your favorite spot for high buck

[GBoyd]

Just kidding, I have a real question.

I'm headed up to Washington to hunt with my brother. He's an experienced backpacker, but doesn't hunt. When looking at our schedules for this fall, the only weekend that really works is during the high buck, so we thought we'd try one of the wilderness areas on the OP. Three problems: we don't have a spot scouted, we only have three days, and he doesn't have much practice with a rifle, so realistically he's limited to about 100 yards. Obviously, our expectation is not to kill a buck. But we at least want to do the smartest thing given our limitations.

My plan was to stay away from the clear open alpine and look for deer near water, in trees and taller brush. I'm thinking we might have a chance of jumping a deer in there and getting a shot within his range. I'm thinking we may avoid other hunters by staying out of spots that can be easily glassed.

He has time for one scouting trip. Does it sound like a good plan to have him look for that kind of area?

[Stein]

Not a bad plan.  I would also think about getting way in if you could.  For a three day hunt, you could go 10 miles in on Day 1, hunt Day 2 and back out Day 3.  That should put you out of range of most of the hunters.  I would probably go in 5 miles on a trail then hit a ridge or something that was semi-easy terrain to put several more miles in away from trails.

[bobcat]

I would not recommend the Olympic Peninsula wilderness areas for the high hunt with such a short time to hunt and especially without having scouted it first. Go to one of the eastside areas, at least you'll have a nice backpacking trip. The weather is likely to be drier, the country is less brushy, and you'll just have an overall better experience.

[Branden]

I would think about going to the eastside also. Like mentioned 3 days is pretty short if you get bad weather. Also just as good of a chance of killing a bear as a deer so hopefully you guys have a bear tag also.

The furthest we have shot a deer on the high hunt with a rifle is about 60 yards. Is all you have to do is watch them bed, then stalk them from above. Its actually way easier then you would think. And I would not give up hunting the alpine areas because lack of range. If you can't find a buck then there is zero chance of shooting it. And it will be a lot easier to find one in the alpine then in the timber.

If you have a 3 day window I would do as much driving and hiking as you can in the dark. Also you don't need to get 10 miles in you, you need to get to a basin that is off trail. I would map scout the closest wilderness to you guys and look for a couple basins that are off trail. Once you find that look it over on Google earth and see what it looks like.

If you want more specifics on an area to go send a pm and I can point you to a couple basins like I'm talking about.
Branden

[croix]

keep in mind that with the low snow pack in the olympics last winter and lack of rain this summer the water sources may not be what you expect in those remote basins. hiked in last weekend and after three hours of on-trail and an hour of off-trail discovered that the creek we planned to camp near was bone dry. i'm not saying you couldn't make it for three days... but don't rely on water being there.
-croix

[JimmyHoffa]

He should be fine with shooting under 100 yds for high buck on the OP.  Most of the deer I see in the WAs have been in the 20-30 yd range, unless you are watching crossings from afar.  Most of the areas there are small enough that you can hike back out and then go up a different trail to reposition in a short time.

[pd]

I am with BobCat on this one.  Honestly, I don't understand why the wilderness areas of the Olympic Peninsula are even included in a late September "high buck hunt."  (Don't get me wrong--I welcome all hunting opportunities.)  Firstly, late September here is the tail-end of summer, and the autumn rains have usually not started (there is rain, just not sustained like we will see in mid-October).  Second, the highest elevation that you can find in any of the areas is around 4,000' and the majority of elevations are well below that.  Thirdly, the only resident deer are blacktail, and they don't start to rut until very late October.  Taken together, the peninsula wilderness areas are just a late summer hunt, not a truly "high buck" hunt like you would find at 7,000' in the Pasayten.

The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor.  I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east.   

[CaNINE]

I am with BobCat on this one.  Honestly, I don't understand why the wilderness areas of the Olympic Peninsula are even included in a late September "high buck hunt."  (Don't get me wrong--I welcome all hunting opportunities.)  Firstly, late September here is the tail-end of summer, and the autumn rains have usually not started (there is rain, just not sustained like we will see in mid-October).  Second, the highest elevation that you can find in any of the areas is around 4,000' and the majority of elevations are well below that.  Thirdly, the only resident deer are blacktail, and they don't start to rut until very late October.  Taken together, the peninsula wilderness areas are just a late summer hunt, not a truly "high buck" hunt like you would find at 7,000' in the Pasayten.

The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor.  I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east.   

spot on

[JimmyHoffa]

I am with BobCat on this one.  Honestly, I don't understand why the wilderness areas of the Olympic Peninsula are even included in a late September "high buck hunt."  (Don't get me wrong--I welcome all hunting opportunities.)  Firstly, late September here is the tail-end of summer, and the autumn rains have usually not started (there is rain, just not sustained like we will see in mid-October).  Second, the highest elevation that you can find in any of the areas is around 4,000' and the majority of elevations are well below that.  Thirdly, the only resident deer are blacktail, and they don't start to rut until very late October.  Taken together, the peninsula wilderness areas are just a late summer hunt, not a truly "high buck" hunt like you would find at 7,000' in the Pasayten.

The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor.  I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east.   

I'll somewhat disagree.  During high buck on the peninsula I see quite a bit of deer activity above 6,000 ft.  They will go into places that make you think they are crazy--crossing a half mile of steep, open scree to get even higher. 
To try and hunt those areas during regular season might be too tough and get some people in trouble.  One year on the opener for general it was about 15F in the morning.  Had to break ice on the creeks to refill water.  The next week (third week Oct, it snowed down to 3,000 but everything above about 4,500 built up and was at about three feet.  So, a good portion of the unit was somewhat inaccessible.

[jeffitz]

Been on 3 high buck hunts in the Glacier Peaks Wilderness and saw nice bucks all 3 hunts,just couldnt get a shot,but my buddy tagged a 170'' 4X4 in 2010 up there.awesome hunt but difficult!

[GBoyd]

Thanks guys, great advice!

I'll talk to my brother about maybe considering some of the eastside wilderness areas. The OP was selected for convenience, but also for the heavier cover and few hunters. I don't have any alpine hunting experience, so I thought the OP would be more similar to the areas I know. Also, I've heard so many people here complain about the inexperienced hunters in the Alpine Lakes and Pasayten that I was nervous to join that crowd.

As for the dry summer, won't that be an advantage? My theory is that deer will stay near water if there are fewer reliable places for them to drink.

[croix]

As for the dry summer, won't that be an advantage? My theory is that deer will stay near water if there are fewer reliable places for them to drink.

It can be an advantage, especially if you can find a place with water and no people (I haven't). I only mentioned it for the awareness. Creeks on maps do not necessarily mean water will be there when you get there. So far this year I've seen that the creeks start MUCH lower than the maps indicate, and lower in the valley means more people (again... just what I've seen in the areas I've been). I'm not saying it can't be done, just food for thought.
-croix

[MountainWalk]

If you want an uncrowded OP high hunt, with plenty o water,  try Mildred lakes. Short hike, five miles, but as strenuous a trail as they make em. But once your in the basin, it's pretty easy.  Bring a rod!

[MountainWalk]

And remember,  a lot of OP high hunt areas, your not far from legal hunting grounds. No need to hike 5-10 miles, just to get a hunt in. A OP high hunt can be as hard or as easy as you make it. The deer up there aren't any smarter or craftier to kill. Jimmy Hoffa has a point also:  most deer I've seen up there where we'll inside of 100yds. 

[sirmissalot]

I am with BobCat on this one.  Honestly, I don't understand why the wilderness areas of the Olympic Peninsula are even included in a late September "high buck hunt."  (Don't get me wrong--I welcome all hunting opportunities.)  Firstly, late September here is the tail-end of summer, and the autumn rains have usually not started (there is rain, just not sustained like we will see in mid-October).  Second, the highest elevation that you can find in any of the areas is around 4,000' and the majority of elevations are well below that.  Thirdly, the only resident deer are blacktail, and they don't start to rut until very late October.  Taken together, the peninsula wilderness areas are just a late summer hunt, not a truly "high buck" hunt like you would find at 7,000' in the Pasayten.

The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor.  I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east.   

I can't imagine most people would expect the bucks to be cruising mid september no matter where they hunt. They are definitely at that in between stage from summer habits to fall habits, but they can still be fairly easy to find up in those alpine areas, just not in high concentrations. I'm not sure where you've hunted but there are also many wilderness areas in the olympics which are open to the high buck hunt, that are well above 4,000ft. The tricky part is to find huntable ground, water, and access. Off trail travel in this country can be difficult and frustrating. Its well worth a try if you ask me, but a lot of people give up after the first night or two.