I headed up to a new area of Vail this Saturday. I arrived about 45-60 minutes after I wanted to and the sun had been up for quite a while. At the first gate I saw 5 trucks then when I arrived at the gate I entered at there where 6 more trucks. That kind of deterred me from the start.
I rode up one of the logging roads being followed closely by another two bow hunters also on bikes right behind me. Eventually I put some distance between me and them. I am not doubting there are plenty of deer and elk in the area but I think everyone else in Washington is thinking the same thing.
I saw the remains of an elk in a patch of short trees and I ended up seeing 3 doe deer throughout the day, but mostly in the last couple hours I was there. The first was probably within 40 yards right off the main logging road. As I was trying to grab my bow it took off. The second I found in a small clear cut and it was probably 60 yards. The last doe I saw was across a pretty nasty ravine and just stood and looked at me for about ten minutes. I had enough time to take out my range finder and figure out it was exactly 85 yards away. Far out of my range and I wasn't about to take a shot.
The area is nice and I will likely go back this weekend, just hope to get there much earlier and not see so many other people. If I wanted to stand side by side with the next hunter I would have gotten a modern firearm permit and not an archery tag.
I rode up one of the logging roads being followed closely by another two bow hunters also on bikes right behind me. Eventually I put some distance between me and them. I am not doubting there are plenty of deer and elk in the area but I think everyone else in Washington is thinking the same thing.
I saw the remains of an elk in a patch of short trees and I ended up seeing 3 doe deer throughout the day, but mostly in the last couple hours I was there. The first was probably within 40 yards right off the main logging road. As I was trying to grab my bow it took off. The second I found in a small clear cut and it was probably 60 yards. The last doe I saw was across a pretty nasty ravine and just stood and looked at me for about ten minutes. I had enough time to take out my range finder and figure out it was exactly 85 yards away. Far out of my range and I wasn't about to take a shot.
The area is nice and I will likely go back this weekend, just hope to get there much earlier and not see so many other people. If I wanted to stand side by side with the next hunter I would have gotten a modern firearm permit and not an archery tag.
