general season north slope help!!!

peperocks · May 21, 2014

So I just drew out for my 5th choice on the general season deer tag which is north slope and I've only hunted there one time with zero success. Its a long way from where I live but I'm going to try and make it up there to do some scouting but I could use some pointers on where to go. Also if it starts to get cold and snow, do the deer start to move elsewhere? I would like a trophy buck but its not a requirement. I'm going to need a lot of help so please keep the comments coming. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

travishunter3006 · May 21, 2014

You won't like this... Go scout the area and learn for yourself. You're better off getting out there and answering those questions for yourself.

peperocks · May 21, 2014

As I stated, I plan on going to do some scouting but its a long trip so I have very few opportunities to make it up there and I want to make sure that my time up there isnt wasted, hence the reason I would like some pointers on where to go. Help would be greatly appreciated

Dobber · May 21, 2014

I would consider this tag a camping permit. Take some time during the end of July first of August, take your fishing gear and enjoy this part of the state. There are not a lot a deer and it is a difficult area to spot deer. Just be prepared to not see very many deer. You just run into them, and more often when in the right area. There are a few up high in the wilderness, I would stay lower. If you do find a nice buck it will be a bonus.

BrowningRage · May 21, 2014

I grew up hunting with my father and uncles on the north slope. It has been some years since I have seen a decent buck up that way. We did little more than road hunting for the most part, and it was always an archery or muzzy hunt.

I believe there are deer there, but because of all the awesome forest growth, it is difficult to find them, and even if you do, they have plenty of cover to get into. Being that you are going to be up there in the rifle hunt, weather will dictate where you can hunt. (Unless you are okay hiking into an area and getting snowed on possibly).

My experience spans anywhere from the Gorge all the way west to Henry's Fork. Like I said, we used to hunt there every year until you had to choose your hunt. I wouldn't even bother with anything near the Mirror Lake Highway. But that's me. I killed my 1st ever deer near Bridger Lake when I was 14. Dinky 2 point. It was the only buck we saw on that trip. We haven't hunted there since 2006 and we didn't see a buck that year. It was just fun to go camping in the cold.

PM Sent

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deerslayer88 · May 21, 2014

I can tell you this much its some rugged stuff on that hunt. I killed my biggest buck on this unit before they made the switch to 30 units. I have also seen them bigger then my biggest buck before the hunts started on fishing trips. Take two spares because some roads require it, and just have fun. This unit is hard to find where the bucks/deer are as stated above however the ones I have seen have either been nice bucks or does. I know the little ones run around there because my cousin shot one the same year I got my big guy. However its a great hunt, and I love it due to the fact I can get up at 5 hunt till 11-12 then go fishing until 2-3 and back hunting