High Buck hunts

[Lapua07]

I've been in debate on a high Buck hunt in the Cascades for awhile now. Not looking for anyone's honey hole by any means. Angling towards taking horses in for a Basecamp. Over night spike camp from there. Looking for and advice and input on any of the high Buck areas. Successful and unsuccessful hunts and pics accepted  thanks in advance

[Jburke]

I've only done it once but would really like to do it again, just hard to schedule it around other hunts.  The backcountry hunting board on here has a lot of information and you'll probably get more info from there.

[teanawayslayer]

Your not going to get much info reguarding where to go. My advice is to get out this summer and do a lot of scouting. Find a place away from main trails that is not easily accessible. Otherwise you will find more people than deer. Good luck!

[Eric M]

Your not going to get much info reguarding where to go. My advice is to get out this summer and do a lot of scouting. Find a place away from main trails that is not easily accessible. Otherwise you will find more people than deer. Good luck!

This is great advice. To add just a little to it, you will find some beautiful places when scouting. Last year I never saw another person for 3 days. If you find a basin right off a main trail that holds deer, other guys know about it.

[Okanagan]

I recall a high buck hunt dawn 9 miles from a road when a big timberline basin rang with the bracing sounds of horses being saddled, banging skillets and gear, morning coughs and talk from dozens of men in a dozen camps.  Exhilarating for us backpackers!  I set up on what I guessed would be an escape route for deer leaving the basin and was there in the dark. Had nine deer pass by me, only one a buck and it was a spike.  Have not been back...    Alpine in Sept. is hard to beat for gorgeous scenery and weather.

[yakimanoob]

Your not going to get much info reguarding where to go. My advice is to get out this summer and do a lot of scouting. Find a place away from main trails that is not easily accessible. Otherwise you will find more people than deer. Good luck!

This is great advice. To add just a little to it, you will find some beautiful places when scouting. Last year I never saw another person for 3 days. If you find a basin right off a main trail that holds deer, other guys know about it.

This will be my first high buck hunt, and this pretty well sums up my plan.  Haven't settled on a spot yet, but I've been pouring over maps and CANNOT WAIT to get out there and scout. 

Remember, if you strike out, or don't see a single deer, you're still hiking in the high cascades and by all accounts are a lucky sombitch. 

ENJOY!

[HankC]

Going on my first high hunt this year as well, my 2nd season hunting in total. I'd find an interesting area, look up as many trails as you can, find ones that have road closures or brutal hikes in and target those. That's my plan. What do I know anyway haha good luck!

[boneaddict]

If you can, figure out where the outfitters main camps are.   Going in deep may just put you next to tent city.

[Duckslayer89]

If you can, figure out where the outfitters main camps are.   Going in deep may just put you next to tent city.

 

[Bill W]

I did the high hunt for 20 years.  Some years it was very few in the area I hunted and sometime it was like recess let out and everybody was there.   You just need to have a game plan for every possibility.   It is possible to use the average hunter as "dogs" and let them drive the deer to you.  That method won't work on the 2nd day as the deer will usually be blown out of there.

[Skyvalhunter]

If you can, figure out where the outfitters main camps are.   Going in deep may just put you next to tent city.

That's easy to do all you have to do is contact them and they will tell you. That's what I do. Plan on a nice camping trip and bonus if you see a legal buck to shoot. Be prepared to see other hunters

[yakimanoob]

If you can, figure out where the outfitters main camps are.   Going in deep may just put you next to tent city.

Great tip.  I would be my luck to hoof it hard for a day to get to my chosen drainage, only to find 20 other hunters!

[teanawayslayer]

Some areas hold more deer density's than others. Look up harvest reports on the wdfw's website by high hunt gmu. Put yourself in an area where you have a fighting chance to harvest a buck.

[Duckslayer89]

Here's some pics

This particular area I hiked in in the dark and trusted the map that there was streams along the way I could fill up with water. Anyhow there wasn't once I started climbing 5 miles ran out halfway. Never been that dehydrated was staggering around when i reached the tarns. Moral of the story, fill up whenever you can don't try to skimp weight when it comes to filling water, don't trust maps in the summer or September

[OutHouse]

Pasayten Wilderness is really nice but if you go there please actually hike all the way in. There have been years when I'm doing archery up near the Wilderness area and there are tons of rifle hunters who were hunting a few miles up the trail and no where near the boundary of the Pasayten. I tried just talking to these people but they were sure they were in the right area (they weren't). Then I call the game department and they wouldn't do anything about it. Pretty frustrating that people can get away with doing a "high buck" hunt anywhere they wanted to.

[Duckslayer89]

Pasayten Wilderness is really nice but if you go there please actually hike all the way in. There have been years when I'm doing archery up near the Wilderness area and there are tons of rifle hunters who were hunting a few miles up the trail and no where near the boundary of the Pasayten. I tried just talking to these people but they were sure they were in the right area (they weren't). Then I call the game department and they wouldn't do anything about it. Pretty frustrating that people can get away with doing a "high buck" hunt anywhere they wanted to.

There was guys one here up in the alpine shooting at rocks down below me and I had hunter orange on. Literally sounded like they were shooting below me from the bullets hitting the rocks and I had orange on I scrambled out fast. Not the first time this certain outfitter has dropped yahoos off up there. Another group shot an arrow over a guys head for "spot poaching". He went with them the year before and hiked in with a friend the next year, alpine drama. Oh ya and that group that shot the arrow was a master hunter

[Skyvalhunter]

What about the guys that shot at the rocks below you were they Master Hunters?

[Duckslayer89]

What about the guys that shot at the rocks below you were they Master Hunters?

Not sure never talked to them it was like 600 yards away around this canyon and didn't feel like confrontation up in the mountains. I highly doubt it overweight wearing blue jeans idk

[Skyvalhunter]

With them being over weight and wearing blue jeans they had to be.

[bobcat]

Ive seen people hunting about one mile outside the Alpine Lakes Wilderness boundary during the high hunt. They camp right alongside a forest service road and hunt up the hill within sight of their camp.   

[OutHouse]

Pasayten Wilderness is really nice but if you go there please actually hike all the way in. There have been years when I'm doing archery up near the Wilderness area and there are tons of rifle hunters who were hunting a few miles up the trail and no where near the boundary of the Pasayten. I tried just talking to these people but they were sure they were in the right area (they weren't). Then I call the game department and they wouldn't do anything about it. Pretty frustrating that people can get away with doing a "high buck" hunt anywhere they wanted to.

There was guys one here up in the alpine shooting at rocks down below me and I had hunter orange on. Literally sounded like they were shooting below me from the bullets hitting the rocks and I had orange on I scrambled out fast. Not the first time this certain outfitter has dropped yahoos off up there. Another group shot an arrow over a guys head for "spot poaching". He went with them the year before and hiked in with a friend the next year, alpine drama. Oh ya and that group that shot the arrow was a master hunter

That's ridiculous. I have experienced a fair amount of just bad behavior from other hunters. I think this sight's members are not those type of people, but I always stay away from other hunters in the field for reasons like your story and many others.

[Skyvalhunter]

I have seen that happen on the North Part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area when I was stocking some lakes. When I confronted them about it they just walked away.

[Duckslayer89]

Pasayten Wilderness is really nice but if you go there please actually hike all the way in. There have been years when I'm doing archery up near the Wilderness area and there are tons of rifle hunters who were hunting a few miles up the trail and no where near the boundary of the Pasayten. I tried just talking to these people but they were sure they were in the right area (they weren't). Then I call the game department and they wouldn't do anything about it. Pretty frustrating that people can get away with doing a "high buck" hunt anywhere they wanted to.

There was guys one here up in the alpine shooting at rocks down below me and I had hunter orange on. Literally sounded like they were shooting below me from the bullets hitting the rocks and I had orange on I scrambled out fast. Not the first time this certain outfitter has dropped yahoos off up there. Another group shot an arrow over a guys head for "spot poaching". He went with them the year before and hiked in with a friend the next year, alpine drama. Oh ya and that group that shot the arrow was a master hunter

That's ridiculous. I have experienced a fair amount of just bad behavior from other hunters. I think this sight's members are not those type of people, but I always stay away from other hunters in the field for reasons like your story and many others.

It sounds like a hard to believe story but charges should be public record for kittitas county court. Found not guilty it was a he said said she said story. Guy did have a witness and they are class act guys he was shooken up when he came by my camp I was pumping water. Felt bad it's a long ass hike in

[OutHouse]

Ive seen people hunting about one mile outside the Alpine Lakes Wilderness boundary during the high hunt. They camp right alongside a forest service road and hunt up the hill within sight of their camp.   

During another year, there were tons of guys well within 218 GMU and not at all near the Pasayten and the wardens told some of the reporting parties that going all the way up there would "take a long time" so they didn't investigate. SMH.

[Lapua07]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

[Eric M]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

You can find solitude. It just takes some effort. Some of the wilderness areas are pretty big.

[huntandjeep]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

Don't get discouraged.  I've been doing the high hunt in ALW for the past 3 years. Ride in 8-12 miles into our basins and have never seen anyone even close to them. Most people we see are the hikers on the main trail either coming or going from the major tourist destinations .  2 hours into the ride not another sole for 7 days , have never seen another hunter in our area. Plenty of legal deer  , one morning we counted 9 legal bucks within 3 hours.

[WA1232]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

Don't get discouraged.  I've been doing the high hunt in ALW for the past 3 years. Ride in 8-12 miles into our basins and have never seen anyone even close to them. Most people we see are the hikers on the main trail either coming or going from the major tourist destinations .  2 hours into the ride not another sole for 7 days , have never seen another hunter in our area. Plenty of legal deer  , one morning we counted 9 legal bucks within 3 hours.

And you are hoping to trade your solitude for company, why? I don't understand why people post so much on a public forum. It sounds like you have a special place, try to keep it that way!

[Eric M]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

Don't get discouraged.  I've been doing the high hunt in ALW for the past 3 years. Ride in 8-12 miles into our basins and have never seen anyone even close to them. Most people we see are the hikers on the main trail either coming or going from the major tourist destinations .  2 hours into the ride not another sole for 7 days , have never seen another hunter in our area. Plenty of legal deer  , one morning we counted 9 legal bucks within 3 hours.

And you are hoping to trade your solitude for company, why? I don't understand why people post so much on a public forum. It sounds like you have a special place, try to keep it that way!

The Pasayten is 530,000 plus acres. Alpine Lakes is 400,000. Add the rest up. You could spend a lifetime trying to figure out this guys honey hole. 8-12 miles into the ride from where?

[WA1232]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

Don't get discouraged.  I've been doing the high hunt in ALW for the past 3 years. Ride in 8-12 miles into our basins and have never seen anyone even close to them. Most people we see are the hikers on the main trail either coming or going from the major tourist destinations .  2 hours into the ride not another sole for 7 days , have never seen another hunter in our area. Plenty of legal deer  , one morning we counted 9 legal bucks within 3 hours.

And you are hoping to trade your solitude for company, why? I don't understand why people post so much on a public forum. It sounds like you have a special place, try to keep it that way!

The Pasayten is 530,000 plus acres. Alpine Lakes is 400,000. Add the rest up. You could spend a lifetime trying to figure out this guys honey hole. 8-12 miles into the ride from where?

I disagree. Look at a map, the wilderness is just not that big. Not many areas where you get 12 miles from a trailhead where you are still that distance from a trailhead on the other side.

[Eric M]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

Don't get discouraged.  I've been doing the high hunt in ALW for the past 3 years. Ride in 8-12 miles into our basins and have never seen anyone even close to them. Most people we see are the hikers on the main trail either coming or going from the major tourist destinations .  2 hours into the ride not another sole for 7 days , have never seen another hunter in our area. Plenty of legal deer  , one morning we counted 9 legal bucks within 3 hours.

And you are hoping to trade your solitude for company, why? I don't understand why people post so much on a public forum. It sounds like you have a special place, try to keep it that way!

The Pasayten is 530,000 plus acres. Alpine Lakes is 400,000. Add the rest up. You could spend a lifetime trying to figure out this guys honey hole. 8-12 miles into the ride from where?

I disagree. Look at a map, the wilderness is just not that big. Not many areas where you get 12 miles from a trailhead where you are still that distance from a trailhead on the other side.

I guess what I'm saying is he didn't say which wilderness. 8-12 miles in means a swath of ground 4 miles wide in an unspecified wilderness area open to the high hunt. You could probably find it but it's probably going to take awhile. Just in Alpine Lakes how many basins are 8-12 miles from a trailhead? I can think of 3 without looking at a map. Or maybe it's Mt. Baker or Henry Jackson? Or the Pasayten? Of course anyone doing that much hiking is definitely doing their homework and is probably going to find a good spot anyway don't you think?

[JeffRaines]

All advices that I've taken into thought already. Any high country (wilderness or not is always over run) I've changed ground on this theory already. Likely permanently and intend to take horses into some of NW Montana's more remote back country.

Don't get discouraged.  I've been doing the high hunt in ALW for the past 3 years. Ride in 8-12 miles into our basins and have never seen anyone even close to them. Most people we see are the hikers on the main trail either coming or going from the major tourist destinations .  2 hours into the ride not another sole for 7 days , have never seen another hunter in our area. Plenty of legal deer  , one morning we counted 9 legal bucks within 3 hours.

And you are hoping to trade your solitude for company, why? I don't understand why people post so much on a public forum. It sounds like you have a special place, try to keep it that way!

The Pasayten is 530,000 plus acres. Alpine Lakes is 400,000. Add the rest up. You could spend a lifetime trying to figure out this guys honey hole. 8-12 miles into the ride from where?

I disagree. Look at a map, the wilderness is just not that big. Not many areas where you get 12 miles from a trailhead where you are still that distance from a trailhead on the other side.

I guess what I'm saying is he didn't say which wilderness. 8-12 miles in means a swath of ground 4 miles wide in an unspecified wilderness area open to the high hunt. You could probably find it but it's probably going to take awhile. Just in Alpine Lakes how many basins are 8-12 miles from a trailhead? I can think of 3 without looking at a map. Or maybe it's Mt. Baker or Henry Jackson? Or the Pasayten? Of course anyone doing that much hiking is definitely doing their homework and is probably going to find a good spot anyway don't you think?

I agree. It would be different if he name-dropped a trailhead or specific basin/etc... who is going to spend time pouring over maps finding all the basins 8-12 miles in(is it 8? 9? 10? 11? 12?), then taking the time to go and visit each and every one? Even if there are only 7 of them, thats weekends spent looking for someone elses honey hole... something tells me they would likely end up finding a honey hole of their own when it was all said and done.

[Jpmiller]

I was fairly open with a couple people on here last year with where I was planning on elk hunting and where they could go to get into elk. I saw nobody. Knowing a location to hunt and actually putting in the work to get there are two different things.

[jstone]

LOOOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS. Even your buddies can tell someone else and POW more people. If there is a place you like to keep secrete keep it. If someone tells you a place and asks you to not share, don't share. Especially on the internet.

[muleracks]

Actually, most of the WA Wilderness High Hunt areas only get hunted heavy on Opening Weekend; this year Sept 15-17 or 18.  The weekend warriors leave, solitude is restore for about Sept. 19-25.  There will be a few scattered horse camps and outfitted drop camps but they are few and far between.  Buck behavior tends to return to normal once the weekenders hike out.

[Watimberghost]

Great bucks muleracks!!

[NW SURVEYOR]

With regards to the 8-12 miles subject I offer this....
Is the distance "As the crow flies" or "trail miles"?
If trail miles, you have now decreased the radius distance from the trailhead, thus effectively enlarging the search area for the elusive "Basin" AKA "Honey Hole".
In my opinion, once you get 3 miles from the road off trail, things get pretty spread out.
Basins can also be defined a drainages, draws, canyons and any other sundry terms.

I have occasionally pointed select people in the general direction that I hunt.
It should be noted that these are areas that someone shared with me 20 years ago.
We all understand that these areas are to be kept secret, but not forever.
We get older and understand that knowledge is to be sparingly shared, not jealously guarded.
Do we not have at least a small obligation to help our fellow sportsman?
In my opinion the ones that we should help are those that did not have the advantage of growing up in a hunting family.
If you grew up hunting, you should have the scouting thing figured out, if not, sorry, you never will.

I was fortunate enough to grow up hunting and fishing since I was 4.
For the last 35 years I have had a job which enables me to get out into the woods.
There is no way in hell that I can hunt all the places that I know hold animals.
Why should I not share at least a small portion of tis knowledge with someone less fortunate.
The success that he may have could inspire him to keep hunting, thus adding another sportsman to our dwindling ranks.

That all said, I am looking for a new "Honey Hole" to hunt elk in for the Westside, any ideas?
You can PM me.
I won't share it with anyone for 20 years.

Later,
Rob.

[Eric M]

With regards to the 8-12 miles subject I offer this....
Is the distance "As the crow flies" or "trail miles"?
If trail miles, you have now decreased the radius distance from the trailhead, thus effectively enlarging the search area for the elusive "Basin" AKA "Honey Hole".
In my opinion, once you get 3 miles from the road off trail, things get pretty spread out.
Basins can also be defined a drainages, draws, canyons and any other sundry terms.

I have occasionally pointed select people in the general direction that I hunt.
It should be noted that these are areas that someone shared with me 20 years ago.
We all understand that these areas are to be kept secret, but not forever.
We get older and understand that knowledge is to be sparingly shared, not jealously guarded.
Do we not have at least a small obligation to help our fellow sportsman?
In my opinion the ones that we should help are those that did not have the advantage of growing up in a hunting family.
If you grew up hunting, you should have the scouting thing figured out, if not, sorry, you never will.

I was fortunate enough to grow up hunting and fishing since I was 4.
For the last 35 years I have had a job which enables me to get out into the woods.
There is no way in hell that I can hunt all the places that I know hold animals.
Why should I not share at least a small portion of tis knowledge with someone less fortunate.
The success that he may have could inspire him to keep hunting, thus adding another sportsman to our dwindling ranks.

That all said, I am looking for a new "Honey Hole" to hunt elk in for the Westside, any ideas?
You can PM me.
I won't share it with anyone for 20 years.

Later,
Rob.

My family didn't hunt. I was born in New York City. I've worked hard to find some places to kill deer. But maybe I'm an old softy. But if you find a good elk place I'm willing to help you pack it out to learn an elk area. I would like to kill one in this lifetime.