Hunting Lake Chelan

[t6]

Anybody ever hunt / hike the Lake Chelan area?  I was thinking of loading up the boat and going out to one of the secluded areas to look for deer and a cougar this year. 

Any ideas or areas? 

T6

[boonerboy]

spend alot of time on the lake, could be a fun hunt but good luck with the secluded part.

[link]

How big of a boat are you planning to take. I would not recommend you go up past 25 mile in a small boat if the weather is questionable. We went up about 15 miles past 25 mile in a 14 foot bayliner type boat,...bad idea. The wind was blowing so hard up the lake, we barely made it back. We ran into a guy in a 12 foot aluminum job up the lake. He was camped and was unable to make it back until the wind died down. He said he'd been there 2-3 days longer than he had planned.
One rough SOB in the wind.

[t6]

20 ft Northriver with a 150 Honda.  Had it out on the Columbia a few days back and it love every gust of wind and every wave. 

Just trying to figure out if its a good idea and if I can expect to find a good deer and possibly a cougar. 

[UBA]

Better be in good shape. Steep is an under statement.

[t6]

Im getting surgery on a foot but should be good to go by June or July.  Unfortunately I also have RA that is rapidly progressing so the next couple years may be my only opportunity to take on challenging hunts. 

I'd like to score a good size Muely, a cougar, and a bear before I become a road hunter. 

[link]

Better be in good shape. Steep is an under statement.

Think of the longest, steepest, deepest, rocky ass canyon you can. Then fill it up half way with water.
We've had pretty good luck with bear, at least spotting them, from the lake. If its fairly calm, you can just glass the hillsides from the boat, then plan a stalk ( ha, hahahaha, ha). 
We have been successful killing a bear a couple of times like that. A couple out of many.
Oh yea, bring lots of fuel.

[jstone]

Ya i have a 21.6 footer and i was thinking of doing the same thing this year. Maybe in September for early archery deer. Been wanting to do it for a long time. Maybe this year

[Skillet]

We were thinking about doing that from the lake - going up into a canyon from a campground and spiking out for a couple of days for mulies this year.  I was warned from a lake resident - don't do that unless you can guarantee anything in your boat you value can't be unbolted/unscrewed/cut loose/otherwise removed quickly and sold.  There has been a bit of a rash of trolling motors and electronics dissappearing from boats left unattended at the boat-in campgrounds.  Just reporting what I've heard on that front.
Might want to consider riding the Lady of the Lake up to a dropoff and back.  They'll allow you to bring back boned-out meat on the return trip, if I recall correctly...

[Shed Stud]

Real nice up lake, But not a easy hunt. Boat in, backpack up and then up some more. Make sure and study maps good as to not get cliffed out. And remember the temp can and will go from 80 to 30 in 12 hours. Tough hunt, it sure would be cool to be able to shoot a nice buck close to the boat though.

[Halo]

I dont think I would do it again on a 20' boat. I almost sank a 20' boat doing that years ago. I have seen a lot of rough water but that lake from 25 mile up can be incredibly brutal.

[Skyvalhunter]

Don't go into it thinking you will be the only one hunting that way. Prepare to be surprised. Don't ever under estimate how rough Lake Chelan can get or think that maybe it won't blow one day. Whitecaps are very common. So prepare accordingly.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've been safe, if not comfortable, on LC during rough conditions in a gov't. 22' or larger boat.  I have never considered taking my personal 18' boat above 25 mile creek.  I think a 20' boat is an absolute minimum.

[jackelope]

We had waves breaking over the bow of a 20' Luxor on Lake Union the other day.  I would hate to be on Chelan in that boat when it is blowing like it was on Lake Wa on sunday.

[KillerMiller]

I've hunted Lake Chelan up from 25 mile on the N. shore.  Some pretty good bear hunting and some very nice areas to hike from the lake.  Travel in the morning before the evening winds rip through the Narrows.