Republic

[hunter12]

heading to Republic for the Muzzleloader season. Anyone have info. on that area?

[hunter12]

Yeah I have heard lots of company up in that area.. I was invited to hunt it early seaon so why not... I have a plan B late hunt so no real pressure but if i find a smoker Buck I would pull the trigger....

[JackOfAllTrades]

3 posts?   Hey,  He's not askin for GPS coord's to honey holes. I can't imagine there's THAT many people there during Muzzy season. I mean.. Double the population of the town out in the woods? Damn, that's crowded.

-Steve

[boneaddict]

Its thick, its steep, there are lots of mosquitos in the early seasons.  Public land and private intermix, know your boundaries as they shoot and ask questions later up there.  There are muleys, there are whities, there are lots of cats, bear and now wolves.  Elk were starting good and so were the moose.  I assume the latter will decrease rapidly providing something isn't done with the wolves.

[PolarBear]

Its thick, its steep, there are lots of mosquitos in the early seasons.  Public land and private intermix, know your boundaries as they shoot and ask questions later up there.  There are muleys, there are whities, there are lots of cats, bear and now wolves.  Elk were starting good and so were the moose.  I assume the latter will decrease rapidly providing something isn't done with the wolves.

And make sure that you don't set up camp on someone's land!  If you see a fence of any kind turn around.  We get tired of kicking folks out for trespassing.  Your best bet is to hunt around Mt. Washington/Snow Peak area.

[huntnnw]

Alot of people? U can get away from people in this country if ya want. I have been up there on 2 opening weekends of rifle deer in the last 6 years. One year we never even saw a vehicle.  Last year my dad had a multi tag, we saw 1 rig come down the road we camped on. Even the busiest of areas you can get away if you are willing to hike , most of the hunters are either road hunters or within a mile of the road as the country is big, steep and access limited to much of it.

[Ghost Hunter]

It is getting more roads than several years ago, but I wish the westside was close to as few  amount of roads. 

[PolarBear]

Alot of people? U can get away from people in this country if ya want. I have been up there on 2 opening weekends of rifle deer in the last 6 years. One year we never even saw a vehicle.  Last year my dad had a multi tag, we saw 1 rig come down the road we camped on. Even the busiest of areas you can get away if you are willing to hike , most of the hunters are either road hunters or within a mile of the road as the country is big, steep and access limited to much of it.

You didn't see anyone because you were on the Rez.  
I hate to agree with Shane but you can easily get away from people over there and it only takes a very short hike off of the road or trail.  Most of the rifle hunters over there are citiots from the wetside and are afraid to leave the safety of their rig or camp.  These are the same guys who cut my fences to get their quads and camp gear onto private land.

[huntnnw]

 
No kidding,  years ago I was over and saw droves of rigs and camps, but easily figured out if you get out and hike into some of these areas there's nobody around.

[Skyvalhunter]

I can tell someone has a predjudice against outside of the area hunters.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 The last several years we were there quads had torn up the area we hunted, going around berms and gates where it is supposed to be foot traffic only. Yes, you can get off the road on foot, just don't be surprised to run into a quad on top of the ridge . It can be a frustrating place to hunt.

[PolarBear]

I can tell someone has a predjudice against outside of the area hunters.

I am one of those outsiders that has land and had been hunting there since 1985.

[huntnnw]

Tellyou now there will be no quads in the area I hunt,you couldn't get horses in there.

[PolarBear]

Cuz the tribe would confiscate them, eh?  

[boneaddict]

Hes only prejudice about the ones with wirecutters in their hands and the ones that take craps out in his field.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Tellyou now there will be no quads in the area I hunt,you couldn't get horses in there.

 We hunted the SW corner of Ferry, over into Okanogan County and I've seen quads and jeeps up nearly every inch of it. I suppose there is someplace within 60 miles of there that quads can't get to, it's possible.

[huntnnw]

Ehh... wouldn't take my quad, Just offer them something in trade
      its quite easy with Google maps to see where there are no roads. A huge section of That is called kettle crest wilderness area. No motorized vehicles

[boneaddict]

Also have to agree with Shane, there are LOTS of places that you can't take a quad, and many of those places are QUITE humbling. 

[Dmanmastertracker]

Also have to agree with Shane, there are LOTS of places that you can't take a quad, and many of those places are QUITE humbling. 

 Kettle Crest I believe it, I'm sure you know that area better than I but the peaks there also average at least 2,500 feet higher than where we have hunted in the SW corner. The quads have just ruined the SW corner, at least last time we were there. Law enforcement does nothing.

[Skillet]

I've been the length of Kettle Crest in preseason, but it was a number of years ago.  Major horse trails.  I'd bet there's going to be a bunch of horse pack trains in there during modern.  Even may be a few during ML.  If you spike out on the short finger ridges to the east or west (mostly to the west), you will get away from them and you will see some antlers worth crossing the valley in front of you for.  IF it's still anything like it was...

[PolarBear]

I have seen quads on every horse trail between Sherman Pass and the rez line.  We almost popped the tires on one at the top of Snow Peak.
Many years ago we sat and watched as the WDFW, Ferry County Sheriff and the Colville Tribe confiscated 9 or 10 brand new quads that had gotten past the gate off of Hall Creek Road (on the rez line) going towards Barnaby Buttes.  They all lost their quads to the tribe because by the time the Sheriff caught up to them they were well on the rez with 3 small mulie bucks strapped to them.
My special spot over there is so brush choked that it is almost impossible to get through it unless you know exactly where to go.  The average guy would get turned around and lost without a gps and would have almost no chance of finding the right way out in the dark.  Every buck that I have hauled out of there has taken me most of the night, all of my patience and 5-10 pounds of sweat but worth every agonizing second.    In 20+ years I have yet to see sign of a single human other than myself and my hunting buddy.  I'll probably die in there one of these years and never be found, I hope!  LOL!

[high country]

I have had motorcycles pass me on top of copper butte.....right smack ass in the middle of the KC trail. don't kid yourself by thinking there won't be motorized rigs. there are not many horse camps.....a couple, but not as many as you think. there is a lot of ground, which adds to the frustration of being an ambitious hiking hunter who is in a non motorized area surounded by bikes and quads.

[Skillet]

I have had motorcycles pass me on top of copper butte.....right smack ass in the middle of the KC trail. don't kid yourself by thinking there won't be motorized rigs. there are not many horse camps.....a couple, but not as many as you think. there is a lot of ground, which adds to the frustration of being an ambitious hiking hunter who is in a non motorized area surounded by bikes and quads.

That is good to know - getting passed up on motorcycles/quads ridden by lazy SOB's in non-motorized areas is one of my biggest pet peeves.  In my younger years, that was good reason for causing a ruckus.  Been a while since I've been up there.  Sad to hear things have changed for the worse.  Seems like a more common occurrance nowadays, though...

[Buckblaster]

I've got a quad but leave it at home during deer season.  About all I use it to hunt for is grouse on the jeep trails.   During mule deer season, I head for the high peaks and deep basins where there are no orange vests.  Where I go in the Kettle Range, there are no quads, only well used deer trails and every so often, a real nice buck.