Palmer mountain?

[scoutsniper1/7]

Any of you fellas ever hunt the Washburn Lake or palmer mountain area?Hiked back into Palmer this morning,saw about 15 grouse,1 bear and 2 coyotes.Looks like a great spot for a big ol' muley to be livin but didnt see a whole lot of sign,other than slow elk(cattle),just curious.Thanks

[Ghost Hunter]

A lot back in the 70's and early 80's.  It has changed a lot since then.  was several years that it was closed to access.  Still has to be deer there

[boneaddict]

Honestly some of the best "Muley looking" country out there yet I never see much.  My inlaws have a house/cabin on Wannacut and I have spent a bunch of time around there.  I'd think there would be a lot more deer.

[scoutsniper1/7]

I know when you are going past Palmer lake on your way to oroville and the orchards are on your right,if you stop and start glassing above the orchards,you always see deer on those hills.I hiked in from the back side,where the BLM gates are at,and was looking right down on those orchards from above.I started hiking in yesterday at 3 a.m. and made it to the top about 5:30 did some serious glassing until about 8.After that kinda explored the area a little bit,didnt see very many tracks or any other sign.I did find two little stock ponds in an aspen grove up on top that had a few tracks around it but thats about it.
Last year during late archery my son and I hunted a little bit in the lower end of the Palmer Mtn. rec area before ya get to washburn lake,we didnt see alot of bucks but my son had his first encounter with a true "monster muley" and we did see 3 or 4 legal bucks but nothing worth pursuing.
You would think with all of that prime habitat and being a walk in only area that there has to be some deer in there other than during late archery?

[alecvg]

You would think so, I have hunted it during late archery and have seen a few small three points, but not a whole lot.

[scoutsniper1/7]

The buck my son got into last year was a real nice heavy 4 point, let him kinda wonder off and hunt a little finger ridge by himself.When he hooked back up with me an hour later his eyes were big as saucers and he was having a hard time putting a sentence together.We hiked back up the ridge and I got a chance to see the same buck going over the top of the next ridge.What a toad!

Apparenttly my boy was walking with his head down through an aspen stand when he heard something and looked up.When he looked upthe buckwas standing there lookin at him from 26 yds,later confirmed by my rangefinder.Tyler said he knocked an arrw and got to full draw but was shaking so bad his arrow kept bouncing off the rest.At that point I guess the buck had enough of this 14 year old kid looking at him cause he blew out of there.

I have seen some really nice bucks over the years and this one rates right up there in the top 10,my best guess was probably between 26-28" with deep forks and lots of mass.A shooter in anybodys book.

[Alchase]

That whole area around Loomis has a ton of open land land locked by private land. And allot of the private land owners will not allow hunters to pass through their land.
I was in that area a couple weeks ago and you really have to know where you are. Saw lots of deer, sheep (right of the hwy) and bear sign. Stop in the Loomis quickstop and check out their trophy board. There is a picture of the biggest cougar I have ever seen, and it is alive! Some nice buck taken in the area by the locals. I would love to jump on 20+ acres up there.

[scoutsniper1/7]

I stopped in there yesterday,there are some hawg muleys on that board for sure!That is a nice cat but I have shot bigger.I will get some pics on here if I can can ever get my pics off my ex wifes computer.Oh ya,forgot to mention,had hounds pretty much my whole life until I got divorced.Ask Norsepeak about some of the cats I have taken,he'll let ya know!Got him his first cat a few years back with his bow.Anyways, I hope everyone gets a crack at some nice critters this year.I am itchin to let some arrows fly.Did see a moose on the way back home from Loomis last night.He was in a pond up to his mid chest,eating water lillies.No camera!Forgot it at home!

[Birdguy]

There are generally some decent bucks taken from that area. Mostly local deer taken by locals on private land or state land that is land locked by private land. I have a buddy that hunts it every year has for 10 years or so. They camp where the road is gated just above washburn. They have taken some good bucks out but they hunts hard and high. They walk or mountain bike up before daylight and get back to camp well after dark. They claim they see some migratory deer every few years when the weather is right. I think they see more hunters then deer though  . Good luck.