Dillacort Canyon?

[Awrock75]

I am new to this forum and I was hoping to pick your brains with a dilemma that has come up for me.  This year I will be rifle hunting for deer.  I was picked to hunt Dillacort Canyon over on the Columbia land trust (GMU 388 Grayback).  However I have done a bit of mapping and research for Okanogan where I had planned to go prior to finding about this Grayback opportunity.  Looking at the numbers on WDFW harvest reports show a huge difference in animals taken.  But those numbers can often be skewed towards the number of rifles in the area. 

I normally archery hunt Whidbey Island but this year I was unable to do so.  I have been in Lemoore, California for school since May and do not get back until the 25th.  Which has also left me with no opportunity to scout as well.   So anyways I am not sure which I should go for.  I only have two days for deer this year so thoughts, opinions, and ideas?

Thank you

[Band]

I used to hunt that area.  I'm curious about what sounds like a special permit or access tag you have.  Can you tell us more about it?

[Awrock75]

Sure,  the Columbia Land Trust is allowing 10 hunters for opening weekend to access 580 acres.  My name was one that was drawn.   I guess it's more like an access to land pass.  Still have to follow same rules 3 pt min.

[blacktail luv]

I never knew there was a special tag for that area, I knew it was a popular spot.  This must be something new? Seems like quite a few guys for that little area to me.  Most of its steep so I'm guessing most guys will stay on the top so I could get kinda crowded.  There are bucks there but a big deer would be a long shot.  IMO of course.

[Bulldozer77]

I got selected for the access permit as well but for the 18th and 19th. Should be interesting. I guess I'll hunt the bottom of the canyon. 
when I applied for the permit it said something about sharing your contact info with the other Hunters that are sharing your time slot. That would be better. 10 Hunters could share 600 acres and never see each other, provided you knew what everybody was going to do. We'll see what happens. Oh yeah, my permit will be for 3 people, so hopefully that only leaves 7 more.

[Band]

I hope you're in shape because it is indeed a steep area.  The deeper you go in and the higher you get the better your chances get.  If you get too high and deep you'll reach private land where you will not be welcome but there is DNR land past the CLT land that is leased to a guy up there that is very productive.  He and I tangled twice several years ago after the people he charges for hunting access played the role of faux Game Warden and threatened me with arrest even though I was on the DNR land that I had the right to hunt.  After the second time I confronted him and threatened to expose his gig to the DNR and I was not bothered again.  So, be sure you know the ownership boundaries and take advantage of your legal access options.

There was getting to be too much hunter competition up there when I stopped hunting there a few years ago but you will find a ton of deer and no shortage of bucks.  They are classified as mulies in the area but I believe they are a blacktail cross.  Huge bucks are very few and far between.  I would recommend getting up very, very early and being in place before light.  If I remember, the hike in used to take me nearly 2 hours.  If you score, it's a tough hike out so make sure you are prepared.  Good luck and please let us know how you do after the hunt.  Here are some examples of what you should expect to find.

[Bulldozer77]

This it's an outline of the boundary.

[Mountain Rat]

I live in the area and the herd in that area has diminished significantly. There are some bucks in the area but with the 3.point rule the pickings will be slim with the amount of hunters you show will be using the area.

[Band]

Assuming your tag is during the general season don't be afraid to wander onto the DNR land to the East of that boundary.  You'll find deer within that boundary, particularly on the treed, steep, North-facing slope, but you'll find a lot more to the East. Again, make sure you know where the DNR land ends and private ownership begins.

[Bulldozer77]

Assuming your tag is during the general season don't be afraid to wander onto the DNR land to the East of that boundary.  You'll find deer within that boundary, particularly on the treed, steep, North-facing slope, but you'll find a lot more to the East. Again, make sure you know where the DNR land ends and private ownership begins.

Thank you for the advice! I'm going to try it out. hopefully some of the other Hunters will decide that it's not worth it. Wish I had the first weekend, but sometimes the second weekend is better. We'll see

[Awrock75]

Finally got back to WA this weekend and it's good to be home.  Lemoore, CA is pretty rough on the eyes.   My tag is for the first weekend so when I get done in there I'll let you know where and what I saw.  Anyways thanks all for the information.

[Band]

How'd the hunt go?

[Awrock75]

Not well. Saw more orange than brown.  Also got a speeding ticket.  Hope elk goes better.

[Mark B]

The Land it backs up to is guarded by guys on four wheelers (or atleast seems like it).. over the years (Past 20) its seems the property line is different.. From the times I've been up there with my compadre' he pushes his property line further back into the canyon every year.. a friend of mine had a nice Bow kill that he finally got from the Gameys a few months back that was taken from him by the land owners goons.  Just do the homework and you should be succesful with the lack of access now..

[Band]

The Land it backs up to is guarded by guys on four wheelers (or atleast seems like it).. over the years (Past 20) its seems the property line is different.. From the times I've been up there with my compadre' he pushes his property line further back into the canyon every year.. a friend of mine had a nice Bow kill that he finally got from the Gameys a few months back that was taken from him by the land owners goons.  Just do the homework and you should be succesful with the lack of access now..

Those "goons" (nicer word than I would have used) rode up on their 4-wheelers at a high rate of speed when they heard my shot several years ago and acted as though one was a WDFW officer and had the authority to issue a trespass citation.  Calling them aggressive and threatening is an understatement and they had me second guessing what I thought to be the property line.  What they didn't know is that I had a nice buck down that I had to come back for after I had walked back toward camp and they had retreated.

I researched the ownership and boundary situation right after the season and confirmed my right to be where I was and then called Tom Amery, the land owner with the goons, and read him the riot act.  The goons showed up the next year and I pulled out my proof and told them to get lost.  I carried that proof every year thereafter but it's the last time I saw them.  And I called Amery again after year two of the goons and that's when I threatened to expose his BS to the DNR, who owns the land.

I've never given away a good hunting spot before this one and I don't feel a bit bad about letting folks know, if for no other reason, to continue keeping that lot of numbskulls in check.

[Netminder01]

tag

[Mark B]

BAND, Right on Brother...
 

[benhanses]

So where is the best source of info on determining property boundaries and knowing where it's "safe" to hunt then?  And yes, it's a noob question, I'm sure.  Just trying to learn all I can....