WA High Hunt???

Washintonian · Jun 7, 2004

I have been thinking of giving the September High Hunt a try.

Who else out there does do that hunt or is thinking of going?

boneaddict · Jun 8, 2004

I've done it a couple of times. There are very few deer scattered over a large piece of land. It is a fun time to be in the woods, and if you have nothing else better to do, like Archery elk, I'd do it for sure. I killed a real nice three point the year I was serious about it. The other times, I was looking for bear, and thought I'd shoot a bruiser if I seen one. My Dad packs for an outfitter that works out of the Pasayten, and they average only a couple of deer per year. Last year, they shot more bears than deer. The guys he takes in are generally more interested in booze than bone. The deer they usually shoot are camp deer. Out of the last 8 years, I have seen only one buck that was of trophy quality. the three I got was a heavy rack, and the hunt made him more of a trophy than anything. He tumbled/fell over a thousand feet vertical after I shot him. He ended up busting his antlers up pretty bad. It was a great hunt!

Muleyslyr · Jun 8, 2004

I did it for 3 years until last year, decide to try archery elk instead, but I love the early high hunt. I figure, why not go, it's an extra week of hunting. Like boneaddict said, if you see a dandy, which is always possible, then take em'. If not, that's prime time for bear hunting too, and most of those high areas are prime bear areas.

So, I say, if your thinking about it you should do it. I don't know what your used to in your general hunts, but you should definately be prepared for everything if you hike or pack in. It's alot more physically demanding.

Bone....sounds like your talkin' about Varrelman's camp

boneaddict · Jun 8, 2004

Darwood. My brother packed for Miller. I'm not sure if Varrelman has any in the Pasayten or not. He might be over in the Chelan. I know he is over there during the regualr season. He hunts alot where I bagged that 33. I saved him from walking out one day. They were having a druk on, and the next morning they had a dude that wanted to round up the stock. They always keep one tied up. They saddled the mule up and when the guy climbed on, it dumped him. He and all the other stock headed home. I was on horseback with our stock when I seen his herd coming with the riding mule in the lead. I knew there was a problem since saddle and everything was on. I captured him, and headed towards his camp. He was sure glad to see me. He figured he was going to hike a few miles I think. Very nice man, and the guy has the BEST stock. All those camps drink more than hunt I think.

Muleyslyr · Jun 8, 2004

My dad and I went with him (B.V.) about 10yrs. ago as a graduation gift. We packed into the Pasayten 22 miles sometime in the middle of Sept. I think his general hunt is toward Chelan. Really a good guy, him and my dad were like to peas in a pod. Just saw him and Darwood about a month ago over there for 49er days. Have you ever hunted with Steve?

boneaddict · Jun 8, 2004

He's my Dads neighbor, and good friend. I've never personally hunted with him, but have always been in the same neck of the woods as his camps. I sometimes stayed with his crew while I was off hunting on my own. He hunts Gardner alot, and some of the Twisp River, where I often find myself. I always try to hear each year and look for pictures of all the game that comes out of his camps. I shot a nice buck next to his house one year, and his son tried to help me drag it out. He didn't use to have very good stock, but he has made some changes, and I just talked to my Dad tonight, and he said that he is getting some good stock. Much of it is pasturing at my Dads. He grazes some of his stock in exchange for a shoeing now and then, and can borrow some when I get an animal down. I'm hoping that he can borrow one or two to help pack out this years moose. Varrelman has great mules, and as far as I know a top notch camp. Darwood is improving drastically. I like where Darwood hunts better than Varrelman. Burkhardt is middle of the road I think. I think he has better success rates, but not as big of animals.

boneaddict · Jun 8, 2004

I'll try to get a picture of that pasayten deer. I didn't post it in the WA Bone forum. I need to scan it to disk.

ridgerunner · Jun 10, 2004

Do the hunt, just don't expect a kill. Great time of year, great bear country, deer hunting can be great or very slow depending upon the year and weather, its one of the better hunts in the state in terms of experience in my opinion, only 3 more months till this years edition!

boneaddict · Jun 17, 2004

Here are the photos from that hunt. I finally got them scanned in.

boneaddict · Jun 17, 2004

boneaddict · Jun 17, 2004

Muleyslyr · Jun 18, 2004

Love that country....where ever you go up there the areas all look the same

Can't wait to go this year!

Vek · Jun 18, 2004

Dammit, bone, I can just about smell the air in those last two pictures. Earthy, a kiss of evergreen and bitterbrush, and the musky smell of deer. Very, very distinctive to us westsiders. Makes me want to be there, NOW. The summer is the toughest part to wait.

I'll let you know how we make out this fall in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

-Jerry

IdahoMuley · Jun 20, 2004

is that up by tunusk??
Muley Man!

boneaddict · Jun 21, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Jun-21-04 AT 07:38AM (MST)[p]I guess I'd say no, since I dont know where Tunusk is. Its up in the Pasayten. I'm not sure that country is there anymore. They had a nasty fire up there this last year. An area burnt that we have been wathcing. It had so much fuel in it it was incredible.
Vek- That would be great, I haven't hunted on that side before. It should be fun. It sure is beautiful country. Speaking of fires, I've been on a couple up there, before the let burn policy was put back into place. Now that was a fun summer. Helicopter rides all over the best country in the world.