Frank Church Wilderness Deer Hunt

Daxter · May 25, 2007

It has always been a dream of mine to go on a Nov. muley hunt in the Frank Church Wilderness. I know it is super steep, rugged, remote, risky and dangerous, that is what makes it appealing to me. I am seeking the real wilderness experience. I figure I can have an "Alaska Type" wilderness hunting experience (flying in in a super cub, crazy variable weather, not seeing any other hunters, etc.) for less money than it would cost me to do something similar in AK. I want to charter a flight into the wilderness and then backpack another 6-10 miles from the airstrip to a hunting area.

I wondered if any fellow MM'ers have done this type of trip and what you would recommend. Did you buy elk tags too? Were there lots of folks in the vicinity of the airstrip? How far do you have to go to get away from the crowds? How much did the chartered flights cost? What pilot would you recommend? How late in Nov. do you dare stay? If anyone wants to pm me about a recommended airstrips to start from I would also appreciate it. And, of course if anyone has stories or photos from this type of hunt I would also love to see that. Thank you so much.

Dax

JB48 · May 26, 2007

Dax,
If you go to the sheep, goat forum I posted part of my 2004 sheep hunt in the Church, unit 20-1. It is on the second page back under Idaho Sheep Guide. Check it out I can give you info on the east side of the main Salmon. During my scouting trip I saw 2 small bucks up high. I saw no deer up high during my 11 days in the high country. On the river in October I saw a few deer. JB

Daxter · May 26, 2007

Nice looking ram, sounds like you had a fun hunt. Doesn't sound like where you were was the best place for muleys. Thanks for the info.
Dax

JB48 · May 28, 2007

I think it was in the past few years Eastmans had some pictures of a group that hunted late down from Salmon Creek Lodge. They killed 3 nice bucks one was an absolute monster. I think it scored in the 190 to 200 range. A big symetrical 4x4. JB

Huffmad · May 30, 2007

the story you are thinking about was in trophy hunter last year great big old 4x4 that scored over 200. My friends have been flying into indian creek area for the past three years and the bigest buck was 160 27 incher. most of the time they take small 22 inch bucks, I would try down lower on the middle fork.