Where to go, first time bow hunter.

[M.Tumlinson]

This will be my cousin and my first year bow hunting. I've got years of hunting experience but have only hunted rifle in GMU's 564, 554, 572, 560. This will be our first time venturing out east looking for mule or whitetail. I had two different areas in mind.

Option A: GMU's 175, 178, 181 and possibly 162 and 163.

Option B: GMU's 578, 388 and 382.

I would like to get peoples opinion on which area they prefer and what the drawbacks are. Klickitat is definitely closer to home but if our chance are better of bagging a big one further east I'd consider that. We are planing on camping by tent for about a week no matter where we go. I know some of you don't want to give away your hunting areas but a nudge in the right direction would be appreciated. And another thing to mention, I don't have a tree stand and probably won't have one before season opens, so I will be stalking or hunting from a blind. Thank you all!

[spin05]

well im not familiar with any of those areas. If i where you being new. I would head over to the Twisp/Winthrop area.  Practice out to 60yrds if ya do.....

[M.Tumlinson]

Thanks, for the suggestion. I've only be shooting a bow for a couple months, I'm pretty accurate within 40yards, decent at 50yards. I'm a little nervous about spot and stalk, looks really difficult for a first time bow hunt. Winthrop is a long way, what's the terrain like there?

[fair-chase]

Tough call...

Option A: Lower deer population. Less hunters. Lots of public access. Rough country.

Option B: Better deer population. More hunters. Limited access. Friendlier terrain.

[blackveltbowhunter]

  I didnt have the regs handy so I am going to assume your planning to hunt early season. The only experience I have in regards to the units is a ( very  ) little experience in gmu 388 during late archery. Found good deer numbers. Permission to access private land would be a big advantage IMO. I dont know anything about any of the other units you mentioned.

    Depending on the caliber of deer your looking for, Spot and stalk muleys are about as good as it gets in the deer world for me. Cover lots of ground, both boots and glass. Practice with your bow is awesome and im not trying to take away from it, but my  practice stalking more. My first year hunting muleys with my bow I was all amped up thinking im gonna need to practice from all sorts of outrageous ranges, get me a SDP etc, etc.....  while the practice was good and confidence in your equipment is crucial....I have yet to kill a muley over 40 yard. Oh wait.... I guess I have.. with a gun By stalking practice, im not talking about walking on your tiptoes, or belly crawling ( tho thats good  ) But picking a high percentage stalk.

 

[oldcamper]

Both have their plus' so I gues its a matter of were you live and how far you want to drive. I chose option B but I also like option A. Just B is closer. But A is better.

[Todd_ID]

Option A: 178 and 181 are all private land.  Permission can be found with work: reasonable deer numbers: good chance at a fat doe. 175 is public land.  It's a zoo though, because it's one of the only places in the Blues you can shoot a cow, plus the deer numbers aren't great in 175.  162 and 163 have relatively low deer numbers and mostly private with plenty of pressure on what is public.

Option B: Don't know these areas, but you live so much closer to it that you could be able to get out and gain permission on some places that look promising.  Plus it sounds like the deer numbers are better there than Option A.

[M.Tumlinson]

Thanks for all the input guys. I am all for owning land, it's a great right to have, but it sure does ruin public hunting. I had a place picked out in 388 and it fell through cause the owners apparently have a thing against hunting. Public land hunting it is. It looks like option A is ruled out just because the drive is long and there is just too much private land. I've heard the Chief Joseph area is pretty good, anyone know anything about that?

[Jburke]

I don't know any of those areas either, and I don't have regs in front of me.  But I say why not hunt the areas you have been hunting rifle in?  You already know that area, it makes it that much easier on you rather than trying to learn a new area.

[M.Tumlinson]

Reason I'm looking elsewhere is because of how crowded St. Helens was last year. It was a freakin' circus, every road or trailhead you went down there were ten trucks parked in front of it, granted it was rifle season. Also mullies are bigger deer and everyone talks about how fun they are to hunt, would like to try it someday.

[Odell]

Lots of deer in 382 and fun terrain. The bench bucks are smaller then the big wide muley's you might be imagining but they have a character of their own. Still access to be had on private, especially with archery but you have to be ok with 10 "no's" before you get an ok. Head out there now and see if you can make yourself useful on someone's property.