Bow hunting Bumping unit

[MIKEXRAY]

Just curious who hunts the bumping unit and your successes. I've hunted it for four years (all my archery hunting) and finally got a mule deer buck last year. Taken shots at elk but have yet to get my first elk. After learning from my mistakes over the last four years, I am going into this year pretty confident. I drew a bull permit 2006 and called in numerous bulls but didn't handle the situations very calmly. My biggest problem up in the bumping unit is the wind swirl, I have been stalking animals tons and the wind swirling kills the stalk. Very frustrating I see tons of hunters and curious if any are around here. I love the area, also camp & fish all summer. Share your experiences up there.

[Ridgerunner]

Let's see some pictures of your buck.  I've hunted that area pretty extensively, primarily for elk but also deer.  It can be a good unit. 

[jackelope]

i've been in there a couple times in the wilderness..seen a few elk and a few deer and a bunch of goats..one dandy buck, unfortunately it was during elk season.

i agree, throw up a pic of your archery buck.

[MIKEXRAY]

I was by myself about a mile in when I got my deer so this is the only pics of the antlers. I did take some disposable shots while butchering but still have 18 pics left on that camera for next year. You've seen the picture, I posted it for March pic of the month.

[deerslyr]

my dad hunts that area with muzzleoader. His group usually gets a few spikes. Thats a nice buck, I usually dont see many deer up there.

[boneaddict]

There are a few....VERY HEAVILY hunted...

You've seen him before......bow killed during the modern season 2002  he was basicaly a blacktail.

[MIKEXRAY]

I've only seen two legal bucks in four years, I think they are there but just smart. I've always wondered deerslyr how the spike hunting is. I've only seen a couple of spike bulls while hunting. Nobody else has pics of sucess from that area ??

[Ridgerunner]

There was a big bull from there in Eastmans bowhunting a couple of years back, I'll try to find it and scan the picture and post it up.

[deerslyr]

they usually get a spike from the bumping and one from the nile every year MIKEXRAY, last year was there wasnt very much moving and they came home empty handed.

[bankwalker]

ive seen some monsters in that unit while camping. never have hunted it yet...sence i hunt the eastside alone its just to far from home for me to drive. this year i plan on exploring more then my "go to" spots. and that unit is on the list of scouting trips this summer

[MIKEXRAY]

I also hunt alone and it does make a difference where you choose to hunt. Gas prices will change my routine also. I used to drive for the day to hunt but would be $ 75 a trip now. I'm planning on driving less but staying longer  Try fishing at the lake when you go up scouting, good fishing at the other end of the lake.

[boneaddict]

Tell me about it.  That why instead of being on the ridge this morning, I am typing on here, and looking out the window at the yardwork I get to do today.  Just too much money for what I am finding these days.   

[bankwalker]

I also hunt alone and it does make a difference where you choose to hunt. Gas prices will change my routine also. I used to drive for the day to hunt but would be $ 75 a trip now. I'm planning on driving less but staying longer  Try fishing at the lake when you go up scouting, good fishing at the other end of the lake.

we use to fish the lake and the river when over camping. it was fun as a kid seeing all the fish swimming in the lake on a sunny day. i havent been over that way in a long time now though.

[MIKEXRAY]

You can still see the fish swimming at the bottom down at 25', clearest water I've seen. I am excited to go camping, fishing and scouting this year, pass opens mid june over hwy 410 but I am going to drive around in May to see it in spring. (and check out the spring fishing). Don't need to do much scouting as I already have my honey hole. A beautiful natural funnel between feeding and bedding.

[bankwalker]

You can still see the fish swimming at the bottom down at 25', clearest water I've seen. I am excited to go camping, fishing and scouting this year, pass opens mid june over hwy 410 but I am going to drive around in May to see it in spring. (and check out the spring fishing). Don't need to do much scouting as I already have my honey hole. A beautiful natural funnel between feeding and bedding.

thats cool. i would like to get over there this spring as well and do some fishing. and i figure im gonna scout it a bit during the summer. i have a friend that lives in yakima and i plan on visiting her alot this summer.

[deerslyr]

Bone, how many people are up there during rifle deer season??

[rewent12003]

i have fished bumping since i was a little kid the lake is good for silvers and whitefish, best fishing is at the upper end where you can see the bottom. the limit for white fish is 15 unless the have changed it. there are a few places in the lake where a 100 foot anchor rope wouldn't touch. the prices for camping and boat launching has really gone up since they paved it and put in the new boat launch a few years back.

[Opportunist]

Bumping lake has become our annual family camping trip. This is our 4th year this summer. We have been going in July, but this year mid August was the best time for us, so it's booked. I'llget up early in the morning and run up into the little naches and do some scouting. We're not very hard core fisherman but we'll catch a few fish at the upper end. This is a shot of my favorite girls out on the lake.



So if you drive by site #10 in the upper bumping campground the week of August 15 and see this tent, stop by and I'll buy you a beer.



If were not their we're probably off biking somewhere but we'll be right back.



I'm hoping my wife and son will draw their muzzleloader bull permits this year in the little naches or the goose prairie.

[MIKEXRAY]

Nice pics Opportunist, looks like you guys enjoy it as much as we do. Good luck on the draws, I need to get my wife and kid in the draws. So far I'm the only hunter, but would increase the odds drawing for more permits. Might see you up there, we go 6-8 times a years. Have fun up there.

[Skyvalhunter]

Sounds like a fun time. Hard to beat a good family campout. I do like Mardon myself.