wind direction at 400-500 yards. No what your caliber does at angles. Shot a deer at nearly a 70 degree angle up there looking over a cliff.

Bring a bear tag a dont use it. Packing a bear out of that country will kill you. But you will see alot of bear. Bring a sling shot for grouse. Pancake mix for blueberry pancakes. And pack a telescoping fishing rod, all of the lakes hold decent numbers of trout.

Good luck.

[acnewman55]

Anyone have an idea of how crowded Glacier Peak Wilderness is vs Alpine Lakes Wilderness?

[casey58]

Anyone have an idea of how crowded Glacier Peak Wilderness is vs Alpine Lakes Wilderness?

both are pretty crowded just stay away from trails.

[grizzlyadams]

Depends on where you go in glacier peak. Lots of outfitters that way. If you see rigs with horse trailers parked at the trail head. Be prepared to see outfitters as far as 10 miles out and more. Glacier peak is huge though. So plenty of room to find a spot. Your just going to have to go in a long ways to be free of other hunters.

[khunter#1]

Does anyone know where I can get a map of the Alpine lakes wilderness, boundaries?

[hooker]

I've never hunted the high hunt wilderness areas in September. What specific type of habitat should I be looking for? I'm very familiar with hunting managed forest at lower elevation. BTW, I'm not looking for ideas on where to go and I don't need advice about general mountain survival/travel. The area I'm looking at is west of the divide in the Alpine Lakes and off trail. I can't seem to find any information about it on hiking websites so I think it might be a good place to hunt.

The single most important strategies you could adopt  for the high hunt is to not ask about the "high hunt" online. 

I'm sure you'll figure it out.  Quietly....  hint

[boneaddict]

Probably take a pen and cross Pasayten off your list as you probably wont be able to get in there with all of the closed off stuff.   They aren't real fast at lifting those.

[grizzlyadams]

Love the Pasayten. Can't imagine it all being closed. Unless you know something forest management doesn't. I've been told I'll have no problems getting in to my usual spot. I don't live out that way though so I only get updated info when I call.

[pope]

.

[grizzlyadams]

Just checked again. The Pasayten is open for business.

[Jingles]

Personally speaking and IMO I expect the High hunt to be extremely crowded this year with the fires here in the Methow and a good portion of the normal PUMPKIN PATCH areas being burned, either that or the pumpkins are going to stand out like a wart on a models nose. Plus a lot of the areas that the granola eaters normally hike are also burned so they are going to be everywhere except up high and then while anticipating a solitary time this weekend bear hunting had more hikers come through camp than I have ever had come through any camp I ever have in all my hunting camps they're frigging everywhere.  Will say the one that surprised me the most was the female nature lover that I supposed she never figured to be walking past a trail camera pointed at the trail, 200 yards from camp,we'll leave it as she was perky with no tan line up top

[boneaddict]

I was more concerned about access Grizz with the Pasayten.   Myself along with many other orange toting folks often enter through the Chewuch side.   Its already bottlenecked pretty bad without that being closed off.   It does look like they are opening up though so 

[grizzlyadams]

I was more concerned about access Grizz with the Pasayten.   Myself along with many other orange toting folks often enter through the Chewuch side.   Its already bottlenecked pretty bad without that being closed off.   It does look like they are opening up though so 

You had me worried there for a sec when I read you post bone!!! I know you are a wealth of information when it comes to this forum and everything going on as it pertains to the outdoors. So I had to jump right online. I thought oh crap!!! There goes my high hunt plans. Grabbed the map and the laptop and began looking for another area to hunt. Glad to hear they are reopening where you access.