Peaches Ridge Modern Rifle 2017

[acrocker]

So I finally drew that tag, the one I've been putting in for since.... well, who can remember that far back? Everything is going great, planning on a nice pack in trip to the Norse Peak Wilderness area, a real quality hunt. And then, August arrived and... You know the rest.

But enough complaining from me - I'm glad that there hasn't been any major structure loss or loss of life in these fires, Lord knows there could have been. My thoughts are with the guys and gals out on the fire lines - that is tough, tough work.

I'm going to give it a go, anyway. I've heard talk of a lot of guys in the early hunts sending their tags back and taking the points - what seems to be the consensus on this? One school of thought is that the fires in the wilderness will force a lot of elk out of the high country much earlier that usual, and coupling that with the early snow up there at Chinook and Crystal and there could be a lot of elk moving come mid October.

Of course, the other school of thought is that the elk will be scattered away from their usual haunts and tougher to find. All that scouting down the drain, and now on to plan B, or C.

For all you modern permit holders, what are your thoughts? (How much competition am I going to have..?) And good luck to everyone, it's still going to be a fun season just like always, whether I get my bull or not  - Opening day is always like Christmas in October!

[fishngamereaper]

Theres a lot of area that has not burned that holds really big bulls. Get to scouting (foot or map)and you will do fine. I would never turn that tag back in.

[FWilliams]

I am with fishngamereaper I would not be turning that tag back in, especially with the weather change we have had, there is plenty of country up there that has not burned

[MLhunter1]

Plenty of land left. Spent last few days archery hunting it. Came up empty but don't regret keeping the tag. Saw very few hunters.

[acrocker]

MLHunter1 - did you see elk, or was it pretty quiet? Didn't see anything myself when I was up there, but I'm hearing some people are getting into them.

[Naches Sportsman]

The burn was spotty in the wilderness from what I was told. Still a lot of area to hunt in there if the fire perimeter is opened to the public. I doubt that a person will be allowed in there this year though.

[Jharristealth]

I kept the archery tag as well.  Things started off slow but have picked up in the last few days. Hunting the 336 side. Seen 7 different bulls in the last 5 days, one miss on a raghorn and several close encounters with no shot. Only one of the bulls has been vocal responding to esturus bawls, a 7x7 with 10 cows in tow. Had him at 50 with no shot through the reprod.

[Gringo31]

No question...


I'd hit it as hard as I could.

[ctwiggs1]

Plenty of Peaches to hunt away from the fires.  I'd treat that tag like a winning lotto ticket and be in there for sure. 

[baker5150]

I don't think I could give up that tag. 

Knowing my luck, I would give it up and see the bull of a lifetime.
I'd rather give myself the opportunity to harvest.

[Elkfever]

I see a lot of people stating that there is still a lot of good elk country that is not on fire but to me, the bigger problem is the closures around the fire, especially if you were planning on hunting the Naches side.  Still a lot of time and weather that works in favor of the modern Peaches tag holders so I would remain optimistic, although I would be very skeptical of the wilderness opening up prior to the start date of modern. 

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/WAOWF/2017-08-15-1309-Norse-Peak-Fire/picts/2017_09_16-22.20.21.616-CDT.jpeg

Unfortunately, I have a Muzzy tag for Peaches and based on the current closures, access to much of the country I'm familiar with is closed. Which leaves most of the Taneum open and the the SE portion of Little Naches. I'm still waiting to turn my tag back in for my 19 points but unless the 19 rd. opens back up, I'll be doing so this next week. 

I wish the best to everyone in their decision. 

 

[WSU]

I can't imagine turning that tag in.  With odds of drawing as low as they are, you probably won't draw again (even with points) for years.

[Pegasus]

That fire has concentrated the elk population in those units and if hunters keep giving up their tags this year that just makes it better for the remaining hunters to locate their bull. Plenty of area left to hunt in. Might be a turkey shoot for modern rifle hunters by the time their season arrives. The  modern rifle hunt is always crowded anyways so less land to hunt but more elk can't be all bad. Just make sure when you shoot your bull that you don't waste any time getting to it as there might be a race to tag it.

[PlateauNDN]

I know it's everyone's personal preference/decision but it's crazy......the peaches area is HUGE and I've hunted both sides. I learned a ton by going in blind and figuring it out for myself. I know in the last few years some of the biggest bulls I've seen were not taken in the wilderness portion of this tag area. 3 of the areas I had scouted and planned to hunt this year are closed because of the fire but I know the area and I know those closed areas aren't the only areas with bulls.

Again, it's everyone's personal choice and I'm not calling any particular person out just stating my opinion on the area as a whole.

[MLhunter1]

We only had 6 pts invested, if I had 19 I would have thought hard about giving it back. You can still get up the 1901 rd though.

[Stein]

I'm keeping the tag unless the fire jumps the 1900 road.  With the line they have in and the weather turning, that should be a remote chance of happening.

[acrocker]

It seems like most are in the same frame of mind as I am. With the weather turning, it's looking more and more like things will open up in the next few weeks - I'm definitely still going to hunt it. Maybe I'll learn some new territory...

[Stein]

Do you have the quality or bull tag?

[boneill]

I did a fair amount of aerial surveying up in this area a couple years ago...saw a ton of elk from the planes. Never stepped foot on the ground, but looks like there is still plenty of land that hasn't been burned. Good luck!

https://www.geomac.gov/viewer/viewer.shtml

[GUscottie]

I did a fair amount of aerial surveying up in this area a couple years ago...saw a ton of elk from the planes. Never stepped foot on the ground, but looks like there is still plenty of land that hasn't been burned. Good luck!

https://www.geomac.gov/viewer/viewer.shtml

The issue with some of that land that isn't burned is that everything SW/S of FS 1900 (Little Naches Road) is closed. Even if it didn't burn, it's closed as of right now. The Modern Quality Tag opens in a couple days and the Muzzy tag opens up in 10 days

[boneill]

I did a fair amount of aerial surveying up in this area a couple years ago...saw a ton of elk from the planes. Never stepped foot on the ground, but looks like there is still plenty of land that hasn't been burned. Good luck!

https://www.geomac.gov/viewer/viewer.shtml

The issue with some of that land that isn't burned is that everything SW/S of FS 1900 (Little Naches Road) is closed. Even if it didn't burn, it's closed as of right now. The Modern Quality Tag opens in a couple days and the Muzzy tag opens up in 10 days

AH, copy. I'm a bit out of the loop on the hunt/area/road closures. I was just trying to inspire some confidence  Hopefully it pans out!

[Stein]

I bet if a guy drove around with sacks of Krispy Kremes and a cooler of iced energy drinks you may be able to get some pretty dang good scouting info from the guys who have spent a bunch of time on the ground.

[PlateauNDN]

A case of my favorite monster or Irish death and I may say something.

[horsehunter509]

I spent 24 days running a water tender on that fire. Saw several nice bulls. They did a lot of logging along 410 and the elk are hanging right along the road eating in the fresh logged areas. Saw a few back in the bear gap road also. Just depends when it all gets opened up.

[fishngamereaper]

I can be bought..... bourbon makes me talk.

[PlateauNDN]

I can be bought..... bourbon makes me talk.

I heard tequila makes clothes fall off.  I heard, no personal experience.

[fishngamereaper]

I can be bought..... bourbon makes me talk.

I heard tequila makes clothes fall off.  I heard, no personal experience.

You should leave it right there.....

 

[acrocker]

I have the bull tag, not the quality tag. And not a lot of pride - it seems like people can be bought for pretty reasonable rates and I can use all the intel I can get at this point...

There's still a month before my tag kicks in, I'm thinking a lot of the closed areas are going to be open here in the near future...