Post by: bigmike86 on September 05, 2016, 11:02:22 AM
Next day I hiked down and hit thompson ridge area SW from Winthrop. Found some nice glassing spots at sun up but didn't see a thing. Only saw one doe and fawn once I got back down to the road. I am taking the last week of September off to hunt and have to make a decision on where to go. I can't really see myself finding and killing a legal buck in this area. Its a little thicker than I planned, and even if I glass a buck on the opposite ridge, will he realistically sit there all day while I walk my behind down the one I'm on and up the next one? Looks like people mostly still hunt this area, or just drive around and glass from the truck. Heard stories of opening day kills, so jealous...
Up for debate. Should I focus my week long efforts on the area I have already scouted eventhough I am unsure of how to succeed and possibly settle for a Muley doe? Or should I hit something more flat like Entiat, cover a ton of ground by walking and glassing everyday, even though I wont be able to scout it previously?
Again, not looking for a monster here since this style of hunting is new to me. Will pretty much shoot any legal buck and work on a bigger one next year after I find some success.
Thanks for the input.
Post by: Dan-o on September 05, 2016, 11:22:23 AM
Good luck. Success will be sweet when it comes.
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 05, 2016, 11:23:32 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on September 05, 2016, 11:32:42 AM
You saw two shooter bucks...what's wrong with the area? Make two trips out one with camp and one with a boned out buck :tup::yeah:You already succeeded in the hardest part, you found some bucks. I'd go back to that same area.
Post by: 270Shooter on September 05, 2016, 12:55:24 PM
Post by: bigmike86 on September 05, 2016, 01:12:53 PM
Post by: JLS on September 05, 2016, 01:20:56 PM
If you can't do two trips in a day, pack out meat on one day, go back in and sleep then bring camp out the next day. Or, get a bigger pack. :). Camp and a full deer isn't fun but it's certainly doable.
If you have decent gear, late September camping should be fine. Take the appropriate survival gear and go hunt.
Post by: huntnphool on September 05, 2016, 01:24:02 PM
I was very excited to see those bucks. Problem is camping back there in late september, and I'm not sure I could make that hike twice in one day. It was pretty miserable and I'm not sure I'm versed enough in mountain camping to be back there myself yet.
Welcome to muley country! ;)
Post by: bigmike86 on September 05, 2016, 01:27:21 PM
I was very excited to see those bucks. Problem is camping back there in late september, and I'm not sure I could make that hike twice in one day. It was pretty miserable and I'm not sure I'm versed enough in mountain camping to be back there myself yet.
Welcome to muley country! ;)
I was worried that would be the response i'd get! :dunno:
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 05, 2016, 01:52:17 PM
Post by: boneaddict on September 05, 2016, 02:08:05 PM
My father used to describe some of my best hunting spots as...."better take a salt and pepper shaker with you". Because you are going to have to eat them right there.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 05, 2016, 02:24:52 PM
I'm happy you saw deer. They are very thin this year. It's a tough haul. Sometimes it's worth it. Other times it might come to mind, what in the hell was I thinking. Then you get back to town and there is a buck standing in the field. Lol.
My father used to describe some of my best hunting spots as...."better take a salt and pepper shaker with you". Because you are going to have to eat them right there.
:yeah: :cue:
Post by: 2labs on September 05, 2016, 02:42:26 PM
Post by: cougforester on September 05, 2016, 03:06:35 PM
I've never heard anybody call the entiat flat before
Same thing that I was thinking.
Post by: Birdguy on September 05, 2016, 04:32:42 PM
Post by: csaaphill on September 05, 2016, 05:14:51 PM
Post by: pd on September 05, 2016, 09:55:58 PM
First, there isn't anytime left this season for new scouting. Go with what you know. Next time you might see two, twenty or zero bucks. It is hard to know, but at least you know this area.
Second, you had a full pack for a single night stay? Hmmm. I am willing to guess you could lose quite a bit of that, and still be able to spend the week in the woods. During the winter do your research on backcountry hunting. Next year you will be a much more mobile hunter.
It sounds to me like your clothing system and camp/pack need some serious attention. Nobody can Monday a.m. quarterback this for you. Best of luck---you are on the right track.
Post by: Gringo31 on September 06, 2016, 06:19:57 AM
Priorities change over the years and sometimes from year to year. BUT! It seems you might be a little too focused on the harvest vs the hunt..... :twocents: :tup:
Post by: bigmike86 on September 06, 2016, 09:05:09 AM
I think I'll sack up this year and give it a real shot. Hell, I ain't getting any younger so I might as well do it while I can.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 06, 2016, 09:22:46 AM
Thanks for the motivation and confidence booster guys! Here's the real story of what happened. I convinced my wife to go with me and since she's a normal civilian female (not used to carrying packs on her back) I carried most of the weight. We planned on 3 days so we had a lot of gear, and half of my gear is heavy army crap since I've already spent a crazy amount of money on goods for western type hunting (binos, tripod, more guns that I couldn't resist, etc). Plus half of it was the wrong gear since we really didn't know what to expect. When I go back I think I can make the pack a reasonable weight, provided some September rains refresh the dried out creeks so I can pump water. Also have been thinking through the 2 day hike out scenario, and it makes it feel manageable. Hike out deer on first day, sleep in tent at truck, then hike out camp the next.I can't add much for this season, I think you have the right plan. I strongly recommend David Long's blog posts http://www.altitudeoutdoors.com/author/david-long/ and his book Public Land Muleys:The Bottom line for offseason reading.
I think I'll sack up this year and give it a real shot. Hell, I ain't getting any younger so I might as well do it while I can.
Post by: jaredwitman on September 06, 2016, 12:37:44 PM
So in that sense it excites me to know you have experienced something that has potential to really change things in a BIG way like it did with me and make you a greater hunter. Stay after those two, maybe change up your preperation in gear, learn what the deer do in that area, work hard and embrace the challenge, and each time out of the woods take something away from the hunt and not just the harvest. Sooner or later the preparation will meet another opportunity! Congrats on the find! keep it up
Post by: Rainier10 on September 06, 2016, 12:44:38 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on September 06, 2016, 12:59:45 PM
I'm happy you saw deer. They are very thin this year. It's a tough haul. Sometimes it's worth it. Other times it might come to mind, what in the hell was I thinking. Then you get back to town and there is a buck standing in the field. Lol.i love your fathers saying! I know I've been there and thinking to myself am I crazy. Answer, yep!
My father used to describe some of my best hunting spots as...."better take a salt and pepper shaker with you". Because you are going to have to eat them right there.
Post by: Sakko300wsm on September 06, 2016, 01:06:25 PM
Post by: Bearhunter on September 06, 2016, 01:06:48 PM
Post by: JDhunting_Aus on September 06, 2016, 02:14:45 PM
Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk
Post by: JLS on September 06, 2016, 02:25:04 PM
I think I'll sack up this year and give it a real shot. Hell, I ain't getting any younger so I might as well do it while I can.
Gotta love this attitude! Good luck.
Post by: Miles on September 06, 2016, 04:04:23 PM
Post by: bigmike86 on September 06, 2016, 04:50:57 PM
Keep at it in the backcountry, and NEVER share details or locations once you find a good spot. You'll do alright.
Hahaha that was only because I was convinced I wasn't going back!! Chalk it up to lessons learned.
Its a few weeks away but I'll make sure to keep everyone posted on my experience. Good luck everyone!
Post by: HookedOnQuack on September 06, 2016, 06:08:29 PM
Post by: Lincoln4 on September 08, 2016, 06:56:25 AM
Hell, I ain't getting any younger so I might as well do it while I can.
Yes to that. As you get older, even if you've been lucky injury-wise and health-wise, conditions have a way of appearing that slow you down... Trust me...
Post by: theleo on September 08, 2016, 07:37:32 AM