Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Colville on July 31, 2008, 03:37:22 PM

Title: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: Colville on July 31, 2008, 03:37:22 PM: I'm going for my scout next weekend. I was in the hills last weekend though and out to 5000k feet area there were only patches of snow. even in the north faces. It was just a camp out though.

Surely some guys have already been up high in late July? Let's hear how it's going, even better if you have pics! Obviously ones that don't give away any landmarks etc. Love the pictures. I'll post if I find anything to encourage me after 10th weekend.
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: MichaelJ on July 31, 2008, 06:36:57 PM: The deer population is in GREAT shape from what I've seen. Lots of bucks and quite a few mature bucks to. I've been on one trip, and know of one other guy who's been up I think 3 times so far. Like I said, the deer are in great shape and are summering really well! Watch out though, the skeeters are HORRIBLE right now from what I've heard... saving my last scouting trip for labor day weekend I believe...

Michael
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: klikboom on August 04, 2008, 10:02:54 AM: This will be my first early alpine hunt this year. I went up above lake wenatchee into Glacier wilderness area, saw some light deer tracks, but no sightings. It was more a hike and just keeping my eyes open. Anyone willing to share some general area's for high alpine via PM? My plan is to just hike in on a hiking trail and keep my eyes open.... :dunno:
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: TeacherMan on August 04, 2008, 04:32:38 PM: Took a hike into hearts pass area a couple weeks ago and saw one nice buck, looked like a 5x plus eye guards. The mosquito's are HORRIBLE!!! I'm still itching. :yike:
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: MichaelJ on August 04, 2008, 05:57:47 PM: Quote from: klikboom on August 04, 2008, 10:02:54 AM
This will be my first early alpine hunt this year. I went up above lake wenatchee into Glacier wilderness area, saw some light deer tracks, but no sightings. It was more a hike and just keeping my eyes open. Anyone willing to share some general area's for high alpine via PM? My plan is to just hike in on a hiking trail and keep my eyes open.... :dunno:

No offense buddy, but you got to realize you won't get much response if your first post to the site is asking for high hunt areas... Those are the best kept and hardest earned areas that any Muley hunter will ever have and getting info is tough. You're better off sticking around and contributing to the site and this community before you start asking questions like that. I will tell you though, hike far and glass hard...

Michael
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: OltHunter on August 04, 2008, 07:35:49 PM: klikboom-best advice i can give, along with anyone else looking for a new spot or scouting out one is to read up on high country hunting. it's a lot different than lower elevation hunting especially with the habits bucks have and where they are most likely to be found. and it wont be along any main trail i know of. i picked up hunting high country mule deer by eastman and Public Land Mulies, The Bottom Line by David Long, and purchashed delmore topo software. they are all worth their weight in gold especially if you have never hunted this type of terrain. granted the majority of the book covers the rockys, but they still apply to the cascades. i'm able to do a lot of productive scouting of new places from the comfort of my computer, especially when you know the type of terrain bucks prefer and all the satellite photos available too. good luck to all, i chose to scout/hunt sept. 15, the last thing i want to do is kick any buck out of my area without a gun, plus wont have to deal with the bugs. i'll be back up in the henry jackson, not known for huge deer, but i'm willing to disprove that. know a few good holes.
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: TeacherMan on August 05, 2008, 06:36:53 PM: I don't know if the guy is really looking for a spot, really no different than what I posted on the board asking about Devils Gate high hunts. Just wanting something to help hold him or her over for another month until they can get into the field. My wife told me that she thinks I would rather go hunting or talk about hunting than any thing else in this world. She's correct :chuckle: I personally just need to go hunting. I think I'm going to be in the Hearts Pass area. As for more details than that, ya right :tup:

One thing, if you pay attention on this sight you will get enough info that it will help you out come hunting season :chuckle:
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: Muleyslyr on August 06, 2008, 01:17:22 PM: Geezz Michael....just because you have OVER 500 posts now you don't have to be such a bully. :chuckle: Sheesh....some people. ;)
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: Houndhunter on August 06, 2008, 02:16:36 PM: im guessing your mainly talkin bout the east side, but i was just hunting and went all the way upto 6000'. there was plenty of snow, i imgine the big snow packs will be there still come deer season in oct. sucked because i couldnt cross some of the snow packs to get into some of the good spots
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: MichaelJ on August 06, 2008, 05:06:51 PM: Quote from: Muleyslyr on August 06, 2008, 01:17:22 PM
Geezz Michael....just because you have OVER 500 posts now you don't have to be such a bully. :chuckle: Sheesh....some people. ;)

My bad bro, my bad... C'mon though for a first post? That's too cliche' and you know it.... :P lol

Michael
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: Muleyslyr on August 07, 2008, 09:01:49 AM: :chuckle: I hear ya....still had to give ya sh.t. :chuckle: Of course, I could've asked the same question and I've been bouncin' around with all you guys for the last 4-5yrs. and I would've got the same response. ;)
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: MichaelJ on August 07, 2008, 05:38:52 PM: Quote from: Muleyslyr on August 07, 2008, 09:01:49 AM
:chuckle: I hear ya....still had to give ya sh.t. :chuckle: Of course, I could've asked the same question and I've been bouncin' around with all you guys for the last 4-5yrs. and I would've got the same response. ;)

LoL it probably would've been worse with you! haha jk man.
I can't wait to hit up the high country though! Only a few more weeks!!!

Michael
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: klikboom on August 08, 2008, 08:41:03 AM: OH ya sorry i guess i should pad my posts with some "ya definitely!" or throw a couple "what he said's" in, there to get the count up.

Im not looking for coordinates, basically I was just looking for what the process is. For instance, do I just choose a hiking trail, or do you try to get as far away from the population as possible and ditch trails? I guess i am treating it like hiking with a gun...

I actually did get some useful information via PM, so thanks a lot! I really like the forum, it helps to be able to talk about it while at work.

Do the blacktails go up high as well? I was planning on starting out of the index area for a couple scouts.

Look forward to meaningful e-relationships hunting-washington will build ;) :chuckle:
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: MichaelJ on August 08, 2008, 08:54:37 AM: Quote from: klikboom on August 08, 2008, 08:41:03 AM
OH ya sorry i guess i should pad my posts with some "ya definitely!" or throw a couple "what he said's" in, there to get the count up.

Im not looking for coordinates, basically I was just looking for what the process is. For instance, do I just choose a hiking trail, or do you try to get as far away from the population as possible and ditch trails? I guess i am treating it like hiking with a gun...

I actually did get some useful information via PM, so thanks a lot! I really like the forum, it helps to be able to talk about it while at work.

Do the blacktails go up high as well? I was planning on starting out of the index area for a couple scouts.

Look forward to meaningful e-relationships hunting-washington will build ;) :chuckle:

Now your starting to get the hang of it! lol
Basically, the process is you hike your ass off, glass for hours and hours until you find a shooter buck, hike you ass off again (or whats left of it) to even get within range of him, and then at the last minute the thermals change and he busts you! lol jk
If I were you I'd get in as many scouting trips as possible. Get as far away from any mail trails as possible, and remember to keep your pack LIGHT. Check out the gear section for some tips and stuff. Sounds as though you're getting some good info so I'm sure you'll be fine... Best of luck.

Michael
Title: Re: Any High Hunt scout reports???
Post by: hangumhi on August 19, 2008, 11:48:35 PM: I've hunted the horseshoe basin a few times in the high hunt and every time is the same, a handful of deer and very very unpredictable weather and unpredictable deer. The deer have so much room up there as well as feeding areas that they're impossible to pattern in a short amount of time so that's why you'll hear everyone say that slow glassing and very slow hiking is the only way. Every time I've hunted up there it's gone literally from t-shirt weather to freezing in the same day so it can certainly be dangerous...be very careful and be prepared for the weather. I was just up there scouting and it's burnt pretty darn bad and I didn't see much sign of life at all but I saw some down out of the burnt area but of course they weren't in the Pasayten and who knows if they'll make their way up by september...more than likely not since there wasn't much new growth to speak of at all so vegatation is very limited right now in the basin/and windy peak area.