Headed to the Blues for deer season

[HuntHigh]

Anyone know of any good areas in the Blues around Dayton? I'm really looking to do kind of an Alpine hunt kind of thing. and I'm totally cool with packing in.I do it in the Olympics  for the Highbuck hunt and for bear. I will mostly be after ropetails but if I see a bear its toast. so anything to point me towards an area that might hold both would be much appreciated 

[Woodchuck]

Wenaha, but you better study a map and scout it, big country

[jackelope]

Have you been down there deer hunting or exploring before?

[HuntHigh]

never been there b4  I just got invited by a buddy that has family over there. im going to try and go at least once for a week or so to do some scouting

[jackelope]

It is very difficult to find good numbers of mule deer in the Blues. It is also huge country and I didn't find it to be like any of the Alpine type country like you see in the Cascades. The deer density is very low relatively speaking. The deer in my avatar is from down there and it was the 1st buck I saw, day 3 of my late season rut hunt if that tells you anything. Day 1 we saw 15-20 deer, all does and fawns. Day 2 was a virtual blank. I scouted probably 5 days total before my hunt and felt like I needed another week at least to feel confident once I was there.
Good luck...it's some incredible and beautiful country.

[HuntHigh]

that picture is exactly what I plan on doing. scouting with my optics not my legs lol. that is a dandy  buck in your avatar. I'm OK with seeing few deer a day waiting to see a buck. I'm use to it hunting blacktail

[400out]

that picture is exactly what I plan on doing. scouting with my optics not my legs lol. that is a dandy  buck in your avatar. I'm OK with seeing few deer a day waiting to see a buck. I'm use to it hunting blacktail

Just a little thing to know about that picture isthats a fire area! it's some hard country and very thich in places when you get up in there! Lots of room to hide! until dark

Jackelope gave you some great info! It's a lot different! I am getting the reason lots of people go to the cascades 

[luv2hunt]

I was in the Wenaha unit in September for the first time. All I can say is holy chit thats some brutal country. Lots of vertical steep nasty thick terrain. I did see some elk, a few deer and a bear about 50 yds away standing on it's hind legs giving me the stare down. Bring a chainsaw winch with ya because chances are your going to need it.

[HuntHigh]

thanks for the info guys im looking into those areas now. (luv2hunt) was the bear color phase or black?

[Woodchuck]

My advice would be to make a trip over early in the year and spend a couple days in there to get a feel for it, i would guess it isn't what you think it may be. 

[HuntHigh]

yeah I'm planning on going over for about a week or so b4 season to scout a little and see what I think

[gonehuntin68]

there is no deer in the blues

[luv2hunt]

thanks for the info guys im looking into those areas now. (luv2hunt) was the bear color phase or black?

Big healthy cinnamon colored bugger. I went in past the ski Bluewood ski area, where I saw the bear was probably only 2 miles from there.

[couesbitten]

Bring a chainsaw winch with ya because chances are your going to need it.

Wouldn't that be illegal in the Wenaha unit?  I believe the entire unit is a wilderness area, which would make anything motorized illegal.

[HuntHigh]

I may just bring my bow and try to stick a bear and just let my buddy carry the rifle. even in the burn areas its conducive to stalking with a bow?