Eastern WA Raffle Deer Tag

[HuntingFanatic]

What a ride so far.....Keep up the HARD work 300 & co.!

[MichaelJ]

A good buddy of mine that I've hunted with twice has a friend that drew a Goat tag a couple years ago... the guy spent 23 days STRAIGHT and ALONE above 6500' and shot the FIRST Billy he saw...

Just a little story to keep you motivated!! Good luck!  The sun is shining today!

Michael

[Hunting Cowboy]

Man this is tough.....You got to hang in there as long as you can. Its really tough what you are doing, even if we drew the tag most of us could not get the time you have to do it right. We are all right there with you and pulling hard!!!

Wea300mag, I think lemondog has it about right. Whatever you end up with in the end, I think we all know you did all you could do and that you've done this tag proud! And you know how much we're all pulling for ya!

[scoyoc5]

excuse my ignorance .But how long of a season does 300 have 

[Bearhunter]

Tell the end of the year!  Lots of time left, good luck

[boneaddict]

Can't wait to see if you went to the valley today and tried some of my leads.  I'm trying to book a trip for Friday.  I am supposed to work, but the boss may let me go, and the wife may just have to as well?

[Lowedog]

My brother drew the late Peshastin any elk tag in 2004/2005.  Season runs from November through the end of February.  He hunted 40 + days before killing his bull with 3 days left.  He passed some really nice bulls early on then the weather turned very warm and all the snow melted scattering the elk.  He didn't see a branched bull for the last 3 or 4 weeks, just cows, but kept holding out and it paid off.

I have a feeling 300 is going to kill something very special!  He deserves it!

-Lowedog

[Wea300mag]

Just got back from the Methow. Tried a few of Bones leads and saw lots of deer throughout the day. The first area, very low on Thompsons Ridge turned up two small bucks and several does. The area was hit hard with snowmobiles and snowboarders in the last couple days, didn't expect the big bucks to be hanging around there. The good news is that I didn't have to put the snowshoes on, I was able to walk in snowmobile and snowboard tracks. From here I moved to the Pearrygin unit. I stopped to have a snack at the shooting range and could see 30+ deer from my vantage. One really caught my eye, it was a large buck with incredibly tall backs, but the fronts were weird. After looking at him with the binocs I took 3 quick pics before he fed up and over the hill. Wish I had my camera cable so I could zoom in on him and get a better look.  Didn't have time to get the spotting scope on him. Last year 50Cal and I were in this area about this same time of year and there was rumors about town of a monster that was frequenting the area above the range, I sure hope this is not him, I hope his larger dad is still out there waiting for me. Two rigs pulled in to do some target shooting so the show was over.  I moved next to the wildlife area at Bear Creek, there were 3 rigs there and several XC skiers heading up the road so I scratched that walk. Next, I went to another of Bones areas but it turned out to be too much for the Explorer and the snowmobiles were running around like mosquitos in July. From here I worked my way down the valley, saw hundreds of deer near the valley floor but no shooters. Good thing, most of it was private anyway.

MichaelJ, your friend is a crazyman, I can't even imagine that. I am sitting in a heated motel room with the news on tv right now, typing on the internet.

Lowedog, 40+days, that reminds me of a moose hunter who hunted his azz off for about the same time after I chased his shooter bull away on opening day. 

And again, thanks to all for the support.

[WAmuleyHunter]

Dan, keep at it man.  I hope your having fun being able to check out new areas.  Suppose to get some more snow here the next two days.  I hope your not having nightmares of the buck that almost ran me over   Although it would have been a good story for you to tell about me getting run over by a 180 inch buck haha.  Hope you still have your head up. And you got a week, many many hours left. so dont stress. It only takes one buck to make all this hunting and driving and hiking worth it.

[T-ROY]

I've gotta say something, but I have not advice or secret spot for you too check out, just keep your head up we don't want you looking at the ground then that ole 190 walks out.

popeshawnpaul, what did you come up with in the desert ??

[popeshawnpaul]

I pm'ed him my response.  Looks like it's a trash factor buck and won't net well.  My source says he is rather impressive though.  Also, it's hanging out on the property line between my friends farm and the next.  Sometimes it's on his side, sometimes it's not.  Not sure about access on that farm, but it's probably ok.  I haven't seen it with my own eyes so I'm not going to make Dan drive out to the wheat fields and waste one of his days on a hunch.  I know of another farm near this one that has huge whitetails on it.  Not sure Dan wants to burn his tag on a whitey.  Also, hunting this wide open wheat makes for either 600 yard shots or quick running shots.  It can be difficult.  I'm thinking about heading over there this weekend to see what's out there.  I've got the same issues Bone has...family wants me around this time of year.  If I see something I'll take a picture of it and send it to Dan, he can make up his mind if he wants it.

Shawn

[boneaddict]

Thats the plan for me on Friday if I can swing it.  I know where two dandies are, I just need to make sure he can get to them, and get them on film for the man to judge.  He'll probably be in the Entiat Friday, but if interested, I'd get him out in the woods.  The snow is gettin gdeep though.

[WAmuleyHunter]

pope, I know Dan mentioned to me that if there was a whitetail big enough he would shoot one of those too.  He isnt just stuck on muleys. 

[popeshawnpaul]

Whitetails are so dam hit or miss in that country.  I'll see if I can locate one without pushing it off the property.  They stick to the eyebrows until the last second and then take off.  The biggest whiteys will be 160 to 170 class that I've seen on the property...  I'll probably have to bring some moose steaks to trade also...lol.  I'll hit the whitey ranch if I have time. 

shawn

[Wea300mag]

Dec 27 update:

Hunted lower Entiat today, fog/clouds/snow really limited visibility. Deer sightings were way down today. But fear not, one of the hunting-washington members got tired of seeing me flounder around and is bringing his sleds over to the Entiat tomorrow. Here's to rougheye

I hope to bring some good news tomorrow.

I have to tell a story though, not related to hunting, well maybe slightly related to hunting. 50Cal was able to see this first hand while here. I have two young construction workers in the room next to me and I have to tell you, these guys are machines. They get back to the motel from work around 5:30ish every afternoon, clean up and go to town and not return until exactly 1:45am each night, motor skills highly impaired. You do the math. A few times they have brought back companions from their nightly excursions (the walls are too thin). They normally get to sleep/pass out at 4ish. At 6ish every morning, while I'm doing my Groundhog Day routine, their boss pounds on their door to wake them up. They always make it to work. I wish I still had that youthful exuberance.