Late Modern Swakane Deer Permit

[Billy Fudd]

I have been hunting sw wa for 25 years.  Recent transplant to Entiat area.  Luck have it I drew a swakane tag.  Haven't done a lot of scouting because I know the deer are migratory.  I have talked to several locals about where they recommend focusing (I don't think anyone told me the same area and most were high points). A common piece of advice I have received is south slopes and chains (which I purchased and practiced taking on and off).  I had planned to hunt Nov 10-20.  But could move days around work family commitments to hunt the earlier part of the season.  What does the forum think?  Any and all advice appreciated.  Thanks.

[Billy Fudd]

Cooking some elk cube steak and drinking some macnaughtons while I wait.   

[bone collector 12]

PM SENT

[Bango skank]

Cooking some elk cube steak and drinking some macnaughtons while I wait.   

Naughty mcnaughtons!!   

[bear]

I've had the tag twice. Neither time had any more than a dusting up top of the unit during my hunt.  Ended up with no migrators and just hunted local bucks. I've heard it can be really good if you get heavy snow.  Either way we chained up for mud and ice almost every day. Good luck. Bear

[Billy Fudd]

Thanks Bone and Bear.  Bango you need to learn to appreciate the finer things in life😎.

[fishngamereaper]

Drive, glass, drive, glass....repeat. If your hunting alone hide your bullets. Be patient.

[UBA]

The later the better and glass those thick canyons. The deeper the better. Hope for weather.

[Billy Fudd]

Thanks guys!

[jstone]

Get up high and look down both sides of the ridges... Chumstic

[ghostshell]

id hunt the same spots as the late archery peeps that know the game.... you would be surprised where some studs be..... good luck.

[jeffro]

I had this tag a couple years back.
Make sure you 4 chains and not just 2.
And obviously 4 wheel drive.
Even without snow those roads are nasty without a lot margin for error.
We met a game wardon who pointed us to a gated road that had seen no pressure and we tagged out in about 15 minutes of hiking.
Steep open country back in there, bring some good glass.

[muleracks]

For a mature buck, you should hunt the western end of the unit and as close to the snowline as you can get or even in the snow if you're lucky enough to get some.  The deer will not shy away from the north facing slopes because that is where the best food is but they will go to the south facing slopes if there is enough snow to make travel difficult.
Grew up in the Entiat and have hunted mule deer there since 1955 (as a 10 year old with Dad, brothers and uncles).

[bowsandhose]

Yehaw it's almost time.  I'm heading over tuesday, but I'm planning on hitting it hard the 8-20th I'm a fan for late as possible for mule deer.I'll probably see you over there

[jrebel]

Tagging along....Can't wait to see some pics.