Manson unit - tips, tricks and honey holes!

[tbrady]

My typical modern firearm deer area is on fire right now, so I am making other plans.  I'm thinking of giving Manson a try but am completely unfamiliar with that unit.  Current plans are to take the buggy out towards Navarre campground (just south of Navarre peak) and setup camp.  Not sure exactly where I would hunt but looking to stay up around 6k feet or so.  I've read every post in HuntWa that contained "Manson" and was able to glean a little bit of information...

More information would be greatly appreciated.  Just looking for basic info...

1. Is it crowded in that part of the unit? 
2. Are there plenty of spots to setup a 10x10 tent?
3. Any comparisons to Entiat?  I know Entiat well and might head there but the high elevations in Manson look promising on Google Earth. 

thanks
tim

[Mtnwalker]

You'll have plenty of company up there, the whole Grade Creek loop gets hunted heavily. South Navarre and Summer Blossom are both fairly popular trailheads. That being said there's a lot of ground up there too so it'll be what you make of it. Lots of camping down lower and a handful of places up there as well, can't imagine you'd have trouble finding a spot to put a 10x10

[tbrady]

You'll have plenty of company up there, the whole Grade Creek loop gets hunted heavily. South Navarre and Summer Blossom are both fairly popular trailheads. That being said there's a lot of ground up there too so it'll be what you make of it. Lots of camping down lower and a handful of places up there as well, can't imagine you'd have trouble finding a spot to put a 10x10

Thanks Mtnwalker!

[Skyvalhunter]

I have a lifetime history in this unit mostly during the house season. The deer population is pretty depressed there. Tough finding a legal buck in the unit. I spent 4 days up there for the grouse opener. I don't hunt the roads but go back in the hell holes. Plenty of grouse, limited out. I saw more bear krap than I saw deer krap. It really is a shame what the unit has come to. Don't be afraid to hunt below the road especially if you have a winch. Its quite the distance to drop down to the lower road. South Navarre gets hit hard. There was recently a mountain bike race from Foggy Dew to South Navarre CG and up Brian's Butte.
  I am not saying that there is no deer but many have moved down low towards the orchards. Water sources were extremely low this year compared to past ones. I didn't even see deer sign even at those places.
Good luck on the hunt and don't be afraid to go on the Alta unit side. The road even on the S. Fork of Gold Creek side is in the best shape I have ever seen it in thanks to the Pioneer Fire.charge line.

[tbrady]

Thanks Skyval!  It looks gorgeous up there so I'll be plenty happy just enjoying the view if nothing else.

[actionshooter]

 What Sky said is pretty accurate in my experience... the  1st year I hunted that exact area (2009), I killed a 170 buck and thought I found heaven..... spent another 10 years there working my butt off trying to replicate the 1st buck before I found a new area... we had some success here and there but it wasn't consistent and it was crowded.