Got drawn for Peaches archery with my best friend.

[philbradeen]

We plan to pack into the back country. Any thoughts on that? I know a lot of the great guides down there drive the road systems and call in the early AM and have good luck. I don't have money to hire one of those outfits. I also would rather pack in somewhere for the experience but meat is meat in the end.

I have been hunting the area since I was 10 with rifle ( am now 32 ). This is my first chance with a bow and I'm extremely excited. The season is Sept 9th - Sept 21st. Should I be expecting to use calls at this time or is it too early? Spot and stalk, wallow sitting?

Thanks for any ideas or anybody that just wants to chat.

Best of luck to all hunters!

[7mag.]

My hunting partner and I drew the same tag. We are planning on backpacking in as well. Luckily it's a two week season and I have the whole two weeks off, so there will be time to adjust tactics if needed.

[greenhead_killer]

Don't bother bugling. Most people screw it up anyhow. Cows calls and listening for locations will be your best bet. They will be active in the mornings and at night. Try and locate what sounds like a good one and try to put eyes on it. Go from there with a spot/stalk/call approach. Best of luck. I had this tag in 2014. Learned a ton. Wish I had it again and could put that knowledge to use

[philbradeen]

Awesome. Good luck to you 7mag, Maybe we'll see you out there.

Thanks for the info greenhead_killer. Did you end up tagging out in 2014?

[greenhead_killer]

I did not. Had multiple opportunities but ate the tag. Wasn't what I was after. Had elk from 3-30 yards in shooting range multiple times. Passed on a 280+ 5x6 day two that was a chip shot, just the name of the game I guess.

[87samurai]

I also drew the tag. Did a little scouting today. Trying to learn the area. 

[scoutdog346]

We plan to pack into the back country. Any thoughts on that? I know a lot of the great guides down there drive the road systems and call in the early AM and have good luck. I don't have money to hire one of those outfits. I also would rather pack in somewhere for the experience but meat is meat in the end.

I have been hunting the area since I was 10 with rifle ( am now 32 ). This is my first chance with a bow and I'm extremely excited. The season is Sept 9th - Sept 21st. Should I be expecting to use calls at this time or is it too early? Spot and stalk, wallow sitting?

Thanks for any ideas or anybody that just wants to chat.

Best of luck to all hunters!

I would stay down low cuz once ur up that high with out a truck u have way less areas u can go.  it sounds ur like me and know the area well so u will have plenty of good spits to drive too. hunt the back side of the clear cuts and couple miles into the wilderness and you'll get into plenty of Bulls

[White Pass Outfitters]

I have to disagree on staying down low, if your after a Big mature Bull get away from the roads and as far back as you can go with knowing you can still get the meat out in time. Down low you will have guys singing away and some not very good at it and that tends to shut up the Bigger Bulls. Nothing worse than calling in other hunters. Think step and deep!!!

[scoutdog346]

We plan to pack into the back country. Any thoughts on that? I know a lot of the great guides down there drive the road systems and call in the early AM and have good luck. I don't have money to hire one of those outfits. I also would rather pack in somewhere for the experience but meat is meat in the end.

I have been hunting the area since I was 10 with rifle ( am now 32 ). This is my first chance with a bow and I'm extremely excited. The season is Sept 9th - Sept 21st. Should I be expecting to use calls at this time or is it too early? Spot and stalk, wallow sitting?

Thanks for any ideas or anybody that just wants to chat.

Best of luck to all hunters!

I've had that tag 1 times and helpEd a few friends out with the tag.  I've done the diy wilderness hunt in that area and hunted low for years when I was a kid too during MF.  I suggest don't put all ur bread in one basket.  put 75% in hunting low edges of clear-cut and edges of wilderness. hunt all ur good spots u remember seeing rubs and other sign when u hunted MF. do like one or 2 hunts up hight spike camp style in the wilderness. with out horses ur very limited on where u can go and getting the meat out b4 it goes bad.  remember once ur up there ur dedicated to that one area. ( it's one thing to think you can follow the elk herd and just put them to bed and hunt them the next morning it's another to actually do it) don't get me wrong the wilderness in 346 is amazing! and fun but it's very hard to do more then 3 days up there with out horses to pack ur stuff in and out especially when you can hunt low, have your vehicle at your disposal with a comfortable camp and plenty of spots that hold bulls that u can move to when ur emotions and confidence is changing. idk man I'm just saying there is plenty of bulls in 346 down low.  Put it this way if you stay down low and if ur a 1/2 decent Hunter and hunt hard I guarantee you will get into bulls and have a few with in 50 yards but if you go up in the wilderness I can't guarantee that.

[trophyhunt]

The guide in the area locates right off the roads, you don't need to go deep if that's not your cup o tea.  My dad missed a 350+ bull less than 100 yards off a main road. 

[White Pass Outfitters]

You guys are forgetting the big picture its not about the kill, its about the hunt. How rewarding is it to kill a bull 100 yards of a road. In my opinon it would be aweful hard to brag up a kill that close to a road. I have killed 300 bulls and 350+ bulls and some of those smaller bulls were my most memorable hunts. But then im a diehard wilderness hunter also. Just my opinon.

[trophyhunt]

You guys are forgetting the big picture its not about the kill, its about the hunt. How rewarding is it to kill a bull 100 yards of a road. In my opinon it would be aweful hard to brag up a kill that close to a road. I have killed 300 bulls and 350+ bulls and some of those smaller bulls were my most memorable hunts. But then im a diehard wilderness hunter also. Just my opinon.

I know what your saying, I'm a wilderness guy myself.  But my dad is a disabled hunter and my post was just saying it can be done close to the road.

[scoutdog346]

it's very hard to have an effective hunt/camp in the wilderness for more then 2 or 3 days with out horses. it's not like u can pick up camp and move around.  once u get busted them elk can easily move 3 Canyons over where is down-low if a place gets busted or blownwhere is down-low u can get in ur truck and target completely different elk. 

[White Pass Outfitters]

I have a 7 day pack, a 3 day pack and a overnight pack, everyone of them are packed and ready to go at any giving time. When I take my mules im good for 14 days. I just really don't like hunting around other hunters if I can help it. Other hunters will blow your hunt more than you will every time. Not saying I don't know guys who get there bulls hunting the low lands its just not for me. Id rather hunt the wilderness by myself and not get an elk than hunt down low with all the other hunters. Just my opinion 

[Stein]

I don't know much about that unit other than what I learned scouting this year.  What I can say is there are plenty of roads and plenty of places a long way from a road.  Plenty of terrain for any type of experience you want.

[roadhuntking]

Had this tag last year.. if you can or have a good caller bugle bugle bugle.. had 3-10 bulls a day every day.. and for the nay sayers thats yer perogative. I passed on three of these bulls and seen countless more that busted. Every bull that came in was to a bugle and making a rukus scraping.. good luck it was a blast of a hunt!

[Skyvalhunter]

WELL

[roadhuntking]

PM sent phibradeen

[Gringo31]

I'd be nervous with that fire that started up there......

[DOUBLELUNG]

My approach to hunting elk that experience a lot of calling (pretty much the entire eastern Cascades): 1.  Try to find elk without calling.  2.  If elk aren't bugling during the day, get up at midnight and listen from 2400-0200; if there are elk in the area you should hear them then.  3.  After locating elk with 1 or 2, try to get close to where they were last seen.  4.  Sit and listen.  5.  If you can't locate any elk without calling, give a single, subordinate bull bugle.  If you are within hearing of a herd bull, that will usually elicit a response.  If you get one, game on - head for the downwind side of that last location.  If not, wait 15 minutes, give a couple cow calls, wait another 15.  If still nothing, assume they may have moved on, cross over a ridge and repeat.  Once you are close to and down wind of a herd bull and his harem, still hunt very slowly into the wind; if the bull bugles respond with cow calls.  Now, disclaimer: I am primarily a meat hunter for elk, and this is a great tactic for killing satellite bulls.  I've had some close calls with herd bulls, but have never killed one archery hunting.

[greenhead_killer]

Great advice right there. Also take a few different styles of cow calls. Not sure if it's normal or what but I've had elk respond to one particular call and not the next. I'm not an expert so I can't explain why, but I do carry few different calls
Now because of it

[Naches Sportsman]

I'd be nervous with that fire that started up there......

Especially when they are planning on letting it burn in the wilderness. Expect closures during archery season.

[vandeman17]

I'd be nervous with that fire that started up there......

Especially when they are planning on letting it burn in the wilderness. Expect closures during archery season.

Sorry to thread jack but where do you think they will close?

[Naches Sportsman]

I'd be nervous with that fire that started up there......

Especially when they are planning on letting it burn in the wilderness. Expect closures during archery season.

Sorry to thread jack but where do you think they will close?

Probably the entire norse peak widleness east of the pct. Haven't seen the strategy yet, but will post an update when I do.

[dreamingbig]

Oh no!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[philbradeen]

Yeah. I ended up going down to scout this last weekend and all the trails and highway 410 were closed. Not good at all. I've put all my eggs in one basket with that area and need to search for new options. The forest ranger has stated that he thinks it will burn into October. I hope thats not true or at least they open the trails if they aren't a treat to the actual fire.

Does anybody else have any updated info?

[Brena.Hunter]

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5509/