Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: cvandervort on April 28, 2014, 10:55:56 AM

Title: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: cvandervort on April 28, 2014, 10:55:56 AM: This has no doubt been discussed before, but I can't find the thread...

I have hunted the ALW during the high hunt for the last couple of seasons, but I tend to do my scouting in July/August...
If one were to get up there in May, what would you find as far as animals go? Are they usually down in lower elevations still, or might they be making their way back up? How much snow will they tend to tolerate on their way up to higher elevations?

For the sake of the thread, let's assume elevations of 4500 - 7000k

I might just go up next weekend anyways to see what I can...
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: CP on April 28, 2014, 11:29:17 AM: Will you be snowshoeing in? I was up near Mount Margaret Saturday and there is still plenty of snow.
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: Bob33 on April 28, 2014, 11:44:17 AM: Check the WTA websites for trail conditions.

I suspect you'll find more are still under snow at the higher elevations.

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports (http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports)
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/map (http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/map)
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: fly-by on April 28, 2014, 12:30:52 PM: That elevation is still pretty close to peak snow depth from 3 weeks ago.

http://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/conditions (http://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/conditions)

The "Alpental top" measurement is at 5600ft and is only 3" less than peak depth which occured on 4/6 (188").

Warm weather this week should get runoff started in earnest.
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: 7mag. on April 28, 2014, 07:20:22 PM: I have found pretty good drifts that were impassable without snow shoes, into July.
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: _TONY_ on April 28, 2014, 07:59:09 PM: If you don't have snow shoes, you'll be post Hollin' to the top.... As far as animals go in May, not much.... Well, that's if you aren't counting birds :-)
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: 3nails on April 28, 2014, 08:09:31 PM: There will be animals up there if it's cold at night. The snow is packed pretty hard right now and after a good freeze at night (which should be happening on clear nights well into June) they'll walk right up it like it's asphalt. They love standing on top of the deep snow because they can get to the moss in the branches better. I've found sheds as high as 6,000' on the west side on big snow years. A 4 mile walk up 3-4 thousand feet and back down again is just a casual stroll to the deer who live up there. People on the other hand...... not so easy.
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: cvandervort on April 29, 2014, 05:17:10 AM: Thanks for the input!

Yes, I know that it's still under snow (and that snowshoes are a given necessity). I am particularly interested in animal movement.
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: Bean Counter on April 29, 2014, 05:41:09 AM: Quote from: 3nails on April 28, 2014, 08:09:31 PM
There will be animals up there if it's cold at night. The snow is packed pretty hard right now and after a good freeze at night (which should be happening on clear nights well into June) they'll walk right up it like it's asphalt. They love standing on top of the deep snow because they can get to the moss in the branches better. I've found sheds as high as 6,000' on the west side on big snow years. A 4 mile walk up 3-4 thousand feet and back down again is just a casual stroll to the deer who live up there. People on the other hand...... not so easy.

:yike: If there's an award for hard core shed hunting, you get the first nomination.
Title: Re: Alpine Lake Wilderness deer movement
Post by: 3nails on April 29, 2014, 05:45:10 AM: Quote from: Bean Counter on April 29, 2014, 05:41:09 AM
Quote from: 3nails on April 28, 2014, 08:09:31 PM
There will be animals up there if it's cold at night. The snow is packed pretty hard right now and after a good freeze at night (which should be happening on clear nights well into June) they'll walk right up it like it's asphalt. They love standing on top of the deep snow because they can get to the moss in the branches better. I've found sheds as high as 6,000' on the west side on big snow years. A 4 mile walk up 3-4 thousand feet and back down again is just a casual stroll to the deer who live up there. People on the other hand...... not so easy.

:yike: If there's an award for hard core shed hunting, you get the first nomination.
:chuckle: I've just stumbled upon them while hunting.