Ritzville Late Rifle Buck Tag - Help Needed

[Joe Rothrock]

      In 2015 my wife drew a Douglas moose tag and there were some great guys on this site that really helped us out. Well, I need help again. I drew the Ritzville late rifle buck tag, Nov 1st - 20th. The harvest reports consistently show good results year after year on this hunt. The unit (284) is primarily all private land so I know I've got some work to do scouting and door knocking.
     I'm desperately hoping that there are some previous permit holders or some general season hunters who would be willing to help me get started. If you know of any public land in the unit or maybe some land owners who allow access, any info would be greatly appreciated.
     I strongly believe in the pay it forward concept or you could call it Karma. I have extensive knowledge of the Douglas and 49 degrees moose units as well as the desert mule deer unit. I've helped several permit holders in the past and I'm more than willing to share info again.
     Thanks guys, I hope to hear from you soon. Good luck to everyone!     Joe

[jmscon]

I'd start with gohunt the the Wdfw website. You might be able to find a "feel free to hunt" or "hunt by written permission" spot in that area. There is also a public land layer on there as well that might help.
I'm sure others on here have some better pointers but it's a good place to start.
Good luck!

[GUscottie]

A. There is almost no public land, it's like 94.23% private according to WDFW site
B. Start knocking on doors. This is not an easy place to get permission for the general season. I have family, cousins and the like, that I can't hunt their land since it's such a big deal for general season. You should let them know you have a late season permit, but good luck
C. Use the WDFW website and find some walk in areas, find some written permission areas and see if there is any hunt by reservation areas


Side Note: I'm envious you drew this tag. I've been putting in for 8 years... There are likely to be some people on here that are going to flame you for drawing a tag in such a hard to get permission area...I say, enjoy the hunt and good luck...

[Reidus]

I had it 2 years ago. there is a pretty good size chunk of blm land on the eastside of the unit. i passed on smaller bucks and never ended up killing one. lots of deer on private. I didnt see anything very big but i suppose there's always a chance.  Great hunt if you want to just kill a buck. I personally would rather spend my time in idaho or montana.  I'm not real fond of hunting little parcels here and there. There is some nice whitetails in there as well. I'd do some driving around and knocking on doors as well. Also seems to be more deer in the eastern half of the unit.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Pm sent


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[blackdog]

I got my buck on the Snyder farm south of Ritzville.

[Joe Rothrock]

      Thanks for the information and the PM. I sent out a PM to Andrew in Idaho and Blackdog. As you all know, more info is better than less. So, if there are any others out there, I would be delighted to hear from you! Thanks Again!     Joe

[dvolmer]

I don't meant to be that negative, but the game dept. states that this hunt is on mostly private property and to have access issues figured out and put together or don't put in. I hope you are successful and good luck.  If you want to just fill the freezer it easy to do because it is "any Buck" and you will see lots of 2 points.  But if you want a trophy hunt (and there are some nice bucks in that unit) and haven't gotten any access locked up you will have a real hard time.

[Bangflop]

Why would you put in for an area that has very limited access
Unless you have a place you know you can hunt? This is the reason the farmers in the Palouse are sick of the wet side guys among other reasons! 
Good luck. Hope it works out for you.

[GrampasGuns]

Why would you put in for an area that has very limited access
Unless you have a place you know you can hunt? This is the reason the farmers in the Palouse are sick of the wet side guys among other reasons! 
Good luck. Hope it works out for you.

Seriously so sick of seeing responses like this. Either help the dude or stay quiet. No one cares to hear about your disdain for west siders.

[dvolmer]

Sounds like you must be from the West side.  You told me that what your tired of.  Let me tell you what I'm tired of.  I'm tired of people putting in for permits that the WDFW expressively tells applicants to NOT put in unless they have access issues addressed and taken care of because the majority of the unit is private and then people with no idea on how or where they are going to hunt applying for them and then begging for people on the forum for help on a unit they were told not to put in for.   

Duhhhhhhhh!!!!!

And he never said he was sick of the West Siders.  He was telling you what the Palouse farmers are expressing.

[Miles]

Sounds like you must be from the West side.  You told me that what your tired of.  Let me tell you what I'm tired of.  I'm tired of people putting in for permits that the WDFW expressively tells applicants to NOT put in unless they have access issues addressed and taken care of because the majority of the unit is private and then people with no idea on how or where they are going to hunt applying for them and then begging for people on the forum for help on a unit they were told not to put in for.   

Duhhhhhhhh!!!!!

And he never said he was sick of the West Siders.  He was telling you what the Palouse farmers are expressing.

Great to see someone say it how they really feel.  Lol.   I though that was a thing of the past.  Thanks for keeping hope alive.

[emac]

Its a problem every year in my area too. I put in for units that i know nothing about, but those are units that are mainly all public land. I dont put in for units that are mostly private that i dont know anyone in like this unit. I dont know one single landowner in the unit so i wont apply. But people do and they will continue to do it.  Than they get mad when no landowners will give them permission and blame the landowners. Then 75% of them will trespass  (just a guess) and when they get caught they blame the landowners for not giving them permission. Access is getting tighter in all of the east side private ground units and it will just keep getting worse.

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[dvolmer]

Its a problem every year in my area too. I put in for units that i know nothing about, but those are units that are mainly all public land. I dont put in for units that are mostly private that i dont know anyone in like this unit. I dont know one single landowner in the unit so i wont apply. But people do and they will continue to do it.  Than they get mad when no landowners will give them permission and blame the landowners. Then 75% of them will trespass  (just a guess) and when they get caught they blame the landowners for not giving them permission. Access is getting tighter in all of the east side private ground units and it will just keep getting worse.

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Great comment!  You want to talk about a bad recipe, A guy with a quality tag that took him years to draw and no place to hunt!  Why would anyone put in for a unit like that and take the chance of wasting his points with no access.  I'm very familiar with this unit.  Access has become a tremendous issue and has gotten much worse the last 10 years in this unit.  Much of the really good areas are all now in hunting clubs and leased.  There are some really nice deer in that area.  Its a 3 point min area during the normal hunt.  The special permit is for "any buck".  So filling the tag with a 2 point or spike is easy to do.  But you need access to get at the big bucks.  Ive seen a couple of people get this permit to only shoot a 2 point.  I know that the idea of a trophy is in the beholder but come on!  who wants to spend 8 to 10 points to shoot a small buck.  So next years deer end up getting shot off of the road on the last day of the permit season when the hunter gets desperate and heads for home on property he or she doesn't have permission to hunt on.  Those that do have access cant draw the tag due to all the ones that don't.  Sort of messed up if you ask me.  But what do I know???

[westside bull]

Sounds to me like a couple of people on here are upset they didn't draw a tag or you got there's. To the hunter go find land and kill a big one and make sure you post the pic's of it...

[scottfrick]

Why would you put in for an area that has very limited access
Unless you have a place you know you can hunt? This is the reason the farmers in the Palouse are sick of the wet side guys among other reasons! 
Good luck. Hope it works out for you.

Why is it any of your business? He can put his points towards any hunts he wants to. There is public land.... not much but there is. I drew the tag when I was younger and had no problem getting my buck....

[emac]

Sounds to me like a couple of people on here are upset they didn't draw a tag or you got there's. To the hunter go find land and kill a big one and make sure you post the pic's of it...

I hope you arent referring to my post. I am not upset at all. I was just pointing out that it os becoming a problem. I know alot of landowners (none in this particular unit) and i get permission from the landowners i know, but in the unit i live in if you draw one of rhe late tags and dont know any of the landowners in this unit you will not get permission from 98% of them. So with that being said some people are taking hunting opportunities away from others

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[Reidus]

Not really much options in the buck catrgory if you want to hunt mulies with rifle.

[ELKBURGER]

Congrats on that tag. I would love to pull that rut tag. I'm sure there are some dandies that start cruising for does in Nov that we don't see in mid Oct. I'm sure you will be able to secure some land in the unit. Start knocking on doors.

Here is my Ritz buck from a couple seasons back.

[lord grizzly]

there almost has to be a guide service that has some sort of lease rights to land in this unit. may be worth looking for that guy and just paying the trespass fee.

[emac]

I dont know about guide services. I know there are a couple hunting clubs

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[ELKBURGER]

Here is the GoHunt map on the WDFW website. There are a lot of Feel free to hunt and Written permission parcels out there. The good part is there wont be many other deer hunters out there, maybe some bird hunters though. Hope this helps.

[lord grizzly]

I dont know about guide services. I know there are a couple hunting clubs

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think id be looking into memberships....

[Reidus]

http://www.blue-ridge-ranch.com/hunting/

[Bob33]

Here is the GoHunt map on the WDFW website. There are a lot of Feel free to hunt and Written permission parcels out there. The good part is there wont be many other deer hunters out there, maybe some bird hunters though. Hope this helps.

That's where I would be starting. Contact the private land owners that offer some form of access, and go from there.

[Bangflop]

Sounds to me like a couple of people on here are upset they didn't draw a tag or you got there's. To the hunter go find land and kill a big one and make sure you post the pic's of it...

Far from upset I drew a buck and a quality buck tag it's my 4th year in a row for buck tags. I wish the op the best of luck. My question? was with no plan!! Why do guys just put their points they (earned) year after year in to a situation where they have to come beg for help on a forum.   I guess I'm more self reliant than most but seems like a waste if he is not lucky enough to get access. 

PS I'm a west side guy as well.  just not stupid enough to think the guys on the east side are not sick and tired of idiots. 

[Watimberghost]

Elkburger, cool Ritz buck!! Helpful advice as well 

[ELKBURGER]

Sounds to me like a couple of people on here are upset they didn't draw a tag or you got there's. To the hunter go find land and kill a big one and make sure you post the pic's of it...

Far from upset I drew a buck and a quality buck tag it's my 4th year in a row for buck tags. I wish the op the best of luck. My question? was with no plan!! Why do guys just put their points they (earned) year after year in to a situation where they have to come beg for help on a forum.   I guess I'm more self reliant than most but seems like a waste if he is not lucky enough to get access. 

PS I'm a west side guy as well.  just not stupid enough to think the guys on the east side are not sick and tired of idiots.

What makes a westsider an IDIOT for contacting east side land owners for permission to hunt? Illegal trespassing yes but WE are not idiots for trying. Sure there were notes saying public land was limited but that doesn't mean a guy can't look to supplement after he draws.
I have had great success in contacting owners and securing private access, and that has opened many doors in multiple units. I have also had letters and voicemails ignored by some, probably the few that are sick and tired of westsiders. Don't bash a fellow sportsman be cause you don't know his plan.
All due respect given, congrats on your success drawing tags!

[Falcon]

Sounds to me like a couple of people on here are upset they didn't draw a tag or you got there's. To the hunter go find land and kill a big one and make sure you post the pic's of it...

Far from upset I drew a buck and a quality buck tag it's my 4th year in a row for buck tags. I wish the op the best of luck. My question? was with no plan!! Why do guys just put their points they (earned) year after year in to a situation where they have to come beg for help on a forum.   I guess I'm more self reliant than most but seems like a waste if he is not lucky enough to get access. 

PS I'm a west side guy as well.  just not stupid enough to think the guys on the east side are not sick and tired of idiots.

What makes a westsider an IDIOT for contacting east side land owners for permission to hunt? Illegal trespassing yes but WE are not idiots for trying. Sure there were notes saying public land was limited but that doesn't mean a guy can't look to supplement after he draws.
I have had great success in contacting owners and securing private access, and that has opened many doors in multiple units. I have also had letters and voicemails ignored by some, probably the few that are sick  tired of westsiders. Don't bash a fellow sportsman be cause you don't know his plan.
All due respect given, congrats on your success drawing tags!

 
Elkburger:    Some great points you made.  I have had great success about learning about unknown units and will continue to do so.

[westside bull]

Sounds to me like a couple of people on here are upset they didn't draw a tag or you got there's. To the hunter go find land and kill a big one and make sure you post the pic's of it...

Far from upset I drew a buck and a quality buck tag it's my 4th year in a row for buck tags. I wish the op the best of luck. My question? was with no plan!! Why do guys just put their points they (earned) year after year in to a situation where they have to come beg for help on a forum.   I guess I'm more self reliant than most but seems like a waste if he is not lucky enough to get access. 

PS I'm a west side guy as well.  just not stupid enough to think the guys on the east side are not sick and tired of idiots.

Bongflop,
good for you on drawing two tags this year again why are worried about other people drawing tags they know nothing about that's there choice not yours.    : good luck on your hunts!