Poll-Which deer tag in Wa is the best.

[trophyhunt]

I have a friend that has 14 deer points and I'm trying to figure out which one he should try for. I feel all the hunts listed above are great hunts, I just wonder because of the wolves and winter kills if one of them shine a bit more than the rest. I personally put in for the late desert. He is a really good bow hunter and I also love bow hunting but if I could pick one of those tags and wanted an 180+ deer, I would have to go with rifle. What do you guys think? I know these tags are no secret to anyone.

[adamR]

180 in lt Murray? Good luck!

[trophyhunt]

180 in lt Murray? Good luck!

That is where my friend and my dad hunt early and late archery, they have seen a couple monsters. I also know a guy who lives in the area that had is eye one one bigger than 180 during the late archery season a couple years ago, until the indians killed it. It was behind gold creek.

[thurman]

Can't really vote anything besides late desert after seeing links buck

[trophyhunt]

Can't really vote anything besides late desert after seeing links buck

:yeah:I figured that might sway a few votes towards the desert!

[bobcat]

I don't think there is a "best." It's just whichever one he can draw. If he really wants a late permit he needs to apply for one with better odds.

14 points is certainly not even close to giving a person a good chance of drawing a permit. I'd say all the permits you listed would be worth 14 points.

Since he knows LT Murray so well that just might be the one to go for. Although it would be the last one I'd normally recommend, since the deer population is so much lower there than it is up north in Chelan and Okanogan counties.

[jackelope]

I think a lot of it comes down to what type of hunting you like to do. The desert is very difficult to hunt and see deer in, especially bedded deer. I've only ever applied for one of the units you listed so I voted for that one. Does your buddy like to spend a lot of time glassing, hiking, road hunting, etc. that may narrow down the permit choices he makes. Good luck to him either way. With 14 points he's got more of a chance at a draw than I do.

[coachcw]

YTC !

[NWWA Hunter]

My dad in perrygin (one of the harder to draw tag)with that many points was somewhere around 1/15 to1/30 the last couple years. With 14 points you could still potentially never draw as someone with one point always has a chance. The question is more whether he wants to hunt or get lucky in the lotto. There are at least 20 units in the state with different seasons that could potentially produce 180+. Will they every year? No. But they could.  Most guys who draw one of the top 5 tags in the state will never even see a 180+ mule deer. You are better off starting to scout an easier draw unit during the season you are hoping to draw. Then you are more likely to draw and know the unit. I have drawn units before where I knew or had inside info and still didn't see the animal I wanted in season. 180 is a big number in this state. You should set your bar at 160 and hope to get lucky with larger.

[vandeman17]

I have 10 points so I am kind of in the middle which sucks because 10 points SHOULD be enough to draw a decent tag but I know the reality of it all. For me, I am ok with putting in for one of the so called "great" units and hoping I get drawn because I am confident in my general season spots and that they will produce. As for the original question, I would rather hunt an area and style of hunting I enjoy versus a place that just has a chance at a bruiser. It isn't all about the size of the buck but the experience as a whole. 

[jackelope]

I drew with 4 points, set a goal of 160, killed a 150 on day 3 of a late quality permit. It was the 1st buck we saw. Anybody can draw at any time.

[trophyhunt]

YTC !

I used to put in for that everyear, and drew it twice in 2003 and 2004. Back then I would have not wanted any different tag but now since the indians have put the smack down on the deer in there, I won't bother with it. I bet there are still some monsters but not even close to the numbers that there used to be in there.

[trophyhunt]

I don't think there is a "best." It's just whichever one he can draw. If he really wants a late permit he needs to apply for one with better odds.

14 points is certainly not even close to giving a person a good chance of drawing a permit. I'd say all the permits you listed would be worth 14 points.

Since he knows LT Murray so well that just might be the one to go for. Although it would be the last one I'd normally recommend, since the deer population is so much lower there than it is up north in Chelan and Okanogan counties.

Good points!!

[trophyhunt]

I think a lot of it comes down to what type of hunting you like to do. The desert is very difficult to hunt and see deer in, especially bedded deer. I've only ever applied for one of the units you listed so I voted for that one. Does your buddy like to spend a lot of time glassing, hiking, road hunting, etc. that may narrow down the permit choices he makes. Good luck to him either way. With 14 points he's got more of a chance at a draw than I do.

Some more good points, he will see these recommendations which I'm sure will help him decide.

[buglebuster]

none of the above for me