Indian heaven wilderness

[cutmymango]

This year! I’ve made up my mind, I’ve always hunted archery elk in September, expect for the last six years. I’ve been very busy in the summers fighting fires with baker river ihc and we typically go past September. I just went inactive for the rest of the year so September is a go. I’ve always hunted near the coast or up high near st. Helens. This year I want to hunt the Indian heaven wilderness. Figured I would post here and see what some guys have to say about the area that have hunted it the last few years before reaching out to fish and game. I know there’s plenty of hikers that use this area which may affect elk in September. I haven’t been able to find any recent posts about the area. I recently did a solo over night scouting trip on the northwest side, didn’t see a whole lot of elk sign, nothing fresh. Did a seven mile loop and saw a few deer. Any reply is appreciated. Thx.

[2MANY]

North facing where the people aren't.

[pianoman9701]

PM sent.

[300rum]

I want to ride my horses back in there but everyone says that it is miserable with the bugs.  Maybe that's just a way to keep everyone out?    

[cutmymango]

The bugs were bad yesterday!!

[pianoman9701]

The bugs were bad yesterday!!

They're really bad up there because of the moisture. I do a lot of picking in that area and always make sure to carry spray.

[b0bbyg]

A little elevation can really change bug amount. Sometimes just 100 feet and they are gone. But at the wrong elevation they will chew you up

Drive by Indian heaven areas every year, always some big camps but also areas I see almost no people.

Last year was bad as I believe many cows had their young at low elevation and never came uphill for the bow season but this year have seen a few more cows already.

[cutmymango]

A little elevation can really change bug amount. Sometimes just 100 feet and they are gone. But at the wrong elevation they will chew you up

Drive by Indian heaven areas every year, always some big camps but also areas I see almost no people.

Last year was bad as I believe many cows had their young at low elevation and never came uphill for the bow season but this year have seen a few more cows already.

PM sent

[pianoman9701]

A little elevation can really change bug amount. Sometimes just 100 feet and they are gone. But at the wrong elevation they will chew you up

Drive by Indian heaven areas every year, always some big camps but also areas I see almost no people.

Last year was bad as I believe many cows had their young at low elevation and never came uphill for the bow season but this year have seen a few more cows already.

This time of year, you can't get enough elevation in Indian Heaven unless you're on top of Sawtooth. The bugs are thick.

[b0bbyg]

Yeah I am thinking more during season, and technically the areas I am in are near Indian heaven  but not in the official map boundaries of the area.

[pickardjw]

PM sent

[pianoman9701]

Yeah I am thinking more during season, and technically the areas I am in are near Indian heaven  but not in the official map boundaries of the area.

I bet we've seen each other up there.

[b0bbyg]

Yeah I am thinking more during season, and technically the areas I am in are near Indian heaven  but not in the official map boundaries of the area.

I bet we've seen each other up there.

Likely, I probably should have tried to stop and see you for mushroom confirmation.   Would be quicker than the trout lake buyer

Have made that trip mid day during season as part of my learning process.

[pianoman9701]

Yeah I am thinking more during season, and technically the areas I am in are near Indian heaven  but not in the official map boundaries of the area.

I bet we've seen each other up there.

Likely, I probably should have tried to stop and see you for mushroom confirmation.   Would be quicker than the trout lake buyer

Have made that trip mid day during season as part of my learning process.

Those were our buyers when I was in the business. Handy place to fill water and grab a couple lbs of hucks.

[Alchase]

I hunted Indian Heaven for modern a lot. Late hunt you have to watch the weather. you can get snowed in quickly. I usually hunted out of Trout Lake Lodge. In 2014, there was 5 feet of snow at the turnoff to Lava Fields.
Lots of road hunters, but nowhere near the volume of most other West side areas. Never had a problem with bugs in the modern season, except when I cut a huge hornets nest down to take home. I placed it in my truck's canopy and continued hunting. When I got home that night, the hornets had woke up and covered the nest, 

Luckily they could not fly yet.