Boat Deer Hunt

[MisplacedAlaskan]

Hey All,

My Dad and I live on the wet side of the state (Sequim and Neilton) and my brothers are going to school at UofI and WSU. We would like to go over to the dry side of the state for a modern firearm white tail hunt with my brothers next fall. My brothers hunted IEP land in Mt. Spokane last year, but there was quite a few people in there. I was wondering if there are any areas over there where you could put a boat in on a lake or river and kind of get away from the crowds? We aren't set on using the boat, we just thought that might help get away a little. We would go with an area with a less deer if there were less people. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[MisplacedAlaskan]

Thanks Sundance, ill check into that. I have a friend that lived in Entiat, maybe ill go over there this summer and do some scouting with him. If we go ill keep tabs on the weather. At least I won't have to worry about the tide

[bobcat]

Lake Chelan is a good suggestion but you better be in good shape. And you won't find whitetails there, only mulies.

[MisplacedAlaskan]

Are there quite a few people who use their boats to access area from the lake, or do most access from the road?

[Skillet]

Lake Chelan is a good suggestion but you better be in good shape. And you won't find whitetails there, only mulies.

Take a trip up the lake during a good weather window and stare up at those hills before you decide that's what you're going to do.  The thing about accessing via water is you are almost always setting yourself up for a death march to get up to where the deer are.  Unless the weather is bad and has driven the deer down - and bad weather and boating on chelan is not something to take lightly.

Just my 

[huntnphool]

Lake Chelan is a good suggestion but you better be in good shape. And you won't find whitetails there, only mulies.

I agree with the being in shape part, but actually there are whitetails around the lake.

[MisplacedAlaskan]

I'm OK with the death march. I spent a lot of time goat hunting when I lived in AK and that was almost always a death march. Those of you that have done it, do you glass from below, spot them and then go after them? Maybe it would be better to pick a good looking spot, head up and camp up high and then hunt from camp?

[bobcat]

I know there might be the occasional whitetail in the area but mule deer are far more prevalent. I'd think finding a whitetail  by Lake Chelan would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

[huntnphool]

I know there might be the occasional whitetail in the area but mule deer are far more prevalent. I'd think finding a whitetail  by Lake Chelan would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Well of course mule deer are more prevalent, but I have seen plenty of whitetail there the last couple of years.

[T-Dozzer]

Are you set on white tails? You could try and get on the snake river, but you would need to start securing property and scouting ASAP. It would be mulies down there.
Mostly all private or army corpse. Not sure how many guys are doing the same these days. Just a thought.

[MuleDeerCrazy]

How about Priest Lake in northern ID... less people and more country and a guy could do it by boat if he wanted...

[MisplacedAlaskan]

T-Dozzer, I read about doing the snake and that is what started this boat idea out. After looking into it more, is sounds like quite a few people hunt from a boat off the snake and the public land is pretty limited. I'm not set on whitetails, i just figured it would be easier to find a couple of them. The brothers are starving college students and are hoping for some meat out of the deal.

Idaho would be ideal, but the out of state license cost is a deal breaker right now. I love northern Idaho if I could get a job there, I'd move there.

[T-Dozzer]

T-Dozzer, I read about doing the snake and that is what started this boat idea out. After looking into it more, is sounds like quite a few people hunt from a boat off the snake and the public land is pretty limited. I'm not set on whitetails, i just figured it would be easier to find a couple of them. The brothers are starving college students and are hoping for some meat out of the deal.

Idaho would be ideal, but the out of state license cost is a deal breaker right now. I love northern Idaho if I could get a job there, I'd move there.

I hear ya on N Idaho.
I think your right about the amount of people on the Snake. I've taken a few down there years back.
What about just some old fashion knock and talk for permission?
The warden and Rosalie area is great for big whitetail. South of Cheney and the Turnbull animal reserve.
Check out a map and send your brothers over there to try and get access on some farm ground.

[Snakeriver10]

From Clarkston up to Lower Granit dam, you can easily take a boat across the river and hunt a number of canyons.  The number of people doing this over the past few years has dropped dramatically.  It is tough walking up, and I would try to find a canyon where people are hunting from the top to try and get some deer pushed down to you.  Depending on the canyon, you can easily pitch a tent on the other side as well.

[T-Dozzer]

Pm sent