Fish Lake Muzzy Deer

OpeningDay · Aug 31, 2018

Hey All, I have decided to go back to the old stomping grounds after 15 years of hunting a different unit. We used to hunt deer and elk in the Twin Ponds area long ago. I recently learned that Gooseberry Road is now paved all the way from Salina to Johnson Res. I am sure this has changed the area a lot. I imagine there is still a lot of critters running around, but my biggest question for anyone in the know is.... How crowded does this area get these days. I know its a big unit, but they do issue a lot of tags. Am I going to have a hard time finding a camp spot come Tuesday before the opener?? I know better than to ask for places to look. Haha. I know some places that held animals years ago. We'll see if they still do. Overall, how is the herd doing down there?? We used to see several descent bucks in a weeks hunt. Just curious if things have changed much in this regard.. Thanks in advance for any input.

Shadow · Aug 31, 2018

One thing?s for sure, getting there Tuesday won't guarantee finding a campsite. All the ****?s drag their trailer up weeks before and leave them sitting empty to tie up a spot, then usually just show up for the weekend. It's gotten really bad the past few years. If you have a spot in mind, you might consider beating them at their own game and dropping your stuff the week before.

Whitemuzzy · Sep 1, 2018

Have hunted that area for years was not fortunate enough to draw a muzzy tag this year. I can honestly say during the muzzy hunt it's not bad as far as hunters. Have hunted down there the last couple of years and not much pressure. The road being paved is definitely a downer. Enjoy and have fun.

BIGJOHNT · Sep 1, 2018

Most don't like to camp off the black top. Not as many camping spots there as there use to be. Most head over to Sheep valley rd. Or towards Hancock flats if you like to hunt in that area. Mytoge has some nice spot up in the trees coming in from the south. But they do fill up fast. Good luck on your hunt. Maybe we will see you around that country.

OpeningDay · Sep 4, 2018

Thanks guys. I took a drive down there over the weekend. It was pretty busy up there with a lot of archery hunters. There was still a few camp spots open. I think we should be ok for the hunt.
Now its just a matter of tracking down a few bucks. haha.

DeadEyeDick · Sep 4, 2018

i?ve hunted there my whole life and it's intersting to see the changes on where you find the deer, places we use to see hundreds of deer in one night we now see maybe 20. and places we use to never see deer, now hold a bunch. if your not seeing the deer try a different area.

cannonball · Sep 5, 2018

Shadow wrote:
[1. "RE: Fish Lake Muzzy Deer"
One thing?s for sure, getting there Tuesday won't guarantee finding a campsite. All the ****?s drag their trailer up weeks before and leave them sitting empty to tie up a spot, then usually just show up for the weekend. It's gotten really bad the past few years. If you have a spot in mind, you might consider beating them at their own game and dropping your stuff the week before.]

Here is the good and bad: We just got back from there and you are right the same old trailers are there taking up each spot. The good is the Forest Services has a lot of them tagged which will be fined and towed if the owner doesn't pick them up. The bad is there are very few deer to be found.

BIGJOHNT · Sep 6, 2018

>Shadow wrote:
>[1. "RE: Fish Lake Muzzy Deer"
>
>One thing?s for sure, getting there
>Tuesday won't guarantee finding a
>campsite. All the ****?s drag
>their trailer up weeks before
>and leave them sitting empty
>to tie up a spot,
>then usually just show up
>for the weekend. It's gotten
>really bad the past few
>years. If you have a
>spot in mind, you might
>consider beating them at their
>own game and dropping your
>stuff the week before.]
>
>Here is the good and bad:
> We just got back
>from there and you are
>right the same old trailers
>are there taking up each
>spot. The good is
>the Forest Services has a
>lot of them tagged which
>will be fined and towed
>if the owner doesn't pick
>them up. The bad
>is there are very few
>deer to be found.

I have seen them tag trailers up there for years . I have never seen them tow one trailer. My trailer use to be one of them playing trailer tag with the little lady in the white truck. Now a new little lady in a new Chevy Colorado. They retired the old Ford Ranger and the driver.

OpeningDay · Sep 6, 2018

Cannonball. PM Sent.

OpeningDay · Sep 24, 2018

Headed out in the morning. Wish me luck guys. Any last advise on the Mighty Fish Lake is more than welcome. We got a camp spot at Salina Res. If anyone is in the area, feel free to swing by for a re fill and a couple laughs. Good luck to all the muzzy hunters headed out this week.