Assistance Please...New Deer Hunter (Chesaw, GMU 204)

[Armystrong]

A little bit of background...Two years ago I retired from the Army after almost 23 years.  I loved serving and miss it but after several deployments and another was looming on the horizon, I decided to retire to stay home with my family.  I became an avid fisherman and hunter when I was stationed in Alaska.  Long story short, I moved up here to Washington to be with my family and around other relatives. 

Living off my Army retired pay I have decided to try Deer hunting with my Dad who is almost 70 and has taken a couple deer in the 25+ years he has lived in Bonney Lake WA. 

Now for the good stuff...we went to the shooting range at Fort Lewis and zeroed in our guns (modern firearms, 30-06 and 7mm).  In a couple hours we were done...took so long because the range was packed and we had also enjoyed having a shooting competition with our 22LR.  So, zeroed in and read for opening season in Chesaw.

Our plan is to hunt Chesaw area.  Mind you I have never been there, this is my first deer hunt, and it is 8 hours from home.  We will be taking my Dads truck and his trailer where the two of us will be living while away from the family.  To me this hunt is to add some meat to our fridge and to spend some quality time with my Dad. 

If anyone can offer any information about the area or as far fetched as this may sound, offer their private land as an opportunity I would forever be grateful for anything offered.  I am a very ethical hunter with the utmost respect for the land, animals occupying the land, and the hunters.  I look forward to reading any replies and I am grateful to those that post and have created such a wonderful forum.  Perhaps in time I too can offer my assistance to others and this forum. 

Thanks a million
ArmyStrong (Jim)

[rover758]

Wow Army ... going in cold is going to be tough.  Wish I had info for you but I don't.  Just wanted to wish you and your dad good luck.  You can check out the harvest numbers from last year for GMU 204 at the link below.  204 is in District 6 I think.  In the future you may want to check out area 101 Sherman which is next door to 204 Okanogan East.  At least there your Dad can shoot a buck or doe if you're after meat.   (See Game Regs Hunters 65 and Over, Disabled, or Youth General Seasons.) 65 and older is Any Deer.  Heck ... since you're going in cold you may want to slip on over there anyway.

Good luck!

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2013/reports/deer_gmu_all.php

[Yelper Guy]

Army, haven't been up there for years but I know there are deer and wolves.
Try looking at some BLM or DNR maps. I'm sure there's public land to hunt.
Good luck

[CAMPMEAT]

Tons of public land and tons of people up there....... be careful and good luck.

[superdown]

pm sent

[BOWHUNTER45]

I love the Chesaw area ...but I can tell you that people are not friendly up there ..A couple years ago a grouse hunter was shot dead while standing in the road    just be on your toes ..that's all I am saying 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Sorry if I train wrecked this thread 

[Birdguy]

Armystrong, first off thank you for your service . Second, have a great time with your Dad (by far the most important part of any hunt with family  ).  As for the Chesaw area there is public land around and there are certainly deer. There is a fair amount of national forest land around Chesaw, I would certaily recommend buying a map at the forest service station just at the north end of Tonasket on the right. We hunted the NF area north out of Chesaw for a few years after our place over there burned. Some good deer and great camping was had there.

Oh yeah welcome to the forum 

[Armystrong]

Wow Army ... going in cold is going to be tough.  Wish I had info for you but I don't.  Just wanted to wish you and your dad good luck.  You can check out the harvest numbers from last year for GMU 204 at the link below.  204 is in District 6 I think.  In the future you may want to check out area 101 Sherman which is next door to 204 Okanogan East.  At least there your Dad can shoot a buck or doe if you're after meat.   (See Game Regs Hunters 65 and Over, Disabled, or Youth General Seasons.) 65 and older is Any Deer.  Heck ... since you're going in cold you may want to slip on over there anyway.

Good luck!

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2013/reports/deer_gmu_all.php

Thank you for the link.  I saw those numbers last week.  We initially considered Banks Lake area but decided not to hunt there because we have never been or even traveled through the area.  Since I am new to Washington my Dad has traveled to and through the Chesaw area. 

I just hope we/I am as successful hunting in WA as I was in Alaska.  I have been studying the Gazetteer as well as the regs.  The net has a lot to offer but the information so many of you are offering is priceless and the experience you all have to offer can't be touched by any site.

[Armystrong]

I love the Chesaw area ...but I can tell you that people are not friendly up there ..A couple years ago a grouse hunter was shot dead while standing in the road    just be on your toes ..that's all I am saying 

Wow that is awful.  This is suppose to be a fun, challenging, and rewarding time of the hunting season.  I've survived Iraq twice (2005-2006 and 2009-2010) so I hope there are some smart, ethical, and responsible hunters up there making it fun and rewarding for the hunters and the private land owners.

[Armystrong]

Armystrong, first off thank you for your service . Second, have a great time with your Dad (by far the most important part of any hunt with family  ).  As for the Chesaw area there is public land around and there are certainly deer. There is a fair amount of national forest land around Chesaw, I would certaily recommend buying a map at the forest service station just at the north end of Tonasket on the right. We hunted the NF area north out of Chesaw for a few years after our place over there burned. Some good deer and great camping was had there.

Oh yeah welcome to the forum 

Thank you for the information.  Besides my Gazetteer and regulations, I have added a trip to the Forest Service Station.  I plan to walk in a ways hoping to get away from the normal crowd.  Is there such a map that illustrates private property lines vs public land use?

[steelhead59]

I have hunted that area for several years, you cant go wrong by hunting the 100 road that goes over Bonaparte Mountain. White tails on the bottom end and Muley's on the top. You can drive the road across the top and turn back around and drive back over and see different deer that that you didn't see the first time. Killed a many up there. Stay away from the Pontiac Ridge road, lots of private property up there on the Chesaw side.

[_TONY_]

Just hang around Bonaparte, and you should see lots of WT... I have family up there with Private land/orchards, so i'll be up there in 215 209 204 this weekend making use of my multi season permit.

Good luck!

[superdown]

I have been hunting and vacationing in the chesaw area for 23 years been going over there at least four times a year and most years much more than that.My family owned 40 acres east of dry gulch and now i own 20 acres on pontiac ridge and i / we have never met a mean person out there of course there is always an exception to the rule. With that being said the local business owners know me by name and ask about my son and fiancee when they are not with me.A person would really have to go out of their way and step on somebody's jimmy to get a rise out of them in that neck of the woods.Be respectful and close the gates behind you when you go through them to not let their cattle out.most people are scared of the reputation on pontiac ridge and won't travel all the way through the well known public road because of the bs no trespassing signs if the gate is not locked on a well used road it is most likely because they have no right to.I have no problem with people staying off the ridge it's more peaceful that way. 

[steelhead59]

Don't get to excited about the traffic up on the 100 road either, most cant spot a deer if their life depended on it. Me and my wife do not look for the whole deer only parts of them, legs, ears, and butts we see more deer than most of the hunters out there. The crowd will die down after Monday when the weekend warriors go home. The 035 road is a good bet also (Beth Ridge). Two years ago a young man killed a huge 5x5 right across from the Bonaparte Lake look out.