High Buck Drop camp opinions requested

[jackelope]

The other thing ot remember...it's been posted on here many times before. This hunt is about the experience, the time in the high country and you should not expect to see a lot of deer. The buck you see could be the buck of a lifetime, but there won't be many. You can study the herd #'s all you want, but the bottom line is you're not going to see a ton of deer during the high hunt. Go for the country, the scenery, the experience of it all and most of all, the time with your dad. Don't worry about herd counts.
 

[kbyers]

  

well said jackelope

[boneaddict]

Exactly. 

[grundy53]

The comment about not seeing a migrator in October in the high country, is untrue.

I completely agree, it made me laugh. No migrating deer, I'm still laughing.

You guys can say what you want, but most years, there won't be a true migration in October. Go hang out in the Entiat and wait for those migrators to show up in general season. Good luck.

Except he is talking about hunting the high country. Which is where the migrators come from. So they would be Migratory deer. They just are on the part of the Migration where they are in the high country. He isn't hunting the Entiat, he will be hunting the wilderness.

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'm sure I'll have a great experience wherever we decide to go, but I'm not planning a high priced camping trip.  I want to give myself the best shot at both worlds.  If after all is said an done, we don't get any bucks then so be it.  I will still be happy, but in the planning stages why not try for the best.  That's my opinion. 

This weekend I was doing some more research and I've been told that there are more migratory deer moving through the glacier peak wildlife areas these days than maybe some of the others.  Has anyone else heard anything in regard to this?  I'm sure the patterns must change a little from year to year.

[Miles]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/board,3.0.html

[jackelope]

I'm sure I'll have a great experience wherever we decide to go, but I'm not planning a high priced camping trip.  I want to give myself the best shot at both worlds.  If after all is said an done, we don't get any bucks then so be it.  I will still be happy, but in the planning stages why not try for the best.  That's my opinion. 

Just making sure you know what you're in for more than anything....
Good luck with your hunt.. Hopefully you have a good time.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Thanks Jackalope,
I hear and understand what you and many others are saying about the experience being more important than the killing.  I will agree with you.  What you guys are saying is not lost on me.  I get a true emotional and spiritual recharge when I'm in the woods.  Every close encounter makes life worth living.  If we don't get any animals it won't take anything away from the trip.  But if I'm going to go to all the effort of planning a big trip like this I'm going to do my best to find animals.   I appreciate all advice.

[boneaddict]

But if I'm going to go to all the effort of planning a big trip like this I'm going to do my best to find animals.

Honestly you should think of out of state then.  Its extremely hit and miss even for a seasoned vet in the wilderness hunts.

[steen]

I've used Steve Darwood to pack in our gear for summer horseback riding and they do a great job.  Not alot of deer and not many big ones but you could get a 175 class buck and if you are lucky maybe bigger.  My husband used Isicle Outfitters one year way back and 3 out of 4 hunters took 2 year old bucks.  They had a great time and good service, with the outfitter checking on them every couple days or so to pack out their meat.  I think these hunts are as much about the experience and views as they are the hunt.  We rode horse up in the Pasayten for a week (30 hours of riding) and had a blast.  Can't wait to go again next year if all goes well.  You will have an experience of a lifetime whether or not you take an animal.

[vandeman17]

I wanted to bring this thread back to life as it is getting closer to the time when we will start planning our hunts. I have considered drop hunts in a few hunts but never really thought about one in Washington until now. This is a very useful thread!

[hillbillyhunting]

Thanks Jackalope,
I hear and understand what you and many others are saying about the experience being more important than the killing.  I will agree with you.  What you guys are saying is not lost on me.  I get a true emotional and spiritual recharge when I'm in the woods.  Every close encounter makes life worth living.  If we don't get any animals it won't take anything away from the trip.  But if I'm going to go to all the effort of planning a big trip like this I'm going to do my best to find animals.   I appreciate all advice.

   If you really want to get away from people and enjoy the high county then I suggest you go up in August with a camera.  My hunting partner and I have spent the past 6 years in 4 different wilderness areas trying to find a place that holds trophy animals and is unnoticed by other people.  It is almost impossible to get away from the people.  One year we even hiked in over 20 miles on a trail with lots of blow-downs and still had people up there.  Our first year we were after a 30" wide 3x3 and on the way up there were tons of people and everyone was talking about that buck    Additionally, a lot of the people up there do not know how to hunt the high county.  We consistently see people blowing up areas we have scouted that hold very nice deer.  As soon as Sept comes around the deer know it!  As soon as one person blindly walks through the trophy buck's home... they are on lockdown.  Anyways, it is tough.  You have to outsmart the other hunters.  I switched to archery and spent 9 days up in the high country this season and didnt see another person.  I didnt shoot an animal but had lots of excitement and got my much needed "spiritual recharge". 

[sirmissalot]

   If you really want to get away from people and enjoy the high county then I suggest you go up in August with a camera.  My hunting partner and I have spent the past 6 years in 4 different wilderness areas trying to find a place that holds trophy animals and is unnoticed by other people.  It is almost impossible to get away from the people.  One year we even hiked in over 20 miles on a trail with lots of blow-downs and still had people up there.  Our first year we were after a 30" wide 3x3 and on the way up there were tons of people and everyone was talking about that buck    Additionally, a lot of the people up there do not know how to hunt the high county.  We consistently see people blowing up areas we have scouted that hold very nice deer.  As soon as Sept comes around the deer know it!  As soon as one person blindly walks through the trophy buck's home... they are on lockdown.  Anyways, it is tough.  You have to outsmart the other hunters.  I switched to archery and spent 9 days up in the high country this season and didnt see another person.  I didnt shoot an animal but had lots of excitement and got my much needed "spiritual recharge".

I know just what you mean. I even had some granola munchers last year yelling and screaming at me across a canyon because they saw I was a hunter.  That group of young guys were lucky they didn't get more than just an earful.

For the most part its not too difficult for me to get away from other hunters, but away from other people in general can be difficult at times.

[Bean Counter]

... I know just what you mean. I evenhad some granola munchers lastyear yelling and screamingatmeacrossa

canyon because they saw I was a hunter.

Unbelievable! yelling at a man with a gun.... For no personal  reason. Wow

[BENCHLEG]

hey beancounter, if we hunt with potato guns , we will give them what they wan;t  . right