While the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is open during the High Buck Hunt, deer hunters who aren't intimately familiar with the wilderness may want to give it a pass. An incredibly scenic area, with more than 700 lakes, 615 miles of trail and 47 trailheads, the Alpine Lakes are also situated within a one-hour drive of more than half of Washington's human populace. The wilderness has become so overcrowded that camping permits are required in the popular Enchantments area through Oct. 15; hunters should expect to encounter non-hunting backpackers and day hikers throughout the wilderness in September. If you know the area and know how to get away from hikers, you can enjoy a wonderful hunt here.

You will most likely encounter far fewer people in the portion of the Henry M. Jackson west of the Pacific Coast Trail, the area that is open during the High Buck Hunt. Located in the upper reaches of the Skykomish River, the wilderness ranges between 2,300 and 7,800 feet and is characterized by steep rocky ravines, cliffs and peaks. In addition to the formidable nature of the terrain, the wilderness has just 50 miles of maintained trail. This is a tough hunt, but you will probably be one of the few people in the area.

The five wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest are between Olympic National Park and roaded forest. In most cases, it is a relatively short hike from trailhead to wilderness boundary. This gives hunters a chance to experience wilderness hunting without backpacking, although you'll have a better chance of finding deer if you commit to three days or more. The Dungeness, Graywolf and Big Quilcene trails provide access to the Buckhorn Wilderness, while the Duckabush and Mount Jupiter trails reach the Brothers Wilderness Area. The Mount Skokomish area is accessible by the Mildred Lakes Way and Lake of the Angels trails. The Colonel Bob is traversed by several trails, but is seldom hunted, and the remote Wonder Mountain Wilderness doesn't have maintained trails.