How crowded during early archery?

[bigmike86]

Greetings all! I'm moving to Fort Lewis this spring and am already starting to research and plan for a mule deer archery hunt next year. In reference to the North Central areas like Pasayten Wilderness and all the GMUs in Okanogan County, how crowded are these places during early archery?

I am prepared to walk in far (will have fun re-living my Afghan mountain trekking days, unfortunately without the killing Taliban part...) but after reading a lot of these threads it sounds like you can trek in 5-10 miles and still run in to other hunters. Is this usually the case for bow season too or is that generally way less crowded than the gun seasons?

Also, are there any other areas I should start scouting that will allow me to get away from the crowds on a Muley spot and stalk?

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help! Good luck in those late season hunts!

-Mike

[ryan8888]

Depends where you are. Okanogan is big.

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[bobcat]

I don't think the early archery season in Okanogan will be crowded at all. A lot of people focus more on elk during September. Yes you do get almost two weeks of deer season before elk opens but I don't think crowding will be an issue. I certainly don't think you need to hike in 5 to 10 miles, although if that's what you want to do you'll certainly get away from the majority of other hunters. One thing to be aware of is that Pasayten (GMU 203) is not open for archery season. But I think that's the only unit in Okanogan county that isn't open, so you have plenty of area to hunt.

[bigmike86]

OH man thanks for that heads up, I didn't notice it wasn't open for archery. Washington's seasons and regs are a lot to take in for an east coast guy.

So then I guess the question is how crowded would it be for the high buck season sept 15th-25th?

Also any other big areas I should be scouting for big wilderness spot and stalks? I was picturing hiking miles in open country in Okanogan county but all the wildlife areas there look kinda small. If its not a wildlife management area is it private land otherwise? Thanks again

[JM]

When you say wildlife areas do you mean game management units? If so then the whole state is broken up into separate GMU's and they include private, they may look small on a map but if you take a drive over there you realize that they are plenty big.

I'm not sure about the Methow valley and Pasayten but the other wilderness areas don't seem to have nearly the pressure during archery.

[bobcat]

The high buck hunt is a "modern firearm" season so it can be pretty crowded, although if you hike in further than the average guy but not as far as the guys on horses, I think you'll have a chance of having some country to yourself. But again, that requires a modern firearm tag. Is that what you want?

[JM]

The high buck hunt is a "modern firearm" season so it can be pretty crowded, although if you hike in further than the average guy but not as far as the guys on horses, I think you'll have a chance of having some country to yourself. But again, that requires a modern firearm tag. Is that what you want?

You are able to hunt the Glacier Peaks and Alpine Lakes in September with archery but the Pasayten requires a modern firearm tag. I'm not sure about the other high hunts.

If I didn't hunt Idaho in September I would definitely buy a multiseason and do a backcountry hunt in early September, bucks are much easier to pattern and more still in their summer patterns before they get hard horned.

[JimmyHoffa]

high buck is also for muzzy

[X-Force]

If this is your first season in Washington I wouldn't worry about hitting wilderness areas to experience high country deer hunts. There is lots of national forest that is outside wilderness boundaries that is just as or more isolated. Wilderness areas draw big crowds especially during high buck hunts.

Look for national forest land that is a mile + from roads or trails and is to rugged for most guys to want to venture. A mile off the road/trail and + or - 2000' elevation is better than 3 or 4 miles up a trail.

[JM]

high buck is also for muzzy

Sorry I should have mentioned that. I guess I tried to sweep the muzzy hunters under the rug like F&G did.

 xforce is also spot on about the general archery hunts. It's hard to beat the backcountry above the tree line in early September though

[bigmike86]

Thanks for the tips guys! I guess...well..I don't know what i want. It's such a foreign idea for me to have to pick one season to hunt. I am a bowhunter at heart, so I will probably stick with that eventhough I don't expect to successfully get within bow range of a muley during my first season of spotting and stalking. But, I know I will feel like I sold myself short if I didn't try.

I will definitely check out some other national forest areas. Is all national forest huntable during that GMUs season?

As for the wildlife areas, I meant the blue areas on the go hunt map. Cant remember what they are called but the state owned wildlife management areas is what I was referring to, not the bigger GMU boundaries.

Thanks for the tips guys. This is refreshing and exciting to think about after a crappy season of white tail hunting here in Georgia. I am so excited to get out and away from people and into some open space!!!! And im really excited to feel that old mountain hiking lung burn again!

[bigmike86]

Addition to above: Of course I will apply for the multi season tag, but not counting on actually getting drawn

[JM]

Addition to above: Of course I will apply for the multi season tag, but not counting on actually getting drawn

There will be leftover multiseason permits that you are able to purchase over the counter. If you have time and a MS permit then you could hunt the units that have a early rifle season with a bow. That would give a chance to figure the area out and find the deer while the weathers nice and deer are still visible. If archery doesn't work out then go back in with a rifle when the high buck hunt starts and have another go at it.

I've never payed much attention to the blue hunt areas that you are talking about

[bigmike86]

Thanks that's a good plan.

So other than the blue areas and state forest, is everything else in a GMU pretty much private land?

[bobcat]

The "blue areas" are Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife land, which I believe the majority of that will be winter range so it's probably not the best for early archery season.

Other state land you will see is managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. It's open for hunting just like the WDFW land, just be sure you have a Discover pass for the DNR land ($30).

The majority of the public land in Okanogan county will be National Forest and most likely that's where you'll be hunting if you want to be in the high country. If you're looking at the "Go Hunt" map, the National Forest is green. The private land will be white.

[bigmike86]

Great, thanks! That clears things up a bit. I got scared when I thought the wildlife land was the only public land to hunt! Thanks for the tips. Anyone have any recommendations for good books or places to begin reading on Mule deer specific habitats/patterns and hunting? The internet seems to hold mostly short articles on high hunt mule deer tips and not any in depth teachings about how to find and hunt these suckers.

[bobcat]

I have this book and I think it would be helpful for you:

Mule Deer Hunting Tactics https://www.amazon.com/dp/0977883728/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_p6ICwbHF64KWV

[bigmike86]

Great, thanks! I will check it out.

Thanks again everyone for all the help. I really do appreciate it

[Eric M]

Although not specific to Washington, Mike Eastman's, "Hunting High Country Mule Deer" and Robby Denning's book on mule deer hunting are both worth a read.

[irish52084]

Don't know if you've made a decision on where you're hunting this season, but the okanogan GMU204 can be excellent if you have the time to scout and an open mind. Muleys are about half the deer population up there but there's a ton of whit tails and some serious trophy whitetails. Shoot me a PM and I can give you a few hints in the 204c especially with the big fires this summer.

[E35alex]

Tag


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[pianoman9701]

Other than Benning, where are you from on the east coast?

[mjustice79]

What brigade are you going to here in Lewis?


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[Bean Counter]

I've been out of WA for a few years, so I can't give up much up-to-date information. But wanted to stop in and say thanks for killing some of those savages

[muleracks]

There is no problem with other hunters during the September 1st opener.  You can hunt the Wilderness for 10 or more days in complete solitude before the High Hunt starts on the 15th.  Even areas with road access have little hunting pressure from archers in September but the high country is were most of the bucks area and it is beautiful up there.