Grouse Lake D5 area

[ksberry209]

It’s been a few years since I hiked back to Grouse Lake. The trail starts at Blue Lake. Is it even worth the walk? Last time I hiked in was probably 2020 or 2021. I saw some sign but it was mostly small tracks and very little poop. I talked to a guy on horse back chasing bears and said he hasn’t hunted deer back there since the 1990s. Elevation is probably around 8000’ and some areas are up to 9000+.

I just like to hike into areas away from side by side traffic so I look for trails that they are not allowed or simply cannot get into

 

[Chico1548]

In most my trips there I see doe’s but never shot at a buck. Took the day off work Monday to scout Blue lakes area and it seems a little dry compared to last few years.
Always a pretty backdrop though.

 

[ksberry209]

In most my trips there I see doe’s but never shot at a buck. Took the day off work Monday to scout Blue lakes area and it seems a little dry compared to last few years.
Always a pretty backdrop though.

Were you on the south eastern side of Blue Lakes Road by any chance? That area is always dry this time of year. I have only ever seen does and small forkies back there. A couple years ago I ran into a ranchers moving cattle and he told me to stop wasting my time back on that side. Said he moves cattle all year and barley sees deer back there anymore.

Could have been full of $hit but normally the good old boys driving cattle are pretty honest. But at the same time I wonder if he hunts back there and doesn’t want the competition???

 

[Chico1548]

No, never hiked into that area. I stick to the wilderness area where there are no vehicles. If I ever bring the Honda SxS up there I may head that direction out of curiosity.
I think that area is close to where they spotted some wolves last year during the season.

 

[cjp5711]

I never went up to Grouse Lake but I spent a few weeks during season 4 or 5 years ago up in that area. Went from the southern side of Twin lake down into the wilderness area and then back into the area south of Wet Meadows. In total I think I remember seeing 5-10 does and fawns but nothing else. Only ran into a few other hunters and haven't been back to that area since.

 

[ksberry209]

Well I hope those fawns have grown up and I get to chase them!

 

[husky44]

Woke up this morning at 4am, thought I'd hit opening morning for the 50th straight year. Said screw it and went back to bed. Had 50-years of great memories and successful hunts. Getting too old to waste time seeing nothing, have land in Idaho if I wanted to be successful filling a tag.
My friends that have property down here in the valley said come on out and shoot one of these bucks laying by the house, i said no thanks. This state is just screwed.

 

[MQ]

57 years of openers here. Saw one deer, a spike, for the effort. Been going out with the grandkids, otherwise I might be questioning my commitment to the effort.
I do enjoy the view though.

 

[ksberry209]

The best thing about my Opening weekend was the views too. Didn’t see squat around the Blue Lake area. I put around 15 miles on my boots hiking into Grouse Lake and the surrounding area. Saw some tracks but not a single pile of poop. This is also the first time I’ve been back there and didn’t see a bear.

On my way out I drove down Sunset Lake Rd to Little Indian Valley and talked to a few other hunters and they were all empty handed too and hadn’t heard of anyone harvesting a deer.

With the fairly mild summer we had in CA do you guys think the deer have already started migrating down to lower elevations?

 

[MQ]

We were hunting downhill from you at 8000'. Ran into a group of hunters who have gone to this area for many years and all they saw was one bear and no deer. Was wondering if lions had taken their toll on the herd.