Free: Contests & Raffles.
If the area is overloaded with people I may look to Glacier Peak or elsewhere.
Back country hunting isn't more popular, year over year, except to the new folks. What I mean is that there's all kinds of resources telling joe never packed that he too can do it. About one wet, foggy, snowed in, poor gear selected year is all it takes to weed out 90%. They don't come back and on average aren't in the hardest to hunt spots, they are in big named basins. Don't worry about which wilderness. Get out of the way and be able to endure because I've hunted lots of high hunts and all but one have included seriously inclement weather... all of them tough terrain.
Quote from: Colville on August 27, 2019, 11:10:39 PMBack country hunting isn't more popular, year over year, except to the new folks. What I mean is that there's all kinds of resources telling joe never packed that he too can do it. About one wet, foggy, snowed in, poor gear selected year is all it takes to weed out 90%. They don't come back and on average aren't in the hardest to hunt spots, they are in big named basins. Don't worry about which wilderness. Get out of the way and be able to endure because I've hunted lots of high hunts and all but one have included seriously inclement weather... all of them tough terrain.That buck in your avatar is a tank! It would take a grown man to get him out in one trip. Would love to hear the story on that thing
Thanks to everyone for their responses; this is helpful. I've been doing some additional research and know that the area (and backup area) I am headed won't overlap any outfitter camps, and due to the location I'm going there won't be private horse camps close by. So in terms of other people it would be other backpack hunters willing to hike 12+ miles in or backpackers not hunting. As for the distance, part of the fun and challenge for me is going deep. I lived in Alaska for good chunk of my life and 12 miles is less than some of the solo hunts (and successful hunts) I did there, so this isn't new for me. Yes I hope the distance thins out other hunters, but if it doesn't I know those other hunters put in the same miles and work as I did to get there. I'd rather be around those hunters than those at 4 miles.
Sooperfly, that's quite the trek. Beautiful picture.Bigmacc, those days sound like a total blast... I love the high hunt and go into it with high hopes, but also understand the reality. A week away from work in one of God's most beautiful creations is what it's all about. The blessing of a hard earned deer is the goal, but always just a bonus to a great trip.
How I close most stories about how Methow hunting is nowadays, its a shame......
Last year I was in the Pasayten during the high hunt hiking for 6 days. I was moving for 5 of them and took one day off to fish. Did 80+ miles and didn't... see... one.... deer. 1st day I was on the trail by 3:00 a.m., and most of the days I was up early and out and about until late in the day. I did a good mix of on and off trail, and in that whole time only came across hunting camps twice. 4 of the days I never saw a soul. I'm sure if I was out taking my time hunting I would have seen deer, but that was weird being out there for that long and that far without running across even a doe. I think on the whole trip I came across more wolf and moose tracks than deer. Like others have said, even if you don't get a deer it's a great area to tromp around in! Hopkins Lake last year, snapped this pic during a break in an all-day down pour.