Snake River Breaks Deer Hunting

[canyelk48]

Looking for a new area for muley hunting and considering staying at Chief Timothy State Park near Clarkston this year and hunting the breaks between the park and the Almota, Granite Dam (by boat).  Anyone hunt that stretch of the Snake before?  Wondering if the fenced/posted property is as bad as the breaks between the Almota Dam and Little Goose Dam, which is where I'm used to hunting, or is there more public land available to hunt?  Also, is the campgrounds usually full during deer season?  Thanks in advance for any inputs.

[Timberstalker]

Mostly private. The majority of the public land is the area below the Corps fence which is minimal at each canyon. Lots of giant 2pts too.

[Evil_EdwardO]

Off of Wawawai road there is the Nisqually John HMU.  Here's their pamphlet:

http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/portals/28/docs/environmental/HMU/HMU_NisquallyJohn.pdf

[cbond3318]

Mostly private. The majority of the public land is the area below the Corps fence which is minimal at each canyon. Lots of giant 2pts too.

  I have done a couple boat hunts through there, little slivers of Corps and management lands. There are some blocks of public in places but are landlocked by private. Timberstalker is not joking about giant 2's either. you will never stare longer at a buck than an enormous 2 with a 15/16" eyeguard. I say 15/16" because I passed on him.

[jrebel]

It has been quite a few years since I have hunted over there...but it is mostly private.  The land that is public / ACOE land use to be hunted hard....lots of people.  Just south of Wawawai all the way down to Steptoe and a little further south yet, there are a few hunting clubs.  they don't take kindly to trespassers.  We use to hunt Steptoe and all that has changed too.  Most farmers didn't care if you hiked up the canyon from the bottom, but last time I was there it is all posted. 

I have never hunted the west side of the river.....and don't know about that.  My assumption is most of it is private as well.  Whitman County has the most private land of all the counties in the state....very little public land.   

[canyelk48]

Thanks for the info guys.  I know what you mean about giant 2x2's; saw plenty of them on the stretch of river by Central Ferry.  The 3x3 (4x4 if you count the eyeguards) on my avatar was taken in that area a few years ago.  Talked to the owner of Deadman Creek Outfitters last deer season and he said they have a huge genetic problem of those giant 2x2's so they take as many as they can if they have an inch or more of eyeguard on them.  My buddy took one with two eyeguards that was pretty wide.  I did see the Nisqually John HMU on a map and figured that area was probably hit pretty hard with hunters.  Planning on taking a few days this Summer and going over with my boat and possibly knocking on some doors, even though most of the landowners in that area usually say no to hunters on their property.  Never hurts to ask though.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

There are several river access only HMU's both East and West of Central Ferry.   If you contact the Clarkston Natural Resource Office (509-527-7132) they can help you out or you can look at the HMU's on the Walla Walla Website http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation.aspx Click the Habitat Management Link.

[jstone]

is that popular with bow hunters?

[Snakeriver10]

For living five miles from this area, here is the scoop.
1. You will only need a boat if you want to hunt the South side of the river.  On that side of the river, there may be an entire five canyons or less that are posted.  (From Steptoe on down to the dam)  If you want to hunt that side, you will be walking all up hill, that's the main reason why its not posted.  People want you to push the deer up.  A number of the canyons are unhuntable from the bottom due to cliffs and brush.  On that side, I believe there are less deer but far far far fewer hunters. 
2.  2/3's of the land on the North side isn't posted, and really the owners could care less if you want to hunt from the bottom.  The bottom is all owned by about 5 major owners and allot of it just sold in the past couple of years.  Wawawai canyon is fairly posted but if you know the canyons and the movement of deer, you will see legal deer. 
3.  Look out for special permits, there are some good draws for this area. 
4. There aren't as many two points as people like to point out, but there are two points and blind people.
5.  Please don't shoot from one ridge to another, this is the number one reason why land is posted.  Too many people got pissed at bullets hitting rocks near them or hearing a bullet wize by.  Also please use binoculars, your scope isn't used to do the scouting for you.  It scares the daylights out of people and could end in a nasty fight. 
6.  Hunt the brush hard and be prepared to hunt hard.  Allot of great deer get saved each year because people only hunt from the ridges. 
7. Be safe and have a great time.  Its a really great unit overall and holds allot of great mulies.   

[jrebel]

For living five miles from this area, here is the scoop.
1. You will only need a boat if you want to hunt the South side of the river.  On that side of the river, there may be an entire five canyons or less that are posted.  (From Steptoe on down to the dam)  If you want to hunt that side, you will be walking all up hill, that's the main reason why its not posted.  People want you to push the deer up.  A number of the canyons are unhuntable from the bottom due to cliffs and brush.  On that side, I believe there are less deer but far far far fewer hunters. 
2.  2/3's of the land on the North side isn't posted, and really the owners could care less if you want to hunt from the bottom.  The bottom is all owned by about 5 major owners and allot of it just sold in the past couple of years.  Wawawai canyon is fairly posted but if you know the canyons and the movement of deer, you will see legal deer. 
3.  Look out for special permits, there are some good draws for this area. 
4. There aren't as many two points as people like to point out, but there are two points and blind people.
5.  Please don't shoot from one ridge to another, this is the number one reason why land is posted.  Too many people got pissed at bullets hitting rocks near them or hearing a bullet wize by.  Also please use binoculars, your scope isn't used to do the scouting for you.  It scares the daylights out of people and could end in a nasty fight. 
6.  Hunt the brush hard and be prepared to hunt hard.  Allot of great deer get saved each year because people only hunt from the ridges. 
7. Be safe and have a great time.  Its a really great unit overall and holds allot of great mulies.

Just because it is not posted doesn't mean you have permission to hunt......  Almost all of that land has cattle fence which by law is enough for a landowner to not have to post it.  If there is a reasonable assumption the land is private (i.e. the fence) then you cannot be on it without permission.  Maybe you are correct and some landowners don't care...but if he crosses a fence to one that does, he is screwed.  Best answer is to have permission or stick to the parcels of public land. 

I don't hunt this area often so I am not trying to scare someone away from a "honey hole."  I am just trying to keep someone out of trouble.  Maybe the landowners don't care....but they should probably give that advise.  I can't imagine a guy on the internet telling everyone that reads this post they can access others land without their permission.  Not wise advise......

[Snakeriver10]

Actually, if you really want to know what the signs say at the fence, go look for yourself.  All I am saying is there is allot more huntable land than is made out to be if you want to hunt in the canyons, now in the fields on top, a totally different story........

[jrebel]

Actually, if you really want to know what the signs say at the fence, go look for yourself.  All I am saying is there is allot more huntable land than is made out to be if you want to hunt in the canyons, now in the fields on top, a totally different story....

I know what the signs say.  I have great friends that farm said fields on top and hunt said canyons.  I know where you can and can't be....and it is not as simple as you make it.  A guy could really get himself in trouble if he ends up where he shouldn't. 

My only point is....it is still private land and unless you are the landowner you have no right to tell people to hunt it.   You are correct that a few land owners don't care...however there are some that do.  How is a guy to know which is which.  All the signs you see down low don't tell you where their property boundary ends and there are no signs as you hike up.  Trust me I have hike most of those canyons. 

And again I don't hunt them now so I am not trying to scare people off.  Just being reasonable and don't think telling everyone on the web to hunt private land without permission is correct. 

[Snakeriver10]

There are signs.  That is all I will say.  I bow out.  Please don't hunt the canyons by the Snake River, its obviously all private.............

[TMortensen]

There is an easy solution to hunting this area. Get on the county assesors site find out who owns the land along the river. After doing this make a phone call, write a letter or go knock on some doors and let them know what you'd like to do and obtain permission to hunt some of the canyons your interested in. If you don't get permission don't hunt there. really easy to do.

[Dhoey07]

There is an easy solution to hunting this area. Get on the county assesors site find out who owns the land along the river. After doing this make a phone call, write a letter or go knock on some doors and let them know what you'd like to do and obtain permission to hunt some of the canyons your interested in. If you don't get permission don't hunt there. really easy to do.

You ain't from around these parts, are ya?