New to spokane valley, have some ?'s

[Jmv232]

Hey everyone I just moved here a month ago and figured I would be close to some good land to hunt. I have been doing some searching around regarding mica peak and Mt. Spokane areas but I have found mixed feelings. I have a muzzleloader deer tag and an elk tag witch I'm trying to fill either one. I have also heard about hunting the Colville national Forrest and heard it houses good deer and some elk. I have a few game cameras I would like to set up but need some good direction on a place to zero in on. I do not have a problem with hiking into a good spot to Hunt if it means it will keep me away from other hunters. That's kind of the reason I was looking more into the national forest and heading towards the northern areas. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Also I was thinking of getting the permit and looking into the New England empire land and trying my luck there if it is worth it. Do I still need to purchase a discovery permit to drive in the forest ? And what are everyone's thoughts on these places ? Thanks.

[huntnnw]

Best bet is to pick an area and start scouting. Put some feed out or salt with your cams. Nobody on here is going to give any hints to where elk are in this area its very tight lipped. All the areas you mentioned hold deer and some places have elk more than the others.

[firefighter4607]

I don't know the area, but I see this is your first post. Welcome to the site. I hope you will have luck with members that live or hunt the area. Lots of good folk that are willing to help out.

Also try the search feature to research some of the areas you mentioned.

[Jmv232]

Thanks, I've been doing a lot of research on this site before I posted that is how I came to the conclusion of these areas. A gut feeling tells me Colville is the area I want to spend time scouting. You guys know if a discover pass is needed for that area ? Or some sort of permit ? Elk would be nice to tag this year but I know it will require a lot more work and more time. What would be the best area to scout for a legal deer ?

[huntnnw]

NO permit needed..unless on refuge land. Deer are everywhere in these units. Ill tell you right now with a muzzy deer tag Id be hunting unit 113 for that late season

[bobcat]

Most of the land you're talking about is National Forest, so no Discover  pass is needed there. But there are scattered sections of DNR land and if you end up on one of those you do need a Discover pass.

[CAMPMEAT]

Mica Peak is where I would look for everything you mentioned...........

[Selkirk]

Unit 113 has a great whitetail hunting in Nov and Dec.  Not much pressure, where I go, and the bucks are big.  I used to do the late muzzleloader hunt but now do the Nov modern firearm season.  I have seen bull elk but they are scattered so you will have to do some leg work.  I prefer the southern half of the unit as this area did not have the high winterkill that occurred a few winters ago.  We camp out of a wall tent with wood stove.  It get's cold so you will need to plan accordingly.  The higher elevations have mule deer and some of the bucks are incredible but the late season is a whitetail only hunt.  You just need to spend some time in the woods and find your own hot spot. Find an area with lots of does and the bucks will show up in November. I've killed two nice bucks right next to a main road.  Most folks won't get out of their vehicles in the late season.  I'm rambling - good luck.

[724wd]

mica peak is also closed to motorized access, so you'll be walking a fair ways uphill before you get to inland empire property.  but there are deer, elk, moose, and turkey up there. 

[Jmv232]

From the sounds of it looks like 113 is worth scouting. I don't have a map with me at work but I believe that's all colville national forest if I'm not mistaken. Ill have to get out there and check it out an spend a few days scouting it before I drop some cams in the area. I don't have a problem hiking into an area so I will keep mica peak in mind. But as far as I know an inland empire permit is a must in that area. Does 113 have any good fishing spots also ? That way I can spend even more time in the area .

[washingtonmuley]

JMV,
There is no need to drive all the way to colville as there are plenty of really good deer very close to you. Starting knocking on doors. Good luck

[washingtonmuley]

You might want to introduce yourself on this forum with info such as hunting experience,age,career/college,and etc. This might help you get better replies.

[Skillet]

I grew up in the Spokane valley - hunted Mica a bit, but found much more success either in the north country.  Don't know where you're from, but if whitetails turn your crank you landed in a great area for it that not a lot of the rest of the country knows about.

[Jmv232]

My name is joe and I am 24 years old and have lived in spokane valley for a month now. I grew up in tri cities wa and have lived there the majority of my life. I have lived in Wyoming while I was going to school there. I graduated from CBC a month and a half ago from their machining program and now work in post falls as a machinist. I have hunted around the tri cities are mostly. Last year I hunted the colfax area with no luck as I went the last day of late muzzle load with out spending more time in the area. This year I want to make sure that it is the other way around by spending more time scouting. I don't know many people in the area so it gives me something fun to do. I am planning on getting a hold of a few gmu maps after work and start making mental notes as to what the terrain looks like to try and narrow down an area. Am I missing an area around me besides mica peak and mt spokane ?

[dscubame]

All the elk in this state are in the Blues.  I would head on down to the Dayton area and poke around.  Not much up north of Spokane, head south for sure.   

[CoryTDF]

All the elk in this state are in the Blues.  I would head on down to the Dayton area and poke around.  Not much up north of Spokane, head south for sure.   

Why would you tell such a dirty filthy lie! I cant believe you would do that to a site member! EVERYBODY knows the elk are in areas like Clockum, Cook, Green Canyon, Manashtash, pretty much any place near Ellensburg puts you into the only elk in the state. Unless you like to hunt those jungle elk up in Ione, or Medline Falls.

[oldleclercrd]

All the elk in this state are in the Blues.  I would head on down to the Dayton area and poke around.  Not much up north of Spokane, head south for sure.   

[CAMPMEAT]

From the sounds of it looks like 113 is worth scouting. I don't have a map with me at work but I believe that's all colville national forest if I'm not mistaken. Ill have to get out there and check it out an spend a few days scouting it before I drop some cams in the area. I don't have a problem hiking into an area so I will keep mica peak in mind. But as far as I know an inland empire permit is a must in that area. Does 113 have any good fishing spots also ? That way I can spend even more time in the area .

FYI, the Kanisku National Forest is in the 113 too. It's ran by Idaho and you can ride ATVs anyplace in the Kanisku if you have one. It pretty much runs from Newport all the way up to the Salmo Priest Wilderness boundary in Washington. You just have to know where the boundaries are. Yes, you have to follow Washington State game laws to hunt it.

[oldleclercrd]

Its too thick up there. People get lost and never come back. Some people blame the wolfs, others say the forest just eats em up. 

[daddysprad]

If you've not tried it yet, go to the WDFD website and use the "Go Hunt" feature.  It will show you a printable map with color coded federal, state or county land.  Don't trust everything on the map, check it out to make sure.  I know there are some areas in 113 that are not exact/correct, but it will give you a place to start.  Then for me, I picked up a Gazetteer and started highlighting areas as I looked at them making notes as I go...

[dscubame]

 

Its too thick up there. People get lost and never come back. Some people blame the wolfs, others say the forest just eats em up. 

[buckfvr]

Its too thick up there. People get lost and never come back. Some people blame the wolfs, others say the forest just eats em up. 

Yep......happens all the time......

[huntnnw]

mica peak is also closed to motorized access, so you'll be walking a fair ways uphill before you get to inland empire property.  but there are deer, elk, moose, and turkey up there.

not really..its almost immediate u can start hunting..not to include down the road u can hunt right from the road in

[724wd]

mica peak is also closed to motorized access, so you'll be walking a fair ways uphill before you get to inland empire property.  but there are deer, elk, moose, and turkey up there.

not really..its almost immediate u can start hunting..not to include down the road u can hunt right from the road in

that's contrary to the information I've been given.  I was under the impression that the first mile or so was private and posted heavily.  but i have no first hand knowledge of this.  you could very well be right.

[huntnnw]

im up there once a week. Theres DNR and state also east of there on the main road

[Selkirk]

Its too thick up there. People get lost and never come back. Some people blame the wolfs, others say the forest just eats em up. 

The survival aspect - you might die if you get lost adds to the enjoyment of the hunt.  Prepare and you will become more competent and confident.  Hunting wild areas is much more interesting compared to farmland where your biggest concern is not shooting toward a farmhouse.

[Jmv232]

Thanks Brian, skillet and everyone else for the solid advice ill post some pictures hopefully at the end of the season. Gonna try and set up a few cameras in the area this weekend and wait to see what happens.

[Hound Hunter]

What or who is inland empire?

[bobcat]

Inland Empire Paper company- a timber company that owns a lot of land around Spokane. They sell access permits for $40. At least that was the latest price that I'm aware of.

[Jmv232]

They are still 40 I believe, I think it depends on how many people it covers.

[sfrenger]

NO permit needed..unless on refuge land. Deer are everywhere in these units. Ill tell you right now with a muzzy deer tag Id be hunting unit 113 for that late season

  and be sure to hunt low. All the nice bucks i've killed there are down by the river first part of december.

[Jmv232]

Anyone by any chance fish that area too ?  Figuring I can do both while scouting different areas in the region.

[JLS]

Anyone by any chance fish that area too ?  Figuring I can do both while scouting different areas in the region.

The PO River should keep you entertained for a while.

[borntoslay]

joe, what school did you go to in tri cities? i grew up there too and also live in the valley now. To answer your question tho spokane countys produced the most boone and crockkett whitetails in state history.

[StacyDave97]

Welcome Joe!  We live in TC's, but have a cabin outside Colville.  GMU 111 is our area and I know it's good.  We fish Big Meadow Lake, nice size trout and also Deep Lake.  Buy a Delorme map book - we've found quite a few nice little lakes and there are typically open areas around those lakes to hunt - but others may know that also!  There are a lot of large hunting camps up there, especially in the late season, but I'm pretty sure you can find a spot to call your own!  Very cold & snowy in late season (ya baby, the best kind of weather to hunt in!) so the suggestion to have a wall tent with stove is a good one.  We hunt our land, but others that come to our place have areas in NF and they've been successful most years.  Good luck and put some miles on those hiking boots    I love to hike/walk that area, nothing better than getting away from pavement, especially up there!  Bear opens on Sunday - woohoo, hoping to make a rug this year!