Little Pend Oreille refuge a good place for beginner?

[jackelope]

i'm curious to know how close most of you guys are hunting to the roads. i will add upfront this is not meant as some sort of low blow or anything. i'm just curious. we hike in a little ways, maybe 1-1.5 miles usually before we even start locator calls and what not and honestly have never run into another hunter in the woods. we are hunting in the refuge and pretty much only on the weekends...and only have been there the opening weekends. i did not go there last year but  the 2 years before that we were there.

[bearmanric]

I camped at bear creek camp last year. you could only go another 1/2 a mile. snowed in. bringing a mountain bike. to get farther. was way in talking to some bird's and the Ranger drove up on me was a bummer.i have some great spot it's if i can get to them.the turkey's i know of are useaully a 1/2  from the road. two year's ago i hunted high less people. Rick

[Diehard0123]

I usually find birds close to the logging roads, they use them as strutting zones and use dry mud puddles to dust.  They also travel on these roads to get from one field/medow to another.

[turkeydancer]

Normally I like to mountain bike as much as possible when scouting or hunting, probably about 2 to 5 miles back in.  Where I was talking about was about 1/3 mile on foot straight up the hill near the top of the ridge  from where I parked ... not nearly far enough it seems. 

[MuleyontheWall]

how about places to camp on the refuge? tried to look on their web page and couldnt find much...have a 24ft RV trailer to park somewhere....

[SpokaneSlayer]

There are a ton of places to camp.  We camped by the river past Starvation Flats near the horse camp during deer season.  There are also some good spots on the road that goes past the HQ building.  There's actually a good map on the website.  Follow this link:

http://www.fws.gov/littlependoreille/pdf/PublicUseRefugeMap.pdf

[MuleyontheWall]

Ok....Im stupid...I have that map printed out sitting here next to me and I thought it didnt have anything on it about camp sites...

[SpokaneSlayer]

LOL!  Yeah it does.  FYI.  Some of those roads aren't open to vehicles until June 1.

[MuleyontheWall]

LOL!  Yeah it does.  FYI.  Some of those roads aren't open to vehicles until June 1.

heres what i found on the web site about road closed.

The Refuge is closed to all unauthorized vehicle traffic from January 1 through April 13,
except on Bear Creek Road from Headquarters west to the Refuge Boundary, and on
Buffalo-Wilson, Narcisse Creek and Olson Creek Roads which are open year round.

[SpokaneSlayer]

That's true.

[bearmanric]

I stayed at bear creek cap last year. the cottonwood camp is the first you come to. past the big field's. you can only camp at desinated area's.  i'll try to be at bear creek. going over on the 10th. stay at that motel in colville. going to scout around. i hope. call's are building up. i get quite a few done tomorrow head into the rfuge the 14th. was full last year. Rick

[MuleyontheWall]

We are coming into town the evening of the 14th so Im sure lots of places will be full...trying to find somewhere I can drop the rv quick and try to get out in the woods the evening of the 14th...

[hawksfan75]

Alright, digging up an older post since I'm looking at headed up to this area this weekend. I'm assuming it will be slammed since it will be closing weekend and the holiday.

Or will I be far enough east that there will be spots when I can get out there Friday night?

Anybody have any advice for this area and where to explore. This is sort of a "turkey hunt on the side" sort of a trip and more about exploring a new area and seeing a different part of the state.

Thanks!

[MuleyontheWall]

Shouldnt be to crazy, last year was real slow as far as people the last weekend in there...we're heading over as well i think, 07 black chevy duramax with a big camper on the back...not sure where we'll be camped at in there.

[hawksfan75]

Digging this post up yet again. Headed over for Memorial Day Weekend last-minute turkey/deer scouting/fishingin/family camping. Will likely be staying at the Bear Creek campground and then adventuring out from there.

Anybody have any tips/tricks for the late season? Or tips/tricks on where to camp as well?