A Tale of Two Bucks - Mt. Baker High Elevation Buck Hunt

[Jarrett H]

Welcome Gents,

I've been planning this year's high elevation hunt for a couple months now (waiting all year) & ended up scouting/hoofing it in where one of my favorite movies was filmed featuring De Niro, Walkin, Cazale. I thought it would be cool to share the adventure as I would absolutely recommend anyone considering it to make the jump!

I arrived at the hike in spot Monday the 14th (day before season) so I could get roughly 3.5 miles in to camp w/ enough time to scout before dark. I planned for a 4 day camp w/ roughly a 65lb pack weight, some of the contributing extra weight included camera equipment. Trekking poles at this weight were a necessity, but it only marginally made the hike in better with the added smoke & heat. I hit the same area last year & it was flooded & raining at a peak of about 40 degrees during the day. This week...it was blistering hot, at around 10am I ended up just wearing my hunting vest as my only top.



I used google maps to scout areas that had openings where I could glass for deer, being that I hiked roughly 50 miles last year in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness to find countless rubs/scrapes, but the brush was too dense to move without causing alarm. This year I decided I would let my eyes do the work. Once I setup camp & went to the first spot I marked on OnX & saw very little sign on the way in. Something I find interesting about deer is they don't typical leave droppings on trails, but bears don't seem to care. This area is dense w/ wild blueberries so the bear scat isn't in those faux cow patties, but in massive dog like blueberry mounds.



I looked at the area in question & it looked promising in the sense of remoteness w/ unlimited food, but the sign out in the open was still limited. I decided it was good enough for opening morning & went back to camp to have some mac n cheese. Tuesday morning I switched into game mode & headed to the same spot at around 630am. It's important to note my camp was setup about 500 yards from the destination, but it was solid brush to get there. I was also walking directly into the wind with a light mist in the air, it had rained that night.

Within about 45 mins of sitting & glassing I started to hear snorting & thumping, beautiful good size doe was bouncing in & out of the brush. She was being chased by a beautiful young 4 point buck. At this point I could tell he was a buck, but at about 60 yards I couldn't tell if he was legal. I pulled out the binos very carefully as she started to circle around behind me to get a smell, easily within 30 yards. When she trotted off he decided to do the same.

Doe -


Buck-


I may get some heat for this but I couldn't pull the trigger. He was clearly a legal 4 point, but easily 20lbs less than the doe he was chasing. All this work to take a young buck trying to get a whiff...I decided to let him grow a bit. After a bit of waiting I hiked in towards the brush where I had marked another clearing. It was around 11 am now & I was sitting in a small clearing that showed lots of sign. After a bit I started to hear snorting again & another young buck (2 point) was jumping out the thick like something was chasing him. There was so much bear sign I assumed it was a large bear or another buck. I was downwind again & he came within 15 yards to sniff me out while I filmed.



Tuesday was the only relatively cooler day & the only time I would see any life over the next couple days. The smoke rolled back in & the temperatures picked up. I climbed to the top of one of the ridges/mountains to see if there was any sign..but no luck. I ended up hiking out Thursday afternoon with a very sore body! Easily one of the best times to think & soak in all that makes this country beautiful.

Below are just some shots from the trip, enjoy!

[cooltimber]

very nice read

[fishnfur]

Looks like a great time.  Excellent photos accompanying your story.  Thanks for posting.

[Sutherland]

Thanks for sharing!

[Alchase]

Thanks for posting, some very pretty country!

[pd]

Congratulations, I would call that a successful hunt!  Do it again next year.

[fishngamereaper]

Good stuff..
Did you bring a shotgun or is that a lever action. My phone won't load clear pics right now.

[Aeron]

Great story. It's always nice to see some animals on a hunt, especially in such a beautiful part of the country.

[Jarrett H]

Glad you guys enjoyed the brief read, I told my wife after I saw the first two deer I was already satisfied.

Good stuff..
Did you bring a shotgun or is that a lever action. My phone won't load clear pics right now.

Marlin 1895SBL - w/ some Buffalo Barnes +P 300grn solid coppers.

[Dan-o]

Great write up.   thanx.

[Ridgerunner]

Was that first buck 4 points total?  Or 4 on one side?  He didnt look like he had much bone up there. 

[Jarrett H]

Was that first buck 4 points total?  Or 4 on one side?  He didnt look like he had much bone up there.

4 points total, young man going after an older woman.

[Ridgerunner]

Good thing you passed then, bucks on the high hunt need 3 points on one side at least. 

[teanawayslayer]

Good thing you passed then, bucks on the high hunt need 3 points on one side at least.

[Jarrett H]

Good thing you passed then, bucks on the high hunt need 3 points on one side at least.

Definitely good, I hope I'm fortunate enough to do this again next year.