GMU 602 Dickey Buck Deer

[CoyoteChuck52]

Permits hunt dates Nov.1-18, Muzzleloader Any Buck. Wasn't a lot that showed up in a search..


Any help would be great....opinions about this hunt?

Thx
Chuck

[JimmyHoffa]

Lots of Rayonier land and even a lot of the DNR land is back behind Rayonier gates.  Should be two different permits for the Rayonier area:  one is 'Dickey' and the other 'general'.  You can camp with the actual Dickey one I believe but not the general.  Or just get on to the DNR land.  Lots of clear cuts and various age timber.  There's a good number of deer in there, but I haven't seen monsters--smallish bodies and racks for the deer.  There's some other access areas down towards the Airport Rd, but there is a no discharge zone--so follow some of those roads in and can get to the shooting area.
I see most of the deer in there at night, like ten deer for every one I see in daylight.  And most of the bucks I see are by the river.  There's lots of grassy spots in between the riparian and the timber/cuts--find a lot of the beds in there.  The river is usually pretty low and has sandy banks so you can see their tracks.  Usually find the cuts near the river and watch the trees along the edge.  See lots of bobcats there too.  Weather and general mod elk might not be the best, but rut should counter that.

[CoyoteChuck52]

Excellent Intel..Thank You

[bobcat]

I'd definitely be hitting it hard that first 6 days, before the modern firearm elk hunters get in there. The rut will be going good too. There's no better time to hunt blacktails than that first week of November. You should have a good hunt.

[CoyoteChuck52]

I'd definitely be hitting it hard that first 6 days, before the modern firearm elk hunters get in there. The rut will be going good too. There's no better time to hunt blacktails than that first week of November. You should have a good hunt.

Thx Bobcat but hated to hear that about the first week of Nov... as we will be at Blue Creek Elk hunting starting 31, Oct. all the way across the state. When we get done we will be headed for the 602

Question is would you rather hunt the 602 in Nov. Any Buck or West Klickitat Dec. 3-9 3pt Min.??

[opdinkslayer]

I would come check out the Dickey right now and see if you want to commit the money to Rayonier's permit or not for the amount of time you will have to hunt. Primetime to kill a good blackie the last few years is around the last week of oct thru the first wk to 10 days of nov. If you miss the 1st week you will be giving away the best 7 of the 18 you drew. The next month or so is a good time to come look around and see what kind of bucks are around in the units 1st thing in the morning and last couple hrs in the evening. Saw 3 nice bucks all together the other night in a unit. Good luck and bring your rain gear. 

[bobcat]

If you can't hunt Dickey that first week, I'd hunt West Klickitat for sure. Heck I'd probably hunt West Klickitat over Dickey anyway, no matter what.

[CoyoteChuck52]

I would come check out the Dickey right now and see if you want to commit the money to Rayonier's permit or not for the amount of time you will have to hunt. Primetime to kill a good blackie the last few years is around the last week of oct thru the first wk to 10 days of nov. If you miss the 1st week you will be giving away the best 7 of the 18 you drew. The next month or so is a good time to come look around and see what kind of bucks are around in the units 1st thing in the morning and last couple hrs in the evening. Saw 3 nice bucks all together the other night in a unit. Good luck and bring your rain gear. 

Thank you  opdinkslayer..good info..scouting is going to start pronto

Not going to be able to make the first few days of the 602 hunt due to the cow Modern tag at Blue Creek 154. Second week won't be a problem.

Bobcat,

 Can you tell me a little bit more about the Deer in W. Kilckitat?,I'm brand new to that area as well.

Add note:
I'm in a powerwheelchair so that will change things as far as hunting but I'm game for putting 100% into these hunts

Thanks again guys

[JimmyHoffa]

Also meant to mention that Dickey isn't a steep unit.  It has a few areas that are steep, but a lot is pretty flat.  The bad part about that is it takes the water a long time to drain off.  Some of those clear cuts basically turn into swamps in the fall, the stumps will be high and dry, but you might get two feet of water in between them.  They look good from the road, but once you start out across them, you wish you had waders.
If you go to scout it out, maybe call or email Rayonier ahead of time to find out what is going to be logged or repaired.  I heard last year's elk season hunters weren't the happiest that Rayonier decided to do a bunch of road/bridge maintenance during elk season cutting off half the unit.  The area can get real busy with logging, on weekdays I usually just follow a log truck to avoid holding up on coming trucks.  The roads are pretty wide, but not quite enough to have them pass without you going about a foot or two off in the ditch.  Weekends the trucks aren't an issue.
I didn't go out there last year, but went the previous years before the permits.  During mod deer and muzzy elk, the place would be packed with people everywhere.  So maybe with the permits, the deer population is up.  Maybe even some biggies, I know the surrounding units have big ones. 
And if you hunt/scout from the north side of the unit and plan to leave after it gets kind of late, have enough fuel because I think Sekiu still turns the gas pumps off so you have drive a ways to fill up.  They used to give you a phone number and if it wasn't too late they would come turn the pumps on and sell you fuel--not sure if the lady still does that.  Other wise have to go out to Neah Bay or Forks area for closest.