Can't find a back country hunting spot southwest Washington

[Ajj828]

So I've been watching tons and tons of videos of backcountry hunting on YouTube and it looks really enjoyable. It is exactly what I think hunting should be like. This will be my 2nd year hunting and I really want to experience the outdoors and not just a bunch of gravel logging roads. The closest area with a ton of forest near me is that big national forest by mt Saint Helens. I have go hunt app and I think it's public land. The unit only has about 100 deer harvested compared to the unit i hunted in last year which has up to 500 but mostly young bucks are killed. So I'm a bit worried about going to the middle of nowhere and not seeing deer. I really really want to camp out in a tent and explore the wilderness. I'm not looking to pay for permits or any weird access stuff. Looking for strictly public land that you can go hunt in in the middle of nowhere. Does anyone know of any major areas in the southwest Washington area that has lots of back country land to hunt. I really don't want to walk old gravel roads because I feel like I'm not really hunting. If I do hunt gravel roads I'm going to walk in about 3 miles to get away from everyone.

[X-Force]

I would argue that those logging roads your are complaining about are creating the best deer habitat in western Washington and that is one of the reasons you will see higher deer harvests in private timber land. 

There is lots of backcountry areas in the Gifford Pinchot NF or you can look at one of the wilderness areas but unless you get above the tree line visibility can be pretty limited.

http://www.wilderness.net/map isn't a bad place to start and has TOPO and Image layering.

Good luck.

[bobcat]

If you want backcountry hunts for deer in Washington I'd suggest heading to the National Forests in eastern Washington. Or you could also try the Olympic National Forest. Tough hunting but it sounds like just what you're looking for. Look at the early hunt that runs September 15-25.

[Old Man8383]

A few suggestions:
Stop watching hunting shows and get out of doors and do some scouting of your own. If you don't want to hunt in managed forests then don't.  Since you claim esthetics of the hunt are important to you, don't let kill statistics be your guide either.  You might try:

1. Buy a USFS map of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  Look at the WDFW wildlife area maps.  Some of the game ranges have roadless hunting opportunities.  Washington DNR's maps can also show you where there are roadless hunting opportunities.  All these sources are public lands.
2. Look on Google Earth for natural openings (wetlands, riparian areas, south facing slopes, open ridge tops, alpine areas, burns ect....).  Plot these on your maps.
3. Go to a USFS district office and ask them to show you where recent fires and logging areas are that wouldn't show on Google Earth.  These are high quality food areas.  Plot these areas on your maps also.
4. Buy a compass.  GPS doesn't work well in dense timber and thick underbrush.
5. Learn how to use the compass and map before bushwacking it in the PNW dense brush and timber.  Getting lost is real...
6. The USFS has great main trail systems to get you back into roadless areas.  From there on it's game trails and your good sense. 
7. If your hunting the modern fire arm seasons be prepared for snow.  It can snow inches per hour in the SW high Cascades any time from Oct 1 onward.

Summers here, pick some likely areas on the maps and go exploring to find your fall hunting area.  Good luck.

[kselkhunter]

Bobcat - do you know if the "Olympic Peninsula" for that Sep 15-25 hunt includes all of the Olympic National Forest, or is it just the five designated wilderness areas on the Olympic Peninsula (like it is in the cascades)?  The regs don't really specify from what I can read. 

[JimmyHoffa]

just the wilderness areas

[kselkhunter]

Thanks JimmyHoffa

[Alchase]

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest, as Old Man8383 said, has miles and miles of back country to hunt.
And as X-Force said, you won't get close to many without using the access "gravel roads" provide.
Trail heads are a great starting point as well. Take a "good" GPS a compass and know how to use both.
I think you will find hiking "off trail" in SW Washington is not for the faint of heart.
Most of the country is very, very, thick, and you will be bushwacking.
I would suggest you make a few trial runs and camp trips during the off season.
Trout Lake is a good starting point. lots of trail systems, ORV areas, and campgrounds near.
If you really want to test yourself, hit Goat Rocks Wilderness, Vanson Lake area, or Admens Lake near Goat mountain or Strawberry Mountain.
Have a good supply of Deet, LOL.

[7mag.]

If you want a good experience hunting the backcountry, I suggest being open to drive to the East side. Backpack hunting in Western Washington is very difficult. One solid day of rain can ruin your entire trip. There is plenty of opportunity to hunt backcountry on the Eaastern slope of the Cascades. The weather is generally better and its usually more open for better visibility.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Turn off the hunting videos and turn on Google Earth.  This is the perfect time to start looking at and learning potential spots, and get out as many times as possible.  Either side of the Cascades is a viable option, the key is to get boots on the ground as much as possible in conjunction with map/satellite scouting.  If you search the forums for books, you will find lots of good recommendations for techniques too.  One I will throw out is David Long's Public Land Mulies The Bottom Line, the information for what you need and how to get into the backcountry will be applicable to all species, even though it is targeted to mule deer in the Rockies.

[Tbob]

The other thing I'd say is if/when you find a cool spot you want to hunt, keep it to yourself... It's hard to find hidden gems these days.. I've re-visited old spots I used to go (5-7 years ago) on google earth this past off season... So many places I never even knew were there! I'm super stoked to get back out there and hunt these areas again! Can't wait for the snow to melt so I can get after it! I used to be really down on hunting in WA state, but with hours spent on Google earth I'm stoked about it again!

[Shawn Ryan]

Either Indian Heaven or the Goat Rocks wilderness will get you the solitude you want. You might also try the Dark Divide, east of St. Helens: its not a designated wilderness, yet, but you can walk several miles without crossing roads.

[NW SURVEYOR]

Let's make the following assumptions:
Your "Wilderness" is 1 mile or more from the road.
You want to shoot a decent 3 point or better buck during modern rifle deer.
You're in real good shape.
You have 4 days off to consecutively hunt.
You're in SW Wash. with a decent truck/SUV.

Open up Google Earth and start looking for areas within GPNF which provide a means of accessing remote areas away from the roads.
These may not all be designated "Wilderness" areas.
You are going to be looking for steep ground where no logging has occurred.
I prefer up from the road rather than down.
This results in an easier pack out.
Also, I have had good luck up high along steep ridges.

Now, the problem is this, you need to scout these areas first, don't go in blind.
If you're alone, be damn careful that you don't break a leg.
You had better be in GREAT shape, not just OK.
Get near timberline, which does not have to be alpine, just rocky enough to minimize the timbers growth.
Have a GOOD binocular and start glassing.

Having grown up in Kelso, we hunted the Lewis River and Suixion (sp?) Units and shot deer and elk.
I was 20 -30 years old at the time and we had no trouble getting away from people.
We would look at the FS map and draw a circle where there were no roads and get at it.
It was nothing to come in and out a mile or so every day.
Staying out was to much trouble, but we did not have the synthetics we have now.
We wore wool pants and jackets with a nylon day pack and got wet.
But we shot deer.
We preferred a camp at the end of the road which allowed us to access different ridges.
Also, a hot meal and the ability to dry out.
Plus it's hard to carry enough beer for 3-4 days.

If staying out, watch the weather and be ready to vacate as things can change quickly.

Good Luck!

[kball4]

Some of those old logging roads in GPNF are unmaintained now and if the road gets cut off by a landslide or falling rocks and become impassable the forest service just leaves it.  Walking an old road for a few miles is better than bush whacking to me.  Thick stuff down there.