Post by: GBoyd on August 11, 2015, 08:49:36 PM
I'm headed up to Washington to hunt with my brother. He's an experienced backpacker, but doesn't hunt. When looking at our schedules for this fall, the only weekend that really works is during the high buck, so we thought we'd try one of the wilderness areas on the OP. Three problems: we don't have a spot scouted, we only have three days, and he doesn't have much practice with a rifle, so realistically he's limited to about 100 yards. Obviously, our expectation is not to kill a buck. But we at least want to do the smartest thing given our limitations.
My plan was to stay away from the clear open alpine and look for deer near water, in trees and taller brush. I'm thinking we might have a chance of jumping a deer in there and getting a shot within his range. I'm thinking we may avoid other hunters by staying out of spots that can be easily glassed.
He has time for one scouting trip. Does it sound like a good plan to have him look for that kind of area?
Post by: Stein on August 11, 2015, 09:06:21 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 11, 2015, 09:36:08 PM
Post by: Branden on August 12, 2015, 12:58:17 PM
The furthest we have shot a deer on the high hunt with a rifle is about 60 yards. Is all you have to do is watch them bed, then stalk them from above. Its actually way easier then you would think. And I would not give up hunting the alpine areas because lack of range. If you can't find a buck then there is zero chance of shooting it. And it will be a lot easier to find one in the alpine then in the timber.
If you have a 3 day window I would do as much driving and hiking as you can in the dark. Also you don't need to get 10 miles in you, you need to get to a basin that is off trail. I would map scout the closest wilderness to you guys and look for a couple basins that are off trail. Once you find that look it over on Google earth and see what it looks like.
If you want more specifics on an area to go send a pm and I can point you to a couple basins like I'm talking about.
Branden
Post by: croix on August 12, 2015, 01:14:34 PM
-croix
Post by: JimmyHoffa on August 12, 2015, 01:24:43 PM
Post by: pd on August 12, 2015, 01:41:04 PM
The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor. I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east. :twocents:
Post by: CaNINE on August 12, 2015, 04:35:53 PM
I am with BobCat on this one. Honestly, I don't understand why the wilderness areas of the Olympic Peninsula are even included in a late September "high buck hunt." (Don't get me wrong--I welcome all hunting opportunities.) Firstly, late September here is the tail-end of summer, and the autumn rains have usually not started (there is rain, just not sustained like we will see in mid-October). Second, the highest elevation that you can find in any of the areas is around 4,000' and the majority of elevations are well below that. Thirdly, the only resident deer are blacktail, and they don't start to rut until very late October. Taken together, the peninsula wilderness areas are just a late summer hunt, not a truly "high buck" hunt like you would find at 7,000' in the Pasayten.
The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor. I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east. :twocents:
spot on
Post by: JimmyHoffa on August 12, 2015, 05:01:51 PM
I am with BobCat on this one. Honestly, I don't understand why the wilderness areas of the Olympic Peninsula are even included in a late September "high buck hunt." (Don't get me wrong--I welcome all hunting opportunities.) Firstly, late September here is the tail-end of summer, and the autumn rains have usually not started (there is rain, just not sustained like we will see in mid-October). Second, the highest elevation that you can find in any of the areas is around 4,000' and the majority of elevations are well below that. Thirdly, the only resident deer are blacktail, and they don't start to rut until very late October. Taken together, the peninsula wilderness areas are just a late summer hunt, not a truly "high buck" hunt like you would find at 7,000' in the Pasayten.I'll somewhat disagree. During high buck on the peninsula I see quite a bit of deer activity above 6,000 ft. They will go into places that make you think they are crazy--crossing a half mile of steep, open scree to get even higher.
The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor. I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east. :twocents:
To try and hunt those areas during regular season might be too tough and get some people in trouble. One year on the opener for general it was about 15F in the morning. Had to break ice on the creeks to refill water. The next week (third week Oct, it snowed down to 3,000 but everything above about 4,500 built up and was at about three feet. So, a good portion of the unit was somewhat inaccessible.
Post by: jeffitz on August 12, 2015, 05:24:43 PM
Post by: GBoyd on August 12, 2015, 07:59:31 PM
I'll talk to my brother about maybe considering some of the eastside wilderness areas. The OP was selected for convenience, but also for the heavier cover and few hunters. I don't have any alpine hunting experience, so I thought the OP would be more similar to the areas I know. Also, I've heard so many people here complain about the inexperienced hunters in the Alpine Lakes and Pasayten that I was nervous to join that crowd.
As for the dry summer, won't that be an advantage? My theory is that deer will stay near water if there are fewer reliable places for them to drink.
Post by: croix on August 13, 2015, 01:59:52 PM
As for the dry summer, won't that be an advantage? My theory is that deer will stay near water if there are fewer reliable places for them to drink.
It can be an advantage, especially if you can find a place with water and no people (I haven't). I only mentioned it for the awareness. Creeks on maps do not necessarily mean water will be there when you get there. So far this year I've seen that the creeks start MUCH lower than the maps indicate, and lower in the valley means more people (again... just what I've seen in the areas I've been). I'm not saying it can't be done, just food for thought.
-croix
Post by: MountainWalk on August 13, 2015, 02:07:47 PM
Post by: MountainWalk on August 13, 2015, 02:13:30 PM
Post by: sirmissalot on August 13, 2015, 02:21:22 PM
I am with BobCat on this one. Honestly, I don't understand why the wilderness areas of the Olympic Peninsula are even included in a late September "high buck hunt." (Don't get me wrong--I welcome all hunting opportunities.) Firstly, late September here is the tail-end of summer, and the autumn rains have usually not started (there is rain, just not sustained like we will see in mid-October). Second, the highest elevation that you can find in any of the areas is around 4,000' and the majority of elevations are well below that. Thirdly, the only resident deer are blacktail, and they don't start to rut until very late October. Taken together, the peninsula wilderness areas are just a late summer hunt, not a truly "high buck" hunt like you would find at 7,000' in the Pasayten.
The bucks will not be cruising in late September, so if you have not scouted, then your chances of finding a buck are poor. I would strongly recommend a wilderness unit in the high Cascades, west or east. :twocents:
I can't imagine most people would expect the bucks to be cruising mid september no matter where they hunt. They are definitely at that in between stage from summer habits to fall habits, but they can still be fairly easy to find up in those alpine areas, just not in high concentrations. I'm not sure where you've hunted but there are also many wilderness areas in the olympics which are open to the high buck hunt, that are well above 4,000ft. The tricky part is to find huntable ground, water, and access. Off trail travel in this country can be difficult and frustrating. Its well worth a try if you ask me, but a lot of people give up after the first night or two.
Post by: croix on August 13, 2015, 03:25:42 PM
If you want an uncrowded OP high hunt, with plenty o water, try Mildred lakes. Short hike, five miles, but as strenuous a trail as they make em. But once your in the basin, it's pretty easy. Bring a rod!
Spent a couple weekends there recently and there have been tons of people. Maybe the crowd thins in September??? That hike is no joke - especially the climb shortly after crossing huckleberry creek, but a really cool area. Last trip up we explored the huckleberry creek valley trying to avoid the crazy number of hikers, which is how we discovered the lack of water in the creek south of the main trail. Seems like a decent area for a high buck hunt though.
-croix
Post by: GBoyd on August 13, 2015, 05:17:41 PM
If you want an uncrowded OP high hunt, with plenty o water, try Mildred lakes. Short hike, five miles, but as strenuous a trail as they make em. But once your in the basin, it's pretty easy. Bring a rod!
Hey! That's one of the basins that I had on a short list just looking at Google Earth and topo maps. You don't see many people in there?
Post by: MountainWalk on August 13, 2015, 05:21:00 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on August 13, 2015, 05:23:35 PM
Post by: GBoyd on September 21, 2015, 09:52:42 PM
My brother never made it scouting because him and his wife went and adopted a baby about a month ago. So we sat down with GoogleEarth and picked a spot. We ended up high in the alpine on the OP and JimmyHoffa was spot on with his advice. There were tons of deer and a lot of them hanging out way out in the open on scree with no food or water. I guess they just wanted to hang out with the goats! We made three stalks and got shot opportunities on two bucks at 350 and 220 yards. If I had been holding the tag I would have shot, but my brother isn't good with a rifle and respected his limits. We lost them all trying to get in closer. Tag soup, but I felt luck to have so many opportunities on an unscouted hunt.
The hike out we were already planning for next year. And I'm reconsidering my season down here in Oregon to see if I can do some backcountry..
Thanks again for the advice, it helped a lot.
Post by: Watimberghost on September 24, 2015, 05:54:22 AM
Post by: TRD1911 on September 24, 2015, 08:09:00 PM
During hunting season, the two times I went, the place was deserted.
My wife and I did that hike a few years back when the road was still washed out. Within the past couple years they have fixed it and the hoards have returned. It used to be passable with a vehicle having decent cleaeance but still kept most people out of the area.