Poll-Which deer tag in Wa is the best.

[trophyhunt]

I'm surprised no one has picked swakane? I thought it was a really good unit, figured it was more popular.

[skywalker253]

I drew an "any deer" permit in 2007, which covered several GMUs. Perrygin was one of them. I only hunted the last 2 days of the season, because I had a cow permit in the Toutle at the same time.  I shot my cow and headed over to the family resort for the last weekend. I got paired up with a local guy through the family, who had the same permit. We saw plenty of does, but only 2 bucks. He shot a little 3 x 3 and while he was gutting it out, the big boy came in within 25 yards. Stood broadside and just watched him. Unfortunately he tagged out on the little guy and I was over the next hill. I ended up shooting a doe on the last day, just before the season ended. Had I realized how good of a permit I drew; I would have put fourth way more effort.

[trophyhunt]

none of the above for me

I didn't list the westside tags for blacktail, and the other choice for me is a blacktail hunt.

[buglebuster]

none of the above for me

I didn't list the westside tags for blacktail, and the other choice for me is a blacktail hunt.

i def. would never waste my points on a blacktail lol, i dont even second look them while elk hunting. i would say do some more research and look at some of the units right on the methow 

[trophyhunt]

none of the above for me

I didn't list the westside tags for blacktail, and the other choice for me is a blacktail hunt.

i def. would never waste my points on a blacktail lol, i dont even second look them while elk hunting. i would say do some more research and look at some of the units right on the methow 

It's tough to get into blacktail hunting, they are very tough animals to kill when your looking for trophy size bucks. Mule deer are way easier to hunt then blackies in my opinoin. I would rather kill a 140 class blacktial then a 170 mule, now when you start getting up into the 180 mark that would be a tough choice.

[bobcat]

I would use my points on a blacktail hunt, but not 14 points.

5 or 6 points, sure.

As for Swakane, it's a great choice, especially as a second choice, as it has more permits than most others, and therefore it's an easier draw.

[trophyhunt]

I would use my points on a blacktail hunt, but not 14 points.

5 or 6 points, sure.

As for Swakane, it's a great choice, especially as a second choice, as it has more permits than most others, and therefore it's an easier draw.

I have 9 and it's getting tougher to put in for the blacktail tag I want because of the chance to draw a coveted muley tag.

[vandeman17]

I feel the same about the whitetail tags. I feel like I have darn near the same chance at getting a nice buck in general season as I do with a permit but for mulies it feels different for some reason.

[skywalker253]

I have 8 points. I putting in for Entiat and Desert Modern.
I got 17 points for Elk, but I am undecided what to put in for.

[et1702]

I'm surprised no one has picked swakane? I thought it was a really good unit, figured it was more popular.

Hey Jerry,

Swakane has some deer in it, but its open during general season too.  So, much more pressure (at least during archery). 

If you have nine points, I'd try for Entiat Late rifle or Late Archery.  As you know, I drew Late Archery last year and only had 4pts.  I also saw a couple different really nice bucks approaching 180", and lots of bucks in the 150 to 170" range.  My last day up there I was playing hide'n seek in the fog with a nice 170 to 180" buck.  Unfortunately the fog and the buck won, plus had to go back to work and missd the last four days of the season 

Also, while I was up there scouting before late archery (during late rifle), most of the rifle guys were being pretty picky.  One of them showed me some pictures of a 180 buck that they had just missed getting a shot at that morning (again, fog rolled in on them before he could take the shot).  But, they are in there!

Ed T.

[trophyhunt]

I'm surprised no one has picked swakane? I thought it was a really good unit, figured it was more popular.

Hey Jerry,

Swakane has some deer in it, but its open during general season too.  So, much more pressure (at least during archery). 

If you have nine points, I'd try for Entiat Late rifle or Late Archery.  As you know, I drew Late Archery last year and only had 4pts.  I also saw a couple different really nice bucks approaching 180", and lots of bucks in the 150 to 170" range.  My last day up there I was playing hide'n seek in the fog with a nice 170 to 180" buck.  Unfortunately the fog and the buck won, plus had to go back to work and missd the last four days of the season 

Also, while I was up there scouting before late archery (during late rifle), most of the rifle guys were being pretty picky.  One of them showed me some pictures of a 180 buck that they had just missed getting a shot at that morning (again, fog rolled in on them before he could take the shot).  But, they are in there!

Ed T.

Thanks Ed, good info.

[trophyhunt]

I have 8 points. I putting in for Entiat and Desert Modern.
I got 17 points for Elk, but I am undecided what to put in for.

We are the exact same, if you will have 9 when you put in for deer. I also have 17 for elk, I think the decision gets tougher to choose the more points you have. Too bad our success rates for drawing are still extremly low. Good luck on your elk draw for what ever you decide!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Save your points and head to the TRIPOD BURN!!!!!

[huntnphool]

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.

If he has been hunting archery season for 14 years odds are he has not even seen a legit 180 class buck during the season, and would likely shoot the first 160 class buck he saw with a late rifle tag. Odds are, even with a late rifle tag in those units in your poll, he won't see a 180 class buck and had better put the hammer down on the first 170 he sees.

Of course there will be a couple legit 180's dropped around the state this year, and its always good to have a goal, but very few have the will to "go big or go home" and I would advise him to not pass a 170 class buck in this state.

[adamR]

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.

I don't doubt that they have seen some monsters in LT.  You didn't ask about monsters you asked where you could shoot a 180 buck.  Personally if my goal was to kill a 180 buck I wouldn't waste my time in the LT Murray.  LT Murray would be a fun tag but there are much much better options when your goal is 180.