Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 01:21:31 PM

Title: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 01:21:31 PM: Anyone ever done the high buck hunt in alpine lakes area how did ya do? How was the terrain.
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 10, 2014, 01:25:53 PM: Are you asking about the alpine lakes wilderness area?
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 01:41:15 PM: Yes
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: luvmystang67 on September 10, 2014, 02:01:24 PM: Quote from: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 01:21:31 PM
Anyone ever done the high buck hunt in alpine lakes area how did ya do? How was the terrain.

If you walk river bottoms the terrain is fine :chuckle:

But, that's not where most of the animals are.

Its like high buck anywhere, very few animals. There are fewer people the deeper you go, but you will see people. Success rates are low. Weather can be anything from sun and 70 to snow. Its straight up and down and can be really cool or horribly miserable. I don't think its any better or worse than any other high hunt. If you go for a fun backpacking trip and bring a weapon just in case, then you'll have a good time. If you go with the intent of shooting a monster buck, you're probably going to have a bad time.

I love it, but I also love backpacking without guns too.
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: cvandervort on September 10, 2014, 02:09:16 PM: Search it/browse the backcountry hunting board...
A bunch of us have written about it
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 02:16:42 PM: I'm not too worried about the terrain were going up for a couple days hiking the first day as far as we can then setting up camp and hunting from there is it pritty thick timber or is it fairly open you say the sucess rating is not to good ? Why is that you think I have never done high buck in that area mostly go to Chelan for high buck but we plan on getting away from all the main traffic of people in the alpine's. But do to the fact we haven't hunted much up there it should be a nice challenge
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: jackelope on September 10, 2014, 02:33:02 PM: He says the success rates are not good because the success rates are not good. Not a lot of animals, not a lot of success. Probably be a great trip, but don't expect deer to be tied to every tree.
Terrain is all of the above. Open, thick, burns, steep, deep, etc.
Don't expect that by going to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness you're going to be getting away from all the people. That's probably not going to happen. There are outfitters, other hunters, hikers, etc. all of which will be in the ALW just like they are in Chelan Rec Area.
:twocents:
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on September 10, 2014, 02:42:56 PM: And it's no different in the Pasayten wilderness. I expect to see 40 trucks parked at the trailhead when I get there Saturday. But I won't see many of those folk. I will encounter horse camps and rider/hunters/guides. I will encounter granola hikers that look at me with my rifle funny as we pass. Do I see bucks every year I go. Yes. Has any one of them been worth shooting to pack out some 13 miles. Not yet. But it's a cool solo hunt for me. I get off grid. Off trail -away from the greenies. The wife worries while I'm gone. I push myself to -and sometimes beyond my limits. I ain't kilt myself yet. And if I see that big ole bear one more time, he's dead!

-Steve
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 02:49:19 PM: Well put Steve I like that ha ha so with the next question im not looking for anyones hunny holes but is there a place anyone would suggest to start if I plan to get as far away from as many people as possible for 4days I know I can't get away from everyone but the further out the better like I said I plan my first day and a half to walk out there before actually setting up tent
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: klikboom on September 10, 2014, 03:13:26 PM: Start on maps.google.com
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 03:17:06 PM: I got a couple maps thanks
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: muleracks on September 10, 2014, 05:08:57 PM: Yes, like a thousand of us but it is easier to find solitude in the ALW than it is in the Henry M Jackson or Glacier Peak Wilderness areas. Go in 20 miles in the Pasayten and you might find some solitude.
Note: the Entiat is closed again this year like it was in 2006 from the Tinpan Fire and the 2012 from the North Tommy and Pugh Ridge fires. This time it is Duncan Hill fire. Go to the Pasayten :) PLEASE

The north side of Icicle Ridge and Ingalls Creek are also closed from fires this summer so is some of the Henry M Jackson from the east side because of the Shoofly fire plus avalanches in Indian Creek, Snowall and Boulder Basin.
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: DeerHarvester on September 18, 2014, 09:36:08 PM: Quote from: luvmystang67 on September 10, 2014, 02:01:24 PM
Quote from: bigbuckdown on September 10, 2014, 01:21:31 PM
Anyone ever done the high buck hunt in alpine lakes area how did ya do? How was the terrain.

If you walk river bottoms the terrain is fine :chuckle:

But, that's not where most of the animals are.

Its like high buck anywhere, very few animals. There are fewer people the deeper you go, but you will see people. Success rates are low. Weather can be anything from sun and 70 to snow. Its straight up and down and can be really cool or horribly miserable. I don't think its any better or worse than any other high hunt. If you go for a fun backpacking trip and bring a weapon just in case, then you'll have a good time. If you go with the intent of shooting a monster buck, you're probably going to have a bad time.

I love it, but I also love backpacking without guns too.

Exactly my thoughts. I love and hate the high hunt. I just came out yesterday from a hard hunt. Seen a good buck that I didn't feel like packing out. He was the only deer I seen. On the way out I was hating life and telling myself never again!! My feet are feeling better and I'm already thinking about going back in later this week.
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: muleracks on September 21, 2014, 03:09:57 PM: The Glacier Peak and Henry M Jackson Wilderness are more popular in the Chelan County area but the Alpine Lakes offers some great hunting. Mike Schoby of Eastman's Hunting Adventures (magazine & TV show) were in the Alpine Lakes. Came out yesterday. Hope you enjoy the show. I attached a couple Aline Lakes 2014 High Hunt buck photos. (sorry about the quaily; cell phones)
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: Call em in on September 21, 2014, 03:31:34 PM: Mike Schoby is the editor of Petersen's not Eastman's
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: jackelope on September 21, 2014, 03:48:14 PM: Quote from: Call em in on September 21, 2014, 03:31:34 PM
Mike Schoby is the editor of Petersen's not Eastman's

:yeah:
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: muleracks on September 21, 2014, 05:50:38 PM: Yep, Peterson's. Sorry
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: Call em in on September 21, 2014, 06:05:36 PM: So did Schoby and his crew get some animals? Film you getting yours? Fill in some details man!
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: muleracks on September 22, 2014, 01:28:19 PM: Not sure how many details I should tell. There were four hunters. No tags filled. The two bucks I posted were from a camp 5 miles away. Stopped by the Peterson's Hunting Adventures camp with those two bucks on the way our.
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: 7mag. on September 22, 2014, 02:58:55 PM: Good looking bucks, muleracks. Congrats on a successful high hunt.
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: zatoan on September 22, 2014, 06:09:50 PM: Note: the Entiat is closed again this year like it was in 2006 from the Tinpan Fire and the 2012 from the North Tommy and Pugh Ridge fires. This time it is Duncan Hill fire. Go to the Pasayten :) PLEASE

Yes, like a thousand of us but it is easier to find solitude in the ALW than it is in the Henry M Jackson or Glacier Peak Wilderness areas. Go in 20 miles in the Pasayten and you might find some solitude.

The north side of Icicle Ridge and Ingalls Creek are also closed from fires this summer so is some of the Henry M Jackson from the east side because of the Shoofly fire plus avalanches in Indian Creek, Snowall and Boulder Basin.
Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: Loudscoutii on September 22, 2014, 08:22:17 PM: We came out of ALW on Friday. No deer, no people until the hike out. Cool to hear all the elk bugling until 10-11AM. Talked to a guy on the way out that had hunted Glacier peak wilderness with his two sons earlier in the week. This was our first high hunt, and we were more than happy to see few deer and just as many people. I know where to chase deer up there, but would prefer the solitude.

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Title: Re: high alpine buck hunt
Post by: Loudscoutii on September 22, 2014, 08:25:09 PM: Also, zatoan, it was and is only closed from falls creek east. The rest of ingalls is open. Despite some misinformation at some of the wilderness boundaries on the south side there. ;)

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