Topic: Big Game Hunting Near Seafoam Lakes - Unit 27

[MarkinIdaho]

I know it may be a bit early but...

Wondered if anyone on here had experience deer and/or elk hunting in unit 27 near the Seafoam lakes and Josephus lakes.  That unit seems to have decent success rates - not the best, but not the worst either.  Was thinking of camping at Beaver Creek or Lola Creek campgrounds and going up.  It's surrounded almost completely by the Frank Church Wilderness.  So, some has a bit of road access and the rest are trails.

I'm going to be camping sort of near there in August and plan to do a bit of scouting just to get the lay of the land.  It appears it would be high country hunting - probably a lot of glassing and stalking.

Anyway, any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Brother dan]

Well, I've never hunted there, but I do know the area well from hiking/backpacking around it over the years.  That's a pretty large area..have you narrowed it down to where your going to hunt? (Beaver creek to Joesephus is something like 14miles away) There are some decent camp spots on Beaver creek.  The area around Josephus burned pretty good a few years ago.  It was starting to get pretty green again on the trail up to Helldiver lake when I was up there in 2007. Lots of deer sign, as well as bear.  Last year I hike up to Ruffneck lookout and the lakes below it..again, lots of deer sign, (as well as a deer that hung around my camp) There is several lakes off of Vanity summit and I have seen deer hanging around them and a small cub hanging out at the old cabin that's not far from the helio pad (opposite side of the road from Vanity lakes) The only elk I've ever seen in there was down towards Rapid river and that mine that is up there. It's pretty thick forest in there though, so it's hard to see much of anything unless your right on it.

[MarkinIdaho]

Well, I've never hunted there, but I do know the area well from hiking/backpacking around it over the years.  That's a pretty large area..have you narrowed it down to where your going to hunt? (Beaver creek to Joesephus is something like 14miles away) There are some decent camp spots on Beaver creek.  The area around Josephus burned pretty good a few years ago.  It was starting to get pretty green again on the trail up to Helldiver lake when I was up there in 2007. Lots of deer sign, as well as bear.  Last year I hike up to Ruffneck lookout and the lakes below it..again, lots of deer sign, (as well as a deer that hung around my camp) There is several lakes off of Vanity summit and I have seen deer hanging around them and a small cub hanging out at the old cabin that's not far from the helio pad (opposite side of the road from Vanity lakes) The only elk I've ever seen in there was down towards Rapid river and that mine that is up there. It's pretty thick forest in there though, so it's hard to see much of anything unless your right on it.

Thanks for the info!  I was hoping someone would know the area.  My thought, from looking at some pictures and the topo maps. that sitting on some of the ridges surrounding the lakes and watching for animals might be a way to go.  Sort of looked that way on the other side of the road, too.  I did see some pictures by the Seafoam guard station that made the area look thick with brush and such.  Glass and stalk, I guess.  We are camping this summer over at Bull Trout and thought I could do some scouting while we're there - both in the camp area as well as up at Vanity.

If you have any pictures from the area, I'd love to see them.  My email is mlrshooter@yahoo.com

[Nomad]

 Hard country to hunt while looking at maps look at Knapp Lakes and Tango Creek country.
 Should have horses or able to get them if you need them..
 Good country to hunt and few hunters takes about 5 hrs from Bonanza just out of Sunbeam
Went up Yankeefork because easy walk on foot and just used the horses to pack and bring
out game, friends horses so used caution in the back country all went well....

[MarkinIdaho]

Thanks, Nomad.  I don't have access to horses... so I'm thinking this country isn't for me.  I'm still researching, though.

[Brother dan]

Been out of town for the guard..sorry...I'll shoot you some pictures via email.


I sent you a email with links to some pictures of the Ruffneck area. Let me know if you get them. I can send more as well.


Dan

[MarkinIdaho]

Hey, not a problem.  I'll take a look at my email and get back to you.  I appreciate your help.