Vail permit for grouse hunting?

[aman]

I was considering purchasing the Vail permit primarily for grouse hunting and potentially deer and elk as bonus. Is there some good grouse hunting in that area?

[cem3434]

Seems like a lot of money for a couple of grouse, the chance at a forked horn buck and possibly seeing the very elusive elk in that area. 

[257 Wby Mag]

But it will still sell out in 3 minutes.....

[cem3434]

It took about 30 minutes or so last year.

[aman]

My thinking behind it is that it's about an hour drive from Renton and it has some good deer population.

[cem3434]

Its way further than an hour from Renton any gate you are driving in, but your logic makes sense. I had a permit last year and only found 2 small bucks, which is the same number of cougars I seen in there last year. I passed on both small bucks and didnt get a shot at either cat. There are a lot of predators in there, which has the deer population down in my opinion.

[Igottanewknee]

I  live in Parkland / Tacoma area. It takes at least a 1/2 hour to get to the nearest gate.

[aman]

Even 1.5-2 hours seems pretty decent to me. It definitely beats my 5 hours trip to Spokane for turkeys and waterfowl.

My hopes are that a fairly close spot would get me out there more often and hopefully get some grouse and maybe increase my odds at a deer. I'm a new hunter so obviously i'm not looking for monsters. I just want to put meat in the freezer.

What do you guys think? Bad idea?

[cem3434]

If you just want meat in the freezer, you should get a chance at a small buck. They also give out doe permits for 667, so putting meat in the freezer is a very realistic goal. Its only money, so I say give it a shot. 

[T-Bone]

I guess I'm curious as to why(?) you would put up with the "Dog & Pony Show" expensive process when plenty of grouse hunting habitat for FREE exist in the Snoqualmie and Olympic National Forests? In my past life, living in Seattle, I was able to hunt grouse in both after scouting areas with maps I purchased for each one. Also, a short trip over the Pass puts you in nice ruffed and blue grouse spots around Cle Elum.

[Curly]

aman, hopefully someone will answer your question about how good the grouse hunting is in Vail Tree farm.  I used to hunt there back in the 80's for bandtail pigeons and grouse.  It was really good back then. 

I haven't hunted there is a couple decades at least, so I can't really say how good it is now, but I bet there are a few birds around. 

[Mudman]

Some spots are ok but imop most of it is crap.  Sure you will see a few around.  30+ years ago it was quite good. Likely to see a few spikes, some does and a few birds.  I wouldn't hunt it much less pay to hunt it.  Better spots to go.

[wapiti hunter2]

It took about 30 minutes or so last year.

Actually the system crashed and you could still get permits the next morning. As to the grouse, there are quite a few but you have to work. I've been on almost every road in the northern 2/3rds of the farm. Since permits started, the deer have wised up and are hard to find from the road. The guys that beat the bushes do well but road hunters, not so much. There are some very big deer in there but hard to find. A few elk but not what the WDFW would want you to think. LOTs of predators. I suspect calling would be fun. I really wish that weyerhaeuser would collect hunting statistics and manage the hunting as a game preserve/resource. They don't. I think all they want is management for damage to the young trees. If it was mine, I would not allow spikes to be killed. I would also cut the number of permits back to around 400 and double the fees. Make it a quality place to hunt.

[Bofire]

I see deer and grouse every time I go in. It is very good coyote calling. Have seen cougars but no shot yet. I seldom go in on weekends and do not hunt deer any more. I seldom see another car.
Carl

[aman]

Thanks for the info guys. I've never hunted with cougars around. Do the cougars generally stay away or should I take some bear spray? Given that I will be alone.