Author Topic: Anybody Hunt South Rainier? (Read 28737 times)

Dirty Mike · « **on:** April 07, 2009, 11:25:15 PM »

i hunt this area and just wanted to know what everybody thought about this unit and maybe share some info

jason4429 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2009, 06:28:16 AM »

I have hunted that unit in the past . My dad hunted it alot when i was growing up.I took this buck four years ago out of that unit

Ray · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2009, 07:09:24 AM »

There's bears! Seen some elk. If it was closer to home I would hunt it more often. Have not taken anything.

elkkiller · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2009, 07:34:48 PM »

Dandy buck!

Gringo31 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:51:20 PM »

I hunted a for a few years. Big country, little access. Not a lot of pressure but a lot of hiking. I have seen a few deer, a lot of bear sign and a few really good bulls. Called in some just out of range. Nice thing is you can hunt with a buddy like I did, I hunted the west side of the Pacific Crest Trail with a West tag and he hunted cows on the east side of the trail.

There were quite a few guys with pack strings, only saw one bull killed up there a 5x5.

Gringo

Houndhunter · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2009, 10:09:31 PM »

ive been hunting it since i was a kid, great area for deer. havnt seen alota bear in the area i hunt, theres some elk but not enough for me to want to hunt. some of the best blacktail hunting around imo

Timmybob · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2009, 09:42:12 PM »

I love that unit. I've done a number of drop camps up in the wilderness area out there. My dad has a few horses and drops me off for a week or so at a time. It's always a cool trip. I buy the Westside elk tag and hunt the west side of the PCT. Seen 3 bears up there last year. I walked right up on one actually. He was digging in a bush and I didn't see him until I was around 8 feet or so. We just looked at each other for a second and he just walked off slowly.. It was totally crazy !!!! Seen a ton of elk and a few nice deer. I've never shot anything out there, but had a few close calls during the early archery season. I think I might even hunt up there this year. This thread is getting me all hot and bothered for a back country hunt....

littlebuf · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2009, 04:34:49 PM »

im going deep into south rainer this year for elk season. also going solo, i think im gunna take a couple days off before the season to pack camp back where i want to be

Timmybob · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2009, 11:00:11 PM »

Littlebuf,
I'll keep an eye out for you.....

littlebuf · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2009, 07:39:24 PM »

yo must like punishing hikes too then hey timmybob? i'll actually be in and out of the south Rainer unit the area im looking to go is borderland with some other units

Timmybob · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:43:48 PM »

Yeah man,
I'm a glutten for a good hike....I'm going to get up there on a few 3 day scouting trips over the summer. Come Aug 1st, I'm going to be packin looking for a few of those bears I saw last year. Can't wait.....God luck to you out there Man...

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:08:12 AM »

hey bob which season of elk do you hunt?

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2009, 06:29:06 PM »

what season do you guys hunt in?

Huntbear · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2009, 06:50:32 PM »

I am very interested in this unit for deer season. I have done some research, but if anyone has any tips on points of entry or general areas, it would be appreciated. Trying to hook my brother up on a nice blackie this year.

littlebuf · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2009, 09:35:15 PM »

i hunt modern riffle, there's a lot of access in this unit get the atlas and gazetteer map book and you will be amazed at the amount of service roads down there huntbear

Huntbear · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2009, 11:15:49 PM »

Thanks littlebuf. Will pick up the maps. We hunt modern rifle as well. We are just tired of the issues dealing with Weyerhauser gates, and how many guys get behind them with vehicles, because they have a key.

Timmybob · « **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:54:28 PM »

MasonCity,
I usually hunt the early archery season up in the S.Rainier. I also do a lot of scouting, backpacking and fishing up in there. A few of those lakes have some really nice Brookies in them..Really hoping to get one of those bears this year too.....

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2009, 07:35:52 AM »

i hunt muzzle up there a few yrs ago i shot a bear up there where do you set up camp

Timmybob · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2009, 05:25:28 PM »

I usually bivy all over..I am going to focus on the S. end this year off of whites Pass. I think I may set up shop near Dumbell lake. Still not sure....I keep looking at the map and see so many cool spots I want to hit. How about you? Where do you usually set up shop? How big was your bear? Any pix?

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2009, 05:55:33 PM »

no pix sorry and not gonna lie not big but have seen huge tracks in the snow guess the closest lake to us i guess would be jug lake

Timmybob · « **Reply #20 on:** June 24, 2009, 08:51:20 PM »

Nice....

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #21 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:49:38 AM »

how was hunting up there for you last yr

Timmybob · « **Reply #22 on:** June 25, 2009, 08:00:36 AM »

I didn't hunt up there last year. I decided to hunt a new spot out by the coast last year. I just hiked and fished around up in the Wilderness area last year. I am hitting it hard up there this year though. Just waititng for the snow to melt a bit more. I will be scouting from mid-July all through the summer till the Sept Season roles around. I remember a few years ago up there, it was totally snowing in early Sept. You should have seen all the guys heading out of that place. They were all totally under prepared for any cold weather. It was GREAT !!!! we were completely alone back there and the snow was only about 4 inches deep. The critters were running around like crazy everywhere.....I hope it's like that again. The year before that one it was like 80 degrees everyday. The hunting was tough, but still managed to call in a few good bulls and saw a few nice deer. I didn't shoot anything that year, but it was really fun. I may be hunting solo this year up there, as my dad is taking a long time to decide if he's going with me or not. If I'm solo, we should think about hunting together out there for a day or two man.........

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #23 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:55:59 PM »

i hunt during muzzle season that the only problem

packwoodcoug · « **Reply #24 on:** June 25, 2009, 01:33:39 PM »

hunt archery elk near jug ...dropping off a trail camera this weekend I'll keep you posted last year I got good film of some cows and calfs then attacked by the mosquitos during the season.

Houndhunter · « **Reply #25 on:** June 25, 2009, 08:44:47 PM »

snow levels are fine i was up in my spot last week, i plan to head up there again this sun if i can. had to clear out my trial and it needs a bit more work. didnt see much sign, but im really just trying to learn the area better, really easy to get screwed up

Timmybob · « **Reply #26 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:54:03 PM »

I agree about getting turned around up in there. A good map and compass is worth its weight in gold out there..I know what you mean about the sceeters too. One of those hot years and youre toast. They can get soooo bad up there. Owell as long as the hunting is good, I can suffer threw it.....

Packwoodcoug,
I will be waiting for the update...Can't wait. I think I'm going to hang a trail cam up there for the first time too...We'll see....

packwoodcoug · « **Reply #27 on:** June 29, 2009, 10:42:12 AM »

busted 5 or six cows on the trail and saw three others near my camera and one deer. Alot of snow patches still above 4000 feet. Good sign seeing the cows because I know the the bulls will be looking for them in mid Sept!

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #28 on:** June 29, 2009, 10:51:50 AM »

what are you going in on?

Houndhunter · « **Reply #29 on:** June 29, 2009, 03:00:26 PM »

went up there on sat, bushwackin and lookin for the horns to a wounded bull we found in nov a real nice 6 point. well we found him but someone else found him first, the horns were cut off

but not that we would have taken them either

. misquitos are outa hand right now though, i wont go back without one of them thermacel deals. saw some elk but no deer, didnt go up high this time though

Timmybob · « **Reply #30 on:** June 29, 2009, 09:09:28 PM »

I usually hunt at about 6000ft or so. I know the snow is usually still around my spot at this time of year. I heard a news report that this will probably be one of the worst sceeter seasons ever !!! God help us all.....
I am going to make my first treck up there the weekend of 7/11...Hope the first wave of bugs are gone.
Glad to hear everyone seeing critters up there already.....Packwood Coug, Keep us posted on those TC pix man. I'm looking forward to them.....

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #31 on:** July 01, 2009, 10:51:35 AM »

that make two of us cant wait to See the pics i usually hunt at 5000 Feet and up

packwoodcoug · « **Reply #32 on:** July 01, 2009, 11:28:03 AM »

My plan is to go up this Sunday and make sure its in the right location and not taking pics of hooves or the sky but I also plan on tying a few on for the fourth so lets hope I can wake up with enough motivation to hit the hill! I will keep you posted.

Dslayer · « **Reply #33 on:** July 01, 2009, 08:58:44 PM »

We led a student group in to Cramer Lake and planted fish on Tuesday and my son and I went in to Deer on Sunday. Anything above 4800 feet and w/o exposure had plenty of snow still. Not impossible to walk on, particularly early in the day. Saw some elk both trips, fishing was good in both spots as well. Mosquitoes not bad at all up high, bad at the trailheads, though. You just have to swath yourself in some Ben's 100 and some Deep Backwoods OFF and go for it when it gets bad. Last summer was so late andthe bugs hung on well into mid August and after. I always get a kick out of predictions of a bad skeeter year in the Tumac-when has there ever been a 'good' year up there.

Timmybob · « **Reply #34 on:** July 01, 2009, 11:46:51 PM »

Dslayer,
I like deer Lake..Glad to hear the fishing was good up there..I've caught some descent brookies outta there..I hear ya about the bugs..It always seems crappy..Good luck to everyone up there..Maybe we will bump into eachother scouting or fishing. Like I said, I'm heading up in the 11th..

Dslayer · « **Reply #35 on:** July 02, 2009, 07:50:54 PM »

It looks like we'll be taking that student group for an overnighter in the S. Tieton that weekend, 7/11-12, otherwise we might meet up in the Tumac somewhere. We learned a hard lesson that we always go with two chaperones and one my colleagues whose wife is pregnant has an appointment early next week that he can't miss out on so we had to reschedule for the 11/12-we've got a few lakes to plant in between. The story of the kid he 'lost' is pretty funny-I missed that trip due to 'roid surgery and this kid made himself into a 'roid for my partner. He was on the verge of getting on the sat. phone and getting a hold of some SAR when the kid finally got a hold of him via walkie talkie. This was the kind of kid we shouldn't be taking on these trips, sort of a 'special' kid, but we prided ourselves on getting some of these kids into the woods and through the 'big' hike. Needless to say, we've changed that policy, but we kept that goofball with the group and he made the season ender that year a rather meandering adventure from Chinook to White.

Hitting it when you are should just about be right for getting to the higher lakes like Dumbell and Pipe. I'd be interested in hearing if you get into some fish or elk or anything else. Hot weather the next 3-4 days ought to make a pretty good dent in the snowpack. Fish Cramer if you can.

Timmybob · « **Reply #36 on:** July 02, 2009, 09:21:15 PM »

sounds good man. I will let you know how it looks up there..

Dirty Mike · « **Reply #37 on:** July 08, 2009, 12:26:35 AM »

so how does it look?

Timmybob · « **Reply #38 on:** July 20, 2009, 11:08:17 PM »

Went up this weekend and the bugs were soooooooooo bad that It was all I could do just to try and hike around. It was horrible. I even left the tent at home to sleep under the starts and Got eatin alive.......Don't go if you don't have to..Lots of snow up where I was too...So many skeeters..Looks like i have the mumps..I even used 100% deet spray and still got eaten...didnt see any animals as I was literally running to loose the bugs anywhere I went..

Dslayer · « **Reply #39 on:** July 21, 2009, 05:42:06 PM »

Where did you go? Do any fishing. Sounds like the skeeters are in mid-season form. Last year the snow melted so late and slowly that skeeter season lasted way into August. We were down below Raven's Roost at Anna Lake and they were as bad as I've seen them.

Houndhunter · « **Reply #40 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:04:30 PM »

i havent been up there since june, but them skeeters are outa hand. i wore strong repelent and that did nothing, i just had to keep moving to keep them off. i need to get a thermcell, supposibly those will work in the worst conditions

stumprat · « **Reply #41 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:12:27 PM »

I bought a Thermacell this year. Unless it's real windy it's the best. I don't leave home without it.

Houndhunter · « **Reply #42 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:19:58 PM »

Quote from: adnahoundsman on July 21, 2009, 06:12:27 PM

I bought a Thermacell this year. Unless it's real windy it's the best. I don't leave home without it.

im gonna get one for bear season, where i was last year it was bad. does it work for all bugs? flys and bees are a real pain when gutting a bear

i hate bugs

stumprat · « **Reply #43 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:22:27 PM »

I had it in the high country last weekend. No skeeters flys or bees

In my predator stands it even runs off the ants.

Timmybob · « **Reply #44 on:** July 21, 2009, 11:25:24 PM »

Nice to know.. Might have to get one ! I was using 100% Deet and was almost drained of all my blood..I was up near bush and Dumbell lakes..

Dslayer · « **Reply #45 on:** July 24, 2009, 06:05:33 PM »

My son and I walked into Dumbbell today-caught a nice mess of fish. We pretty much bathed ourselves in Off and Ben's and didn't get bit much. Mosquitoes are brutal which is pretty much par for the course if you want to be up there this time of year. Not much wind blowing across the lake which is usually good for keeping the skeeters away. Nice mayfly hatch got the fish worked up pretty good, too. Lots of elk behind Dog Lake where we came in.

Dean44 · « **Reply #46 on:** August 06, 2009, 06:30:57 AM »

We went into Dumbell Lake in July and spent a few days. The mosquitos were relentless. I have also been there is mid-August and they were not near as bad.

The fish were pretty large this year. We also saw a heard of elk just before dark come down and bath in the Lake.

elkman11032 · « **Reply #47 on:** August 06, 2009, 11:04:22 AM »

hey guys my buddy and I were thinking about hunting up in this area your talking about.... im wondering what gmu is it and what the easyiest way to get there I have horses to pack my meat, also to get camp back in there... anyway i could get them back into some of this beautiful elk country!!!!!

thanks

michael "the elk man"

pm me or email me at huntnmike@hotmail.com
i could use all the help with the wilderness area as possible!!!!

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Author Topic: Anybody Hunt South Rainier? (Read 28737 times)

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