Post by: slim9300 on June 16, 2012, 01:10:54 PM
I have a decent idea where to start since I live close to the unit and have bowhunted there a few times myself. But I know I have a lot to learn. I have a great little honey hole that's about 2 miles behind a locked gate (they are all locked during archery season), but I normally only see it full of does. I worry that finding a buck is going to be much harder than finding does.
I feel like that opening weekend (6th & 7th) will be her best chance to kill a buck when the Vail Tree Farm opens up their gate for youth hunters. The problem I have is lack of experience in this area. The only scouting I will be able to do is on my bicycle and you can get a long ways back!
Sadly Kahlen's time to hunt the Skookumchuck will be very limited, as she will only be able to hunt that entire first weekend and maybe take a day or two off during the week. She is already going to to miss school the entire week before the season so she can go on an elk hunt. Lucky kid, I know.
I would suspect there are some dandies in the unit considering the lack of hunting pressure in that first week, but for the record, she will be shooting the first legal buck. Any help would be greatly appreciated and I will post pics of her smiling face if she's lucky enough to kill anything.
You can PM me if you are more comfortable with that.
Thanks!
Conlan
Here's a pic of last years buck. She shot it at 40 yards spot and stalk and I was watching the whole thing over her shoulder. It was honestly the greatest moment of my hunting career.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2F4c1cbaef-e687-f375.jpg&hash=1ccd746938655cdefc732943d770226a015e03d2)
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Post by: doyourtime89 on June 16, 2012, 04:44:23 PM
Post by: toothfangclaw on June 16, 2012, 05:15:03 PM
I've seen a lot of guys hit the high road. Personally I take the low road. Start in the timber and work into the clear cuts. I know of one spot to check out in the farm. I'll try to get you coordinates, its a place where my buddy got a nice 4x5 a couple years back.
Post by: Alan K on June 16, 2012, 05:29:00 PM
If she's willing to take the first buck she sees then you guys should have no problem. I'd try to talk her into holding out for a two point or better on Saturday, and then any buck on Sunday if she wants. Hopefully they have security at the gate to only allow vehicles with hunters in. You should be into plenty of deer if they keep people just going in there to scout out.
Good luck! :tup:
Post by: nontypical176 on June 16, 2012, 05:32:11 PM
Post by: slim9300 on June 16, 2012, 06:05:53 PM
Fun tag to draw for the kiddos, there are a lot of small bucks for the taking and plenty of does, but the bigger bucks like most places are harder to find. We seen 6 small spikes one day in there with a ton of rigs driving around during general season last year. If its like the general season only 1 gate will be opened with a line of rigs waiting to get in, but there are good hunting spots throughout the entire tree farm and its big with great looking clearcuts all around. I have heard of several cougars that have been shot on that first weakend of the youth hunt, so bring a cougar tag and good luck.
Yep. She will have her cougar tag.
There are 20 youth buck tags and 40 youth doe tags. I am really hoping they shut down access to those coming to scout. If they do, it will be ideal conditions for the kids.
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Post by: slim9300 on June 16, 2012, 06:08:18 PM
It's a fun tag to have, I drew it two or three times before I was too old.
If she's willing to take the first buck she sees then you guys should have no problem. I'd try to talk her into holding out for a two point or better on Saturday, and then any buck on Sunday if she wants. Hopefully they have security at the gate to only allow vehicles with hunters in. You should be into plenty of deer if they keep people just going in there to scout out.
Good luck! :tup:
Thanks for the intel! I might be able to make a phone call to check on that. My hunting partner has a fellow officer that has the side job of being security for the tree farm. :)
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Post by: bucklucky on June 16, 2012, 06:10:16 PM
Post by: slim9300 on June 16, 2012, 06:15:14 PM
I will send you a PM.
Thanks Charlie! I didn't even realize that you lived in Skookumchuck. I thought you we're up in Bellingham area for some odd reason.
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Post by: slim9300 on June 16, 2012, 06:15:55 PM
My son drew this tag too. He drew an any deer tag in there about 4 years ago and that was our first time ever in there. He wanted to shot a buck so we were going to hold out as long as he could, but after passing on a lot of does he finally decided to take what ever he could get a shot at and it was only mid day on the opening day. But I guess after seeing so many deer he could shoot (all does) it was getting to him. The next group we were able to get in on had a spike so he took that. When we check out at the gate the game warden said we were like about the 9th or 10th to check out and all were bucks to that point. But with out being able to get in there we will just have to play it by ear. So I am like you too, if anyone had any info and/or tips on the area it would be much appreciated. Good luck to you guys. If you see a gray Toyota Tundra 4 door, thats us....say hi.
Good luck! I'll keep an eye out for your truck.
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Post by: bucklucky on June 16, 2012, 06:23:14 PM
I will send you a PM.
Thanks Charlie! I didn't even realize that you lived in Skookumchuck. I thought you we're up in Bellingham area for some odd reason.
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Heck no man , good ol' skookumchuck valley . Last house on the right .
Post by: slim9300 on June 16, 2012, 06:29:11 PM
I will send you a PM.
Thanks Charlie! I didn't even realize that you lived in Skookumchuck. I thought you we're up in Bellingham area for some odd reason.
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Heck no man , good ol' skookumchuck valley . Last house on the right .
I couldn't live up there either! I think you just became my new taxidermist. I brought my blacktail buck to Alden on December 7th for an antler mount and also gave him the cape. I still don't have my horns back! :)
Alden did get my Sept. bull back pretty quickly but he's not hurting for work by any means. You need some more work for next year? ;)
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Post by: doyourtime89 on June 17, 2012, 11:30:16 AM
Fun tag to draw for the kiddos, there are a lot of small bucks for the taking and plenty of does, but the bigger bucks like most places are harder to find. We seen 6 small spikes one day in there with a ton of rigs driving around during general season last year. If its like the general season only 1 gate will be opened with a line of rigs waiting to get in, but there are good hunting spots throughout the entire tree farm and its big with great looking clearcuts all around. I have heard of several cougars that have been shot on that first weakend of the youth hunt, so bring a cougar tag and good luck.
Yep. She will have her cougar tag.
There are 20 youth buck tags and 40 youth doe tags. I am really hoping they shut down access to those coming to scout. If they do, it will be ideal conditions for the kids.
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I know when my son had this tag a few years ago they only opened one gate to the tree farm and they had someone there checking to make sure you had the youth tag or they weren't letting you in. So it should just be the ones with the tags in there hunting. When we were in there we never seen another person except one time we seen a truck miles off in the distance on a clear cut way way away from us. So it should be a good hunt all the way around.
Post by: slim9300 on June 17, 2012, 11:44:49 AM
Fun tag to draw for the kiddos, there are a lot of small bucks for the taking and plenty of does, but the bigger bucks like most places are harder to find. We seen 6 small spikes one day in there with a ton of rigs driving around during general season last year. If its like the general season only 1 gate will be opened with a line of rigs waiting to get in, but there are good hunting spots throughout the entire tree farm and its big with great looking clearcuts all around. I have heard of several cougars that have been shot on that first weakend of the youth hunt, so bring a cougar tag and good luck.
Yep. She will have her cougar tag.
There are 20 youth buck tags and 40 youth doe tags. I am really hoping they shut down access to those coming to scout. If they do, it will be ideal conditions for the kids.
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I know when my son had this tag a few years ago they only opened one gate to the tree farm and they had someone there checking to make sure you had the youth tag or they weren't letting you in. So it should just be the ones with the tags in there hunting. When we were in there we never seen another person except one time we seen a truck miles off in the distance on a clear cut way way away from us. So it should be a good hunt all the way around.
That's great to hear!
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Post by: slim9300 on August 12, 2012, 11:32:52 AM
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Post by: blackveltbowhunter on August 12, 2012, 12:55:11 PM
Post by: doyourtime89 on August 12, 2012, 01:08:08 PM
Post by: Kowsrule30 on August 12, 2012, 02:22:29 PM
Post by: JBar on August 12, 2012, 03:10:41 PM
Post by: Alan K on August 18, 2012, 09:48:15 AM
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2012, 09:51:58 AM
Post by: doyourtime89 on August 18, 2012, 04:55:14 PM
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on August 18, 2012, 05:33:41 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2012, 07:24:09 PM
Post by: 300winmag on August 18, 2012, 10:58:13 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2012, 11:04:58 PM
spend lots of time falling timber on the vail tree farm ,have seen several nice bucks in the past week back on the 3000 and the 3140. One on the 3140 was really nice it was just a 2pt but was big.
Seen any nice does? :) :dunno:
Post by: 300winmag on August 18, 2012, 11:14:22 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2012, 11:17:44 PM
I haven't been out there for at least 15 years. Anyone know if it has gotten better, or worse?
Post by: 300winmag on August 18, 2012, 11:24:12 PM
Post by: kglacken on August 18, 2012, 11:34:45 PM
Still trying to decide if I should take my cousin to Vail for his first deer, or try to get him on one in some of the less crowded areas that are also in the Skookumchuck unit. I know of several places that we could walk into, but I don't believe they have the number of deer like there is in the Vail area.Bobcat I hunt it every year and The number of people is rediculous! But if you go and get as far in there as you possibly can, it starts to thin out. I usually try to get as far back in there as possible before finding a good place to do a drive or glass a cut or walk the timber. I go there every year especially if I only have a half of a day to hunt. I keep hoping that I am going to get a shot at a nice buck but I still have yet to see a monster. Had a chance at a respectable buck last year but I couldnt get an ethical shot. If your cousin is looking to shoot a legal buck I would highly recommend it. If you want some more info PM me. You seem like a respectable guy I wouldnt mind sharing some info with. :tup:
I haven't been out there for at least 15 years. Anyone know if it has gotten better, or worse?
Post by: kglacken on August 18, 2012, 11:37:05 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2012, 11:42:31 PM
I see that you are looking for a doe. I must of missed that somehow :chuckle: Plenty of nice does. And For some reason I came across some really stupid ones last year! :dunno: Had quite a few that I could of taken with my bow extremely easy.
Yes, a doe, or a buck. The original plan was for him to hunt on the 6th and the 7th if needed, before the general season opened. That was the reason I had him put in for that hunt. The kid has never killed a deer, or anything for that matter. Not a grouse, nothing. So he's going to need lots of time to shoot, don't want him to be rushed and end up wounding an animal for his first hunting experience ever. His dad doesn't hunt and has never hunted, so I'm not even sure why he decided to try it.
Luckily, since I drew an Okanogan late rifle mule deer hunt this year, I can give him all the help he needs. I won't even be packing a rifle myself. Just binoculars and maybe a spotting scope.
Post by: kglacken on August 18, 2012, 11:56:57 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2012, 11:58:31 PM
Awesome! Very cool that you are willing to help him out! If you PM me I have a spot that would be a decent spot for a youngster to look for a doe that weekend before modern! :tup:
He can't hunt the weekend before the general season. That's what I was saying- it was supposed to open on the 6th (the doe permit season) but then later they changed it so it opens on the 13th, same day as the general season.
Post by: doyourtime89 on September 11, 2012, 05:11:29 PM
Post by: bobcat on September 11, 2012, 05:21:49 PM
Should be a really good time to find a good buck.
Post by: doyourtime89 on September 11, 2012, 05:31:20 PM
Post by: bobcat on September 11, 2012, 05:44:00 PM
For me it's actually working out better that they changed the date of the antlerless hunt, to October 13th. I wasn't going to be able to help him on the 6th and 7th because I will be elk hunting that weekend. But now I can take him on the 13th and 14th, I'm just not excited about hunting with ten thousand other people.
Post by: 400out on September 11, 2012, 06:42:28 PM
Don't follow the gps to his house it wil take you to the neighbors :bash: :bash: :chuckle:I will send you a PM.
Thanks Charlie! I didn't even realize that you lived in Skookumchuck. I thought you we're up in Bellingham area for some odd reason.
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Heck no man , good ol' skookumchuck valley . Last house on the right .
Post by: doyourtime89 on September 12, 2012, 09:26:27 AM
You should be able to be done in just one day, if he's not picky on what he shoots. So maybe just plan on being sick either Saturday, or Sunday. :chuckle:
For me it's actually working out better that they changed the date of the antlerless hunt, to October 13th. I wasn't going to be able to help him on the 6th and 7th because I will be elk hunting that weekend. But now I can take him on the 13th and 14th, I'm just not excited about hunting with ten thousand other people.
Yeah I am thinking I will be sick both days. He had this tag a few years ago when it was an any deer tag. Back then they didn't have buck tags and doe tags...they just gave out like 50 or 60 any deer tags. We went in on the first day and we never seen another hunted except for when we could see some one miles away on another clear cut. But drove past anyone or seen anyone anywhere near us. TONS & TONS of doe's...seen a few small bucks....my son wanted a buck..so he was passing on a lot of doe's but after passing on so many deer he could shoot he finally said next deer was his and the next one was a spike so he took that. But now he has taken a few doe's over the last few years so he wants a buck and says he will hold out for a 3 point. We will see. But it should be a good hunt. Just don't know a lot about the unit. Just hit clear cut after clear cut. I know what you are talking about with you now having to go in during the general season. We did that one year...there are TONS of hunters. But we did see a lot of doe's so I am sure you will get a good chance. Good luck...have fun.....if I end up finding some good looking areas down there I will get a hold of you before your hunt and try to give what ever info I can to help you guys out.
Post by: Curly on September 12, 2012, 10:23:17 AM
Post by: doyourtime89 on September 12, 2012, 08:49:43 PM
Post by: bobcat on September 12, 2012, 08:54:01 PM
They said they didn't realize that the dates over lapped muzzleloader elk in that same game unit.
Right. And what's dumb about that is the elk hunters for the most part will not be where the youth deer hunters would have gone to hunt. There really would be little to no conflict between the two groups. They should have just left it alone. If it was really a concern they could have changed the area that was open to the youth permits, to only include the areas where the elk generally are not present (which is most of the unit).
Post by: kglacken on September 13, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
Post by: doyourtime89 on September 13, 2012, 09:05:46 PM
I live in the skook and for the most part, if you are going to hunt muzzy elk, you will be looking at private property/farm land. The majority if not all of the youth deer hunters would be heading to the vail tree farm! :twocents: Thats WDFW for ya :bash:
Very true...just our game department at work. :bash: :bash:
Post by: doyourtime89 on September 22, 2012, 02:14:22 PM
Post by: doyourtime89 on September 22, 2012, 02:16:07 PM
http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/pdfs/businesses/recreationalaccess/Vail-Hotline-Message.pdf (http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/pdfs/businesses/recreationalaccess/Vail-Hotline-Message.pdf)
Post by: bucklucky on September 22, 2012, 02:37:04 PM
Post by: slim9300 on October 03, 2012, 07:38:52 AM
Thank you again for your generous offer Charlie and I hope she draws the tag in the next year or two. You will be seeing my family for many years to come with more animals than most can comprehend. ;) I would love to see Kahlen kill a bigger Blacktail than me and that won't take too much. :)
Btw. Kahlen doesn't turn 11 years old until the 20th of this month. :)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F12%2F10%2F03%2F6eta2yzu.jpg&hash=5c32595c79b4c5103ac9422da12bf078870d7b28)
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Post by: bucklucky on October 03, 2012, 07:56:02 AM
Post by: slim9300 on October 03, 2012, 08:00:07 AM
WOW , Now thats awesome! Congrats to her!!!
Do you have room for two more Charlie? :)
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Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 03, 2012, 09:56:58 AM
Post by: doyourtime89 on October 17, 2012, 04:58:37 PM
Post by: slim9300 on October 19, 2012, 01:31:22 PM
Just got a call from the game department letting me know they again changed the dates for the Youth Skookumchuck Buck hunt. They are changing it again because the vail wasn't open for the dates of the hunt. So it is a good thing really. The new date are at the beginning of Nov. I don't remember the exact date because I was kind of not really listening to the guy since my son already used his tag so he wont be able to hunt that tag anyway. He said letters are going out to everyone with that tag. Not sure about the antlerness tag holders. I had been emailing with the game department and calling them over the date changes because we weren't able to make the dates the originally changed them too and this is my sons last year of youth hunting so getting his points back didn't work for him. So we were trying to work something else out and when they said nothing they could really do. I was able to find a farmer that had depredation tags because of the deer problem he has on his farm. So the weekend the Skookumchuck was original set for (the only weekend around this time we could hunt, that is why we put in for it) so we went over and he shot a doe. Cool....but now they come up with another date change to something we could have made but his tag is used on a doe, when he had a shot at a buck. So I am kind of disappointed for my son, cool he did get a deer but lost a chance at a really good hunt and a really good chance at a buck. All because our game department messed up. But I hope it helps out some of your kids out there if you missed the hunt and now you are going to get a chance at it in Nov. Should be a GREAT hunt in there at that time and with no hunting pressure. Just a few tag holders will be in there.
Can you PM me who your spoke with? Was it Mick Cope?
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Post by: JBar on October 19, 2012, 02:10:24 PM