Free: Contests & Raffles.
Quote from: Colville on August 12, 2020, 08:37:49 AMThe point about the difficulty of the high hunt is really directed at those saying.... I'm going to give it a go, and it's their first pack in hunt. Lots and lots of guys have hunted the high hunt, once. It's ordinary for the very experienced guys to say, have your poop in a group and go get em. Most of the new crowd doesn't have the poop, or it's too heavy, or won't keep em dry..... etc. Anyone who is a backpacking hunter already, won't be put off by this thread.I was that guy. No experienced guy schooling me in the beginning. I learned, HARD. Hamlet was right.So the point of this thread is to dissuade the new guys? Got it... the high hunt was my first backpack hunt as well. I read plenty of stuff like this, the “don’t do it, you can’t handle it” posts. Boy was I glad we didn’t listen to those guys as my buddy and I were packing our bucks out on opening day, blue jeans and all...
The point about the difficulty of the high hunt is really directed at those saying.... I'm going to give it a go, and it's their first pack in hunt. Lots and lots of guys have hunted the high hunt, once. It's ordinary for the very experienced guys to say, have your poop in a group and go get em. Most of the new crowd doesn't have the poop, or it's too heavy, or won't keep em dry..... etc. Anyone who is a backpacking hunter already, won't be put off by this thread.I was that guy. No experienced guy schooling me in the beginning. I learned, HARD. Hamlet was right.
Right on mtnwalker, I'll be another one in blue jeans up there
I'll likely throw some wool in too, and its green. I haven't bought hunting specific pants, I'm hesitant to spend the money on them. I've honestly never felt that jeans were an issue with deer. Not to derail the thread too much...
Quote from: Buckhunter24 on August 12, 2020, 09:38:02 AMRight on mtnwalker, I'll be another one in blue jeans up there Why Deer Hunters Should Never Wear Blue Jeans, and Other Important Facts About Deer Vision"There’s no need to be concerned about wearing blaze orange because the deer won’t be able to zero in on it like a fellow hunter can. Just don’t wear your blue jeans; you’ll stick out like a sore thumb."https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/game-changers/why-deer-hunters-should-never-wear-blue-jeans-and-other-important-facts-about/
I was asked about this the other day, so I figured I'd post my opinion(s) for those in the planning stages that are pouring over topo and aerial maps and Google Earth trying to find a place to go that won't have other hunters.First...It's important to remember that you live in a state with ~7,500,000 residents. You're not only vying for a place that holds deer and no other hunters, but also isn't overrun by hikers.If there is a trail system that you can use to access the general area, you will definitely not be alone, especially if they are livestock accessible. (this includes basins you'll have to bushwhack into) Big mileage and tons of elevation gain/loss from a trailhead are irrelevant filters. In fact they might be the worst filters since that's exactly what everyone else thinks, or has thought about and found out the hard way.The more difficult it looks like to get into an area where you want to hunt...and then haul out a heavy load if you get one, the more hardcore your competition will likely be with guys that have been hunting it for many years and know the area like the back of their hands.The true crazies that think about this hunt every day of the year (like me) have been training all year and don't care how much blood, sweat and tears they have to put in. They relish a Fine & Pleasant Misery. That's who you're up against. Secondly...The Mountain Doesn't Care.Use solid, proven, bombproof gear. Crampons AND an ice axe or whippets are a damn good idea. Keeping your feet healthy is everything. The weather can be awesome. It can also really suck and try to kill you every minute of every day...for days on end. If you're the type that might go batcrap crazy from being forced to lay inside a snare drum (tarp, bivy or tent) in heavy wind, fog, rain, sleet, and snow for days and nights on end...then this hunt might not be for you.Time isn't on your side since weather and travel will eat up a bunch of it. If you don't have 7-10 days, you're setting yourself up.Deer are not behind every tree and rock. Alpine opulations densities are low. You might not even see a deer, much less a legal buck, much less a legal buck worth shooting many miles and lots of elevation gain/loss from the nearest trailhead. Huge bucks are EXTREMELY rare at altitude since they just don't have the same easy living as farm & ranch deer. Success odds are in the low single digits and I'd bet it's the same guys every year that are responsible for most of those filled tags.If you're the type of guy that is going to just barely stagger into some far flung basin and get upset after you put a long difficult stalk on a buck (if you can find one!) only to watch it drop right in front of your eyes to a friggin' predator that's scouted it and has been sitting on it for several days before the opener...then finding some private property you can access with a road might be a better option for you.Regardless...good luck!
I can't wait for the season. 3 of my friends and myself are going over LG and into the Napeequa. Had 2 scouting trips up there so far one in the valley and one from above. Looks very promising.
