The Desert unit is silent, except for me

[highside74]

No wind and just a few gun shots in the distance. I haven't figured out how to be quiet enough yet. These deer can hear a mouse fart at 200 yards. I've seen a lot of bucks in the first 3 days. Even got to watch a 26" 4x5 breed a doe at 125 yards. I walked from the C rd all the way to A rd yesterday and saw 4 shooters and 10 plus mature bucks. In one pocket there was 24 does and 4 bucks. I had no chance but it was fun. At one point I moved less than 100 yards in 2 hours. The first day I saw 15 bucks or so. I wasted today with a walk from c rd old house all the way to the state park and back. Saw 4 bucks no shooters and a lot of does. That was a long walk. I have 4 more days.   

[Badhabit]

Go to the Mardon store and see if Dick Hemore is working. He's a guru of that area and has helped a lot of hunters tag their buck.

[highside74]

He is a nice man. Spoke with him back in August. I have his number. I saw him on Monday afternoon.

[johnnyaustin44]

Good luck. Sure are some big boys out there. Get one. 

[MLBowhunting]

Good luck buddy 

[Badhabit]

Does your area include any of Lind Coulee East of M road? I've run my mud boat past there in the dark and have lite up some nice bucks while motoring up in the dark. They lay down in the thickest stuff around there. They don't  budge even while we're banging away at ducks. Too bad the job corp area is frozen up. I was talking to some hunters that worked that area for a week in a boat and saw a bunch of shooters. They also walked from C road to the job corp dike and back a few days. One guy took a nice buck the other missed 2 opportunities and went home with tag soup.

[link]

Not sure what you're looking for here. You saw four shooters in one day and you're asking what to do?? Not sure what to tell you other than what you're doing.  I would start walking from the foot bridge at c st. and head north. Leave you're truck about an hour before light and head due north. When it starts to get light, set up and start to glass if you're in a glassable spot. Like I said, not sure what else I can say if you've already seen some shooters, do what you've been doing. Good luck.

[highside74]

Not sure what you're looking for here. You saw four shooters in one day and you're asking what to do?? Not sure what to tell you other than what you're doing.  I would start walking from the foot bridge at c st. and head north. Leave you're truck about an hour before light and head due north. When it starts to get light, set up and start to glass if you're in a glassable spot. Like I said, not sure what else I can say if you've already seen some shooters, do what you've been doing. Good luck.

I wasnt looking for help. I never once asked for anything.  I was just saying how hard it is to be quiet out here with how silent the area is. Then I gave a recap of my first 3 days. I didn't ask for help once dude. Yes I've seen shooters but this is an archery hunt so 125 yards won't cut it.

[link]

Sorry Duuude. Didn't mean to offend you. I didn't realize you were just giving a recap. Again, good luck.

[MerriamMagician]

I know one bowhunter who tagged out opening day 

[highside74]

I know one bowhunter who tagged out opening day 

That's awesome. I love to hear about success. Lets me know it can be done. I ran into a guy that could have tagged out opening day at 40 yards but we are both looking for wall hangers so he passed on an average 4x4. I'm looking for pope and young minimum or bust.

[WillJohn]

Was thinking of doing some upland in the Desert this weekend, run into any birds on your deer hunt?

[highside74]

Was thinking of doing some upland in the Desert this weekend, run into any birds on your deer hunt?

Yes pheasants and I think quail today off of c rd. Pheasants are making all sorts of racket. Park just post the old house and hunt along the water way.

[MerriamMagician]

Thats funny highside, I've always been able to be dead quiet in the desert. 

[Capt. Rob]

Dick is the man when it comes to the "Desert".  It would be well worth your time to look him up.. I tagged out a few years ago below the upper crab creek boat launch,  Don't remember the road name, but it was off the corps dike road. Good luck, they are there.. My friend from Spokane, son shot a 205"BC that was 31.5 wide off of Dodsen rd. a few years back. It might be worth a walk.

[highside74]

I'm in my way to Dodson right now. Ninja style today. Silent is my middle name.

[Birdguy]

Good Luck! Looking forward seeing the victory pose. Stay after it.

[coyotecrazy]

Wish I was home, I'd see if I could give you a hand. Out of town for the weekend though. Good luck and play the wind, even if there isn't much.

[highside74]

Wish I was home, I'd see if I could give you a hand. Out of town for the weekend though. Good luck and play the wind, even if there isn't much.

Tomorrow the wind starts out of the north and goes all the way around to end out of the west. Its gonna be fun. 

[wastickslinger]

Dick is the man when it comes to the "Desert".  It would be well worth your time to look him up.. I tagged out a few years ago below the upper crab creek boat launch,  Don't remember the road name, but it was off the corps dike road. Good luck, they are there.. My friend from Spokane, son shot a 205"BC that was 31.5 wide off of Dodsen rd. a few years back. It might be worth a walk.

Let's see it!!!!

[woodywsu]

Capt rob. Did ur buddy have the incentive tag? Big kicker off left main?

[olaf]

Seen a big boy in the Winchester off Dotson might go 200 for sure 190 one big dropper on right side .

[rasbo]

I see nice deer in there,Im just 3 miles from the unit and drive through there alot,I gotta get that tag one year...Its pig haven foresure

[highside74]

Seen a big boy in the Winchester off Dotson might go 200 for sure 190 one big dropper on right side .

I haven't seen him but a guy that left yesterday has him on film. From his scout trip.

[splitshot]

  lets see some pics please.  don't give your location, just wall hangers or weird ones.  mike w

[highside74]

Pics haven't been a high priority but I have this one from early on.

[highside74]

My best day today. I took my boots off even though it was 25 degrees. Was within 120-135 yards of 6 bucks 3 shooters all in a big group for over an hour till the wind gave me up. I ran out of cover and they weren't going anywhere. Saw 16 bucks today after the fog lifted. Lost my boots and pack for 2.5 hours which kind of messed with my head but I did see 3 bucks just looking for my crap. No boots is for sure the way to go. Packing extra socks tomorrow and tagging my boot location this time.

[BKMFR]

Go down to your socks, put on flipflops or thongs then another pair of heavy socks over them.... pretty quiet way to go.... helps with the cactus too

[MLBowhunting]

Nice keep at it.   

[ridgefire]

 you may bump into my brother there. He is staying at mardon
s and driving a white f150 4x4

[eastsidemallard74]

I was out duck hunting saw as big 5x roaming islands with 3 other does, pretty awesome to see

[highside74]

you may bump into my brother there. He is staying at mardon
s and driving a white f150 4x4

He pm'd me we spoke yesterday while he was driving here.

[Old Man Yager]

Did you go in off Dodson yet? There's a little area there with a gate beside a couple ponds, and you can walk the gated road back to the Winchester waterway. Theres some big dunes back ther, I used them to look around a bit when I hunted it in 2006 on a rifle hunt. I doesn't sound like you are having any problems spotting bucks, hope you get close enough to whack a big one.

[highside74]

As I type this I am 135 from a great 4x and his doe bedded. When I first spotted them he was bedded with his head up at probably 800-1000. I've been here for 20 min now and he put his head in the dirt and rolled his head over to rest and him antler. How cool is that? Wind should be good now it's a waiting game.

[Old Man Yager]

Git r done!!

[highside74]

One doe turned into 3 they started to move left to right. I moved a little. All is good. 20 min and they get some distant between them. So I move some more. 120 and I look to my left and a group if 10 our more does had snuck in to join the party and they pick me off. They have no clue what I am but they don't like it. The two groups are 100 plus apart and the buck and his does have no idea what is going on but they don't like it. The move off and I tuck in behind. I get to 110 and they pick me off ranging him. Dang it.

[Odell]

Sounds like you are having fun. Good luck!

[bolsen]

That buck you posted a pic of,pretty sure he's the buck I had at 35 yards on Wednesday night. Creeped over the ridge and I knew he was there, full draw and he was behind a huge sage and didn't give me a shot. Had 3 other bucks with him that night.

[Kazekurt]

It's killing me that I'm not out with my bow right now!  Everything your describing is what makes archery great!  I love the stalks, praying the wind doesn't betray me, reading the terrain, and being pinned down for long intervals in precarious positions wondering how in the heck I'm going to beat all those eyes:-).   Patience, persistence, and a positive attitude are the best attributes and archer can develop.  You'll always blow more stalks than you pull off  but when you fail, you learn some useful things and, of course, get to keep hunting:-). Good luck to you and keep the updates coming.  I live in Ephrata  and I'm quite familiar with the area.  If you get one way back in there give me a call and I'll help you get it out.  I'll PM you my  #.

[highside74]

That buck you posted a pic of,pretty sure he's the buck I had at 35 yards on Wednesday night. Creeped over the ridge and I knew he was there, full draw and he was behind a huge sage and didn't give me a shot. Had 3 other bucks with him that night.

I had him also wed with 3 bucks early afternoon. Had him bedded and they all moved so i moved. Then they started coming towards me and i tryed to move my site pin to 80 thinking that's where they were gonna pass and it squeaked just a tad. They veered off not knowing what they heard.  Last i saw they were walking slowly south at 250 yards but i didn't push them. That pick is from Monday.

[bolsen]

Looks like the same buck to me! I'll be back over Friday.

[highside74]

Yep sure is. I love him so. When I drew this tag my dream buck was a typical 4x with a kicker. Just a little wider. But I think he is awesome.

[scoyoc5]

just checking in on this???

[jackmaster]

i dont know if you want to pack the extra weight but, if you can buy a 2ft wide maybe even 3 ft wide x 4ft tall piece of clear plexi glass, drill a bunch of holes in it and rig up a couple handle and zip tie brush to it from the area your huntn in, if you keep the wind in your face it will alow you to walk up to them alittle easier. good luck, atleast your seeing deer so it makes it easy to get out of bed thats for sure 

[Buzz2401]

So what was the outcome of hunt.

[WhacknStack]

Hey highside that's sure a nice buck, where'd you get that picture if you don't mind me asking?

[dawnsnow]

Hey highside that's sure a nice buck, where'd you get that picture if you don't mind me asking?

I had to crop the one above to be able to email it to Highside.  The link below will take you to an uncropped version (and a rearview and pic of him with his buddies) as well as pictures of other bucks I took that day. There are some really nice deer in that unit.

http://s751.photobucket.com/user/dawnsnow13/slideshow/Desert%20Bucks%2011-24-13

[fishingnut71]

MIA  I guess.

[highside74]

Hey highside that's sure a nice buck, where'd you get that picture if you don't mind me asking?

I asked Dawn for the picture because I didn't take any while I was hunting. She was kind enough to send me a few she took the day before my hunt started when we met off of A rd. I chased that buck with the kicker 4 out of the 7 days I was hunting. My last day I was with him and 3 other bucks and 6 does for 2.5 hours slowly sticking with them and then trying to close the gap as they would move out of sight over a dune. 4 or 5 times of doing this and I finally made a mistake. All the times before they were already 120-150 out by the time I would close the distance. This time as I came to the top of the cresent shaped hill at about 1 o'clock( visually not time wise) they weren't visible and I was thinking there was no way they cleared the area that fast. I picked up my binos and started glassing further out and I catch view of 2 does at about 10 o'clock 200 out.  Well they had circled back left around the base of that dune and he was standing about 70 broadside looking right at me. By the time I ranged hime he was moving and 81 when they stopped they were 300. My heart sank. I had told my little boys I would see them before bed that night so I called my hunt over and headed for the truck. I had a great time. And I'm glad I ran into Dawn early in my time there because she made my experience much better with the info she gave me.