Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: coyote_out on December 11, 2016, 11:32:57 AM

Title: Mule deer float trip
Post by: coyote_out on December 11, 2016, 11:32:57 AM: I am thinking about researching a float trip for mule deer next year. Mostly just for the adventure, and to do something different from my current experiences. Would also be cool to get familiar with float hunting so I have some experience if I want to do something in AK later.
I was thinking Missouri breaks, anyone have any other ideas, or info on pressure going down the breaks? Also any other tips or adventure ideas would be great!
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: GBoyd on December 11, 2016, 06:03:30 PM: I'm also really interested in starting to do more float hunting. I like to be away from the road hunters, but carrying stuff is no fun, so it seems like a good option. Here in Oregon, the Deschutes and John Day are popular choices so I've been focusing my research there.

I don't have any specific info for you on the Missouri. If you're interested in gauging how much pressure the area will receive, try contacting a few of the shuttle services in the area you're interested in. They'll be able to tell you how many groups are hunting at different points in the season.
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: Sakko300wsm on December 11, 2016, 06:09:15 PM: I got a drift boat - lets go! :fishin: :brew:
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: coyote_out on December 11, 2016, 07:45:02 PM: Good idea GBoyd, I'll take a look at shuttle services etc. thanks!
I have never hunted Oregon, but their rifle season seems to fall right during antelope season most other places, is that close to true?

Sakko, I was probably goin to get a canoe for a trip if I go, but two groups of two would put a rig to shuttle back up river after the trip!
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: tonymoe on December 11, 2016, 09:11:06 PM: I love float hunts, I've done a few. Floating the breaks is awesome, but it does come with some obstacles. Pm me if you want some info on the missouri
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: Eric M on December 11, 2016, 09:22:25 PM: Some rivers are float by permit only in Oregon. I think the John Day is but I'm not 100 percent sure which ones.
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: JLS on December 11, 2016, 09:44:30 PM: coyote out,

Sent you a PM.
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: tonymoe on December 12, 2016, 05:21:33 AM: Quote from: Eric M on December 11, 2016, 09:22:25 PM
Some rivers are float by permit only in Oregon. I think the John Day is but I'm not 100 percent sure which ones.

Also, depending on the time of year, John day runs VERY low cfs
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: Tbob on December 12, 2016, 10:06:00 AM: I did a 3 week float on a secret river way out in the Brooks range of AK. Awesome hunt and experience, but that's the last one I'll do.. Just too much extra work when I'd rather be hunting. Like I said it was a really fun trip and great experience, but breaking down camp, packing it all in the boat (so it stays dry) packing up lots of moose and caribou meat (hundreds and hundreds of pounds) then float 7-10 miles, lots of which are actually pushing/pulling the boat over and around log jams or very shallow water, then to unpack everything, set up camp, re-hang the hundreds of pounds of meat. We would then hunt a few days in the new location, add some more meat to the pile and then repeat every 3 days or so for 3 weeks.. I'd be down to float to a secluded camp location and just set up a base camp and hunt from there, but the constant moving float camps are just a big time suck...
Good luck if you decide to go. My AK trip was the hardest trip of my life, but definitely one of the most memorable!
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: coyote_out on December 12, 2016, 07:36:32 PM: Three weeks in AK would be amazing! I feel like I need to get some more trips under my belt first tho! I would probably be going for 6-7 days on this trip. So I would probably be looking at 2-3 camp sites. Thanks for the feedback, would love to hear more about your trip!
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: GBoyd on December 12, 2016, 08:10:28 PM: Quote from: tonymoe on December 12, 2016, 05:21:33 AM
Quote from: Eric M on December 11, 2016, 09:22:25 PM
Some rivers are float by permit only in Oregon. I think the John Day is but I'm not 100 percent sure which ones.

Also, depending on the time of year, John day runs VERY low cfs

Yes, the John Day requires a permit. It's easy to get during hunting season. People mostly float the river during the spring.

The low flows though, that can be an issue. Not a big deal for me because I use a canoe, but I've heard people sometimes have to drag drift boats most of the way.
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: coyote_out on December 13, 2016, 08:54:42 PM: Ideas on canoe size for two people, and 7 nights worth of gear?
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: Reidus on December 13, 2016, 10:13:17 PM: Oregon rifle season is usually around first week of october. Another thing to consider on the john day is that you can only hunt 1 side of the river, east or west, depending on which tag you draw.

Going to need a pretty good size canoe. If you pack light like a backpacking trip, you'd pry get by with a smaller canoe.
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: GBoyd on December 17, 2016, 08:24:45 PM: Quote from: coyote_out on December 13, 2016, 08:54:42 PM
Ideas on canoe size for two people, and 7 nights worth of gear?

I'd highly recommend doing a couple weekends with different rental boats before buying anything or heading off for a full week. It's just like backpacking, there's a set of skills you need to develop before you know which equipment is best for your style.
And do you backpack? It will be more difficult to meet space and weight if all your camping gear is meant for car camping.
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: millerwheeler on December 18, 2016, 08:28:38 PM: Very interested in this too
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: jackelope on December 18, 2016, 08:40:07 PM: I've done a couple float trips fishing but never hunting. I did 48 miles on the Deschutes in Oregon and that was a trip of a lifetime. A hunting trip would be epic. I have a 16' Lavro driftboat.
Title: Re: Mule deer float trip
Post by: boneill on December 18, 2016, 09:10:19 PM: I've done many, many multi-day river trips in multiple countries. I've done them in hardshell kayaks, inflatable kayaks, and rafts. I am lucky enough to get to go on a 28 day Grand Canyon trip next month. I also used to guide in northern MN in the BWCA out of canoes...not saying this to brag, but just to give a bit of credibility.

In an ideal world, for a 7 day trip with 2 people, you would have 14-16' oar frame raft. If that's not realistic, I'd start looking toward inflatable kayaks. I own a few and I use them all the time for overnight fishing trips on the Deshutes, day trips on the Klickitat...I have used them for duck hunting a few times but never big game. I like IK's because they are very user friendly, you can get in and out quickly, they are very stable, and you can pile loads of gear in them.

I personally use IKs from a local company, Aquaglide. Check out their Blackfoot XL model. I also use their Klickitat 2 when there is whitewater involved, although I've taken the Blackfoot down some of the II-III on the Deschutes...wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

I'm also looking to do a float mule deer hunt in the next few years! I actually posted about it a month or so ago. I hope you can get everything sorted out!