Post by: Seabeckian on June 16, 2011, 07:34:57 AM
So while I'm not very concerned in finding an area to get in, my question is as follows; Given the drastic elevations deviations within the unit, is there a lot of deer migration come November 1st? I worry that between my preseason scouting and game time, the possible snow level may shoot down all my hard efforts to get on deer. Or if any of you have any other info, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks in advance! -Scott
Post by: CP on June 16, 2011, 07:41:42 AM
Post by: MtnMuley on June 16, 2011, 07:59:20 AM
Post by: Seabeckian on June 16, 2011, 08:35:47 AM
Post by: saylean on June 16, 2011, 09:01:32 AM
Good luck!
Post by: Seabeckian on June 16, 2011, 12:24:51 PM
Just head into the sinlahekin, get out and hike about some good looking areas....the edges of the valley are pretty dam steep in most spots, as you will see. It should be a blast to hunt. I love that area. Most people I've seen during general season are road hunting....but that could have been just my experience and not par for the coarse.
Good luck!
Given your past experience, would you suggest coming in on the 97 side and getting in deep? Thanks for the input!
Post by: highcountry on June 16, 2011, 01:34:03 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on June 16, 2011, 04:07:55 PM
Just head into the sinlahekin, get out and hike about some good looking areas....the edges of the valley are pretty dam steep in most spots, as you will see. It should be a blast to hunt. I love that area. Most people I've seen during general season are road hunting....but that could have been just my experience and not par for the coarse.
Good luck!
Given your past experience, would you suggest coming in on the 97 side and getting in deep? Thanks for the input!
I'm sure he is referring to the Sinlahekin Valley. Valley floor on the bottom with steeper walls on both sides. Whiteys throughout. You can access it of the South Pine Creek/Fish Lake Road off of 97 from the south or through Loomis from the north.
Post by: Seabeckian on June 16, 2011, 10:35:10 PM
Post by: NWWA Hunter on June 17, 2011, 06:27:33 AM
Post by: CP on June 17, 2011, 11:38:59 AM
Post by: backyard bucks on June 17, 2011, 11:41:14 AM
Post by: FishBio31 on June 17, 2011, 01:45:42 PM
Post by: Seabeckian on June 17, 2011, 11:14:26 PM
I had the tag last year and it was tough to find bucks not on private. I would recommend staying low and knocking on doors or hunting low in the wildlife area. And if you go high into the forest service my experience was that there are a few whitetails but dont go to far as in my experience they were fewer up there and only just on top of ridges of the bottoms.
Good info. Thanks! How did you end up doing last season while you were there? And/or did you see many other successful hunters? Last season it shows the success rate to be just above 50% for the draw.
i'm with mntmulie on this one.. the valley floor is amazing whitetail county but the nicer whitetail bucks will be up where you would think the mulies would be. look off the valley floor and up into the canyons/draws that go up to the top.
Those nicer wt's are what I'm hoping for ;). I want to have to spend a lot of money at the end of the season with a taxidermist. And I really don't care what it takes out of me for hiking and scouting.
Post by: Birdguy on June 18, 2011, 04:53:16 PM
Post by: longknife on June 18, 2011, 05:21:21 PM
Post by: norsepete on June 19, 2011, 12:04:22 PM
Post by: hirshey on June 19, 2011, 07:20:43 PM
Happy hunting,
-Kari
PS if you want to see something that gets you excited for the hunt, drop by the DNR office in Loomis and see one of the broken whitetail sheds they have out front.... I think you'll want to put even more effort into scouting after seeing that one. :)
Post by: SkookumHntr on June 19, 2011, 07:37:51 PM
Post by: Seabeckian on June 20, 2011, 11:31:16 AM
Birdguy- Thanks for the great info. I'm hoping for a fair weather season, but will be ready either way.
Norsepete- If you see a red and white 72' Bronco be sure and say hi.
Kari- Thanks for fueling the fire, wish I had a job where I could do some scouting. I was just eyeing Douglas Mt. the other day when outlining the GMU on my map. Definitely going to have to spend some time up there scouting. I think I will be starting out high hoping to find a monster buck and gradually work my way down if I'm not finding anything promising. Thanks!
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on June 20, 2011, 05:16:09 PM
Post by: Bigshooter on June 20, 2011, 05:19:57 PM
I drew last year. Lotsa private down low, except down in the wildlife area where I killed mine. Saw 6-8 dinkers in 2 days, ended up killin a cool buck up behind Forde Lake. Rumor has it the whitetails have really slipped in both quality and #'s according to the folks I talked to. The buck I killed was a fork with a eyeguard on one side, the other came out of its peticle, turned down along the side of his face to the bottom of his jaw, then came back up like a J with a few little eyeguards outta the base. Its steeper than a cows face up behind the lakes, be careful, I bout got myself in a pickle or 2 up there. From my experience, a public ground hunt in the panhandle or clearwater of Idaho is several notches above this tag, but thats my opinion. Hunt hard, ya might come up with a biggun. Later
That sounds like a cool buck. Got any pics of it?
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on June 20, 2011, 05:21:52 PM
Post by: longknife on June 20, 2011, 05:27:21 PM
Ya, can I e-mail em to ya? Got a new puter, ain't figured out how to down size em and get em into photobucket...
Would like to see those as well! I have hunted, and fished the Sinlihekien since i was a little kid. Used to fish Blue lake when it was the hot spot lake!!
PM'd you
Post by: Bigshooter on June 20, 2011, 05:29:36 PM
I sent you a pm.
Post by: highcountry on June 20, 2011, 06:09:05 PM
Post by: saylean on June 20, 2011, 07:21:26 PM
Just head into the sinlahekin, get out and hike about some good looking areas....the edges of the valley are pretty dam steep in most spots, as you will see. It should be a blast to hunt. I love that area. Most people I've seen during general season are road hunting....but that could have been just my experience and not par for the coarse.
Good luck!
Given your past experience, would you suggest coming in on the 97 side and getting in deep? Thanks for the input!
I'm sure he is referring to the Sinlahekin Valley. Valley floor on the bottom with steeper walls on both sides. Whiteys throughout. You can access it of the South Pine Creek/Fish Lake Road off of 97 from the south or through Loomis from the north.
Thats correct. Sorry for the delayed response. Its really a gorgeous area. Have a blast!
Post by: jess on June 20, 2011, 09:39:57 PM
Post by: Bigshooter on June 21, 2011, 06:59:25 AM
Post by: highcountry on June 21, 2011, 07:57:52 AM
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on June 21, 2011, 09:08:49 AM
Post by: sakoshooter on June 21, 2011, 10:10:46 PM
Post by: highcountry on June 23, 2011, 08:48:41 AM
Post by: hirshey on June 26, 2011, 11:53:20 AM
-Keri, your telling all of are hotspots!! >:( lol j/k, I wish i had that tag!
Douglas Mountain is a big chunk of land to navigate... :) It drives me nuts to see posts about "no whitetail" etc... as long as the person is willing to get out and hike around I have no problems giving general areas.. This big boy would take some hiking to get to but by the time he's done growing for the season he'd be worth every step. :)