High hunt options

[TeacherMan]

I don't really plan on having it to myself. I've talked to several friends who have hunting in that area and it becomes a real zoo actually. The location that I'm going isn't actually in horseshoe basin, way, way to many people. I will be about x miles from there close, but not really, its a big area. I've actually been into this location one time in a high hunt when I was a kid and didn't see a soul. I guess my last comment on it is its a good thing I teach compass reading in my outdoor rec class, because we wont see a trail for along time! 

[TeacherMan]

Looking at that pic where would you hunt? Why? 

[MountainWalk]

Where the deer are at.

[TeacherMan]

*censored*, you mean I'm not looking for elk. I put a very generic pic of a typical high mountain hunting area in Washington. Sorry if you wanted to ruin my hunt unfortunately that's not where I'm going to be hunting. I just wanted to have a discussion on different strategies for hunting a situation like this. For the people that may be new and are going to actually go up into the woods out of your car and hunt during the season, this may help. Or we could all just be asses, thus being the demise to our sport. So that being said I would hunt at the tree line, glassing the shadows during the day looking for bedded deer. The buck brush in the mornings and evening. As for other hunters, have a good chat with them, maybe you could all work together. If not just be selfish and use them for your advantage. 

[DeKuma]

I kind of have to agree with you on your ideals there, Teach.
Wish more were willing to help out, but I also understand their zipper-lip mentalities as well.

[MountainWalk]

My friend,
Im not being facetious.  Deer are where you find them according to weather, pressure, and food. Where they were last week, may not be true now. They dont read the books or hunting websites.  Things change. So, my answer remains the same. I would hunt where the animals are. Dont take things so personally.

[DeKuma]

No personal taking here.  Did not even see your post until now.
It is true they are where you find them. 

[MountainWalk]

My other friend,
I wasnt referring to you myself. Nothing was directed towards you. Take care!

Yeah, they are where you find them.. Kind of like Jack O Conner said. The big ones just look big.

[DeKuma]

I love that saying!  I keep telling my wife and daughter that when we run into a big one, you will know!
My daughter has been with me when we ran into a big one and all she could say was, "It looks big, so it must be big!"

[OltHunter]

to answer your direct question teacherman, i would say to focus above the tree line like wrangler said.  would expect any buck to be down in that basin.  specifically, i would start on the upper right part of the picture around those snow slides.  bucks love to bed down next to snow slides in those band of trees.  i killed my buck right on the edge of a snow slide last year, wouldn't think they would be there, but there was just a highway of track all along the rocks.  his bed was well worn, they like to pick a spot, and generally wont leave that area until forced out by someone or the snow.  then i would work my away to the left side of the picture picking apart each individual tree but really focusing on the far right band of trees especially if there is a saddle there (can't tell from the pic). bucks are usually found next to snow slides, on ribbon cliffs which i don't see in the pic, or around saddles.  found that to be true from experience.  i've found stalking bucks in the high country, tough, but very manageable, it just takes a lot longer and more time.  depending on the winds, it may be best to slip out of that basin and wrap around and come in from the other side of that peak taking many long miles to get a shot.  or it could be just as easy, the trees look thick enough to slip through them and make your way close enough for a shot.  just my observations/opinion, good luck to you, high country hunting is my only kind

[TeacherMan]

Thats great thanks.  I just cant wait to take my wife in this year. It will be her first experience in the back country. I think its turning into a good camping/backpacking trip more than anything.

[Vek]

If there is a trail to the place shown, then it's not worth taking the binocs out of the case, unless a foot and a half of snow fell the night before and you stumble across a lost monster making his way down. 

Even if there isn't a trail there, I've not had any luck seeing North Cascade muleys in such gentle terrain.  Very little of that looks steep enough to have any appeal.  One bowl from which I've been part of two high hunt deer kills has some gentle meadow terrain 500-1000 feet below the rocks, and I've never seen deer down there, only up in the rocks and scrub.   Above the scrub is cliffy rock with no vegetation. 

The high hunt is a patience and solitude game.  Solitude only comes with HARD WORK. 

[MichaelJ]

If there is a trail to the place shown, then it's not worth taking the binocs out of the case, unless a foot and a half of snow fell the night before and you stumble across a lost monster making his way down. 

Even if there isn't a trail there, I've not had any luck seeing North Cascade muleys in such gentle terrain.  Very little of that looks steep enough to have any appeal.  One bowl from which I've been part of two high hunt deer kills has some gentle meadow terrain 500-1000 feet below the rocks, and I've never seen deer down there, only up in the rocks and scrub.   Above the scrub is cliffy rock with no vegetation. 

The high hunt is a patience and solitude game.  Solitude only comes with HARD WORK. 

Some of the better advice I've seen on here....
Deer aren't to big on the pretty highcountry meadows, they like the steep hillsides with lots of shrubs and rocks and like to bed in hard to get areas.  You may see some bucks in that area, I'd be surprised if there weren't ANY deer there, but finding a MATURE muley in there looks doubtful.  You never know though, like some said above, the deer are where you find them...

Michael

[TeacherMan]

Like I said above guys I just posted this pic in terms of what I thought the country would look like and if you where there were would you hunt. I don't know if there is a trail to that Mountain. Check out this photo then. This look better, generally same area.

[deerhuntr4885]

Michael, You should know that area.  I took you there a few years ago.  If you remember.  We climbed that very same mountain.   

By the way, Teacher, I think that burned a couple years ago.  I would be really interested in what it looks like when you get there.  I have hunted all around that area.  I love it up there.  Let me know how you do.  Wish I could join you but I think I'll be in MT around that time.

Mike Henne