IFish Fishing Forum banner

snake river; lords flat

1 reading
11K views 25 replies 19 participants last post by  qtynqly  
#1 Ā·
Have the points to draw and considering being flown into Lords flat. Has anyone been in this area via plane or stock? Also have a line on a pack in with mules closer to the imnaha line near hat point. Any recommendations would be nice as I am not set on either. Thanks in advance.
Scott
 
#2 Ā·
I vote you go put some boot leather on the ground to see if that's how you want to attack this hunt. If you don't have the time to do that there are some outstanding outfitters permitted in the snake river unit I would reccomend to you.
 
#5 Ā· (Edited)
Elk, second season, any bull. I do plan on making several trips over and getting boots on the ground. Outfitters are booked for the season, but plenty of other options for a drop camp and pick up for two as we have all the required gear. Don't know if I can get to Lords flat area this summer. If you have been there, can you drive in in the summer? What/where was water source? Going to the river does not look like an option on foot from there. Spring locations? Any general info from any DIY guys. Lots of info in the search on outfitters. Thanks.
Scott
 
#6 Ā·
I would take the pack animals all day long vs the plane. Lord flats get a lot of traffic from the planes.

The issue with the pack animals is who is going to take care of them while you are out hunting? They normal require at least a guy in them selves.

There is nothing wrong with paying a outfitter like Steen's to pack you in. They deal with all the bad crap and you just show up and hunt. "drop camp"

I did it by myself with 2 horses and I actual thought I saw the light of god a few times. If I hadn't been in the country and new what I was getting my self into it would have been horrible. But because I have I could mental prepare my self and body for the trip. " I ran/hiked over 500 miles last spring/summer just getting my body in shape for the hunt. In the end it paid off in a big way.

Good luck
 
#9 Ā·
I would take the pack animals all day long vs the plane. Lord flats get a lot of traffic from the planes.

The issue with the pack animals is who is going to take care of them while you are out hunting? They normal require at least a guy in them selves.

There is nothing wrong with paying a outfitter like Steen's to pack you in. They deal with all the bad crap and you just show up and hunt. "drop camp"

I did it by myself with 2 horses and I actual thought I saw the light of god a few times. If I hadn't been in the country and new what I was getting my self into it would have been horrible. But because I have I could mental prepare my self and body for the trip. " I ran/hiked over 500 miles last spring/summer just getting my body in shape for the hunt. In the end it paid off in a big way.

Good luck
This is spot on advice!!! I know first hand that Buckhunt did his research and it paid off to say the least. This country demands a commitment from you months before you even know if you drew the tag. Being in top physical shape is only half the battle, you better be at the top of your game mentally and be prepared to block out pain and fatigue on a daily basis if you want to hunt to its potential. I have seen many of hunters cry for there momma that were in top shape but couldn't handle the mental aspect of the hunt. I personaly will not hunt with stock at camp unless there is someone to take care of them. On average, I spend 90 days a year in this unit and there is still days where im not sure if im going to make it out, just saying. Feel free to pm me and I will do my best to help you out.
 
#12 Ā·
Probably some of both. Nobody has mentioned the possibility of not being able to get a plane in there if it snows.

My personal experience is pretty good hunting but the amount of people is no joke. There are limited trailheads , roads and water. It can be very discouraging to think your in 3-10 miles in and see other hunters all the time.
 
#13 Ā·
Thanks for all the advice. Please keep it coming. We are both in great shape and hunt every year off are backs for multiple days in wilderness areas. We do know are limitations and are not expecting to do this hunt without stock for the in and out. We are not planning to have stock in camp, we are only looking to be dropped and picked up for 7-10 days.
Water is the big concern. We will scout multiple trips this summer, but any help with spring locations near the tops would be helpful. Thanks again
Scott
 
#14 Ā·
Sacharat knows that unit quite well he cuts more fire wood up there than then the whole county of wallowa. I just don't know why he falls the huge rotten white firs in stead of the nice Doug firs? Lol really though get him to pm you he spends lots of time in there. As far as water goes go in there right before the road closes and look for tents. We're there are tents there is water. In hunting season there are no water sources with out camps at them. First hand experience, I drew with no points and had never steped foot in there. I thought I could learn it in a few trips. I got my butt kicked but wanted to go back in a bad way. Drew it two years later thought I had it figured out got my butt kicked again and I'm going to draw again this year planning on getting that giant bull this year but will probably get my butt kicked again but am going to love it.
 
#24 Ā·
I got my butt kicked but wanted to go back in a bad way. Drew it two years later thought I had it figured out got my butt kicked again and I'm going to draw again this year planning on getting that giant bull this year but will probably get my butt kicked again but am going to love it.
Sounds familiar. After all those butt kickings, something always draws me back. :doh:
 
#16 Ā·
Lol. Just rememger, for every one of these "is really bad" post, there are still a whole bunch of people that do that hunt just fine with no problem. That's the reason everybody is talking about it being crowded lol. yes it's kind of steep, yes you can get in trouble if you're not careful, but if you are an experienced hunter and its not your first rodeo you can go in there and have a very successful trip. what some people think R unbelievably dangerous mountain sides other people think of as just another day in the woods. Go and have fun and kill one of the big bulls that call it home.
 
#17 Ā·
The central portion of the unit is a personal favorite; I killed my first 5-point bull there and my first archery elk. There are springs on top, where you can find them (follow the game trails; be prepared to filter; some of the springs double as elk wallows). Glass the main canyons coming up from the Snake River. Be prepared to hunt down and hike back up. Good luck!
 
#18 Ā·
Snake River is an awesome unit. Lord Flats can be busy, but once off the top, you can find a lot of unoccupied country. I've hunted it from Lord Flat down, and I've camped at the river and hunted up each day. I prefer being at the river and hunting up. We've had excellent success, but it is a physically demanding hunt. As it's a wilderness area, your only option for getting game out is on your back, or with horses. Hope you enjoy your hunt as it's really unique country.
 
#23 Ā·
Water is going to be a HUGE issue this year. I was in Hells two weeks ago on a bear hunt and the spring we count on for our drinking water was bone dry already! This is a spring that has always run all the way through the fall for as long as I've hunted in there