Hunting Winthrop.

[spin05]

Have been going to winthrop the last few years and will be going this weekend.Has anybody been over there latley??How is the fire danger??.Also looking for some new areas to check out.My areas have sucked the last few years.If anybody can point me and my 11 year old son in the right direction.That would be great       thanks            Spin 05

[Muleyslyr]

I hunted that area a lot a years.  As you probably know way too many hunters around there.  Not sure where you go now, but a good hunt to do with your 11yr. old would be up towards Ramsey Peak.  They'll be a thousand camps from Sullivan Pond up through Ramsey Rd.  MOST guys hunt with in a mile of that area though.

You guys can go to the gate and hike in from there.  The farther you go the better your chances are of gettin' something.  Easy walkin'  for you and your son, as you can follow the road about 5mi.

[spin05]

I  think  ive   been  to that gate when he was younger.Is that way up at the top???I believe that is were it burned last year.yea there is a few camps going up there.But by the last weekend there isnt much going on up there in terms of hunters.Last year we walked in above the pond only to have a guy start siteing in his rifle.When there is a fire danger they close that rifle range.

[Alchase]

The burn last year was up on top from Tripod peak North and East towards Loomis. Two years before there was a burn straight up from the rifle range all the way up and over. If you are at the rifle range, Ramsey is the road up to the left. Between the pond and the gate will be camp after camp.
Pearygin/cougar Lake Flats/Cambel Lake is the road to the right. Cougar Flats circles around by Volstad Creek.
All these areas hold deer, you just need to be more efficient then the other hunters that will be there, or go further from the gates then the rest. Every year I am amazed by how many deer are taken by just dumb luck by road hunters up there.
I would recommend you get as high up as you can, as early as you can (well before first light) and let the other hunters move the deer for you.

[Muleyslyr]

Great advice by Alchase.....let all those hunters push the deer to you.  It will not take long for any of those bucks that are in the open to move into the more timbered areas.

There are always guys who get lucky and kill a deer just walking the road or driving around, but your best chance is gonna be get high and get there before it's light.  I would stay away from Sullivan Pond and the hill behind it on opening weekend.  You will never see so many hunters on one hill side as up there opening day.

Still think it's a great place to take a young hunter.  Good Luck.

[spin05]

This is for this weekend.The last weekend of archery...............There callin for  snow down to 3500ft fri-sat. Just might be a hellava hunt this year.......

[mkcj]

Have you tried on the other side of the "wack" there is some WDFW land there that hold a lot of deer not a lot of cover but some aspen groves in the draws. Have had a cabin there since I was 5y/o  38 years ago

[spin05]

Well saw a small 3x4 friday night and it was colddddd!!!!!!!Saturday morning saw 20 deer and 16 were bucks.Only 3 were legal and only 2 of them i would shoot at.Chased em on to private property.Looks good for next year with all the sub-legals.Sunday come up over a ridge and looked back behind me to find 5 does and nice 4x4 but could only close to about 90yrds then they had me.Some other guy said he had a 4x4 with an arrow in it and he was waiting it out.When we came back 20min later he was gone.I think he chased em down to private land and had to go knock on doors.He said it was a crappy shot. Was hunting in  snow on  sunday!!!!!!! but  saw  no  deer in the snow. No  shots  but  had  a good hunt!!!!!!!!