Pasayten High Buck Hunt

[JakeLand]

Thanks to everyone for their responses; this is helpful.  I've been doing some additional research and know that the area (and backup area) I am headed won't overlap any outfitter camps, and due to the location I'm going there won't be private horse camps close by.  So in terms of other people it would be other backpack hunters willing to hike 12+ miles in or backpackers not hunting.  As for the distance, part of the fun and challenge for me is going deep.  I lived in Alaska for good chunk of my life and 12 miles is less than some of the solo hunts (and successful hunts) I did there, so this isn't new for me.  Yes I hope the distance thins out other hunters, but if it doesn't I know those other hunters put in the same miles and work as I did to get there.  I'd rather be around those hunters than those at 4 miles.

good luck !! I hope to see a successful story and at least some pics of the adventure !

[TNTwestern]

We as a group used to do the Patsayten hunt years ago, hunted Lucky Pass and surrounding areas. I've seen one buddy pull a double out of there ( Nice Black bear and a real nice 4 point), my sone killed his first Muley out of there, dandy 4 x5. We haven't been back in there for about 7-8 years since it burned up... good luck on your high hunt!

[Knocker of rocks]

One thing I never understood is why is the Cascadian high hunt confined to only those Wilderness areas north of I-90?

[JH]

It is awesome country up there but as Bone said early in this thread, think of it more as a camping trip with a chance to get a deer.

Spent a week of hard hunting up there last year and ended up tagging out on the second to last day. Our group was not seeing a lot of deer but the country was so beautiful I personally didn't mind. We got hit by a pretty good snow storm the day after the opener so be prepared.  Keep your eyes out for Morels, they were thick last year. Wish I was heading back in this year but wasn't in the cards, I'll be back next year.

Good luck on your hunt!

[sooperfly]

Last year I was in the Pasayten during the high hunt hiking for 6 days. I was moving for 5 of them and took one day off to fish.  Did 80+ miles and didn't... see... one.... deer.  1st day I was on the trail by 3:00 a.m., and most of the days I was up early and out and about until late in the day.  I did a good mix of on and off trail, and in that whole time only came across hunting camps twice.  4 of the days I never saw a soul.   

I'm sure if I was out taking my time hunting I would have seen deer, but that was weird being out there for that long and that far without running across even a doe.  I think on the whole trip I came across more wolf and moose tracks than deer.

Like others have said, even if you don't get a deer it's a great area to tromp around in! 

Hopkins Lake last year, snapped this pic during a break in an all-day down pour.

[bigmacc]

Like many have said its some of the most beautiful country you'll ever see and like most have also said, getting a buck nowadays will be a bonus and I 100% agree. I have made a few trips into the area back in the day but it was a time when the herd was in great shape, a couple trips going in via a couple different drainages it was nothing to see 30-40 bucks before you even pitched a tent! I remember one year going into Spanish Camp with a buddy with nothing but a hand written map by an old cowboy friend, no cell phones, no gps and no fancy equipment or gear. We made it to the "spot" we thought was our target when it was pitch dark out, we put up a pup tent in a small snowstorm and awoke to the sound of trucks and the sound of Jake breaks, way off in the distance. We looked at each other and wondered "what the hell", found out later we had missed our mark by aways and what we were hearing in the muffled distance was big rigs on the Hope Freeway in B.C. . He did tell us, because it was so quiet up in that area, it was common on a quiet, still night to hear what we heard. We did see some giant bucks but could not get clean shots, either too far or to quick to get a trigger squeeze, we came home empty handed. Another time I remember, we made it not more than 2 miles on foot up a popular drainage and had 3 big bucks down, got those out and cooled and went back in with more family members, set up camp 7 miles in and by 10 o'clock the next morning had 5 more bucks down. I am squeezing "parts" telling this fact, but one of those bucks was 35'' wide, yes it was posted, it is a fact. Point being, at one time getting into the Pasayten was an opportunity to get to big bucks AND a lot of bucks before the general season guys, now its nothing different than what you see during general season, very few deer but they are more spread out which equals seeing even less deer. How I close most stories about how Methow hunting is nowadays, its a shame......

[Watimberghost]

Sooperfly, that's quite the trek. Beautiful picture.

Bigmacc, those days sound like a total blast... I love the high hunt and go into it with high hopes, but also understand the reality. A week away from work in one of God's most beautiful creations is what it's all about. The blessing of a hard earned deer is the goal, but always just a bonus to a great trip.

[teanawayslayer]

Sooperfly, that's quite the trek. Beautiful picture.

Bigmacc, those days sound like a total blast... I love the high hunt and go into it with high hopes, but also understand the reality. A week away from work in one of God's most beautiful creations is what it's all about. The blessing of a hard earned deer is the goal, but always just a bonus to a great trip.

I might add there’s always that chance of finding that elusive 200” mule deer as well. In my opinion it is a better quality hunt than any draw tag this state offers. My favorite hunt of the year. Headed in on the 12th. Won’t get here soon enough!

[cb1989]

How I close most stories about how Methow hunting is nowadays, its a shame......

If it was that good these days it wouldnt be an OTC tag... so at least one upside to the decline is you can still hunt it every year.

[ganghis]

Late to thread.  Sounds like you know what you are doing, but I'm definitely in the camp of getting your camp back 5-8 miles.   In many areas 12 miles in = 36 miles out (2 trips for your meat and camp). Hart's pass is a harder exit point than most though as you're guaranteed of having to walk uphill to your rig!  If you're taking trails that avoid horses though, it's most likely going to involve deadfall, and will be slower going than you might think.

I'll see if I'm eating by words going in through Iron Gate for the first time this year...Hart's pass there weren't too many people 5-8 miles in last time I was there (the one guy I encountered after Silver Lake was at a drop camp).  I'm going on the late side though.  You're definitely going to encounter less people on high buck if you go in later as well.  The few 'easy' 3x2's around will have been cleared out but most of the big bucks are still out there if you can find them.

Take my advice w a grain of salt, I've never killed a deer on high buck (bear, yes).  Enjoy the scenery and good luck with the hunt!

[M_ray]

Last year I was in the Pasayten during the high hunt hiking for 6 days. I was moving for 5 of them and took one day off to fish.  Did 80+ miles and didn't... see... one.... deer.  1st day I was on the trail by 3:00 a.m., and most of the days I was up early and out and about until late in the day.  I did a good mix of on and off trail, and in that whole time only came across hunting camps twice.  4 of the days I never saw a soul.   

I'm sure if I was out taking my time hunting I would have seen deer, but that was weird being out there for that long and that far without running across even a doe.  I think on the whole trip I came across more wolf and moose tracks than deer.

Like others have said, even if you don't get a deer it's a great area to tromp around in! 

Hopkins Lake last year, snapped this pic during a break in an all-day down pour.

Unfortunately this was the same for me, I put a fair amount of miles in the Pasayten last year and never saw deer! I only saw a moose, moose turds and lots of hairy wolf turds. Like others have said it’s beautiful country for sure but my experience made me not even want to buy a Washington tag again. Good luck to ya I’m sure you’ll do better than I did

[hal]

that area is used by guides packing in hunters. Alta Lake guide service took us in to Upper Eagle lake several years ago along with two other groups. Lots of snow so we had to ride out thru the woods instead of the trail. Brian Vallerman is the owner. Lower Eagle lake also had hunters and there were a group below us on Upper. 7 of us saw two deer all week. The snow drove them out and down to the valley.