Late hunt vent :)

[bamalefty]

I am curious as to why the only Eastern late hunts are in North East WA??  I guess I have been spoiled by the 3 month deer season in Alabama and Texas...but I think it is pretty ridiculous to pay over $40 and we only get a week to hunt!!??  I enjoyed the few times I went out this year and saw a good share of deer.  I just hate I will have to drive over 3 hours if I want to take part in a late hunt!! 

[boneaddict]

I thought there were late blacktail hunts down in the SW corner.

[bamalefty]

I am in the SE Region.

[bobcat]

November 13-16 for blacktails in western Wa. But then that's still a pretty long drive from Kennewick. If you want longer seasons you need to hunt archery. Just not enough mule deer in this state to support long rifle seasons. Or since you're in Kennewick you've got some good waterfowl and pheasant hunting nearby if you want to extend your time in the field.

[bow4elk]

Archers have longer seasons but pretty much miss the rut.  Bowhunting blacktails on the westside in November/December is no typically no picnic so it's not as enticing as it may sound.  You're hunting deer that have been well-educated, are tired after the rut, and the days are so short it maximizes the nocturnal hours of deer activity.  Don't even need to mention the wonderful weather 

I'm not complaining - I love it.  It's just not for everyone.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Most of the area that is open for late buck on the wet side, up north is privately owned land and very little of it is open. Areas west of Hwy 9 are usually closed to high power rifle. There is one spot north of Burlington I hunt during the late hunt, but it is pretty small and has a low deer population. 

[bamalefty]

Thanks..I am still pouting..lol  At least I will get to hunt in Alabama when I go home for Christmas!

[WDFW-SUX]

Comparing Washington deer hunting to Alabama and Texas is like comparing Apples to Zebras

[Huntbear]

That is alright, at least those of us that hunt on the wet side, do not have to worry about a copperhead or rattlesnake curling up at our feet when we take a ground stand!!!!   

[BLUEBULLS]

I,ve never been to the states that you mentioned but I'm pretty sure they have a few more deer than we do.

[CP]

Comparing Washington deer hunting to Alabama and Texas is like comparing Apples to Zebras

+1

I hear the limit is now 7 deer per year in Texas.  When I lived there it was only 5.

[rasbo]

The late muzzy is a good one ,mashel unit I dont do the early season.

[270Shooter]

too many people and not enough animals make for a short season. I need to move to montana I love it over there

[snipekillr]

Hey me to??? Montana rocks

[loper]

I am curious as to why the only Eastern late hunts are in North East WA??

The rationale for making the Palouse a special permit in November was that buck harvest by modern firearm was taking the population below management objectives.   

For the 10 years or so prior to 2006, a lot of SE Washington had a late buck season that ran 2.5 weeks.  I took my nicest whitetail to-date in 2005 trailing a doe in the middle of November. 

[bamalefty]

During the regular season I hunted an area in GMU 149 where I saw 30+ mule deer.  I didn't see any bucks because I had my wife with me so I didn't go down into any of the deep draws.  I regret I never had time to go back.  In other words, that is one area where there are PLENTY of deer.  I guess I just don't see how 1-2 more weeks would really make a big difference.  I love to hunt the rut!!  I have grunted several deer up before and I love the rush of seeing big boys chasing does.  I guess I can just go back to that area and glass..lol

[BLUEBULLS]

the reason for you not seeing any bucks in GMU 149 was the buck to doe ratio, which is way below what most would like it to be, there's a very small percentage of bucks that live long enough in this unit to reach maturity. You do see a lot of deer in this country but mainly due to the open terrain. mule deer numbers in the unit are healthy in general but if they had a late (rut) hunt open to anybody the majority of the mature deer would be killed.

I would love to be able to hunt the rut in a few units that are not open but I realize it would be devastating to the herd and I also want to hunt these deer in years to come.

my point is, we may not be able to hunt them during the rut but atleast we get a crack at them at other times.

[boneaddict]

Adding one or two more weeks would more than double the kill.  With a struggling population, then that would double or cut in half your oppurtunity in the future.