Rock candy mt vs Donkey Creek

[akashasdaddy]

I am trying to decide where to begin my hunting. This is my first year in the bush and I am not sure where to start. I am from Grays Harbor and know the donkey creek area real well but I feel I have found a decent spot on Rock Candy Mt also. I live closer to RCM now since I moved to be closer to school. Where would the more seasoned hunters be come opening weekend if you were in my shoes?

[heavy hauler]

i prefer donkey creek, but i say go with what you know.    get ready for  the orange wave sat morning

[dreamunelk]

RCM has a higher deer population.  Donkey creek is good too but, look at current habitat conditions.  Just depends on how you want to hunt and what experience you are after.

[akashasdaddy]

I know Donkey Creek far better than RCM. I am also not looking for a bruiser I just want meat in the freezer no trophies. As far as the hunt I want I am not sure. Unfortunately I am hunting alone so more than likely I'm gonna hike in a good bit then just sit and wait. I don't know but this seems to be the best method for me. I am a total newbe to hunting, and too sure of what to do. I am trying to learn on the fly. I know everyone wants this but I just want to be successful.

[wrongway]

we have killed lots of deer out of RCM, if you have a place you can sit you are good, we get our deer from what we call steep and deep. the steep sided clear cuts that are deep. the road hunters will not go into them to much work. Good luck

[PolarBear]

Donkey Creek!  I was up there yesterday.  Plenty of critters.

[hawksfan75]

Was just looking over the area around Donkey Creek on Google Earth/Go Hunt. It looks like great land. If one is considering it, where would one camp in that area? Are there central spots where people congregate or is it pretty dispersed around there?

[sirmissalot]

Both places will be full of hunters. I'd say there are more deer in Donkey creek. Reprod holds far more deer than mature timber, and the state for whatever reason likes to let their timber grow.

[mrgoodwrench]

Remember that anything east of 101, north of the Donkey Creek road, and south of Newberry Creek road that is private timberland(clearcuts) is leased....no public access.  Same with the 3600/3601 road system on the south side of the Donkey Creek road.

[Alan K]

My favorite time to hunt Rock Candy is during early archery, before the rifle hunters and rest of the heavy traffic hits it.  There are some dandy bucks in there, though they're pretty smart like all other bucks in places that are open to the public year around.  As for rifle seasons up there, I'm usually at my one planned spot for the first and last 20-30 minutes of light glassing the reprod.  Other than that I'm in the timber, which is AWESOME to hunt on a rainy day.  Overall I wouldn't say that it is any better or any worse than your average deer hunting here on the west side.

Never hunted around Donkey Creek, so I can't comment there.  By the sounds of it it's a toss up. 

[Humptulips]

Yea Donkey Cr is pretty much a sea of dog hair any more so don't go there.  No deer anyway!
Just move along folks, Nothing to see here. I think the roads going to be closed anyway.

[akashasdaddy]

Sounds to me like Humptulips is trying to keep a good area to himself I will eventually hunt both areas though. My issue is opening weekend I know the woods are going to be full everywhere but I'd like to be where there are less than other places. I know the Donkey Creek area better, it is a longer drive, but I think familiar is better than convenience.

[Humptulips]

I tried to warn you. Don't come crying to me when you get lost in all that dog hair!

[akashasdaddy]

I don't know what you mean by dog hair, like I said I am a newbie to the hunting thing but I do hike and fish a lot and Donkey Creek is where I was married. It looks about the same as always except they are logging right off the Donkey Creek road and you can see the highway. Which pisses me off but it is nice to see people working so I will get over a few trees being gone.

[Humptulips]

Good my reverse psycology worked or did it? You will never know.