Cypress Island San Juan hunting charters and access information?

[yakimanoob]

Hey everyone! 

This is my first post, and I'm glad to be here.  I moved to WA last year from Alabama where I've been hunting all of twice and never got a chance to fire, so I'm new to Washington and VERY new to the sport. 

Anyway I got drawn for a second deer tag on Cypress Island, and need some help with logistics.  I found a few charter services in the area, but I would love some pro tips on who to use that will let me bring my rifle and (hopefully) my deer back. 

Also, what's the best way to find out about access?  I'm an avid hiker and caltopo.com lists pretty much the entire island as state land, but another thread on this forum seemed undecided if this island was open for public hunting at all.  Help?  I'm not flush with time or cash and won't bother with arranging the logistics if I'm not SURE I can legally hunt there.

Thanks so much for the help, I look forward to getting to know this group.

[Bob33]

Paraclete Charters can take you there. I've used them to hunt other islands.

http://www.paracletecharters.com/

[h2ofowlr]

I drew this tag a few years back.  Didn't fire a shot and I put on a lot of miles on this Island.  It's not a slam dunk.

[fishnfur]

It is open to hunting as far as I know.  Removing does is more beneficial than bucks on those islands.  The hunter success rates are good, if I remember correctly, but many hunters have trouble finding deer, which defies common logic.  The island is overloaded with deer by all reports.  They are typically smaller deer than found on the mainland, but 40 - 60 lbs. of venison is nothing to turn your nose up at for a first WA hunt.

If it were me, I'd find two or more intersecting trails at the top of a large draw and sit on the downwind/uphill side it. (if you hunt Oct 26th -31st, or the four days in Nov., you stand a good chance of seeing a buck).  If there is fresh sign, you should be on a doe in short order in the early am., mid-day, or early evening. 

Winds will be a big issue up there.  If you've got swirling winds, move on.   You will not see deer if you're blowing your scent across the area you're hunting.

There's probably not a lot of charters available to get you in and out of there, so I'd talk to the people on the previously linked charters provided by Bob33 soon to lock up your dates.  Otherwise, you need to find a person with a private boat (or perhaps a plane) to get in and out of there.

There are a few pages to study on the internet if you Google the name of the island.  Try variations on your searches.  I've seen four or so good links in the past.

[h2ofowlr]

Fishfur,
Cypress is not like the other islands which have lots of deer.  It is largely unhabitated, unlike the other islands in the San Juans which have a fair amount of residences.  I think the abundance of yards, bushes, fruit trees, shrubs and many non huntable spots on many of the islands helps maintain an abundance of deer.  I have hunted several of the other islands and filling a tag was quick.
Given many of the deer are like pets and have frequent human interaction, they are not to skittish.  They just slowly move into the thickets, so that is your challenge.
Find crossing trails between residences, cabins, fruit trees or ares with shrubs they like and you will find them.

Since my Cypress tag, I have gone back and hiked many of the trails and started seeing where they typically hang out.  A boat is a good option with a kayak in it.  Tether the boat to a buoy and kayak to shore.  That way the tides don't leave you high and dry or bash your boat up.

[RB]

I drew this tag a few years back.  Didn't fire a shot and I put on a lot of miles on this Island.  It's not a slam dunk.

 

I have drawn this tag twice and have never fired a shot. I covered a large portion of the island over two seasons and saw one Deer on the hoof that was maybe 30 pounds and a Couple does that others shot that were decent. My buddy missed a nice two point with my 44 one of the years. It is a fun hunt just not as easy as it sounds. 

[lokidog]

Meat - doe likely 30 pounds max, buck up to 55 pounds.

Travel, Paraclete Charters and Island Express, both depart from Skyline Marina. Both are fine with guns and coolers full of meat, I'm not sure either would be OK with you dragging a gutted deer on board, scheduling can be hit or miss and will usually be dependent on their schedule.

I'm pretty sure you will not be allowed to hunt around the cabins, private property and all. Check out Skagit County Assessors website for property boundaries. This island is still, I'm pretty sure, not in the firearm restricted area as the rest of the San Juans are.

There are deer around, I would find an open area and sit and watch. As mentioned by others, this will not be a slam dunk hunt. Fresh water access can sometimes be a limiting factor out here, but by rifle season, there will probably be more around.  Archers could target water sources with more results likely.

Good luck.

[fishnfur]

H2Ofowler - I'll take your word for it.  You've been there.  It appears on satellite photo as though virtually the entire island is closed canopy timber, which limits browse for deer, and certainly makes them hard to find.  There may also be predator activity at work too.  Guemes Island to the east has 'yotes by all accounts.   Presumably, if there are fewer deer on the island, they may be a bit bigger than the average SJ island deer.   

Probably not the best choice for a second deer tag, but it should make for a great opportunity to be in the woods without a lot of other hunters in the field with you.

[Bob33]

Meat - doe likely 30 pounds max, buck up to 55 pounds.

Travel, Paraclete Charters and Island Express, both depart from Skyline Marina. Both are fine with guns and coolers full of meat, I'm not sure either would be OK with you dragging a gutted deer on board, scheduling can be hit or miss and will usually be dependent on their schedule.

I'm pretty sure you will not be allowed to hunt around the cabins, private property and all. Check out Skagit County Assessors website for property boundaries. This island is still, I'm pretty sure, not in the firearm restricted area as the rest of the San Juans are.

There are deer around, I would find an open area and sit and watch. As mentioned by others, this will not be a slam dunk hunt. Fresh water access can sometimes be a limiting factor out here, but by rifle season, there will probably be more around.  Archers could target water sources with more results likely.

Good luck.

I take large 3 mil plastic bags when I go to the San Juans. Put your deer (parts) in them and you'll be fine on board one of the charters.

Cypress is in Skagit County, and thus is not subject to the San Juan County firearm restriction.

Skagit (firearm restriction areas)
All mainland areas and islands, including GMU 419 (Guemes), in Skagit County west of I-5 and north of the Skagit/Snohomish County line,
except Cypress Island. This restriction applies to big game hunting only.

[bear hunter]

All can say is Island deer are different then main land deer. I have been hunting them on Lopez since 1996. You just have to get in the thick brush and drive them out. Keep the wind in your face and follow the deer trails in to the thickest brush. I hunted Cypress for my 2nd Muzzle tag back in 2009. Filled my trag in a hour with a nice 3x3. There was 2 bucks beded down 10 yards away.  Easy shot loaded him in the boat and was home by 3:30 pm. Not bad I have also took friends over there and they should of filled there tags but missed. The upper hills are covered in furns and the lower land brush is the thorny and big green leaf stuff. I would just zig zag through the waste high and thick brush. You will jump deer and if they don't smell you. The deer just get up and run 10 yards. Then they look back. I also throw sticks and rocks into brush piles deer bed in. Sometime the deer run out and stop right next to me. They look to the brush pile to see what thet was. You should have a funny time there. I have picutres of my trip to the island on the form some where. I was thinking of trapping there for fox next season. Will see

[yakimanoob]

Thanks so much for the replies everybody! 

I'm glad to know there are mixed reports of the deer on the island -- it'll help me from getting my hopes up.  I've never been to the San Juans, and mostly I'm looking forward to the adventure of exploring with a rifle .  I don't have any time off, so I'll be weekending it and won't really have any time for scouting.  I'll look into the recommendations and let you know what works out, and hopefully post some photos of my trip in the fall

[NW-GSP]

All can say is Island deer are different then main land deer. I have been hunting them on Lopez since 1996. You just have to get in the thick brush and drive them out. Keep the wind in your face and follow the deer trails in to the thickest brush. I hunted Cypress for my 2nd Muzzle tag back in 2009. Filled my trag in a hour with a nice 3x3. There was 2 bucks beded down 10 yards away.  Easy shot loaded him in the boat and was home by 3:30 pm. Not bad I have also took friends over there and they should of filled there tags but missed. The upper hills are covered in furns and the lower land brush is the thorny and big green leaf stuff. I would just zig zag through the waste high and thick brush. You will jump deer and if they don't smell you. The deer just get up and run 10 yards. Then they look back. I also throw sticks and rocks into brush piles deer bed in. Sometime the deer run out and stop right next to me. They look to the brush pile to see what thet was. You should have a funny time there. I have picutres of my trip to the island on the form some where. I was thinking of trapping there for fox next season. Will see

Ha, only if I could shoot my compound bow like a shotgun. Hunting with a shotgun would be my choice. While you may end up seeing more deer on the islands its far from a slam dunk.

[CP]

I drew this tag a few years back.  Didn't fire a shot and I put on a lot of miles on this Island.  It's not a slam dunk.

 

I have drawn this tag twice and have never fired a shot. I covered a large portion of the island over two seasons and saw one Deer on the hoof that was maybe 30 pounds and a Couple does that others shot that were decent. My buddy missed a nice two point with my 44 one of the years. It is a fun hunt just not as easy as it sounds. 

 

Add me to the list of those that struck out on this permit. 

Access is easy - just boat over from Washington park.   

[bear hunter]

All can say is Island deer are different then main land deer. I have been hunting them on Lopez since 1996. You just have to get in the thick brush and drive them out. Keep the wind in your face and follow the deer trails in to the thickest brush. I hunted Cypress for my 2nd Muzzle tag back in 2009. Filled my trag in a hour with a nice 3x3. There was 2 bucks beded down 10 yards away.  Easy shot loaded him in the boat and was home by 3:30 pm. Not bad I have also took friends over there and they should of filled there tags but missed. The upper hills are covered in furns and the lower land brush is the thorny and big green leaf stuff. I would just zig zag through the waste high and thick brush. You will jump deer and if they don't smell you. The deer just get up and run 10 yards. Then they look back. I also throw sticks and rocks into brush piles deer bed in. Sometime the deer run out and stop right next to me. They look to the brush pile to see what thet was. You should have a funny time there. I have picutres of my trip to the island on the form some where. I was thinking of trapping there for fox next season. Will see

Ha, only if I could shoot my compound bow like a shotgun. Hunting with a shotgun would be my choice. While you may end up seeing more deer on the islands its far from a slam dunk.

Well it is hard to bow hunt the islands. You know that Rich because all deer you jumped. Ran to me and just stopped 20ft away and looked at you and me. 

[fishnfur]

 
Gremlin's have got your keyboard running wild, or you're speaking in tongues. 

 Sounds like Cypress will be a hunt similar to that found on the mainland.  (Where's all the deer I keep hearing about?)