Olympic Peninsula This weekend(GMU 621)

[Butchmeathook]

Headed to GMU 621 this weekend to hopefully get my first Blackie!!! I cannot wait!!

[merlo105]

Good luck not many deer being seen over there with this Hot weather. Best luck is getting in the thick stuff.

[Butchmeathook]

Definitely going to be getting into it!!  Thank you!!
And this hot weather sucks!!!

[MountainWalk]

I live there. Lots of deer in the morning

[Butchmeathook]

Awesome thanks for the info MountainWalk!!

[merlo105]

Mountain Walk, What's your name? Also a Quilcene guy.

[PeninsulaPariah]

Anybody hunt the high country in this unit (Buckhorn Wilderness) during the regular rifle season?

[MountainWalk]

Some

[PeninsulaPariah]

I hiked in to Marmot Pass opening weekend and hunted the timberlines north and south from there. Walked a lot and glassed a lot. Saw a lot of does but no bucks. Been hunting down low in the evenings this week, walking gated roads. Haven't seen any bucks down here either. Considering heading back into the high country this weekend, going in further away from trails and hikers. I'm wondering if the rut will start a little earlier up high. What was your experience like in the high country this time of year?

[merlo105]

My Best advise for the high country is stay out of it I see you up there I'll push you down it, joking aside the amount of hiking pressure has been playing a toll up there. The hikers in years past would usually stick to the trails and to the trail destination, been seeing a lot of hikers running around wild. So advice would be to stay far from the trails. Buckhorn country tour surrounded by trails so might want to look towards tougher country like Tunnel Creek and Jupiter ridge. Plus i don't want people running around my area lol There are more deer per square mile in the low lands then there are in the high country. Hot slow days usually the deer are chilling about in the timber. Good luck

[MountainWalk]

Merlo, check yer inbox

[JimmyHoffa]

Anybody hunt the high country in this unit (Buckhorn Wilderness) during the regular rifle season?

There are a few dedicated guys that hunt that area, and scout it about weekly.  A few take horses in and set up a nice camp.  Their groups have been hunting it for at least a hundred years and they have it really dialed in, getting bucks and bears each year.  Some change in the weather is usually helpful.   

[PeninsulaPariah]

I've done a lot of backpacking and climbing in the Olympics, so I can appreciate non-hunting travelers. I respect people that get off the beaten path, and I encourage it.  It's been years since I hunted and I've had my eye on the Buckhorn for a long time.  I know the area well, and have spotted really nice bucks in the past, just haven't hunted there. It's only a matter of time before I unlock the secrets..

[PeninsulaPariah]

Hope to see you out there!