White River (GMU 653) Deer Hunting Advice

[cowboycraig]

Got the White River motorized permit from Hancock https://hancockrecreationnw.com/white-river/about/about-white-river

Wanted a place I could scout that isn't too far from Seattle and (I hope) isn't overhunted/pressured.

Have never been up in this area. Starting my scouting. Has anyone been there, have any tips, area's, advice, flames? I am interested.

Thanks!
Craig
 

[notellumcreek]

 As far as pressured, this area is pretty high considering the mucks own it and do a lot of hunting in there. Try finding walk in areas, there are deer around but you definitely will not be alone this weekend at any of the entry points, both white man and indians. It slows down a bit after the first week and will pick up at the end of regular season and late buck. Good luck.

[cowboycraig]

Thanks for the replies both here on the forum and PM's. Has been a great help!

Thinking if I walk the walk-in gates that have crappy grown over trails (some do for sure) that will give an advantage. Most people are... pretty lazy

Craig

[liljozie495]

Should be nice and busy if it rains like the weatherman says it's supposed to, but like my partner says, it'll be busy this first week, you can find areas away from the crowds tho. Not a lot of areas but there is some... Good luck what will you be driving incase we cross paths with ya we can stop and say hi.

[MooseStock]

Walk in gates are fine but you may have the tribe members driving by you because they will have access to the areas you may have to walk into...look for the old grades or places that are to bad to drive into....good luck.......Les

[cowboycraig]

Should be nice and busy if it rains like the weatherman says it's supposed to, but like my partner says, it'll be busy this first week, you can find areas away from the crowds tho. Not a lot of areas but there is some... Good luck what will you be driving incase we cross paths with ya we can stop and say hi.

Have a Silver Ford F-150 with a black bedcover. Hope we cross paths (while dragging deers out) 

[cowboycraig]

Walk in gates are fine but you may have the tribe members driving by you because they will have access to the areas you may have to walk into...look for the old grades or places that are to bad to drive into....good luck.......Les

I have found "lots" of old what used to be logging roads that are hardly walk-able and no 4x4 is going to traverse. Think if some effort is put forth can get away from the peeps.

Wanted to head out this weekend, but was thinking of taking Monday and Tuesday off and hunting. Maybe get away from some of the weekend warrior yahoo's. 

[cowboycraig]

Walk in gates are fine but you may have the tribe members driving by you because they will have access to the areas you may have to walk into...look for the old grades or places that are to bad to drive into....good luck.......Les

Found a lot of trails that could only be walked, that were once logging roads. Ain't no 4x4 could get through.

[justyhntr]

In the areas that I have been walking in I have not seen the Mucks driving in but I have heard a bit more shooting than in the past and there seems to be a bit more pressure from them now that they own it  . A freind of mine did watch a Muck shoot a spike elk a couple weeks ago right off 410 .

[lewy]

   Deer numbers in the WR unit are as low as they have ever been, I would honestly put your time in somewere else.

[sirmissalot]

   Deer numbers in the WR unit are as low as they have ever been, I would honestly put your time in somewere else.

  not a whole lot of deer around there, certainly not an area I would target for deer

[lewy]

Elk numbers on the other hand are very good right now in the 653....Good luck

[7mag.]

Do not pass on a legal buck, you might not get another chance. I grew up hunting that tree farm and have watched the deer numbers steadily decline.

[bigtex]

Do not pass on a legal buck, you might not get another chance. I grew up hunting that tree farm and have watched the deer numbers steadily decline.

The White River has never really been a fantastic deer unit, was a great elk unit. That being said, the number of deer have declined. Do not pass on a legal buck!

[ctwiggs1]

I hate to tell you this but if you live in Seattle the Snoqualmie unit may be the better buy.  I used the buy the Hancock WR permit every year (I live in Enumclaw).  It's a great area for bear, but that's gotten worse.  Still ok, but not as good as Snoqualmie from what I hear.  Elk seem to scatter around late August.  If you're deer hunting, shoot the first legal buck for sure, because if you see TWO we will all be floored.