Post by: jackelope on October 24, 2010, 10:34:35 PM
What is it?
Why is it so popular?
How many people hunt there usually?
Is it worth the crowds and traffic?
Is it possible to get away from roads? A mile? a few hundred yards?
Wow I just don't get the attraction.
Forgive me for sounding like an idiot.
Post by: Todd_ID on October 24, 2010, 10:53:52 PM
Post by: GooNiEs on October 24, 2010, 11:51:59 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 25, 2010, 08:14:30 AM
I don't want to go there so don't worry about giving away secrets.
What is it?
Why is it so popular?
How many people hunt there usually?
Is it worth the crowds and traffic?
Is it possible to get away from roads? A mile? a few hundred yards?
Wow I just don't get the attraction.
Forgive me for sounding like an idiot.
"It" is Weyerhaeuser's Vail Tree Farm.
It is popular because there are lots of roads to drive and lots of clearcuts, and it used to have more deer than just about anywhere in western Wa. Maybe it still does, I don't know.
How many people hunt there? Too many! It is not worth it to me. I don't live that far away and I won't hunt there.
Here is some info:
http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/pdfs/businesses/recreationalaccess/Vail%20-%20Weyerhaeuser%20Recreational%20Access%20Guidelines.pdf (http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/pdfs/businesses/recreationalaccess/Vail%20-%20Weyerhaeuser%20Recreational%20Access%20Guidelines.pdf)
Post by: Sneaky on October 25, 2010, 08:21:34 AM
Post by: Mike450r on October 25, 2010, 08:28:41 AM
I have hunted it for over 30 years as it is only a 20 minute drive and it used to be pretty much like any other privately owned forest land, hunted by locals. Everybody in western Washington lives within reasonable driving distance of a good blacktail hunting area but since they are a hard deer to hunt they want an easier option and think Vail is it.
Well it isn't any easier it just has a large area of good blacktail habitat that used to mean 10+ years ago you really could just drive around and expect to see a spike or forkie around every fewother corner. Not anymore as it has been way over hunted and lots of cats. My advice is go ahead and hunt it if it is close to you but if you have to drive past a viable hunting area to get there you are wasting time and fuel.
Post by: BlackRidge on October 25, 2010, 10:22:39 AM
It was THE local place years ago, but nowadays is just loaded with road hunters and has few deer left. Who knows, maybe the deer are just used to the constant pressure and have gone nocturnal or moved out of the more easily accessible areas, but its nowhere near what it used to be.
Heard it got hit HARD this year too, more so than the usuals Ive spoken to expected
Post by: Hunterman on October 25, 2010, 11:22:07 AM
Hunterman(Tony)
Post by: donimator on October 25, 2010, 07:57:24 PM
Post by: Ihuntelk2 on October 25, 2010, 07:58:35 PM
Post by: Axle on October 25, 2010, 08:03:08 PM
Quote
hard to find animals when nimrods are shooting their rifles maybe due to boredom ...?
The Freemasons trace their societal roots all the way back to Nimrod.
Post by: deerslyr on October 25, 2010, 08:04:11 PM
When i used to rifle hunt thats the only place id go because it was so close and I never had a problem gettin way back in there where there were only a few hunters and tons of deer. I have several spots like this up there. Most people seem to drive around or sit at the top of the clear cuts where you cant even see the bottom, I never saw many people once i was in the woods.
Post by: ser300wsm on October 25, 2010, 08:05:04 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 25, 2010, 08:05:18 PM
Post by: Armadillo on October 25, 2010, 08:05:34 PM
Post by: Antlershed on October 25, 2010, 08:30:05 PM
Post by: Ihuntelk2 on October 25, 2010, 08:50:39 PM
Post by: gasman on October 25, 2010, 09:10:14 PM
Lots of deer, and lots of people. If you a meat hunter, then its the place to hunt ;)
I don't hunt it much any more, have not been there in 3 or more years but Grumpymerien took a nice buck the first time i took him out there. They keep closing areas and condensing the hunters in to smaller and smaller hunting areas. I sure do miss the days you could camp out there, thats for sure.
Post by: Antlershed on October 25, 2010, 09:31:10 PM
Its a circus thats for sure, but if you learna rareas over teh years ypu can go amd hunt be succesfull. I have a few aras that I know of that produce bucks regularly for those of thus that get out and hunt it. Huntlakewood and family have taken some decent bucks amd does from teh area over theyears but last time any of was up there they cosed off teh area and you can't get to with in 5 miles of teh area :bash:5 miles isn't all that far to hike..... :twocents:
Post by: GooNiEs on October 25, 2010, 09:41:56 PM
Post by: 1buckdown on October 25, 2010, 11:28:53 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 25, 2010, 11:30:28 PM
Post by: Antlershed on October 26, 2010, 05:25:31 AM
yea good luck finding a map of that place... i was told sunbirds had it ...also online... but i dont plan on going back ... to the circus... :boxin:They were selling maps up there on opening morning.
Post by: toothfangclaw on October 26, 2010, 10:29:43 AM
yea good luck finding a map of that place... i was told sunbirds had it ...also online... but i dont plan on going back ... to the circus... :boxin:They were selling maps up there on opening morning.
Complaint fail! :P jus playin Sun birds, ace hardware just south of Vail loop road,also rainer's local hardware store gets them typically. And there is a map store close by that could have it.
Post by: bankwalker on October 26, 2010, 10:54:50 AM
the deer harvest is way down in vail though, 20+/- a day is horrible. even 5 years ago use to bring 60/100 a day
Post by: toothfangclaw on October 26, 2010, 10:59:23 AM
Post by: PolarBear on October 26, 2010, 11:02:38 AM
Post by: Jellymon on October 26, 2010, 11:09:29 AM