First time! just need a general direction for wind river / siouxon PLEASE HELP!

[dickwilly]

Hey,
new to your guys's site and so far really am impressed so far.

I am going deer hunting for the first time (as a 33 y/o man)     I know kinda rediculous.   I went elk hunting with two buddies last year (also the first time) and decided real quick I wanted to go to a new area and do things my way.  I am experienced outdoors and have spent over 10 years camping, hiking, backpacking and riding dirtbikes around this area, but never hunted it. 

I decided to hunt this area (with one to two buddies) because I have access to a cabin in the area and it will make a perfect base camp.

so I'm not asking for any of your secret access, or hidden water holes.  I'm just hoping some of you could point me in the right direction to concentrate our efforts.  we have no problem getting up early and driving, and definately no problem hiking in deep and putting in the work.

I have read some about the cristo ridge and oklahoma bowl/basin.  I've heard a few good things about getting in deep into Indian heaven and south prairie (more for elk).  we are going to hunt the area both for deer and elk so any help for either is greatly appreciated.    I'm going to post this in "elk hunting" also if you get dejavu when you see it.

[Jason]

north of Carson all the way to 90 is pretty good, lots of people in the Wind and low deer numbers.

[dickwilly]

thnx Jason. 

[elksnout]

Do not discount the Wind River for deer. Yeah, a lot of road hunters mostly in the northern end of unit. Just get off the road into the big timber with all the vine maple. You won't see anyone for the most part. Trust that the deer are there......

[dickwilly]

thanks elksnout  I will start out sticking to the south end of the unit.  I take that to be around south prairie, little huckleberry mountain and the valleys and slopes of the monte cristo range  ??   thanks a lot

[elkoholic]

Good buck's in both units, hunt the timber around the old cuts....just got to go find them...

[dickwilly]

will do.    I have heard that  "old cuts"  before  I gather that means like the 4-6 year old cuts, a little more over grown where the feel more protected.  I will search till I find one or my feet bleed..                       

[Chesapeake]

You looking for a place to hunt Deer and Elk, or just a place to hunt deer, and you plan to hunt elk elsewhere?

Deer I'd stay in the steeper stuff around Panther creek, Bear creek, Buck creek, Oaklahoma, Mouse creek, Martha creek, Little huckleberry, 8 mile creek ect.........

For Elk (rifle) I'd be up in Indian heavens, Old man pass, Mclelan meadows, South prairy, Forlorn lakes, Trapper Wilderness, Mt Adams wilderness, ect......

Basicaly down lower in the steep stuff for deer and up higher in the (hopefully) snow for elk.

You can find deer and elk in all the above places. The densities just seem to be better for one or the other in certain areas. I almost never hunt deer where I hunt elk, and vice versa.   

[dickwilly]

noted chesapeake.   good info.    and you are right I am looking to hunt deer and elk in the same unit(s) because I would like to camp out of the cabin I have access to.    down low steep stuff = deer    up high hopefully in the snow = elk.  thank you.  everyone has a little different info and ideas and I hope i can put all of it together and be able to report back with some good news.    Appreciate everyones help.   

I will let ya know where I end up and what I find.

[Chesapeake]

Maybe you can give a better location on this cabin??

If its on the Wind river highway in the Carson/Stabler area then thats different than if its over by Willard/Mill A, and much different if its up by Trout lake, or maybe down by Northwestern.

Maybe let us know where the cabin is, and I could tell you where to look within a 30 minute drive or so. I've pretty well crawled all them hills a time or two.

[dickwilly]

the cabin is off the 86 road just west/northwest out of trout lake.  spent the last week out there for deer.  saw 6-7 does, no bucks.  and all were seen at night crossing main roads in my headlights        I was everywhere from a couple pine stands with open feeding areas to little huckleberry mountain (west side main trail area) monte cristo trail, finger ridges off the northern monte cristo range, low lands big timber for pass throughs heading to clearings at night.  clear cuts with lots of food morning and night.  found a couple very heavy game trails with heavy deer sign but all was old.  Estimate several days to weeks old.  heard of everyone from Glenwood to west of wear we were having trouble.  by mid week the gamey had only checked 6 bucks in camps.  huge moons high in the sky, clear skis, warm weather all could have screwed us.    Better new is found a nice bull elk we are going back after and noted a couple areas with game trails and crossings with fairly heavy elk usage.  saw a small pod of 9 cow elk cross the road mid day.   

We put a lot of miles, got as far away from roads and people as possible.  The only place I didn't really get into that I wanted to was the indian heaven area.  I wanted to get in more for elk scouting but I guess I might have to go in blind in elk season.

anyway thats where the cabin is..  trout lake, left at the Y go to the large clear cut on the left side of the road about 4-6 years old and thats 86 road. 
thanks for the info and any more you may have now that you know the location of the cabin