anyone hunt the lake cavanaugh area???

[dannysdaddy]

and if so is there very much public land??  looking to do some scouting as i have never been up there other than walker valley orv.  just curious if its an area worth looking into....

[kbrowne14]

I am by no means an experienced hunter, as last years was my first year hunting.  However, I did deer hunting near Lake Cavanaugh.  I didn't get anything but there is a lot of sign in the area.  The area as you know, has a lot of clear cuts and logging roads. I called all of the private timber companies in the entire area as well as DNR and they all say that hunting is allowed on their properties, no motorized vehicles, don't drive through open gates, and signs will be posted if area is being logged.  I spent hours and hours looking at maps and property parcel maps to ensure that I wouldn't be tresspassing on any private lands, so you don't need to worry about that up there.  As far as the hunting goes, it was alright, not a lot of people hunt up there, I saw 1 spike and that was it.  It was not the best hunting in the world but it is local and it is easy and nice to just get out into the woods. 

[D-Rock425]

I shot my first deer up there I was 12 years old.  I have deer hunted up there very little since then but I'm sure they are still there.

[Skyvalhunter]

I take it you are talking about the Lake Cavanaugh up FS rd 62. There is alot of people that go up there in the evenings and wouldn't be a bit surprised about poaching going on. That is quite a drive for poeple to come in from the Spur 10(I think thats what its called) entrance. I know they are doing quite a bit of logging up there and plan to do more this summer so that will have an effect.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yep ... but everything is gated... along walk to get to the game !!!

[Skyvalhunter]

Yes it is but its also a great place for me to take my dog and my mountain bike for a ride into the Tolt. There are a fair amount of bears in there but havent seen a whole lot of deer but then again I don't go in there during the rut time frame. But alot of road hunters outside of the gate especially for bears. If you go in there and the gate is opened just prepare for the potential to get locked behind the gate by the loggers leaving for the evening.

[D-Rock425]

There is no such thing of bears in that area. 

[Skyvalhunter]

It's ok since you don't hunt up there anymore!!

[D-Rock425]

I shot my first deer up there I was 12 years old.  I have deer hunted up there very little since then but I'm sure they are still there.

I have deer hunted very little since then.  I have maybe bear hunted more since then.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well maybe I will see you up there sometime when we are NOT bear hunting.

[D-Rock425]

Ok sounds good.  I like to take my rifle for walks on those early August mornings 

[kbrowne14]

I don't go up FS rd 62.  There are way to many people there.  I go to the other smaller gated roads and walk in pretty far, Maybe a 3 or 4 miles.  I like to go really early in the morning and walk in, in the dark.  I have seen a lot of deer track, both in the clearcuts and in thick woods.  I walked in a few miles every day for about a week and a half, I saw a lot of fresh bear sign and some good deer sign.  I only saw 1 spike though, so this year I will be going to Colfax to hunt on my wifes families wheat farm for the first 3 days of the season.  If I don't get anything, I will be going back to cavanaugh area.

[Skyvalhunter]

So you will be hunting in the new APR area then?

[Special T]

I was unaware that there was a Lake Cavanaugh near Tolt.. The only lake by that name i know of is in Skagit county E of Mount Vernon, Kind of inbetween Mt Vernon and Darrington...

[kbrowne14]

I was thinking that the fs rd 62 was just on the eastern side of walker valley ORV, but it is not.  I don't know where fs rd 62 is. 

[Special T]

Are you modern/Muzzy or archery? Nearly every gate that i can think of from Finn Settlement on Lake Cavanaugh rd up allows hunting just no motorized vehicles. The longest RD in that area that may be good for bike in hunting is the main line for Serria pacific i think.. its gate is on N side of the road  just before Pilchuck creek. Its the burliest gate on the road with a metal fence across the front... also easie to tell because there is a sand pit 200 yrds in from the gate on the left hand side.. It also has NO real parking at that gate... Don't drive in even if its open because you will get locked in and have the sherrif called... I know a couple of close aquaintances that have been chased out of there while riding motor bikes. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Thats called the Elephant gate. I have ridden mike bike in there and up the roads on the other side although I didn't see any deer.

[h2ofowlr]

Thats called the Elephant gate. I have ridden mike bike in there and up the roads on the other side although I didn't see any deer.

I saw a guy pushing his mini bike in last year for bear hunting on one of the roads in that area.  Was it you?  I wouldn't worry about hunting it next year.  Everyone that reads the forum in the area will check out your location you posted.  Should be a lot more guys to chat with at least that view this forum.   

[Armadillo]

Love the area, grew up driving all those roads with my dad back in the day before they gates the hell out of it...no deer sorry

[kbrowne14]

I know that gate you are talking about, it is a burly gate.  Last year there were a lot of hunters on that road.  A lot of walk-ins, but there were even more drive ins.  It seems like every logger hunted in there and just opened the gate, drove in and shut it behind them.  I have seen doe in there but I was riding quads and jumped them on the road. 

[Special T]

Since my Bro is a logging Mech i do know that it is a favorite Road hunt for loggers. All the deer in that area that i've seen have been in the deep timber, but everyone likes to sit and glass clearcuts...