Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: sturgeon seeker on March 19, 2009, 04:50:32 PM

Title: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: sturgeon seeker on March 19, 2009, 04:50:32 PM: anyone ever hunt it and if so how did you do let's see some pics
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: gasman on March 19, 2009, 05:33:16 PM: The Vail tree farm is one big cluster F#$%#K. In and outsevery day along with 2000-4000 other hunters. :hunt2:

If you like to dodge bullets, feel free to hunt.
:mgun:

If you want a good hunting experiance, find a closed gate and walk behind it to get away from the crowds, but most deer that come out of the area are small spikes and 2 points (if your lucky).

I stopped hunting there about 5 years ago and only go back when i have exhausted all other options.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: heavy hauler on March 19, 2009, 05:34:24 PM: ya but other than that its a great spot... :P
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: jason4429 on March 19, 2009, 05:37:05 PM: I live right next to it .the drive in area is open on the weekends during the general rifle season.the walk in areas arent bad . i have shot a few bucks .no monsters .it gets lots of pressure
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: PolarBear on March 19, 2009, 07:08:19 PM: I live next to it as well and will not hunt in there. The Weyerhaeuser employees get most of the bigger bucks during the week or archery season when it is shut down to us. To me it isn't worth the hassle of all the road and doe hunters just for some (mostly) dink bucks.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: sturgeon seeker on March 19, 2009, 07:40:09 PM: i quit hunting that zoo myself a few years ago. just wanted to know if anyone is killing anything out there besides spikes or doe's
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: littlebuf on March 19, 2009, 09:13:00 PM: ive got a buddy that loves it in there. he also states that if he has to get more than a couple steps from the truck he's gunna do it, take that for what its worth. needless to say ive never hunted with him and never will
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: Fish4Fun on March 20, 2009, 09:34:10 AM: There are plenty of bucks and lots of places to get away from hunters in Vail. Shot a few spikes in there but most have been 2 and 3 points. Hope the pictures work, here is my 2007 3 X 2 and 2008 2 X 1 both are opening day deer. 2007 15 minutes after daylight. 2008 3:00pm opening evening.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi579.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss231%2Ffish4fn%2FJims2007.jpg&hash=b492122357fbc9d185c0d94e9b299965df4d2715)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi579.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss231%2Ffish4fn%2FJims2008.jpg&hash=84eea04b527ae0bf68d617b891395f41e2ff3336)
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: sturgeon seeker on March 20, 2009, 09:35:41 AM: congrats on the bucks. nice to see there are still some in there :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: Alan K on March 20, 2009, 01:10:25 PM: It's a tough place to hunt for road hunters. If you get out of the truck you'll do well.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: bankwalker on March 20, 2009, 01:15:36 PM: Quote from: Fish4Fun on March 20, 2009, 09:34:10 AM
There are plenty of bucks and lots of places to get away from hunters in Vail. Shot a few spikes in there but most have been 2 and 3 points. Hope the pictures work, here is my 2007 3 X 2 and 2008 2 X 1 both are opening day deer. 2007 15 minutes after daylight. 2008 3:00pm opening evening.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi579.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss231%2Ffish4fn%2FJims2007.jpg&hash=b492122357fbc9d185c0d94e9b299965df4d2715)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi579.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss231%2Ffish4fn%2FJims2008.jpg&hash=84eea04b527ae0bf68d617b891395f41e2ff3336)

i shot my 2pt this year right down the hill from you in the second pic.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: bankwalker on March 20, 2009, 01:17:37 PM: i personaly really enjoy hunting the vail farm. ive gotten to know quite a few people in there. and have drug alot of deer out for disabled hunters, and just other hunters in general.

the people dont bother me to much anymore. cause i know if im patient then i will see bucks on a daily basis.

the trick is either get away from the people and hunt the trees. OR sit and watch the thick crap. there is so many people in that farm hunting everyday that they will eventually push deer to you.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: Fish4Fun on March 20, 2009, 01:25:11 PM: Bankwalker, we have probably met then. I have a older full size black GMC 4 X 4 with FISH4FN on the plates. Oh, the second pic...... well lets just say that is where the pic was taken. That isn't where the deer was shot. :IBCOOL: I never post a pic with that much background of where a kill is made.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: bankwalker on March 20, 2009, 01:43:47 PM: Quote from: Fish4Fun on March 20, 2009, 01:25:11 PM
Bankwalker, we have probably met then. I have a older full size black GMC 4 X 4 with FISH4FN on the plates. Oh, the second pic...... well lets just say that is where the pic was taken. That isn't where the deer was shot. :IBCOOL: I never post a pic with that much background of where a kill is made.

lol i take it then it was close-ish lol

last season i was driving around in a red bravada with a dented up drivers front fender and door...no spare tire.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: rosscrazyelk on March 20, 2009, 01:47:30 PM: I got a picture somewhere I will dig it up. I will nver hunt there again thou.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: Fish4Fun on March 20, 2009, 02:09:54 PM: Can't say I remember your rig, there was a red Ford Ranger down the mountain from us that killed a huge buck. We actually drove right by that big buck at daylight when it was bedded down. :bash: We had a hunch where some deer were, and were trying to get there before anyone else did. Oh well, we saw 16 head of deer 2 were bucks and I got the one in the picture. Not a bad day for The Vail Deer Farm I would say. :chuckle:
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: bankwalker on March 20, 2009, 02:37:14 PM: lol. i think i know the truck ur talking about.

there was a guy who shot a decent 3x3, but told us that his 9yr old son shot it.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: Old Mule on March 20, 2009, 03:51:15 PM: If you have Kids that can put in for the youth Hunt do It, 60 Kids go in a week early and they can shoot any deer, Id have them hold out for a buck for the first weekend, because they can always shoot a Doe during the General Season, We have had very good luck in the walk in area, but they logged a lot of it and with the new openings the hunters showed up in massive Herds. Were off to new adventures! :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: bankwalker on March 20, 2009, 05:04:22 PM: Quote from: Old Mule on March 20, 2009, 03:51:15 PM
If you have Kids that can put in for the youth Hunt do It, 60 Kids go in a week early and they can shoot any deer, Id have them hold out for a buck for the first weekend, because they can always shoot a Doe during the General Season, We have had very good luck in the walk in area, but they logged a lot of it and with the new openings the hunters showed up in massive Herds. Were off to new adventures! :IBCOOL:

ive been in there early and i was amazed at the amount of deer i seen. its a huge difference on some areas compared to the general season.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: PolarBear on March 20, 2009, 05:46:32 PM: A friend of mine who works up there told me the other day that Weyerhaeuser is going to shut the whole unit down to logging for possibly up to 10 years due to the drop in timber demand. He also said that they are talking about closing it to hunting altogether or by very limited access due to vandalism and not wanting to pay for security anymore.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: Fish4Fun on March 20, 2009, 06:49:37 PM: Wait till they go to the pay system like the Hancock Property. Actually for Vail that might not be a bad deal to drop the hunter numbers. That will bring back the bigger deer there too.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: catwithboost on March 20, 2009, 06:51:39 PM: Quote from: PolarBear on March 20, 2009, 05:46:32 PM
A friend of mine who works up there told me the other day that Weyerhaeuser is going to shut the whole unit down to logging for possibly up to 10 years due to the drop in timber demand. He also said that they are talking about closing it to hunting altogether or by very limited access due to vandalism and not wanting to pay for security anymore.
I was told the same thing by a friend that works up there.
Title: Re: vail tree farm in mckenna
Post by: bankwalker on March 20, 2009, 08:17:57 PM: Quote from: catwithboost on March 20, 2009, 06:51:39 PM
Quote from: PolarBear on March 20, 2009, 05:46:32 PM
A friend of mine who works up there told me the other day that Weyerhaeuser is going to shut the whole unit down to logging for possibly up to 10 years due to the drop in timber demand. He also said that they are talking about closing it to hunting altogether or by very limited access due to vandalism and not wanting to pay for security anymore.
I was told the same thing by a friend that works up there.

yea they had that stop sign at the check station this year. it was shot up really good...looked like either handgun or 30cal rifle.