COUNTDOWN TO THE HIGH HUNT!!!!

[bobcat]

I would go without scouting. Just look at it as a backpacking trip, you just happen to have a rifle along just in case. Just plan on getting up as high as possible. Not many bucks in the lower or middle elevations. There are quite a few spots that you can get into with a 5 mile hike. But those 5 miles will most likely be all uphill.

[Ridgerunner]

26

[haugenna]

Ridge u beat me to it.  I should be expecting an email from you soon shouldn't I?

[hornhunter]

Can you road hunt this area? 

[ghgetter]

If you work at a body shop...

[bobcat]

It is only in official wilderness areas, so there are no roads.

[hornhunter]

What motel can I stay at? 

[Chesapeake]

So I realize this is far from best case,...but I'm having a hard time waiting all the way until October 17 for rifle season.  It's darn-near crazy, but I can't get the idea of trying the high hunt out of my head.  The problem is I haven't been to any of the wilderness areas ever, and I just figured out where they were tonight on the map.  This is markedly different from what I'm doing to prepare for the general season--been out scouting, have ordered topo maps, and so on.

I'd like to get out the weekend of the 19th with my daughter, and the only area that's probably close enough (we're in northern Clark County) is Alpine Lakes.  Now we get out a fair amount, and we're both good hikers (we're doing St. Helens next Friday), and we're willing to do a backpack hunt in the wilderness.

So the question is...does this sound crazy?  Are there trailheads/parking areas along the edges where we could start from and hike into some good country?  Any suggestions?  Or do I just take my lumps, keep scouting, and wait for October?

I do some of my best scouting with a rifle and tag. Nothing quite like seeing what the animals are doing under normal hunting season conditions. Go have fun.

[haugenna]

I am off to the high country solo after work coming home on Sunday night.  Hope I can pinpoint a bruiser.

[halflife65]

Awesome, man.  Good luck and take lots of pictures (without showing too many identifiable land features, of course ).

[spur_ride]

I'm getting the itch bad. Me and my hunting partner are getting the horses geared up to go. i cant wait.

[hornhunter]

haugenna.........where are you?

I hope your uploading a bunch of pics of BIG Bucks.

23 days

[haugenna]

Nope no big bucks.  A few smooth heads and couple degenerates and one nice forky. Long hike in and a few  up there.  Somewhat disappointing.  This is the first time I have been in this particular area. 

[Ridgerunner]

22

[haugenna]

Woo hooo 22 days left.  No cell phones, no traffic lights, no traffic, no shedule, no bosses, no honey do's. Just eat, sleep, hunt, hike, hydrate,  :whoo:and hunt some more. 

The best part is sittin on the side of a slope and the sun hittin you in the face for a mid afternoon nap.  Ahhhh true relaxation.  Zzzzzzz