Icicle Canyon, Levenworth

[h2ofowlr]

I went over to Levenworth and drove up the Icicle Canyon scouting for deer.  I saw a few nice bucks.  I was just wondering how many hunt up that road and what kind of success.  I went up to the end and hiked in a few miles and saw a lot of cat sign.  That may clear the deer out of the area some.
Talked to some of the locals and they said it is hit or miss on snow, so if you hit it on the opener be prepaired.

[Ray]

I'd recommend going over the ridge (Icicle Ridge) and hunting during the September hunt. You can find deer down lower but usually does.

[Hoyt204]

are you hunting archery or rifle?

[h2ofowlr]

I will be hunting rifle this go around.

[Ridgerunner]

doubt it gets much pressure, its steep and rugged with minimal roads, most guys don't like that kind of country.

[PacificNWhunter]

I went up to the end and hiked in a few miles and saw a lot of cat sign.  That may clear the deer out of the area some.

Saw in the news that some mountain biker was chased by a cougar this last week around there.

[Slider]

Here is the story about the trail closure and attack!!! 

Cougar encounters close popular Leavenworth trail
By K.C. Mehaffey
World staff writer
Posted August 07, 2009
LEAVENWORTH — A cougar that chased a mountain biker on the Freund Canyon Trail north of Leavenworth led U.S. Forest Service officials Friday to close the trail until the cougar is removed.
Freund Canyon Trail No. 6701 —about two miles north of Leavenworth off of Chumstick Road — is closed until further notice, but officials hope to reopen it in a couple of weeks.
The Wenatchee River Ranger District received one other first-hand report, and two other second-hand reports of cougar encounters in the area in the past six weeks, said the district's wildlife biologist, Don Youkey.
He said although mountain biking can elicit a predator-prey response from cougars, the relatively aggressive actions of the cougar after the chase makes the encounter uncharacteristic behavior.
He said the mountain biker who had an encounter Thursday initially thought a dog was following him, and when he turned around and saw it was a cougar, he did the right thing.
"He stopped and put his bike between himself and the cougar and started yelling and screaming," Youkey said, adding, "It didn't exactly run away immediately, but it did after a few minutes."
A farmer in the area heard the screaming, and came to help, but after the farmer left, the cougar came back and started following him again, Youkey said.
Youkey said the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will determine how to deal with the cougar. The agency is trying to find a hound hunter to help track it, he said.
People who encounter a mountain lion are warned not to run, but to stop, face the cougar and talk to it firmly, then slowly back away, the biologist said. He said people should also stand tall, or stand on something if possible to make them look bigger. Pick up small children, and fight back by throwing rocks or sticks. People should not approach a cougar, however. "The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger," he said.

[boneaddict]

Walk tall and carry a big stick ( in this case, a .357 or a Goldtip with a Stinger on the end of it)

[Ray]

Freund Canyon is north of Leavenworth and the Icicle Canyone is southwest of Leavenworth.

That's an interesting report and not too surprising. I hear there is good hunting at times on top of Tumwater Mountain which is in close vicinity of Freund Canyon.

The lower Icicle Canyon does not receive much hunting pressure. I agree. However there are a lot of other user groups such as hikers and rock climbers. I have seen deer down low in the canyon this summer but I would not like to shoot one and let it fall in someone's rose garden per say (or in front of someone's Subaru).

[jjhunter]

I hunted the early high hunt in 2003.  Cruised up the chattercreek sp?  trailhead with a 95 lb pack (*censored*).  Hunted for 3 days - saw a ton of big bears!  Only saw one 24-25" three point.  Decided he was too small to add the 95lbs.  It was definitely pretty up there.  Snowed about 4" on the last morning but I was already packed up and headed down the ridge.

[Hoyt204]

I'm from that area and have hiked alot back into the alpine lakes area and never had a problem with any sort of cat but things can happen.  There are some nice deer up there, its great country but if you get one its gonna be work packing it out.  I really havnt hunted that area much before but I have seen most of the deer around 8 mile and back near Jack ridge in the jack creek drainage.  Also a few elk in that area but you will be packing.

[h2ofowlr]

Sounds like an area that everyone knows holds deer, but no one really wants to shoot one due to all the work to get it out, if you can?  My buddy is gun ho on going in with a pack in the 15lb range or less, so we have been buying all the hiking, mountaineering gear for the hunt.  Using Kelty / Northface packs as they are light, but can carry a lot.  Should be interesting.

[bear]

15 lbs  How can you get it that light?  I think the lightest I could possibly conceive of for a few overnights is about 30-35 lbs.

[Ray]

Actually there are a number of people hunt up high in the area. Just like any hunt in the wilderness areas  - if you have to climb 3000 feet or more it will certainly reduce the number of other hunters to compete with.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Just remember, on that Chelan County high hunt, that cougar is NOT OPEN for rifle   - only archery.

If you shoot a kitty, you'd better be bloody.