upper smith creek scouting trip (link to pics) UPDATED!!!

[Alpinegus]

Sasquatch; A couple years ago we seen two billy mountain goats from where you took your pictures from. Watch for the goats.
Good luck on your hunt. 

[slim9300]

How big do you think that bull was? About 280"?

[PolarBear]

P bear.......have you hunted that area before? any luck?

We hunt Smith and Bean Creek drainages.  Yes, we have taken some really nice bulls out of there but it is one ass dragger of a pack out.  The area that you will be hunting is awesome.  It is where I bugled up the biggest 5X5 we have ever seen.  This boy was a 310-320 class 5x5, just a brute. 

[kalamasasquatch]

How big do you think that bull was? About 280"?

im not sure.....he was a long ways off, that and i am i terrible judge of size. I do know he was hanging out with a unique looking 6x that was bigger than him.

P bear.......have you hunted that area before? any luck?

We hunt Smith and Bean Creek drainages.  Yes, we have taken some really nice bulls out of there but it is one ass dragger of a pack out.  The area that you will be hunting is awesome.  It is where I bugled up the biggest 5X5 we have ever seen.  This boy was a 310-320 class 5x5, just a brute. 

where do you guys access the area? we hunted it a few years ago from.....well the same area i went in from this time. i think thats the only place to get there. Do you have to croos water to start?

Ive hunted that unit before.  My girlfriend drew the first year it was out.  Awesome hunt, lots of bulls, not as many big bulls as ive seen in years past for us but it was still a great tag.  Horrible nasty steep terrain though!  We camped up on top and hunted down the ridges every day.  You should have fun, good luck!

did you fill the tag? if so which way did you pack it out? did you have any trouble finding water?

[blacktail7]

No we did not fill her tag, she had several good opportunities at bulls but lets just say she had quite a case of elk fever!  We went in from the 83 rd and up the ape canyon trail wich was ok, but its easier to get in from the 99 rd or windy ridge.(not sure of the legality though)  The year she drew that road was washed out and we couldnt access from that side at all.  There was plenty of water in a little stream at the head of ape canyon that we went to each night from where we were camping, it's seasonal runoff.  Other than that you'll have to go much lower in the unit for water.  As for the pack out, no matter what its going to to be tough one.  We parked a truck down below lahar along that trail head on the clearwater incase we killed a bull somewhere lower so we could take it out the bottom.  Other than that its up, up, and away!  If it were me i would camp right up on abraham flats just barely above the main open ridge up there and hunt down to the elk each day, plenty of water, good glassing, and an exit out the bottom with the meat.  I think it was around 6 miles in to where we camped.  Its all steep!  Watch for Mt.Goats too!  From the looks of your pics it looks like youve got the good spots found allready!  Good luck!  If you have any more questions send me a PM

[PolarBear]

We hunt from the 99 road as well.  You can do some start off glassing up there but I prefer to quietly sneak into the canyon well before daylight.  The guys who roadhunt will push any upper bulls down to you.  Then the work begins.