Quality Buck - Alta

[Miles]

I would see if you could donate your points to a new hunter.  Then sell all your hunting gear and give up.  Hunting will never be as good as it once was.

[Timberstalker]

 

[boneaddict]

I'm pretty sure I'm only doing points this year, and I anticipate my fall hunt to be more about being out there than it is finding an animal.   

[vandeman17]

I love the way this thread is trending... 

[boneaddict]

Im ashamed of the game department for even having permits up there this year.   For those that draw, the best of luck to them.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well I wrote them about giving any permits out anyhow. It just disgusts me that they even give out doe permits. Obviously its all about the money at the extent of the wildlife. I was up there last weekend and didn't see much sign at all totally depressing.                         

[ghosthunter]

Well we have hunted the Twisp, Winthrop area for over 30 years now. And we have done ok. I started building points with ALta in mind, than Gardner and now not sure. But we go back each year for the entire season because we like the area.

I take points mainly because when I draw it I wont hunt the regular season or the elk season. I will hunt the whole 20 day special hunt. The last few years I haven't wanted to give up my other hunts because I got lots of buddies in camp. So when the buddies thin, than I plan to try for it. In four more years it wont matter because I will be retired.

The problem is not with the doe permits.

The problem is on any given year there are hundreds if not more small bucks shot by folks who just do not care or are to dumb to figure out a 2pt. from a spike. A game agent who checked us last year had five illegal heads in the back of his truck, four were under 3 pt. One was a 3pt shot by shooting across a busy road onto private property.

That was in two days.

The problem for the most part my friends is us, hunting has turned into "I am going to get mine no matter what activity" The folks don't see a problem with shooting first and counting points later.

I would be in favor of shutting down the  whole area for three years, No harvest of any kind by anyone. Than start up again.  But that wont happen. 

[Skyvalhunter]

No the problem also involves doe permits. When they kill a doe the hunters don't just kill one deer. They shoot the largest doe that has a yearling with it. That doe was more than likely pregnant thus you kill 2 or 3 deer. Then that doe that they shot had a yearling that will not survive the winter on it's own. 

[Romulus1297]

I didn't think a yearling whitetail doe was a big deal to take so I told my daughter to shoot. Pretty tender but not very much to eat.

[boneaddict]

I would be in favor of shutting down the  whole area for three years, No harvest of any kind by anyone. Than start up again.  But that wont happen. 

I wish they would.   I purposely didn't notch last year.   First year in 34 or something like that.   Trust me I could have, but it wasn't worth it to me.  The herd is in really bad shape.   This may well be year two for me.  It's a personal choice. 

[Luckyone]

I spent almost all of November and December in most of these units.  Had a bunch of buddies spread out looking as well. I agree with bone, and skyvalley I'd probably save my points.  Not only is the quality way down but so are the numbers.  The alta,  pearrygin, Okanogan ect. Should have been closed after the fires. It would blow your mind how much the deer numbers are down not to mention how hard it was to find any "really" mature bucks.  The entiat and slide Ridge areas were equally tough in regards to mature bucks as well.  I was being super picky but really wasn't tempted that often. We passed on the buck that the raffle deer guy ended up taking and only seen one buck in there better then that buck.  To say it was a lean year would be a understatement.  The most concerning thing was the lack of bucks that were a few years away even,  if you know what I mean?  I'm not saying we seen them all but we covered it well, and did so until late December.  On the other hand there is a chance you could find a giant! It worked out for us but it wasn't like we were passing up 180" bucks left and right.  That's my $0.02.... good luck everyone in the draw!!!

[crabcreekhunter]

 

[trophyhunt]

I changed my normal picks this year for deer, good luck guys.

[coachcw]

Going g to Colorado  again . I only put in for one late archery permit .

[ctwiggs1]

Points for me.  It's a meat year. 

Except second deer and cow elk