Deer closer to home

[Eric M]

Capitol Forest maybe? Or a lot of people go up into Elbe Hills area but there are quite a few deer in there, and some elk also. Both places are pretty crowded but if you walk and do a little scouting you can get away from most people.

[Alchase]

Capitol Forest maybe? Or a lot of people go up into Elbe Hills area but there are quite a few deer in there, and some elk also. Both places are pretty crowded but if you walk and do a little scouting you can get away from most people.

The South District off 706 and east of hwy 7, has a ton of land that is hard to get to since they closed the driving access from Ashford.

You get two miles in, you will not see many hunters at all.

[Old Man Yager]

Like Alchase said, get off the road and work some ridges.
I live in the Claw and have shot twenty deer within an hour drive from my door.
The hour drive is one thing, the hour hike in is another.
Find some point of access to a remote basin, ridge or combo and you will see deer.
I mostly still hunt mature timber and shoot most deer at 75 yards or less.
Work slowly and keep your eyes peeled, bring a lunch and stay at it all day. Do not return to the truck till dark.
Good luck.
Rob.

Yes, like these guys said get off the road aways. I hunt Hancock right outside of Eatonville, and I hardly ever see any other hunters in the woods. It's amazing how lazy people are, just cruising roads and then getting pissed off when a buck doesn't jump out in front of them. With Blacktails, I will look at an area that I never see anybody looking at, usually because it's steep and deep, jump in there and hunt it. They will camp out close to roads too, but most hunters don't even get out and look. Good luck. Keep us posted on where you decide to hunt, I'm always up for helping a fellow Hunter out!!

[NW SURVEYOR]

Go up 410 past Greenwater, maybe Huckleberry Creek (Eleanor) drainage.
Also check out 28 mile creek and the Haller Pass area.
There are a ton of places, you just have to ferret them out and learn the lay of the land.
Get up abit, maybe 3000-4000 feet.
Look for 100 acres or better of MATURE timber on steeper ground with little understory.
FYI, 40 acres is 1/4 mile square, you want some room.
You want to be somewhat adjacent to reprod (FEED).
These deer will feed in the reprod and bed in the timber.

Work the timber all day moving slowly.
If your jumping all the deer, you're going to fast.
Stop and sit and always stop next to a tree to blend in and have a rest for shooting.
I try to work sidehill above the truck, but that does not always work out.
Use your binocular and be ready to shoot.
Also, keep your scope on low power for that 50 foot shot, they happen.

This is tough hunting, but it is very rewarding when things fall together.
You need to be in shape and have good boots and gear to stay out all day.
It's really rough on the ankles and knees.

Good Luck,
Rob.

[Debark]

Like Alchase said, get off the road and work some ridges.
I live in the Claw and have shot twenty deer within an hour drive from my door.
The hour drive is one thing, the hour hike in is another.
Find some point of access to a remote basin, ridge or combo and you will see deer.
I mostly still hunt mature timber and shoot most deer at 75 yards or less.
Work slowly and keep your eyes peeled, bring a lunch and stay at it all day. Do not return to the truck till dark.
Good luck.
Rob.

Yes, like these guys said get off the road aways. I hunt Hancock right outside of Eatonville, and I hardly ever see any other hunters in the woods. It's amazing how lazy people are, just cruising roads and then getting pissed off when a buck doesn't jump out in front of them. With Blacktails, I will look at an area that I never see anybody looking at, usually because it's steep and deep, jump in there and hunt it. They will camp out close to roads too, but most hunters don't even get out and look. Good luck. Keep us posted on where you decide to hunt, I'm always up for helping a fellow Hunter out!!

Thank you! Ill message you when i find out where I'm going to go! Just waiting for more time off to poke my nose around a little more!

[Debark]

Go up 410 past Greenwater, maybe Huckleberry Creek (Eleanor) drainage.
Also check out 28 mile creek and the Haller Pass area.
There are a ton of places, you just have to ferret them out and learn the lay of the land.
Get up abit, maybe 3000-4000 feet.
Look for 100 acres or better of MATURE timber on steeper ground with little understory.
FYI, 40 acres is 1/4 mile square, you want some room.
You want to be somewhat adjacent to reprod (FEED).
These deer will feed in the reprod and bed in the timber.

Work the timber all day moving slowly.
If your jumping all the deer, you're going to fast.
Stop and sit and always stop next to a tree to blend in and have a rest for shooting.
I try to work sidehill above the truck, but that does not always work out.
Use your binocular and be ready to shoot.
Also, keep your scope on low power for that 50 foot shot, they happen.

This is tough hunting, but it is very rewarding when things fall together.
You need to be in shape and have good boots and gear to stay out all day.
It's really rough on the ankles and knees.

Good Luck,
Rob.

Thanks for the advise Rob,
I am familiar with getting out and staying active, I currently am in school for natural resources and cruise timber for work this summer. I just need to get out more at this point and find some ground to start learning.

Thank you for the advise,
Debark