High buck success pictures?

[JasonG]

Hello all , this might be on a different thread but I was hoping to see some high buck success pictures/ stories. I have heard everything from “ it is packed with hunters” to “ I didn’t see another person “ what’s your experience? Thank you in advance! I’m laid up recovering from foot surgery missing mountain time . Jason

[teanawayslayer]

Good luck with getting people to post up pics. Use the search function and you should find some

[Colville]

Hope folks pull their meta data on their pics LOL.

Since something like 5% of high hunters kill 90% of the 3% success rate, after putting in 95% more time and effort earning it.... they don't post pics. 

Wish it were different, but there are lots of threads here in the past where someone puts up a shot and immediately get scolded by people saying exactly where it was taken and to take it down.  I guess if people clean up the data on the photo and only take camp shots that's cool.  But you can often take a very small segment of ridge line and the map geeks here are going to pin in down lickity split.

I pegged a bear kill site from the "too far out" shot of the avalanche shoots it was killed in.  Of course I knew the area so that wasn't a big deal and I didn't say anything about it in here, but others figured it out too.

I do love a high hunt thread about gear, strategy etc.  I hate threads that turn into dumpster fires.  The high hunt is crazy awesome to do.  It defines a real hunting experience for me.

I'm doing a flier this year to a new location. I'll get one short scout in.  It will be too early in the season for my liking, but that's the time I have available.  I'm prepared to run into people, even where I might think is a great place to camp.  I'm prepared not to see much.  I'm prepared for 7 days at least beginning to end and I'm going to have a complete blast regardless.  Taking a couple first timers and just seeing their enjoyment is going to be my reward.  A deer or a bear would take an A  hunt to an A+.

My avatar is a success pic.

[JasonG]

Yeah, I figured most people are wary of spots getting jacket by too much info in the picture. I also figured people would take pics that don't give too much away regarding location. I understand the concern. It sucks that this is the way it is. 

[milldozer]

I'll bite.  This was my first high hunt and first backpack hunt in 2014.  I had no clue what I was doing, but was lucky enough to take this crabby 4x3 on the second day.  I haven't missed a HH since and it's become one of the more formative experiences in my life.  Every day I think about September in the high country.

[Buckhunter24]

I've only done the high hunt once, in the Pasayten. Saw a half dozen groups on the main trail that included two successful hunters. The guys that were successful were clearly experienced with hunting the open rugged terrain. If I do it again I will have much better glass and be comfortable shooting about 3 times as far as I currently am. We had a great time, big lightning storm one night that was cool. We saw a few doe, and zero bucks.

[JasonG]

I'll bite.  This was my first high hunt and first backpack hunt in 2014.  I had no clue what I was doing, but was lucky enough to take this crabby 4x3 on the second day.  I haven't missed a HH since and it's become one of the more formative experiences in my life.  Every day I think about September in the high country.

Awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[JasonG]

I've only done the high hunt once, in the Pasayten. Saw a half dozen groups on the main trail that included two successful hunters. The guys that were successful were clearly experienced with hunting the open rugged terrain. If I do it again I will have much better glass and be comfortable shooting about 3 times as far as I currently am. We had a great time, big lightning storm one night that was cool. We saw a few doe, and zero bucks.

How far do you think your shots would need to be ?

[Buckhunter24]

The terrain was really open, being able to shoot out to 400 yards or more would definitely give you more opportunity. Being my first effort at mule deer, I wasn't prepared for that at all. I envisioned some spot and stalk hunting but the area we were in was real steep and loud because of how dry it was.

[JasonG]

The terrain was really open, being able to shoot out to 400 yards or more would definitely give you more opportunity. Being my first effort at mule deer, I wasn't prepared for that at all. I envisioned some spot and stalk hunting but the area we were in was real steep and loud because of how dry it was.

I can imagine! I’ve been hunt blacktail and elk on the westside . My farthest shot has been 70 yards 🙃

[pickardjw]

Pretty sure you’ve seen this one already. Could have shot one the year before if I was proficient at 500. Opted to get closer and blew him out. Super crowded that year and I was fortunate enough to be the first person in the area to shoot.

Will have to miss it this year unfortunately, but going to help some buddies scout after the 4th.

[JasonG]

Pretty sure you’ve seen this one already. Could have shot one the year before if I was proficient at 500. Opted to get closer and blew him out. Super crowded that year and I was fortunate enough to be the first person in the area to shoot.

Will have to miss it this year unfortunately, but going to help some buddies scout after the 4th.

Yes sir ! Well done !

[Buckhunter24]

The terrain was really open, being able to shoot out to 400 yards or more would definitely give you more opportunity. Being my first effort at mule deer, I wasn't prepared for that at all. I envisioned some spot and stalk hunting but the area we were in was real steep and loud because of how dry it was.

I can imagine! I’ve been hunt blacktail and elk on the westside . My farthest shot has been 70 yards 🙃

Yeah those are the type of yardages I'm used to in the timber also. Awesome country up there though, something I plan to go back for in a few years

[teanawayslayer]

Here’s my advice on the high hunt. Find a spot that is so fing nasty, steep, brush and just plain nasty. Where no one else will go. Then you’ll be alone and the only person that will screw up your hunt is you!

[hunter399]

Here’s my advice on the high hunt. Find a spot that is so fing nasty, steep, brush and just plain nasty. Where no one else will go. Then you’ll be alone and the only person that will screw up your hunt is you!

That's good advise on any hunt these days.👍

[JasonG]

Sounds about right.

[jjhunter]

Since WA bucks are secret, here are some high country bucks from other states.  These are bucks that got away, but season underway and tag in pocket

[jjhunter]

Another worthy adversary

[teanawayslayer]

Here’s one from 5 or 6 years ago.

[jjhunter]

There we go!

[jjhunter]

I think that was your 2017 buck?  We were a few days apart.

[teanawayslayer]

Yours was way bigger

[jjhunter]

Probably pretty equivalent to where they were killed!

[teanawayslayer]

Probably pretty equivalent to where they were killed!

agreed

[teanawayslayer]

The pic of the middle buck gets me excited! What a cranker! Wyoming if I remember correctly?

[jjhunter]

Bottom is Wyoming and top two are Colorado. 

[JasonG]

Here’s one from 5 or 6 years ago.

Nice work ! I that mount is rad!

[muleyslayer]

Stud bucks gentlemen!

[PNWheckle]

Since WA bucks are secret, here are some high country bucks from other states.  These are bucks that got away, but season underway and tag in pocket

How do the other states compare to our high hunt? Obviously we have less above tree line areas but is it a similar approach here as the out of state hunts? I’ve never done a high buck hunt or out of state just have watched lots of mule deer videos


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jjhunter]

I’ve only done one high hunt in WA.   It was 22 years ago.  I found one good buck in 8 days.  I was so tired, I didn’t shoot him at 50 yards.


High country hunts probably make up 10% of my collective time out of state but have resulted in my top two bucks.   Based upon results, alone, I think they are pretty good.   Wyoming and Colorado are very different.  I’ll do as much of it as I can until my legs wear out.

[muleyslayer]

I’ve done the high hunt once also in 2020, it’s a tough hunt. You would think a lot of big deer would be killed since you’re hunting them in a semi summer pattern with a rifle. The reality is bigger deer get killed in October, when it’s supposed to be harder to find deer. It could also be a numbers game, where there are just more hunters hunting in the general season.

[teanawayslayer]

I’ve done the high hunt once also in 2020, it’s a tough hunt. You would think a lot of big deer would be killed since you’re hunting them in a semi summer pattern with a rifle. The reality is bigger deer get killed in October, when it’s supposed to be harder to find deer. It could also be a numbers game, where there are just more hunters hunting in the general season.

as soon as the velvet comes off those mature bucks are hard to find. From most of the deer I’ve seen killed on the high hunt I would say only 5% are mature bucks.

[teanawayslayer]

I’ve only done one high hunt in WA.   It was 22 years ago.  I found one good buck in 8 days.  I was so tired, I didn’t shoot him at 50 yards.


High country hunts probably make up 10% of my collective time out of state but have resulted in my top two bucks.   Based upon results, alone, I think they are pretty good.   Wyoming and Colorado are very different.  I’ll do as much of it as I can until my legs wear out.

oh come on. You’ll move to horses after the legs give out 

[ShedHead20]

It took me 4 years to realize I was hiking right on by bucks with the mindset of "The Deeper the Better". Still haven't been able to punch my tag on this hunt, but I'm finally seeing shooter bucks. They may be 2000 yards away and unreachable, but hey, just even finding bigger bucks in this season is a win. Hopefully this year is the year for me.

[teanawayslayer]

It took me 4 years to realize I was hiking right on by bucks with the mindset of "The Deeper the Better". Still haven't been able to punch my tag on this hunt, but I'm finally seeing shooter bucks. They may be 2000 yards away and unreachable, but hey, just even finding bigger bucks in this season is a win. Hopefully this year is the year for me.

I laugh every year to people say they go deeper and deeper to get away from people and get super high to find the big bucks. I don’t think I have one spot that’s more than three miles deep. *censored* most of my spots I can see From the trailhead. But then again the elevation gain in that short period is stupid.

[NOCK NOCK]

It took me 4 years to realize I was hiking right on by bucks with the mindset of "The Deeper the Better". Still haven't been able to punch my tag on this hunt, but I'm finally seeing shooter bucks. They may be 2000 yards away and unreachable, but hey, just even finding bigger bucks in this season is a win. Hopefully this year is the year for me.

I laugh every year to people say they go deeper and deeper to get away from people and get super high to find the big bucks. I don’t think I have one spot that’s more than three miles deep. *censored* most of my spots I can see From the trailhead. But then again the elevation gain in that short period is stupid.

I agree, and the same can be said for general opener, Not all big bucks migrate.

[FreeSkier85]

It took me 4 years to realize I was hiking right on by bucks with the mindset of "The Deeper the Better". Still haven't been able to punch my tag on this hunt, but I'm finally seeing shooter bucks. They may be 2000 yards away and unreachable, but hey, just even finding bigger bucks in this season is a win. Hopefully this year is the year for me.

Maybe that was my problem this year. I went in real deep and got on the highest ridge I could find. It overlooked a meadow with water, food and cover but I still only turned up a couple does. Didn't see much sign either in terms of scat or tracks either. Not sure what the deal was. Sigh, I didnt see any other hunters at least but I came home empty handed too...

[LDennis24]

My cousin said Iron Gate had 40 pickups parked there! 

[ganghis]

Heading out Friday - to a low density benchleg area that I've only ever seen one mature buck (fortunately connected on that one).  It's such a low chance (batting like 1/12 at this point for deer) I mainly treat it as a bear hunt.  I think if I was just interested in big bucks I'd be making the trek to the Pasayten all the time.  But not a high odds hunt no matter where you are.