Rock creek, where to start?

[russm]

Me and a couple buddies are thinking about heading to the rock creek area around the second week of October, I spent a day up there kind of poking around before but I didn't see much, it'll be my one buddies first time out and my other buddies first time in the area, I was hoping maybe we could get some tips on where to start or where not to bother wasting any time, were open to other areas too (grand forks, Christina lake etc) more than likely will be camping and we can bring quads if need be, any help is much appreciated, all the spots I finally had figured out burnt to a crisp so this'll be a new hunt for all of us. Private messages are fine if you do t want to share here, thanks, Russ.

[Wild one]

If you are looking for WT get off the road and ambush them in the thick stuff. Lots of WT low in the valley along the river. A tip for chest waders and small boat are handy and get you away from high pressure areas

They have become more pressured so road hunting will get you mostly flags running

[Seeker]

Houses and ranches consume most of the valley floor up until the end of the power grid (~25km mark). You can find a few spots to get up high in that stretch, but your better crown hunting improves significantly beyond that point. Pick "ANY" FSR and take a cruise. Quads will help. There are a lot of trails and old roads in the area. As Wild One mentioned get off the road, the animals have adjusted to the new doe season and are much more skittish than they once were. You will most certainly have a lot of other hunters in the area as it is probably the most popular whitetail valley in the province. Lots of deer, despite what some of the old timers in the area will tell you.

[Linksman313]

Houses and ranches consume most of the valley floor up until the end of the power grid (~25km mark). You can find a few spots to get up high in that stretch, but your better crown hunting improves significantly beyond that point. Pick "ANY" FSR and take a cruise. Quads will help. There are a lot of trails and old roads in the area. As Wild One mentioned get off the road, the animals have adjusted to the new doe season and are much more skittish than they once were. You will most certainly have a lot of other hunters in the area as it is probably the most popular whitetail valley in the province. Lots of deer, despite what some of the old timers in the area will tell you.

All good advice from my standpoint, be very careful with private property, many ranchers in the area actively prosecute on first offense trespass (learned from personal experience). Lots of land to cover outside the grid, easier once ATV/ORV ban comes off (hopefully next week or so). Deer counts up Kettle Valley Mainlin FSR off the Christian Valley Road shows great improvement considering what a winter we had. Plenty of beautiful spots to set up base camp close to the river as well. Be aware many DCT Chambers and Logging trucks this time of the season, resource road radio will come in handy throughout entire region, also please bring a bear tag or two, we can use the help in that department as well. Good luck and pm for more info if needed.

[russm]

Ive got a bear tag I'm itching to fill lol, any areas to not bother with? Also curious if the area holds many turkeys.

[Wild one]

Yes there is turkeys and the odd bear

[Wild one]

Honestly I found the best way to hunt that area for wt is two hunt the stupid places everyone drives past or find natural obstructions that keep people out

if a truck or ATV can get there it will be hunted in that valley. Get in the bush and away from clear cuts. I like it thick can see max 40yards ussally less

[.308SLAYER]

Got my first whitetail in the Christian valley....early November rattling...got up to leave too soon seen the white flag...don't know how I did it but slow hunted the timber he went into bumped a nice group got a not bad 4 point...gotta hunt they ain't always just gonna hand themselves to yah

[russm]

I got my first whitetail in grand forks, that was another dumb luck situation.

[Wild one]

Do a search on WT threads myself and others have posted lots of tips and advice

[brownmancheng]

My dad was in a motorcycle accident this am just outside of grand forks. A deer jumped out on the road. Broke a few ribs and his thumb.. I told him I will seek revenge on said deer!

[wideopenthrottle]

take a look at google maps....look for natural pinch points that exit the farm fields close to the river and lead to nice benches for does especially...they do tend to travel before first light instead of just as it is getting light now IMHO and from what I have seen and heard....the bucks may take more difficult routes out and tend to go higher up and further from any human disturbance (where there will also be mulies so be careful)...there is nothing illegal about having a spot light to locate them in the fields before light and see where they are exiting from the fields just don't point the lights at/near farm buildings...almost all the deer I have gotten in those areas have been moving up in the morning but I did get one buck coming down in the evening...

[J.P.]

I've been hunting the Rock Creek area for the last 6 years with some success in the 4 point mulie season and whitetail season, but have since decided that the area has too many hunters for my preference. Most of my success was in the christian valley, but that also seems to be where the majority of hunters flock to as well.

[Linksman313]

I've been hunting the Rock Creek area for the last 6 years with some success in the 4 point mulie season and whitetail season, but have since decided that the area has too many hunters for my preference. Most of my success was in the christian valley, but that also seems to be where the majority of hunters flock to as well.
Unfortunately as a resident of said area, I regrettably have to agree with JP, although many new friendships and traditions have formed over the years meeting folk out on the hunt.

[Fisher-Dude]

Remember it's 4 point muley all season now, there is no more any buck in the CV.

As advised above, go for a walk and you'll see more than on the roads. They've all read the memo and the days of 30 does standing on the CV Main are over. Those deer are still there in the same numbers, but they've adapted quickly and tend to seek out the pine stands.

With many hunters around, your best bet is to either still hunt or set up a stand. Let the bush bashers push the deer to you.

[Seeker]

I hate saying this because I assume most people that get as far as signing up for this site are competent hunters, but.... based on the time of year you are heading to the area, please ensure any does harvested are whitetail does. Every year we get reports from CO's and other hunters that Mule deer does are being shot mistakenly. I simply want to ensure that we save all mule deer does we can in the area at this point. Good Luck

[russm]

Yea I know it can get pretty busy around there, hoping to find somewhere not over crowded, I'm pretty good with comparing mule deer/whitetail but I'll be careful for sure. I'm more of a region 3 hunter so I'm used to good visibility when I'm hunting, the few times Ive been up to region 8 and 4 the bush seems to close in on me sooner lol Ive gotten turned around a few times, maybe it's just the areas I happen to have hunted. Its starting to sound like I might want to have a contingency plan incase it's too over run with people.

[VFX_man]

Me and a couple buddies are thinking about heading to the rock creek area around the second week of October, I spent a day up there kind of poking around before but I didn't see much, it'll be my one buddies first time out and my other buddies first time in the area, I was hoping maybe we could get some tips on where to start or where not to bother wasting any time, were open to other areas too (grand forks, Christina lake etc) more than likely will be camping and we can bring quads if need be, any help is much appreciated, all the spots I finally had figured out burnt to a crisp so this'll be a new hunt for all of us. Private messages are fine if you do t want to share here, thanks, Russ.

Really, get on Google Earth [not just maps]. You can really scout out areas and find the "hidden spots". That ravine looks like where I would hide if I was a pressured buck.

http://i.imgur.com/Z1r5LP3.jpg

Just a random screen capture below -- sorry if I outed someone's spot.

http://i.imgur.com/hWMNejJ.jpg

[longwalk]

I'm thinking that looking south and west from Rock Creek, you are looking at a whole lot of private property.

[russm]

That's kind of what I was thinking too, the last time I was there there seemed to be a lot of private land, we won't be up there long, I don't want to waste all of time looking for spots we're aloud to hunt.

[Wild one]

You can hide from everyone easy enough. Avoid cut blocks and anywhere a truck or atv can go.

There is tons of pockets guys don't hunt and you don't need to hike for miles

[Numenor604]

Hey guys ! Thanks for all the good info in this thread . I'm up in rock creek right now by myself . First time up this way. I tried Ingram creek for a day and a half without any luck , only saw some muley does .. can someone point me in the right direction to encounter some whitetail please ? I am prepared to walk ! Thanks

[russm]

We ended up going elsewhere and got our mulies, so I can't be much help to ya, I think my dad headed up that way today I can try to get hold of him and see I he's seeing anything.