105 Kelley Hill

[Lazzwarbird]

Just wondering if anyone gets up into unit #105? I live over on the wet side and have mainly hunted blacktail with the exception of one Okanagon trip and one trip below Pullman. I have hunted mule deer the last 6 years out of state with some good success, so I should have a fairly good idea what's going on. I was just wondering what type of terrain and if there are any decent bucks running around. Plannin on cruising around that area this summer just to check things out but any info would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks.

[CAMPMEAT]

The 105 unit looks pretty much like the westside. Alot of thick timber and cover to fairly open areas. Fairly rugged too. You have the Colville National Forest in that area. I've hunted there and it reminds me of the westside alot. It's not full of sage brush and open like what you might think. I think the best time to hunt there is the rut. I've seen some nice whitetails come out of there. You have Moose, Elk, Bear, Grizzly Bear and Deer in that unit.

[deerslyr]

theres a good amount of paper company land too I beleive...been a long time since ive been that far north.

[TeacherMan]

theres a good amount of paper company land too I beleive...been a long time since ive been that far north.

I could be wrong but I believe the papermill company is farther south. Good area, lots of hunters, lots of private land in the valleys. Not to hard to get access to if you knock on some doors in the summer and are willing to buck some bales for the day to show your gratitude. There is forest service land that has nice animals as well but like I stated lots of hunters, especially withing 1/4 mile of the rd.

[Lazzwarbird]

Thanks a lot everyone for the info. Sounds like a road trip is in order. Bad news is I think I'm gonna end up hunting in Wyoming at the same time season is over there. Still gonna go check things out and try to find a good area to start hikin when I do get a chance to hunt. My only question is, are there many mule deer in that area? I would rather hunt mulies than whitetail. If not, what unit close by is more of a mule deer unit? Thanks a lot again guys and thanks a ton for the info, should definitely save me some gas.

[rb2506]

last time i hunted kelley hill the deer were everywhere hundreds but right next to a 4x8 sheet of plywood saying NO HUNTING, course that was ten years ago   turkeys too

[CAMPMEAT]

last time i hunted kelley hill the deer were everywhere hundreds but right next to a 4x8 sheet of plywood saying NO HUNTING, course that was ten years ago   turkeys too

The plywood is still there. I know the owners. It's 1500 acres of private cattle grazing land right uo to the border.

[deerslyr]

I could be wrong teach, last time I was up there was 6 or 7 years ago and we were camped across the river from northport. My brother ended up getting a spike that trip on paper company but I cant remember if we were in 105 then or if he got it off the alladin high way (I think that was the name of the road anyways) I cant beleive how long its been time flys.

[bobcat]

I'd head just a little more to the west if you want to get into more mule deer.

[rb2506]

it was fun watching the turkeys fight the deer, we quit counting deer at two hundred, are the deer still there? heard the was some bad winters and the numbers aren't there

[Camo]

105 is getting a makeover and not a good one in my opinion. They were cruising the timber when I was there the first weekend of late season and the story is that the entire portion of the Nat. Forest is going to be clear-cut leaving 18 trees per acre, if I remember correctly. Most of the cutting is going to start in the spring and is on a very aggressive schedule to be done in approx. 18-24 months or less. They're hogging all the brush and there will be virtually no habitat left to winter the deer. I wouldn't mind some cutting up there as it is very thick and that always helps reestablish new food sources, but to cut the entire north half of the unit seems like an irresponsible decision. I had hoped past logging practices had taught us something?

[bobcat]

Actually that should make for some great mule deer habitat. If it were left up to natural processes, fire would burn it up, and provide great deer habitat, but this way the trees are being used instead of burned up. One of the major reasons for the decline of mule deer in the NE is because of a lack of fire. So at least some logging can be used to make up for that. I think it would be great if the Forest Service would start doing more logging in the National Forests.   

[bearpaw]

105 is getting a makeover and not a good one in my opinion. They were cruising the timber when I was there the first weekend of late season and the story is that the entire portion of the Nat. Forest is going to be clear-cut leaving 18 trees per acre, if I remember correctly. Most of the cutting is going to start in the spring and is on a very aggressive schedule to be done in approx. 18-24 months or less. They're hogging all the brush and there will be virtually no habitat left to winter the deer. I wouldn't mind some cutting up there as it is very thick and that always helps reestablish new food sources, but to cut the entire north half of the unit seems like an irresponsible decision. I had hoped past logging practices had taught us something?

This will make for much better habitat for nearly all species.... glad to hear.

[Devinshoe]

I was just up there today and saw tons of cougar tracks and found a fresh cougar kill deer barried under pine needles and brush. I know theres lots of cats and rattle snakes and lots of houses in lower 105 and watch out for funny looking green plants there's a bit of that up there also.

[huntnnw]

Logging= More habitat=more animals it can susutain.  Unless they spray it! A few areas up there that are still dead 3 years later!! not good for wildlife

[TeacherMan]

last time i hunted kelley hill the deer were everywhere hundreds but right next to a 4x8 sheet of plywood saying NO HUNTING, course that was ten years ago   turkeys too

The plywood is still there. I know the owners. It's 1500 acres of private cattle grazing land right uo to the border.

I've hunted that 

[buckhorn2]

TeacherMan how is the Stump doing I havent seen him on for a while hope he is okay he has been one of my favorites.

[Elkaholic daWg]

last time i hunted kelley hill the deer were everywhere hundreds but right next to a 4x8 sheet of plywood saying NO HUNTING, course that was ten years ago  turkeys too

The plywood is still there. I know the owners. It's 1500 acres of private cattle grazing land right uo to the border.

 My bet says hes talking about this place
 Another spot like that much farther south near river. Last couple years significantly less deer.   4x8 hasn't been there in a few years ,but still I believe hunting not allowed. I heard he had to take down the sign after applying for wildlife damage money. That field used to be LOADED with deer and turkeys!

[Camo]

So am I the only one that thinks this is too aggressive? I am all for clear cutting, creating new food sources and more suitable habitat. However, what happens to the deer that are there now, come next winter when half the forest is gone and we have another winter such as '07/'08'/'09. How will the existing animals survive that with zero cover and immature browse buried under three feet of frozen snow? I am of the belief that a 5-10 year plan would have been a much better alternative. What am I missing?

[bearpaw]

Camo I grew up hunting that unit, it was all cut many years ago and deer numbers were higher, it's all grown up now with no browse, I have snowmobiled a lot of it this winter while cougar hunting, when you come into the few clear cuts that are there, that's where you see the game. The most game is on the timber company ground everywhere that has been logged steadily.

I guarantee you, if they cut it heavy, that will have the most positive effect of anything that could happen. Why do you think the hunting is always so good after a big fire?

Be glad the USFS is going to allow some logging.

[TeacherMan]

TeacherMan how is the Stump doing I haven't seen him on for a while hope he is okay he has been one of my favorites.

My dad has been doing really good, he has lost over 100 pounds on a protein diet, he is turing into a twig not a stump! Since I moved to AK its been hard to get him to go out in the woods. he said he lost his hunting partner. Anyway he was able to get a doe this season, did it all by himself. First deer he has had to drag or gut in 15 years he always shoots and tells me to fetch. He actually went out opening day and saw several really nice bucks but they where to far off of the road and he new he couldn't drag them that far so he passed them up. He took a pic of a nice 5x5 at 150yds opening weekend  Said it was to far from the road.  Remember he is fully disabled. I will bug him to get back on, he would like it.

[Ridgeratt]

Camo I grew up hunting that unit, it was all cut many years ago and deer numbers were higher, it's all grown up now with no browse, I have snowmobiled a lot of it this winter while cougar hunting, when you come into the few clear cuts that are there, that's where you see the game. The most game is on the timber company ground everywhere that has been logged steadily.

I guarantee you, if they cut it heavy, that will have the most positive effect of anything that could happen. Why do you think the hunting is always so good after a big fire?

Be glad the USFS is going to allow some logging.

I also have spent some time in 105. The first tag fill was 1966. Yes is has been cruised from the border to just above Barstow but in talking to the FS it is what they said a 10 year project. If you spend any time up there and see the beetle damage on the trees it is just a fire waiting to happen!!! A classic example of the was the Togo fire we had several years ago . 2003 it was dropping burning embers in the yard and you couldn't see a 100 yards. If you talk to the FS guys the call it the iron Forest. If a fire started it would burn miles before they got it out.

[Jesse Jaymes]

I am in that unit everyday and I am not at all impressed with anything on "public" or huntable lands.  Most cuts were sprayed with herbicide.  That left me questioning the impact of the spraying on all the critters, especially the deer.  Who knows.  I am not a Native here so I have no history to recall of the herds here.

And you really have to know the tiny pockets of mule deer, but to me, they are almost non-existant.  You certainly won't find them everywhere.

[CAMPMEAT]

I am in that unit everyday and I am not at all impressed with anything on "public" or huntable lands.  Most cuts were sprayed with herbicide.  That left me questioning the impact of the spraying on all the critters, especially the deer.  Who knows.  I am not a Native here so I have no history to recall of the herds here.

And you really have to know the tiny pockets of mule deer, but to me, they are almost non-existant.  You certainly won't find them everywhere.

You must not live here. We have more muleys now then we did 10 years ago. Where did you get this info about, herbicide ? There is neary 100,000 acres of huntable land here that has nothing to do with the State, WDFW, DNR. Give us the facts.

[bearpaw]

I am in that unit everyday and I am not at all impressed with anything on "public" or huntable lands.  Most cuts were sprayed with herbicide.  That left me questioning the impact of the spraying on all the critters, especially the deer.  Who knows.  I am not a Native here so I have no history to recall of the herds here.

And you really have to know the tiny pockets of mule deer, but to me, they are almost non-existant.  You certainly won't find them everywhere.

The sprayed cuts are all private timber lands. The USFS lands can not be sprayed and most are thick dark timber currently. Some logging, expecially spread out over 10 years will be the best thing that can happen.

[bobcat]

Why can the USFS land not be sprayed?

[luvtohnt]

USFS can be sprayed but they are extremely limited on the herbicides they can use, and they also have rotations so every 3 or 5 years they don't spray for that year. At least that is the case in the Wenatchee national forest in Kittitas County.

Brandon

[bobcat]

Good deal. Too bad the private timberlands don't have the same restrictions.

[luvtohnt]

 

That is cool but in regards to your other comment that would just mean the goverment was placing more restrictions on industry, something I thought everyone on this site was opposed to.

Brandon

[bobcat]

Not me, not if it means protecting habitat for PUBLIC wildlife.

[bearpaw]

That is cool but in regards to your other comment that would just mean the goverment was placing more restrictions on industry, something I thought everyone on this site was opposed to.

Brandon

I agree Brandon, private timberlands are no different than agricultural ground is to farmers. It is the agricultural ground of timber companies. While I don't like to see ground sprayed, I understand why the timber companies do it and respect their property rights.

I assumed that Jesse Jaymes was referring to the lands owned by Forest Capitol and Inland Paper which were sprayed after logging to kill anything that grows, then they plant preferred tree species to obtain better growth of their preferred tree specie.

I don't think that type of spraying is allowed on National Forest lands, please correct me Luvtohunt if I have that wrong.

[Jesse Jaymes]

I thought the question was about the Kelly Hill Unit?  I didn't think the unit description had it moved west into Ferry County all the way to Curlew?  Guess I learned something.

And I must have heard wrong and read wrong when I was informed that a helo was spraying herbicide for several days in the summer....aside from the many signs that read "Area treated with herbicide".

I will cop to not knowing exactly the land status of every acre within the Kelly Hill Unit, whether it's private or USFS, since all the timber lands come up as private.  And Inland is not technically supposed to be "public" although only 5 of us paid the access fee while others cut wood and pissed around during Modern Rifle.

Good luck with your search/scouting.  I did see a herd of 17 mulies in the KH unit this week.  Most I've seen in one herd in that unit.

[bearpaw]

Jesse, please don't get me wrong about the spraying, I don't like it either. But at the same time I think the timber companies have a right to spray to improve their crops. I think the signs you seen are the ones put up by the timber company. If you look closer next time you see one, you will see their name at the bottom of the notice.

Very glad to hear you saw a good group of muleys. Woody Meyers (a WDFW biologist) did a study on the muleys in Unit 105. What he learned by collaring wintering mule deer along the Columbia was that the vast majority (I think he said about 90%) migrate from the alpine mountain tops in British Columbia for the winter and return to BC in the summer. I thought that was really interesting but disappointing, no way to hunt them.

I hope you are shooting a few coyotes to turn in for the coyote derby.... 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Kinda funny you say that about the coyotes, as in my former life I was a HUGE predator caller.  I've tried a bit here and am not impressed.  Pretty much too chicken to knock-and-talk, even though I'd snowshoe or ski into the lands to call a bit, rather than sit behind someone's barn and blow the whistle or run a sled all over their fields.  The whole south end of the Wedge looks like it has dogs in it, but I know no landowners there.

I see coyotes, but most of those are on private lands also.  Really been trying to find some bobcats on a regular basis.  Found some sign while on XC skis the other day.  Had cougar tracks under me the whole time on the FS road, and the B'cat was only around for a few hundred hards.

I am pissed anyone sprays anything, but I understand your analogy of "farming".  It's their land.  I can't say anything about it.  Herbicide just doesn't sound good for deer anywhere.

And I did not grow up here, but do try and figure things out for myself, rather than regurgitate what everyone else says.  But I found a bachelor herd of mulie bucks last spring in Kelly Hill.  Bedded up on snow, so thinking late March, early April.  And one was going to be a Toad.  Was bedded away from the other bucks and his body dwarfed the others.  Big, saggy belly, wide eye spread, and he had decent buds at that time.

Never saw another mule deer in that area all summer and fall.  Will go back an look next month, but they vaporized somewhere.

I actually have a moose question for you Bearpaw

[bearpaw]

There's bocat throughout the unit north to south, east to west, just takes time to be in the right place at the right time as they move around a bit and may be a long ways from where you see tracks, keep calling here and there, sooner or later one will come in.

I'm not a fan of the spray either, but understand why they do it, and I wouldn't try to tell them what they can or can't do on their property. 

There are moose in the unit, get back into the clearcuts that are higher up on the forest and even some of the cuts on the timber company ground, and you will find them.

[Mr T]

The 105 unit looks pretty much like the westside. Alot of thick timber and cover to fairly open areas. Fairly rugged too. You have the Colville National Forest in that area. I've hunted there and it reminds me of the westside alot. It's not full of sage brush and open like what you might think. I think the best time to hunt there is the rut. I've seen some nice whitetails come out of there. You have Moose, Elk, Bear, Grizzly Bear and Deer in that unit.

   And wolves.  Buddy had a bear bust through a draw, cross in front of him and tear up a tree during turkey season.  It was followed by two wolves.  The wolves were jumping up the tree as high as they could until they finally took notice of my buddy.  They took off and the bear took off the opposite direction.  He was pretty jacked up when we met up later that morning over the entire event that unfolded before his eyes.

[CAMPMEAT]

Mr T,
I did forget wolves. I've seen them west of my house in the winter of '09.

[Mr T]

Mr T,
I did forget wolves. I've seen them west of my house in the winter of '09.

Pretty crazy.  Always figured they were around.  And how they were seen really makes a guy think twice about bow hunting in that area without a sidearm!!  Guess I will need to invest.  Anybody rent pistols for extended weekends?