Frank Church mule deer hunt

[swampdog112]

Looks like i'm not going to draw any tags this year unless I get lucky and draw my Idaho controlled mulie tag or my Wyoming mulie tag which isn't very likely.

As a backup i'm planning on hunting mule deer (will have wolf tag also) in the Frank Church wilderness units... 26, 27, or 20A. I'm particularly interested in unit 27. I've never laid eyes on them but I've done all the internet/map research I can do over the last several months up to this point of asking for tips/advice on the forums. I usually try to save this as a last resort but given the vastness/ruggedness of the units and the lack of roads, I'm hoping to get an idea for a starting point or general area(s) to focus on. I've heard about the wolves and drop in animal numbers so my expectations are realistic. I'm just looking to spend time in beautiful country and a respectable mulie buck would be a bonus.

It would be nice to save some coin and hike in but I'm not opposed to a bush flight into the interior if it improves my odds dramatically. On that note... any suggestions for airstrips that don't get as much pressure?

I greatly appreciate any input/advice and please feel free to PM. I'm fairly new to hunting out West (spent most of my life hunting Texas and Oklahoma) but would be happy to share the small amount of knowledge/experience I have pertaining to SE Wyoming antelope, deer, and elk.

Thanks and happy hunting!

 

[Laddy]

http://forum.eastmans.com/showthread.php/13225-Frank-Church-Wilderness-Mule-Deer

Prior thread from earlier this year. A lot of your questions may be answered here.

 

[swampdog112]

Yeah I had come across that thread before. It's actually the thread that got me thinking more about flying in as opposed to driving. I think i've actually probably read every existing thread on all the different forums on this area over the past several months. I'm mainly trying to figure out which areas/airstrips are more conducive to mule deer as opposed to elk since I will be targeting deer. I'm coming from Oklahoma and on a limited budget so a scouting trip unfortunately isn't an option. I'm planning on hunting this area for the next several years before I make a determination on quality, just hoping for some general guidance.

Thanks!

 

[Wildphotographer]

The Frank church is a fun hunt.. It's more about the experience that what quality you will see in bucks.. There are the occasional big bucks that come out of the hints but not many for the amount of people on each strip.. For finding a strip that isn't crowded is going to be touch but getting away from the airstrip will put you in a lot better chance of getting a nicer buck.. Another though instead of flying is boating in or having someone horseback you into an areas away from the strips.. The country is very very very steap so I would be in the absolute best shape you can possibly be in before you go.. And hope for weather cause that will push more buck into the areas(not that there isn't quite a few bucks anyways) and glass a lot! Flights are anywhere from $600-$850 plus if you have to be shuttled in its usually around $100 a shuttle.. So price adds up quick depending on gear. Thankfully we only had to take one trip in and one out last season caus it was only two of us.. It's a fun hunt be ready to be sore and work for your animal if you spike hunt away from the airstrip and the pack out will never be forgotten lol

 

[SethNelsonAK]

Hello everyone, i just joined the forum so please forgive me on not knowing how this exactly works ha but I live in the wonderful last frontier of Alaska and live for hunting and fishing, iv killed lots of animals for being 25 years young, i am very respectful and love helping people and I am willing to climb any mountain to be successful on a hunt but I have been dreaming of hunting the frank church for a few years and I am wondering if anyone would be willing to let me tag along with a tag in my pocket for elk and or deer in trade to tag along with me on an Alaska adventure with a tag in there pocket. PM me if anyone is interested and or pass the message along, thank you!

 

[Birdman]

Can a guy do a 6 day backpack bear hunt in that area?

 

[tim]

birdman

yes, you can.

a friend of mine belongs to the flying b. This year they got a 170, 180 and 190 bucks. His was a November hunt.

 

[Birdman]

Nice. Tough being a non resident and pin pointing an area to backpack hunt for a week. I'll probably look for high numbers area and go there. I'm just worried about hounds and bait stands. I want to get away from the crowd.

 

[kidoggy]

I have found that, in most areas, if you are willing to hike in , and get away from the easy access crowd, you can generally find the solitude you desire.
most units have high numbers of hunters but the majority of them are seldom more then a half hour walk from their vehicles.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

[Birdman]

Thanks Kidoggy. That's encouraging. Merry Christmas!

 

[Eastfork]

Kidoggy is spot on. You can get away if your willing. A little wear on the boot soles can get you to where you find more animals and less people. Hounds and bait stands are going to be near roads, so distance yourself from them and you shouldn't have any issues. Snow will be your enemy most likely if your spring bear hunting.

 

[Eastfork]

Back to the frank church hunt. I have hunted it by boat...which has worked pretty good. We have hunted November 10-20 which has seem to be a good time. They have seemed to be in rut during that time. Make sure to have a wolf tag and dont past up a decent buck unless yoyr worried about tag soup. We have be fortunate to found a few good spots but there isnt a lot of deer. Its very beautiful country.....dont forget your camera!

 

[mallardsx2]

I tried to line up a trip there and once my friends found out there were grizzly bears there they all backed out. lol

So My plans have changed to an Alaskan Drop camp hunt with my wife. Better up the insurance policy. lol

 

[kidoggy]

grizz gots ta eat to.lol

 

[dan maule]

When I was in there back in 2008 I was told that there were no "confirmed" grizzlies in the Frank. Has that changed?

 

[mntnguide]

There are no grizzlies in the frank....The selway may have some...but they havent made it to the Frank yet...

 

[kidoggy]

so, you just have to make sure you are not the pooppile that confirms the first grizz!

 

[Eastfork]

In the time we spent in there we have never seen grizzly in there. Wolfs, but no grizzlies.

 

[tim]

spring bear hunting in the frank.

you better be flying in. the mountains in that area hold snow way late. like june, july late. you better research if you can drive to your trailhead when you want to go. A couple of years ago on a 4th of july weekend I ran into a gent from Oklahoma who was going backpacking with his wife. They parked 5 miles from the trailhead because they could not get to the trailhead. all I could think of was postholing in the snow for miles does not sound fun, and it is not.