Im learning hunting on my own in eastern Washington. Previous years I’ve hunted units 250 and 251. I’ve seen a lot of deer, but even more hunters. I’m wondering if anyone has any tips for hunting Washington. I’m not asking for your secret spots (unless….) I’m hoping for areas to try and/or techniques for hunting high pressure deer. Thank you in advance!
I’ll give up some information in this setting since it’s relatively low visibility. I have hunted mule deer all over central Washington and I’ve settled on the units around the Methow valley. They just seem to have the most deer in that part of the state, despite all the guys who complain there are no deer left. The key up there is to target any of the peaks over 7k feet. For some reason they just seem to hold bucks. The bucks won’t be at the tippy top of these peaks during rifle season, but will often be in the 4500-6500’ elevation range. You would do well to learn how to backpack hunt since it is pretty tough to hike 3k+ feet every morning in the dark to get to a glassing knob. If you find groups of does at lower elevations around one of the higher peaks, there will be bucks up higher on that mountain. If you are lucky and they haven’t been messed with and there hasn’t been any weather you might find some pretty good sized bachelor groups still in their summer pattern, but the second they are disturbed (or if they’ve been messed with during early archery) they will break up into smaller groups or become solitary.
As a general rule you will rarely find bucks out on open hillsides during the October general rifle season. Hunt the edges of cover, or find vantage points that allow you to see into cover. Feel free to sit and glass all day, but do not limit yourself to glassing or spot and stalk hunting. If you don’t still hunt, or get up and move around to check different spots you will miss out. You’ll definitely bump deer moving around like that, but that is just the cost of doing business.
Now for the part that is totally out of place in a forum that is primarily focused on shooting: spend time becoming proficient with your weapon, but don’t invest all your time in shooting. I haven’t killed a ton of mule deer bucks, but I’ve killed three inside of 100 yards, and most of my encounters are 300 yards and in. I spend more time scouting and working out to stay in awesome shape than I do shooting by a long shot because I think those activities improve my odds much more.
It’s also very handy to make sure you keep your rifle on you at all times when you are in the field, which is a lesson I learned the hard way last October. The second to last day of my hunt I had decided to revert to an “any legal deer is a dead deer” philosophy, and that morning I spotted two smaller four points sparring out in the open. When I reached over my shoulder to unsling my rifle, there was only air where my gun should’ve been. I realized I had left it sitting up against a tree over a mile back towards camp where I had stopped off to use the latrine. Live and learn. Got a decent photo at least.
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Hi Welcome, I live here in North Spokane… I’d say if you own a boat and have On-X etc, then that’s going to be your best bet to avoid crowds, lake Chelan lots of camping along the shore and public access away from roads. The Columbia River, Rufus Woods, lake Roosevelt, Snake River.. you get where I’m going with this… find a big body of water and with a boat you can escape the road hunters.
I personally have given up on WA in a sense, I shot my WT in the backyard for the freezer every year… but hunt out of state for trophy deer.
good luck!
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My wife and I are currently looking into getting a fishing boat. I’ll have to keep that in mind that’s a great tip!
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I am really wanting to get into high mountain week trips. I am only able to do day trips right now until I am able to find at least one person to hunt with for longer trips. My current hunting friends are not as dedicated to hunting so I am limited to day trips. For safety reasons I won’t go on multi day trips. But for future reference this is great!!
If you are going to be limited to day hikes I would look at unit 243 (Manson). There is a good road network, but you can hike up or down from the road and get away from the majority of people. Also, if you hunt the middle of the week, and especially the last Monday-Tuesday of the season there will be way fewer people around.
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Ive thought about hunting out of my boat on lake Chelan maybe this year.
Im a westsider killed a 3 point blacktail up in Hancock/Kapowsin it was tough finding a buck. I grew up in Utah hunting mule deer hunting blacktail was very tough.
Consider getting a permit on tree farms there were a few days I didnt see another person pay to play and my permit was good for a year you can hunt beer cougar coyotes deer grouse and if you get lucky and win the elk lottery you and 5 other lucky hunters are the only ones that have access to rhe entire tree farm.
Dont forget the late season thats when i got mine.
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That boat looks like it’s made to kill some Tuna!
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I spent 2004 to 2016 there in Westport 3 days a week, with all the bloody deck crew. I was part of the original crew on putting on Westports tuna tournament. 2017 got tired of the west side BS and moved just North of Spokane, I don’t miss the Westside at all… just didn’t move far enough east as we over here on the east side are still on communist rule.
I retire next year moving to Sitka.