Late whitetail season...???

[MichaelJ]

Got a chance to hunt some 140 acres of private ground near Chewelah...  I'm thinking its my best best at putting some meat in the freezer this year!  Never shot a whitetail before, anybody else hunt the late whitetail season?  I hear it can be pretty good!  Post up some pics of what you've shot and seen if you got anything!  Thanks guys

Michael

[Ellensburg]

I may be doing the same this year. Found a killer spot last year and am sure we will be welcomed back. I want to rattle one in. Last year my buddy did the rattleing and i shot the deer. Give it a try, WAY more deer to choose from.

[MHWASH]

Micheal,

 The late season is your best chance at getting a good buck. Especially if your hunting the woods. The best thing to do is pattern the does. You best set is to sit still for as long as possible.

[archery288]

Just made this thread the other day....     

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,12627.0.html

[blessed]

 
White tails late season is really fun! and you get to see some monster bucks. We saw some big 10 &12 pointers  :yike:south of Chewelia when we were scouting for moose this August close to the farms and on that refuge that is to the north. I haven't shot one yer either but ate a couple the wife shot. They are the best meat for deer we ever had! We hate the drive over  :dunno:there but go every year! The hides are great to get tanned and have around. they are about 3 inches thick with fur!STB

[MichaelJ]

I knew I should've stuck with archery this year.... lol only reason I went modern is for the high hunt with my brother...  If I would've went archery I could've taken ALL of my thanksgiving break to go chase white tails and be a little more selective, its okay though cause I'm super stoked to head over there and kill my first whitey.  Gonna be hunting with some people I helped guide last fall and they're setting up the wall tent here soon and getting everything ready!  Its gonna be a blast!   

Also, what caliber of bucks are we talking about?  I'd like to shoot a nice 4 point but am not picky cause I need some meat...

Michael

[head hunter]

Hunted Selkirks in 06 passed on many 4 and 5 point bucks every day we hunted. here is a buck my buddy got in less than 12 hours of hunting with us

[jollyskwala]

Your lucky to have access to private land. I've been up and around Chewelah and you should have an excellent chance at a good buck. In the very least, you should be able to put some meat in the freezer. Good Luck.

[Buckshot Bill]

Having private land to hunt there is excellent.  I've hunted that area off and on for around 10 years now and it seems there is a lot of private land and the deer like to hang there.  I'm sure there is good public hunting areas but I haven't found it yet.  Not being from there and only getting there during the late season doesn't help my cause either.  Enjoy the hunt!

[MichaelJ]

Thanks guys and thats a DANDY buck!  I'd be super happy with a buck like that any year!  I'm heading out this thursday with a buddy to a nearby spot to see if we can't find me a legal buck...  The general ain't over yet and I'm super excited to get up there and try my hand at a whitetail!  Think I got to buy some warmer pants though! lol

[Colville]

If you are on heavily pressured public, don't be expecting numbers of the big boys.l I'm sure some find em, but local genetics and the pressure matter. That and how early the rut starts to get tipped over.

An area we do a family hunt every year just doesn't have great genetics. We don't see even as good a deer rack as that selkirk buck above most years. But the selkirk is a ton of area and it's far fewer hunters. There's a ton of whitetail bucks if you'll just keep in the woods and aren't too picky.

The late hunt can be good but if you are in NF with easy access and terrain, they've been hunted for 2 months by the time you get there and the old ones have survived a perennial gauntlet not by accident.

[hambone]

this buck was taken on the back side of the ski resort just south of chewlah.

[MichaelJ]

If you are on heavily pressured public, don't be expecting numbers of the big boys.l I'm sure some find em, but local genetics and the pressure matter. That and how early the rut starts to get tipped over.

An area we do a family hunt every year just doesn't have great genetics. We don't see even as good a deer rack as that selkirk buck above most years. But the selkirk is a ton of area and it's far fewer hunters. There's a ton of whitetail bucks if you'll just keep in the woods and aren't too picky.

The late hunt can be good but if you are in NF with easy access and terrain, they've been hunted for 2 months by the time you get there and the old ones have survived a perennial gauntlet not by accident.

Well noted Colville... I'll be on 140 acres of private land that is borded by NF I believe... so the area to hunt is pretty much unlimited.
Not sure about the genetics of the areas around Chewelah but judging by that last picture there's some dandy's around!  Guess I got to talk to the land owner and see what he thinks of the type of bucks the land has been producing!

Michael

[Colville]

From what I've seen Micahael, Chewelah has some great bucks. Hopefully there'll be some pressure on the nearby ground and make that 140 the reserve. Good luck bring back some pictures and your story.

[TeacherMan]

I have been very successful over the years hunting the late season, don't expect an easy kill. If you don't know where to go you will have the same success that you would have in the early season. That is not very good, preseason scouting is important. IF you just want to have fun, drink a few beers and go camping that's great. Don't expect big bucks everywhere.