GMU 346

[suttonmoore]

By the grace of one of my good friends we are being given the use of a cabin just off of 410 about 2 miles East of Whiskey Jacks in Naches. Don't have much experience hunting Mule Deer but have taken a few drives over there and up into the Forest Service roads across the river and up towards Milk Creek. I have seen a ton of does wandering around and all along the river. I'm not asking anyone to divulge their sweet-spot but would anyone mind giving me a few tips on where I might have good luck this season?

Thanks.

[hughjorgan]

The Yakima area has the lowest success rate for mule deer for quite sometime. If it were me I would look else where if you are looking to harvest a legal buck.

[fastdam]

I live outside yakima and hunt deer here. My advice is cover as much ground as possible.

[muleyslayer]

I live outside yakima and hunt deer here. My advice is cover as much ground as possible.

Ive taken my deer in yakima county the last 4 hunting seasons. The success rates are low but if your will to cover ground you eventually get into some bucks. Goodluck!

[suttonmoore]

From some people that I spoke to in the area I was told to get up high around Edgar Rock and cover ground up there. Also Milk and Gold creek offers decent access up high enough. Anyone have thoughts about these places?

If I pass on the cabin I will likely have to day trip to Fort Lewis this year as my other plans fell apart about 2 weeks ago.

[rtspring]

There are bucks, and there is a lot of them.  Boots on the ground will reward your efforts. I've hunted it for deer for 29 years and cant remember not getting a buck.  Get away from roads!  Those places have a ton of roads and the stupid deer get taken out early.   

I have noticed a lot of deer will bed up and let you walk right in by.


Good luck

[Bob33]

I love it. The difference between data, and boots on the ground.

The Yakima area has the lowest success rate for mule deer for quite sometime. If it were me I would look else where if you are looking to harvest a legal buck.

There are bucks, and there is a lot of them.  Boots on the ground will reward your efforts. I've hunted it for deer for 29 years and cant remember not getting a buck.  Get away from roads!  Those places have a ton of roads and the stupid deer get taken out early

[hughjorgan]

I love it. The difference between data, and boots on the ground.

The Yakima area has the lowest success rate for mule deer for quite sometime. If it were me I would look else where if you are looking to harvest a legal buck.

There are bucks, and there is a lot of them.  Boots on the ground will reward your efforts. I've hunted it for deer for 29 years and cant remember not getting a buck.  Get away from roads!  Those places have a ton of roads and the stupid deer get taken out early

Data and boots on the ground, huh? Here is data for you, not that I don't spend plenty of time in the area this gentlemen is inquiring about, but here you go...

2014 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.1%

Archery was a whopping 5.1%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2014/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2013 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.5%

Archery was 3.6%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2013/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2012 modern firearm success rate in the 346 was...   3.3%

Archery was 2.4%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2012/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8


Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

And as far as the OP question about areas, if you choose to hunt this unit Gold Creek would be my number one choice, then Edgar rock. Good luck, it is a tough hunt for deer, the data is there to tell you that.

[Naches Sportsman]

One of the cabin owners in that group feed the deer. Shouldn't have to go to far.

[mfswallace]

Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse(native) problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

Hugh,
I think you misspelled the problem... 

[Duckslayer89]

  

[PlateauNDN]

Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse (native, non-native poachers) problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

Hugh,
I think you misspelled the problem... 

  grammar error so I corrected it for you.

[rtspring]

I love it. The difference between data, and boots on the ground.

The Yakima area has the lowest success rate for mule deer for quite sometime. If it were me I would look else where if you are looking to harvest a legal buck.

There are bucks, and there is a lot of them.  Boots on the ground will reward your efforts. I've hunted it for deer for 29 years and cant remember not getting a buck.  Get away from roads!  Those places have a ton of roads and the stupid deer get taken out early

Data and boots on the ground, huh? Here is data for you, not that I don't spend plenty of time in the area this gentlemen is inquiring about, but here you go...

2014 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.1%

Archery was a whopping 5.1%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2014/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2013 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.5%

Archery was 3.6%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2013/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2012 modern firearm success rate in the 346 was...   3.3%

Archery was 2.4%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2012/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8


Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

And as far as the OP question about areas, if you choose to hunt this unit Gold Creek would be my number one choice, then Edgar rock. Good luck, it is a tough hunt for deer, the data is there to tell you that.

Data numbers are like the politicians, never trust them.  What is true is that very few people hunt this unit for deer, so thats part of the reason for low harvest rates.

Yes 346 lost a ton of deer years back, but they are coming back strong. 

Heres a good one for you, I took my buck last year with my bow during modern rifle season..  Get away from the roads is my best advice for the OP

[hughjorgan]

I love it. The difference between data, and boots on the ground.

The Yakima area has the lowest success rate for mule deer for quite sometime. If it were me I would look else where if you are looking to harvest a legal buck.

There are bucks, and there is a lot of them.  Boots on the ground will reward your efforts. I've hunted it for deer for 29 years and cant remember not getting a buck.  Get away from roads!  Those places have a ton of roads and the stupid deer get taken out early

Data and boots on the ground, huh? Here is data for you, not that I don't spend plenty of time in the area this gentlemen is inquiring about, but here you go...

2014 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.1%

Archery was a whopping 5.1%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2014/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2013 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.5%

Archery was 3.6%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2013/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2012 modern firearm success rate in the 346 was...   3.3%

Archery was 2.4%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2012/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8


Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

And as far as the OP question about areas, if you choose to hunt this unit Gold Creek would be my number one choice, then Edgar rock. Good luck, it is a tough hunt for deer, the data is there to tell you that.

Data numbers are like the politicians, never trust them.  What is true is that very few people hunt this unit for deer, so thats part of the reason for low harvest rates.

Yes 346 lost a ton of deer years back, but they are coming back strong. 

Heres a good one for you, I took my buck last year with my bow during modern rifle season..  Get away from the roads is my best advice for the OP

You are correct there are not as many hunting deer in these areas any more but there was still some 600+ modern rifle hunters with less than 4% success rate. There are bucks but not a lot of them, contrary to your post saying there are.

How many years out of the last 10 have you harvested a legal buck?

Nice job on the bow kill, wasn't last year your first year bow hunting?


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[coachcw]

work hard and get into the crap !