Post by: nwalpineguide on June 18, 2022, 02:21:19 AM
I was selected for that Chiwawa late permit after putting in for it, off and on, for the past 20 years. Now the "November Dreamin' takes on a whole new meaning! No re-inventing the wheel. I know Xactly where to go and when.
I'm thinking I'll hunt the entire season. All twenty days. Might poke around during the high hunt for a ridge runner but will hunt for bruin in October.
Damn glad I pulled those 4 camera units 3 weeks ago and reviewed the 1000+ video images from last fall/winter. Hopefully old man winter, the cats and other predators didn't get them all last year.
It just takes the ONE!
Post by: sagerat on June 18, 2022, 05:21:50 AM
Post by: grundy53 on June 18, 2022, 05:32:49 AM
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Post by: 7mmfan on June 18, 2022, 07:55:07 AM
Post by: The scout on June 18, 2022, 08:06:11 AM
Post by: Bowhunter3 on June 18, 2022, 08:21:43 AM
Post by: elkrack on June 18, 2022, 08:44:22 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on June 18, 2022, 09:49:06 AM
Post by: Ironhead on June 18, 2022, 10:09:05 AM
Post by: Igor on June 18, 2022, 10:17:00 AM
Good luck, and have fun with that late tag.
Post by: WildBear on June 18, 2022, 11:38:52 AM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on June 18, 2022, 12:31:13 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on June 20, 2022, 09:39:54 AM
Post by: phildobaggins on June 20, 2022, 09:57:55 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on June 20, 2022, 10:40:03 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on June 20, 2022, 11:16:30 AM
Post by: nwalpineguide on June 21, 2022, 12:34:46 AM
You're the one to draw that tag. Congratulations, can't wait to see how things unfold for you. Keep the forum in the loop! :tup: :tup:
Thank you, I shall. more to follow in the coming months.
Post by: nwalpineguide on June 21, 2022, 12:39:27 AM
Nobody deserves it more that you my friend. This is the one you've been waiting for!!
Thanks Tom. I'll give it the dedication and focus it deserves. Will keep you in the loop on prep and scouting. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to put some years of study and boots on the ground effort to use. Told the wife the other day I drew the permit. All I got was some guttural noise in response. How peculiar.
Then, when I told her I was gonna hunt the entire season she really... shall we put it, came unglued!
Said she was going to Mexico. I told her I would miss her! :chuckle:
Post by: jstone on June 21, 2022, 05:15:17 AM
Post by: sagerat on June 21, 2022, 05:45:16 AM
Where’s that monster from anyway?
Post by: scoutdog346 on June 21, 2022, 01:50:04 PM
FINALLY!
I was selected for that Chiwawa late permit after putting in for it, off and on, for the past 20 years. Now the "November Dreamin' takes on a whole new meaning! No re-inventing the wheel. I know Xactly where to go and when.
I'm thinking I'll hunt the entire season. All twenty days. Might poke around during the high hunt for a ridge runner but will hunt for bruin in October.
Damn glad I pulled those 4 camera units 3 weeks ago and reviewed the 1000+ video images from last fall/winter. Hopefully old man winter, the cats and other predators didn't get them all last year.
It just takes the ONE!
Post by: nwalpineguide on June 21, 2022, 06:41:39 PM
Maybe you can find one better than your avatar buck. :chuckle:
Where’s that monster from anyway?
GREAT question. Not really sure where that Avatar buck is from. Most likely Wyoming.
But, I'm not sure where exactly. The wife and I took our kids on vacation some 10 years or so ago and I walked into the dining room of a "dude ranch" horse riding place near Moran, Wyoming and my jaw hit the floor when I saw the bucks and bulls hanging on those dining room walls. So, I politely asked the proprietor if I could take a few photos. They kindly gave me permission.
Post by: nwalpineguide on June 21, 2022, 06:47:42 PM
Good job on getting that tag. I know u will get a nice one! I'm wondering if u have ever seen any wolf in that gmu?FINALLY!
I was selected for that Chiwawa late permit after putting in for it, off and on, for the past 20 years. Now the "November Dreamin' takes on a whole new meaning! No re-inventing the wheel. I know Xactly where to go and when.
I'm thinking I'll hunt the entire season. All twenty days. Might poke around during the high hunt for a ridge runner but will hunt for bruin in October.
Damn glad I pulled those 4 camera units 3 weeks ago and reviewed the 1000+ video images from last fall/winter. Hopefully old man winter, the cats and other predators didn't get them all last year.
It just takes the ONE!
I've never seen or heard a wolf or wolves in the Chiwawa unit. At least those areas of the unit I'm familiar with. It's a fairly large unit so...? I suspect it won't be long before they show up somewhere. But, there is no lack of cougar and bear. See those quite often in fact.
Post by: teanawayslayer on June 21, 2022, 06:49:51 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on June 21, 2022, 06:52:36 PM
they are there! Seen two several years ago in a spot that I know we both have hunted. Heard two howling while at alpine meadows last august. But not chiwawa technically the Clark.Good job on getting that tag. I know u will get a nice one! I'm wondering if u have ever seen any wolf in that gmu?FINALLY!
I was selected for that Chiwawa late permit after putting in for it, off and on, for the past 20 years. Now the "November Dreamin' takes on a whole new meaning! No re-inventing the wheel. I know Xactly where to go and when.
I'm thinking I'll hunt the entire season. All twenty days. Might poke around during the high hunt for a ridge runner but will hunt for bruin in October.
Damn glad I pulled those 4 camera units 3 weeks ago and reviewed the 1000+ video images from last fall/winter. Hopefully old man winter, the cats and other predators didn't get them all last year.
It just takes the ONE!
I've never seen or heard a wolf or wolves in the Chiwawa unit. At least those areas of the unit I'm familiar with. It's a fairly large unit so...? I suspect it won't be long before they show up somewhere. But, there is no lack of cougar and bear. See those quite often in fact.
Post by: MtnMuley on June 21, 2022, 08:51:40 PM
Good job on getting that tag. I know u will get a nice one! I'm wondering if u have ever seen any wolf in that gmu?FINALLY!
I was selected for that Chiwawa late permit after putting in for it, off and on, for the past 20 years. Now the "November Dreamin' takes on a whole new meaning! No re-inventing the wheel. I know Xactly where to go and when.
I'm thinking I'll hunt the entire season. All twenty days. Might poke around during the high hunt for a ridge runner but will hunt for bruin in October.
Damn glad I pulled those 4 camera units 3 weeks ago and reviewed the 1000+ video images from last fall/winter. Hopefully old man winter, the cats and other predators didn't get them all last year.
It just takes the ONE!
I've never seen or heard a wolf or wolves in the Chiwawa unit. At least those areas of the unit I'm familiar with. It's a fairly large unit so...? I suspect it won't be long before they show up somewhere. But, there is no lack of cougar and bear. See those quite often in fact.
I was deep in the Chiwawa late last December and came across a single set of wolf tracks. 100% wolf. Hadn't spent much time up there in recent years and I'm pretty sure those are the first I've seen if memory serves me right. There's definitely a group across the valley though. Cat tracks galore throughout that whole valley as well.
Hope you tag your nice trashy buck you got the vid of. That'd be pretty special. :tup:
Post by: OltHunter on June 22, 2022, 05:14:42 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on June 22, 2022, 05:37:09 AM
Post by: LDennis24 on June 22, 2022, 07:14:54 AM
Post by: phildobaggins on June 22, 2022, 08:15:13 AM
There is a confirmed new wolf pack at Shady Pass now, so yes they are around the area and most likely an unconfirmed pack or 2 as well outside of that.
Link about confirmed wolf pack?
Ah, sheet: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/gray-wolf/packs
Post by: Bigbuckoholic on June 25, 2022, 08:43:44 AM
Post by: Onewhohikes on July 12, 2022, 05:59:03 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on July 12, 2022, 06:48:45 AM
Post by: nwalpineguide on July 13, 2022, 12:15:27 AM
I am hoping to smoke that trashy buck
Well, the 2012 burn might now hold both the typical and trashy bucks my cams have captured over the years. Allot of that ground was scorched pretty good, but -now a decade later- is coming back strong with what amounts to a big buck "feed bag." I'll be up there. Yet again!
Post by: Ridgerunner on July 13, 2022, 05:30:07 AM
Post by: Onewhohikes on July 13, 2022, 05:44:38 AM
"There is more history and backstory to that valley than you’ll ever know". I have forgotten more about that area than you could hope to know!!
Post by: OPtrah on July 14, 2022, 09:16:03 AM
I have the whole season to hunt for my Chiwawa special permit!!! Still plan to go into the Napeequa to check things out on the high hunt. :IBCOOL:
You love to tell people you hunt there. Here you are with a great wa draw tag but still want to name drop that valley. It’s so funny what the internet has done. No more respect for places. I was raised my entire life to never say the name of that valley to anyone. you throw it around constantly like you’re the only guy who ever hiked in there and shot a deer. There is more history and backstory to that valley than you’ll ever know.
Post by: teanawayslayer on July 14, 2022, 10:03:47 AM
:yeah: damn shameI have the whole season to hunt for my Chiwawa special permit!!! Still plan to go into the Napeequa to check things out on the high hunt. :IBCOOL:
You love to tell people you hunt there. Here you are with a great wa draw tag but still want to name drop that valley. It’s so funny what the internet has done. No more respect for places. I was raised my entire life to never say the name of that valley to anyone. you throw it around constantly like you’re the only guy who ever hiked in there and shot a deer. There is more history and backstory to that valley than you’ll ever know.
Post by: NOCK NOCK on July 14, 2022, 07:25:16 PM
There is a confirmed new wolf pack at Shady Pass now, so yes they are around the area and most likely an unconfirmed pack or 2 as well outside of that.
HMMM. so when you go to the link and click on a pack (shady pass) it brings up other highlighted areas that are not listed on the main page map. whats that all about?
Modify message
Post by: crabbyguy24 on July 17, 2022, 10:26:49 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on July 17, 2022, 11:18:02 AM
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 17, 2022, 05:50:54 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on November 17, 2022, 05:56:16 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 17, 2022, 07:37:47 PM
Post by: millerwheeler on November 20, 2022, 07:09:12 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 20, 2022, 07:39:55 AM
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 22, 2022, 10:32:41 AM
I'm sure we will get an update when there is one, given today is the last day of season I'm thinking it will be coming soon.it’s the day after. Must not have gone as planned.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 22, 2022, 10:40:21 AM
I'm sure we will get an update when there is one, given today is the last day of season I'm thinking it will be coming soon.it’s the day after. Must not have gone as planned.
...or it's butcherin' day :tup:
Post by: Magnum_Willys on November 22, 2022, 11:08:43 AM
Post by: builtfordtough on November 22, 2022, 11:34:06 AM
Post by: nwalpineguide on November 25, 2022, 11:32:30 AM
I'm sure we will get an update when there is one, given today is the last day of season I'm thinking it will be coming soon.
Here is my tail tucked between my legs report:
Favorable hunting conditions happened for the first three or 4 days days of this hunt which I treated as scouting. Then, the weather went to hell with that early season snowstorm on the 4th or 5th of November. Just the way it was. It wasn't so much the snow that fell. More the ice that formed after 9 hours of rain fell after the snow event ended. Snow was only 11 inches or so in the valley floor. A tad deeper as elevation was gained.
The temperature drop after the rain ended pretty much ended my ability to reach the areas I'm intimately familiar with. I was able to drive to within within 1/2 mile or so of one of my cameras and hiked to it. I captured video of 2 decent bucks doing circuits of the area searching for does. This, at the site I killed my buck last year.
It was a weird late hunt. Going into it I had every expectation of killing an exceptional buck despite wolves, fire, smoke and unseasonably warm fall temps. Nobody (the locals) that I keep in touch with over there had done well during the October hunt. NOBODY! It would appear the same held true for this permit hunt. But I don't really know as I only talked with and ran into one other permit holder.
Regarding the weather transition; Autumn lasted two weeks in the Chiwawa valley and old man winter arrived the morning of November 4th with 11 inches of snow on the ground at my place. Prior to the snow falling all the roads I utilize to access my tree stands (5) and ground blinds (2) were just fine. On the 5th of November they quickly deteriorated when it rained for 9 hours between the 5th and 6th. Then, the "elk hunters" pounded the roads down to compact snow and ice. This as the temps dropped and all that rained on snow froze! When I left our Chiwawa home last Saturday morning it was 11F and I had nearly run my '22 Toyota Tacoma off the roads multiple times. I had help, lots of it from friends with better vehicles than mine but no matter the assistance, the roads were treacherous and NEVER improved!
Over 18 days of hunting ( I took a couple of days off due to a damn virus I caught Halloween day) I saw 3 legal bucks I could have killed; two small fork horns and one small 3 point. All were stupid love-sick and I could have hit them over the head with a ball-peen hammer. I NEVER saw a good mature buck other than on one of my videos. The type I would have preferred to kill. Just plain didn't. So it goes. No excuses. That's peculiar given the weather, time of year (rut) and knowledge of bucks in that region.
A good friend of mine gave me a ride on his snowmobile up to Maverick Saddle one day. This, about the 15th or so. There was no other way to get there. Period. The truck my buddy has is a RAM1500 with very good tires on it. That vehicle only got us to the site called "Deer Camp" on the maps. From "Deer Camp" we took the sled up to Maverick Saddle. BOY-HOWDY had the mass migration occurred up there. I have never seen such a mass exodus, as revealed in the snow, of so many deer. Sure, I knew that area was a pinch point for migrating deer but to actually see the deer trails in the snow was humbling. Unfortunately I think I missed the pass through of animals that had occurred a few days earlier. Most passing on to Sugarloaf and Chumstick mountains as well elsewhere (during the nights?). I saw not a single solitary deer the remainder of the day, which I hunted on two legs back down to "Deer Camp." Odd. Very odd.
I learned allot that day and will keep it in in my wheelhouse of knowledge for the future. The most salient feature being that when those deer move, they MOVE. It doesn't take much snow to get 'em clearing outta there; so TIMING is everything. Period.
Post by: boneaddict on November 25, 2022, 11:52:09 AM
Post by: nwalpineguide on November 25, 2022, 11:59:04 AM
Thank you for following up. I’m sorry it probably didn’t pan out how you envisioned it.
You are most welcome boneaddict. Thank you.
Attached is a couple of high country images captured from the Entiat Divide.
The JOY in this trip was what I learned.
Post by: 7mmfan on November 25, 2022, 12:21:04 PM
Post by: LDennis24 on November 25, 2022, 01:01:35 PM
My brother had the tag this yr. I was in idaho elk hunting when the storm hit wa state. I wasn't able to go up and help him until last Thursday. Thousands of tracks in the snow headed down and out into the Entiat I thought. Roads were so bad we had to do alot of hiking. I wasn't taking my diesel even with chains on most of those roads. Didn't see as much deer cuz we couldn't cover as much ground as the sxs's, quads and other drivers better than me. We made it happen on the 19th but never did see the BIG ones we were after.
Success pics of your brothers buck? :dunno:
Post by: builtfordtough on November 25, 2022, 02:22:46 PM
Post by: Falcon on November 25, 2022, 03:13:10 PM
Holy smokes. You did that tag justice. Sometimes mother nature pulls a card that you can't beat, no matter how hard you try. If you long hunt long enough, we all run into that from time to time.
The pics reveal some of the most beautiful country i have ever seen.
Love your good attitude.
All the best during the holiday season :tup:
Bryan
Post by: Igor on November 26, 2022, 11:05:40 AM
A good friend of mine gave me a ride on his snowmobile up to Maverick Saddle one day. This, about the 15th or so. There was no other way to get there. Period. The truck my buddy has is a RAM1500 with very good tires on it. That vehicle only got us to the site called "Deer Camp" on the maps. From "Deer Camp" we took the sled up to Maverick Saddle. BOY-HOWDY had the mass migration occurred up there. I have never seen such a mass exodus, as revealed in the snow, of so many deer. Sure, I knew that area was a pinch point for migrating deer but to actually see the deer trails in the snow was humbling. Unfortunately I think I missed the pass through of animals that had occurred a few days earlier. Most passing on to Sugarloaf and Chumstick mountains as well elsewhere (during the nights?). I saw not a single solitary deer the remainder of the day, which I hunted on two legs back down to "Deer Camp." Odd. Very odd.
I learned allot that day and will keep it in in my wheelhouse of knowledge for the future. The most salient feature being that when those deer move, they MOVE. It doesn't take much snow to get 'em clearing outta there; so TIMING is everything. Period.
We used to hunt the Chiwawa unit years ago, between Maverick Saddle and Sugarloaf. When the general season used to run into November, we experienced the migration quite a few times. And you are right, when the deer go through there on their way down to Entiat, it is a sight to see. And it does seem to be over in just a matter of a few days.
When it gets snowy and icy, the drive from the Saddle down to Deer Camp is a white-knuckler, for sure. One year I shot a very nice 5x5 right at the Saddle, and I was pretty sure that we were going to spend the entire winter right there.......snowed in.
Glad you survived all of the rain and snow and ice, and made it home safely.
Post by: nwalpineguide on November 26, 2022, 11:41:32 AM
A good friend of mine gave me a ride on his snowmobile up to Maverick Saddle one day. This, about the 15th or so. There was no other way to get there. Period. The truck my buddy has is a RAM1500 with very good tires on it. That vehicle only got us to the site called "Deer Camp" on the maps. From "Deer Camp" we took the sled up to Maverick Saddle. BOY-HOWDY had the mass migration occurred up there. I have never seen such a mass exodus, as revealed in the snow, of so many deer. Sure, I knew that area was a pinch point for migrating deer but to actually see the deer trails in the snow was humbling. Unfortunately I think I missed the pass through of animals that had occurred a few days earlier. Most passing on to Sugarloaf and Chumstick mountains as well elsewhere (during the nights?). I saw not a single solitary deer the remainder of the day, which I hunted on two legs back down to "Deer Camp." Odd. Very odd.
I learned allot that day and will keep it in in my wheelhouse of knowledge for the future. The most salient feature being that when those deer move, they MOVE. It doesn't take much snow to get 'em clearing outta there; so TIMING is everything. Period.
We used to hunt the Chiwawa unit years ago, between Maverick Saddle and Sugarloaf. When the general season used to run into November, we experienced the migration quite a few times. And you are right, when the deer go through there on their way down to Entiat, it is a sight to see. And it does seem to be over in just a matter of a few days.
When it gets snowy and icy, the drive from the Saddle down to Deer Camp is a white-knuckler, for sure. One year I shot a very nice 5x5 right at the Saddle, and I was pretty sure that we were going to spend the entire winter right there.......snowed in.
Glad you survived all of the rain and snow and ice, and made it home safely.
Thanks for the support Falcon and Igor.
White Knuckle driving is an understatement. Sure, I could have chained up every morning and taken them off early afternoon, then put them back on again each late afternoon, then taken them off again each evening... ad infinitum. I realize now that studded snow tires, tires with the snow peak emblem are in my future.
Attached is a couple of images: one from the "Maverick Saddle" area I captured early in the morning looking over sea of clouds (fog really) up the Chiwawa towards Glacier Peak and Clark Mountain. And another of the closure sign at Tall Timbers ranch on the White River.
Unfortunately the White River closure made it impossible to visit and hunt a LARGE swath of country that I had experienced earlier in August (the Clark Mountain high route; Boulder to Thunder Creek and out the now non existent White River trail). At age 60 this trip about killed me! But it didn't. One knee isn't quite the same anymore. So the price of admission was worth it!
Moreover, the Chikamin Creek closure (Minnow Ridge fire) was also in effect. As well; the Little Wenatchee drainage. Looking at the positive side, this bodes well in future for those magnificent bucks living back in those places that were not harassed by hunters. All those animals have to worry about now are old man winter, a couple of wolves and cougar.
Gross non sequitur Igor: 366 SPS (LE) Mountain Home AFB, Idaho 1982-1985 with two tours to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (AWACS Support).
Post by: Igor on November 26, 2022, 11:58:16 AM
Gross non sequitur Igor: 366 SPS (LE) Mountain Home AFB, Idaho 1982-1985 with two tours to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (AWACS Support).
(https://i.imgur.com/W0K01tPl.gif)
Post by: WildBear on November 26, 2022, 02:42:16 PM
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 26, 2022, 04:21:44 PM
Post by: nwalpineguide on November 26, 2022, 04:36:32 PM
Rookie question. But I used to hunt the area frequently. Isn’t Clark mountain unit 244? Basically off the end of white River rd. That all included in the quality hunt tag?
Excellent question and observation. Not a rookie question at all in my opinion.
No. To the best of my knowledge that is not included in the Chiwawa quality hunt tag. Specifically the wilderness sections, those are unit 244. However, migrating deer coming out of the wilderness in this area pass through the Chiwawa unit. At least that is my observation. Wenatchee Ridge is a good example. As is the White River valley floor before the wilderness is entered.
Post by: WildBear on November 26, 2022, 07:24:10 PM