High country Olympic Blacktails???

[highhunter]

Last week I moved from Ellensburg to Pacific Beach and was hoping someone might throw me a bone. My passion is high country muleys in the wilderness areas but would love to chase subalpine Columbia blacktails above the clear cuts. I've read the few threads on here pertaining to the subject and haven't come up with much and all the hunters I have met out here in PB so far seem to prefer road hunting over other methods. I get in great shape for the season and love steep/hard to access terrain. I'm looking for 4 pt. or better (and don't mind eating my tag) and plan to scout throughout summer as time and snow levels permit. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated and PM's are just as welcome! Thanx in advance.   

PS. I thought E-Burg was windy!

[wildmanoutdoors]

Colonel Bob Wilderness...Close to you too.

[wildmanoutdoors]

http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=132

[haus]

Been up in the Buckhorn, its tag eating territory, but I assume the bucks that are passing through the area aren't spikes  We only saw goats when we were up there. Lots of hikers too. Might be better off down at the Colonel Bob, assuming it gets less of a tree hugger presence.

[Ridgerunner]

buckhorn wilderness is a good one on the north end of the pen.

[WDFW-SUX]

I like the states smaller wilderness areas better than the larger ones.. they seem to go under the radar and usually have some very good hunting.

[KimberRich]

Rugged, steep country for sure!!  I've hunted the Colonel Bob, Mount Skokomish, and Brothers wilderness areas and never saw another hunter..  Also never saw any deer during the season only in pre-season scouting.  Saw some sign and my buddy killed a small bear in the Mount Skokomish unit.  Also saw a really nice 3x3 one year just outside the wilderness area.   

[blmathis12]

not to be a thread jacker but are these areas open for the sept high hunt for rifles ! and also what are the areas that count for the high hunt on the west side? 

[highhunter]

Thanks for all the great info and after viewing some maps/aerials it seems like there is indeed some decent high country outside of the OLY Park. I'll be checking things out as soon as the snows melt. Hopefully, I can reincarnate this thread with some pics this fall!


blmathis12- The Penn. Wilderness areas are open  this year to the High Buck Hunts (as usual) for modern rifle and muzzleloader, Sept. 15-25, with a 3pt. min. regulation in place. Can't speak for each Wilderness area during the other general seasons, as they fall within various GMU boundaries. Other areas that are open and fall west of the Cascade Crest are parts of the Henry Jackson and ALW. I've hunted both the ALW and Henry on the westside of the crest but have yet to see one of trophy caliber during open season.

[couesbitten]

The peninsula wilderness areas have always been open to the high hunt. I've always wanted to go over there and give it a try, but have just never committed myself to it. I do remember seeing a pic 4 or 5 years ago, of three guys that harvested three better than average bucks on the high hunt in one of the wilderness areas over there. Keep us posted on what you see, and how you do. Good luck.

[drbones]

I'm thinking about going out for the high buck hunt this year, but have never hunted westside blacktails.  Does anybody have any advice for a beginner about good areas to hunt?   I'm looking at the Alpine Lakes wilderness right now but that's not set in stone.  Most of my previous hunting has been for whitetails and some eastside muley hunting last year (unsuccessfully).   

[PacificNWhunter]

Your going to be hard pressed to find any real pointers on the high hunt areas drbones. Lots of guys hunt it and are pretty secretive about their spots. Check google earth, talk to outfitters, biologists, PM people and do some leg work. I have hunted Alpine Lakes during the high hunt and it's pretty hard to get into a secluded spot where there are no horse camps or recreational hikers. Took me several tries and I still manage to bump into people. You might get some cross breeds but I don't think there are to many true blacktails in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. Get out and scout, glass allot and study maps. Like I said I have been at it for the last couple years and hope to connect this year myself. Good luck.

[drbones]

Is it a safe assumption that there will be fewer people, hunters and otherwise, in the peninsula wilderness areas than Alpine Lakes?  I'm thinking just because it's more trouble to reach from the I-5 corridor there may be fewer people out there?

[haus]

Is it a safe assumption that there will be fewer people, hunters and otherwise, in the peninsula wilderness areas than Alpine Lakes?  I'm thinking just because it's more trouble to reach from the I-5 corridor there may be fewer people out there?

Yes there are fewer hunters but the area's are mostly much smaller on the OP compared to the north cascades wilderness area's that are open for the high buck season, and I wouldn't say there are fewer people, just fewer hunters. When you get up above tree line elevation 1,000 acres doesn't seem that big, visually anyway. Joe public will be up there in droves hiking the trails if the weathers decent. Last I was up there was '05, Buckhorn Wilderness Area, 2 of us and one other hunter, plus two or more groups of hikers both days. We could still hear them chatting it up when they were just a spec in the distance. 1 group had a dog with them, nice loud bell around its next. Fk that was annoying 

We split the opposite direction from the other hunter both days, 44k acres didn't seem so big at all for the 3 of us, the other area's are much smaller too. Below tree line it gets really thick, bayonet type of thick.

It's worth a shot, maybe you can catch one in the open as its moving from valley to valley. You'll likely be able to hunt most of the area just by sitting in one spot. Better have some long distance accuracy too, and of course bring good optics. Just be prepared to have your hunt foiled by hikers.

It seemed that if the hikers saw us they would tend to chat it up a little louder, very kind of them 

[Chesapeake]

I dont have specific info on the Peninsula hunts, but have done the north Cascade wilderness areas for the high hunt. Its amazingly buisy up there. We have never bean alone unless it was blowing a gale and pissing snow sideways. With google earth and GPS's all sorts of hunters are making the trip.

#1: If its on a trail that horses can use you'll get to deal with outfitters.
#2: If its on a trail that is less than 5 miles from the parking lot you wont be alone.
#3: If its not far off trail and it looks good on a satelite photo, it probably gets hunted.
#4: If the trail goes to a nice peak, small lake, or any other interesting feature and can be hiked in and out in a day you will likely get day hikers.
#5: Weekend trail traffic is highest with mid week usualy lowest.
#6: If it on or near the PCT (pacific crest trail) it will see lots of traffic.

What your looking for is a decent little area that is somewhat off trail, not neer a horse trail, not too close to the trail head, holds game, has usable water near, isnt too neer any popular hunting spots, has reasonable access, and isnt so large and good looking as to attract attention.  Or if your realy slick and do your work you can find a small pocket that is close to the trail head, easy to get to, holds animals, and is just overlooked. 

Thats why none of us will talk any details about where to go and what to do. Even thought the wilderness areas are very big, with lots of folds and creases. There are very few places that are good hunting and not crowded. And if you talk specifics on the net you will have company the next season. Also if Washington Hunting News, Eastmans, ect... does an article about a High Buck area it will be crowded that season and maybe the next.

Here is my #1 piece of advice.

You dont need to have a vantage of a large area, you need to have a vantage of the RIGHT area. Often that area is just a small meadow or slide chute or opening. Dont get consumed with being able to glass a large open basin.

Go up in august and scout and hunt for a bear. Pay attention to where people have camped and built fires, meat poles, cut wood, camped off trail in hunter type camping spots. Those hunter type looking camp sites will tell the story of how much pressure the place gets.