Henry Jackson Wilderness

[villajac29]

I will be heading up to the HJW to archery hunt for mule deer and scout for the high buck. I plan to be very mobile and to glass the hell out of the country I'm heading into. Has anyone had any experience in the HJW for any season. If so what was the experience like, terrain, deer densities, size of bucks, etc...? Anything helps, good luck this season everyone.

[muleracks]

I would hunt the east side of the crest and the northern part of the HJ Wilderness.  My preference would be to go up to the Little Wenatchee trailhead.  Hike Cady Ridge and then hunt north on the PCT to Kodak Peak and then down the Wenatchee Ridge to Poe Mtn and down the trail to the Little Wenatchee trailhead.  It is a nice hike, pack as light as you can.  There are deer but the scenery will distract you from the hunt.  Have fun and much success.   Be prepared to bone out and pack it down in two trips.

[Branden]

Deer densities aren't real high but there are decent bucks if you can find them. Bring a bear tag. Make sure you get up into the alpine. Use the trails to access areas but get away from them by a basin or two and you should find some game. Expect hiker traffic during archery and lots of hunter traffic during the high hunt.

Most hikers I have met are cool when I'm bow hunting and won't talk when I have a gun. Some even might point out a bear or deer they saw if you are bow hunting. It's always good if you are watching a bear or two and point them out to any hiker that comes by. Lots of hikers hardly ever see bears since they don't bring optics. I think it helps the hunter hiker relation a little.

Good luck up there.

[villajac29]

Awesome! Thanks for the info guys. I'll keep it all in mind. I already filled my east side bear tag, but with the west side right there it might tempt me to pick one up Hopefully I can load up the exo this trip. I'll post some pictures when I get back. There is so little info on the HJW its nice of you guys to lend me a hand.

[muleracks]

If you aren't real familiar with the east side HMJ Wilderness this link will show you the Wenatchee Ridge (longfellow and Poe area) just north of the Little Wenatchee.
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8022085&sid=54c0dce653755647992e54e094199b72

[pd]

Great advice for the OP.  Gentlemen you are!

[Odell]

Deer densities aren't real high but there are decent bucks if you can find them. Bring a bear tag. Make sure you get up into the alpine. Use the trails to access areas but get away from them by a basin or two and you should find some game. Expect hiker traffic during archery and lots of hunter traffic during the high hunt.

Most hikers I have met are cool when I'm bow hunting and won't talk when I have a gun. Some even might point out a bear or deer they saw if you are bow hunting. It's always good if you are watching a bear or two and point them out to any hiker that comes by. Lots of hikers hardly ever see bears since they don't bring optics. I think it helps the hunter hiker relation a little.

Good luck up there.

Also they never look up from the trail! I pointed out a bear to some PCT through hikers and they were thrilled. It was one of the things they wanted to see most. They had been on the trail 4 months and hadn't seen one.

[savagehunter]

I love the idea of that poe mountain jaunt. Is there water around to stay 5 or six days in that area?

[villajac29]

I love the idea of that poe mountain jaunt. Is there water around to stay 5 or six days in that area?

Yes there is water located at different locations throughout, most of it is closer to the PCT.