290 Unit Desert Bucks, post em up

[Old Man Yager]

ANY permit mule deer unit will yield a big mule deer no matter the unit...all about the number of hunters being limited..at some point a big buck or 2 will emerge over time and a lucky hunter will take it. Im not saying the Desert doesnt have any big bucks or none have been taken, but the talk and hype over it u would think 180" buck is the norm and its not and by far.The same results could be done with any area in the state if you only give out a few tags

   

C'mon man, you would be STOKED if you drew that tag!!

[jackelope]

I have had this tag an wouldn't put in for it again. There are better units with better draw odds and most everyone knows this. This units did have a poaching problem a few years back. To me it's not worth the points, you can shoot better bucks in Montana with an over the counter tag then 99% of the bucks out there. I personally would rather draw a late Swakane or Pearrygin. 

I was mostly with you till you said late Swakane.  It's a really hard hunt....tough country to hunt with real difficult terrain in the Desert. I think that's what makes it most difficult.

 

[jackelope]

ANY permit mule deer unit will yield a big mule deer no matter the unit...all about the number of hunters being limited..at some point a big buck or 2 will emerge over time and a lucky hunter will take it. Im not saying the Desert doesnt have any big bucks or none have been taken, but the talk and hype over it u would think 180" buck is the norm and its not and by far.The same results could be done with any area in the state if you only give out a few tags

   

C'mon man, you would be STOKED if you drew that tag!!

I can understand why people wouldn't be stoked to draw that tag. I've never applied for it and probably won't ever either. Maybe when I have a ton of points but I'll likely never get to a ton of points.

[WAcoueshunter]

I can understand why people wouldn't be stoked to draw that tag. I've never applied for it and probably won't ever either. Maybe when I have a ton of points but I'll likely never get to a ton of points.

I can only hope I never have a ton of quality deer points too!

Some incredible genetics there in the desert.  The benefit of the desert is it's not weather dependent, unlike the other "best" units.  I don't apply there either, but more because the odds are ridiculous and I'd rather take my chances on weather and hope to hit the migration and hunt in the mountains.  There are mediocre bucks shot on every late tag, Entiat and Desert included.  I'd argue that MOST bucks taken are mediocre, of the variety that guys on here take in Montana every year.  But the fun of those hunts is getting to do it in your backyard.  I wouldn't trade my WA late hunt experience for anything, and I've been on some pretty good out of state trips.

[buckhorn2]

I went with my grandson last year when he drew the tag. There is a lot of no trespassing signs but we had a good time and saw deer and he shot a 25 inch 3 point and was happy with that. We go to mt but it's a 1000 mile drive just to get over there but there are a lot of deer so we go. I have 14 points but won't put in for it again either it's closer but there are better places.

[buckhorn2]

Forgot the deer.

[bear hunter]

Its got the genes.

Holly crap batman. You have a nice rack there congrats.

[jackelope]

Its got the genes.

Holly crap batman. You have a nice rack there congrats.

That's Link's buck from this past year.

[bear hunter]

I found a nice 5 pt shed in march as I was coyote hunting. We seen about 30 bucks in two groups in January hunting for dogs. I need a tag apply for a tag but they only give use smokepole shooters 2 buck tags. I will be 100 years old before I get drawn. lol

[Bullkllr]

there wont be many..cause the hype this unit receives really is let down on quality I see shot every year. Most are avg bucks u could just go to MT or ID and shoot on a OTC hunt

How is the quality down due to the hype?

I could see quality going down because too many bucks are being harvested

[jackelope]

I think he's saying the quality is a let-down, not that the quality is down.

I think the difficulty of it is the biggest problem people face.

 

[Old Man Yager]

 Dang, I didn't want to start a big pissin match about if 290 is a good unit or not. I just wanted to see some of the deer that have been taken out of there. Link's buck shows there are some real pigs still out there.

[jackelope]

Dang, I didn't want to start a big pissin match ........

Welcome to Hunt-WA.

 

[bucklucky]

 

[Old Man Yager]

Dang, I didn't want to start a big pissin match ........

Welcome to Hunt-WA.

 

THANKS!