Hello fellow hunters, I am new to being a member, but not new to the site. I have been reading here for years. Let me start by giving a little background on myself. I have been hunting since I was 11 for deer and since 13 for elk. Over the years with school and new jobs time has been very limited. I do what I can and am just now coming into my career so I am able to take more time each year to do what I love.
I started over east and was able to harvest a nice symmetrical 3x3 WT with double eye guards my first year. When I was 12 I got a small 2 pt during late season in gmu 621. At the age of 13 I harvested my first cow elk. By the age of 14 I was able to harvest a Small 3x3 mule deer. Since the first years, success has been spotty at best, with little time to scout or hunt. Just a spike, late season blacktail and a cow elk in 14 yrs that followed. This doesn't discourage me as I am constantly trying to improve my skills, knowledge and success. I hunt with only a partner in the methow now and the last couple years one of us at least has bagged some meat. I imagine the success will come with the time in the field.
All this being said, I am looking for some info on gmu 621 for an antlerless tag. Until the age of about 21,I hunted exclusively with my father. We were best buds and outdoor partners. At the young age of 55 my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. What a surprise. And not a good one. Over the coming years we had to watch him decline as he can no longer hunt, drive, or work. I was lucky in the sense that my future father in law is a hunter and now tromps around with me. I am pleased to say that after 7 years we managed to draw him a disabled antlerless tag for 621 and now that the early stage anger/frustration is gone I am hoping he can last awhile outdoors.
I have no idea how long he will last but I am excited just to be out there with him again. I've made a couple trips over to try and find some deer to make it quick and successful because I do not know if he will last 3 hours or 3 days before he is "done" or too anxious to be out there. I have been up juniper and penny creek and haven't seen much. Also hit the duckabush and only saw some elk (which got the blood pumping at least!) I will almost exclusively be stuck to roads as long hard hikes just won't be an option. I even thought about parking at the dose and walking in but even that might be a lot to ask. I don't normally road hunt other than taking a break to find new ground, but for my father I will break this rule. If this was my tag, it would be meat in the freezer as I have the whole season; and will likely pack up and go east to the normal grounds once my father cannot go any longer for the permit. But it is for my dad and I am his hunter companion. Yes I am just excited to be out there but after taking him fishing in the spring, boy would I love to see that same smile he had when he caught a stock rainbow. I've told him that if we are lucky enough to get a deer I will be over weekly to enjoy it with him. Filling this tag for my father is my #1 goal. This could be his only/my only chance I ever get again and I want to make the most of it. If anyone has any hints/roads that might be good to try out I would appreciate it. I can offer intimate knowledge of a few areas in the methow or the Nile unit when it comes to mule deer and would be willing to trade that info. I have seen some bruisers in the Nile over the years.
Thanks and good luck this year!
