Late Swakane rifle tags

[jstone]

How are the late rifle tags doing in the swakane. I saw some tracks moving down out of the Chiwawa scouting last weekend.

[Skyvalhunter]

you pick up a buck in the Chiwawa?

[jstone]

Nope, just scouting for late archery last weekend. I was checking to see if there was much moving down out of the Chiwawa

[boneaddict]

Chiwawa or Chopaka?  I was much confused between title and discussion 

[jstone]

Sorry for the confusion, don’t most of the bucks migrate out of the Chiwawa into the swakane?

[boneaddict]

It’s my fault. I was thinking sinlahekin.  My brain scares me sometimes

[teanawayslayer]

Been up with a buddy who has a swakane tag. It's been pretty slow. He has passed on a couple low 160 bucks. Been pretty foggy up high. Rut activity is going strong. Hopefully in the next couple days the tag will be filled.

[Watimberghost]

Good luck to your buddy Teanaway 

[jstone]

is there still fresh snow up high? Eagle Creek, Chumstick area

[Griz231]

Update? 

[Rainier10]

Update?

Heading over to setup archery camp and have a look around before the opener.  How much snow is up top and how low does the snow line go?

[Magnum_Willys]

4-5" at 4000 ft.  1-2" at 3000 ft.  patchy.  lots of bare areas at 3000-4500 even.    Rut is heavy now.   In Entiat saw a couple  low 160's in 5 days. 

[Dan-o]

Anyone who can pass a 160's buck is a better man than me!

Good luck out there. 

[Rainier10]

4-5" at 4000 ft.  1-2" at 3000 ft.  patchy.  lots of bare areas at 3000-4500 even.    Rut is heavy now.   In Entiat saw a couple  low 160's in 5 days.

Thanks man.

Anyone who can pass a 160's buck is a better man than me!

Good luck out there. 

I am shooting anything that goes 125" or better.  Hoping for 140".

[jstone]

Yep i will be over there Monday night to hunt the Tuesday opener. Can’t wait. My camp is on my sons couch

[teanawayslayer]

Buddy shot a 150ish buck by accident yesterday. Said there where bucks everywhere.

[jstone]

Nice 

[Rainier10]

Buddy shot a 150ish buck by accident yesterday. Said there where bucks everywhere.

@teanawayslayer  Fixed it for you, didn't want to have the place be any more of a zoo than it already is.

[Magnum_Willys]

Anyone who can pass a 160's buck is a better man than me!

Good luck out there.

Yea and I ended up with a 130-140 !   

[Rainier10]

Anyone who can pass a 160's buck is a better man than me!

Good luck out there.

Yea and I ended up with a 130-140 !   

That's a great buck.  130-140 deer are great deer and anybody would shoot that during the general rifle in a heartbeat.

The beauty of these late tags is you get to see multiple deer in that range and an occasional 150-160" deer.  Passing one early on and getting to continue the hunt is understandable.  Especially if you are okay with it.  It's your hunt and the deer you shot is a great deer any day of the week and probably the biggest deer most people are ever going to shoot.

Someone else already said it in the other thread and I agree, it is refreshing to see one of these threads where the hunters are enjoying the hunt and not disappointed that they are not seeing 170" deer around every corner.

If I had that tag I would expect a 130-140" deer and hope for a 160" deer.

All three bucks in that other thread would get a tag hung on them next week if I saw them.

Congrats to all of you guys for getting after it and getting it done.

[Magnum_Willys]

Yea point roasts never served at my place but I can appreciate those that can control their trigger finger searching for that big score.  I'm going to euro mount this buck with a kuiu verde hydrodip to celebrate a memorable hunt. 

[Rainier10]

Yea point roasts never served at my place but I can appreciate those that can control their trigger finger searching for that big score.  I'm going to euro mount this buck with a kuiu verde hydrodip to celebrate a memorable hunt.

First deer I shot was a 130" deer.  Biggest deer you are ever going to shoot is what I was told, so I got a shoulder mount.  10 years later I shot a 160" deer, shoulder mounted that. 5 years after that I shot a 150" deer, shoulder mounted that.  I have shot a few 125-130" deer that all got euro mounts.   Three years ago I shot the biggest bodied deer I have ever seen that had heavy horns but crab claws at the ends that killed the score, shoulder mounted him.  Two years ago I shot a deer that would have gone 138" if it didn't have a point, euro mounted him.

Everyone of them is a trophy in my book.

This year I had the colockum archery bull tag and ate it.  I had opportunities at big bulls that didn't work out and a great 5x5 that looked awesome but I passed and ate the tag.

I am a firm believer that everyone should hunt the way they want, legally shoot what they want and pass what they don't.  The race is long, you never know when your last hunt will be and in the end the race is only with yourself. 

There is this goat guy on here, @jackelope, that has the most awesome signature block that there is.


" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield

[teanawayslayer]

Buddy shot a 150ish buck by accident yesterday. Said there where bucks everywhere.

@teanawayslayer  Fixed it for you, didn't want to have the place be any more of a zoo than it already is.

lol he wasn't near any road 

[Rainier10]

Buddy shot a 150ish buck by accident yesterday. Said there where bucks everywhere.

@teanawayslayer  Fixed it for you, didn't want to have the place be any more of a zoo than it already is.

lol he wasn't near any road 

I know right where that is.  It's my location under my avatar.  Kind of a secret spot.

[teanawayslayer]

Buddy shot a 150ish buck by accident yesterday. Said there where bucks everywhere.

@teanawayslayer  Fixed it for you, didn't want to have the place be any more of a zoo than it already is.

lol he wasn't near any road 

I know right where that is.  It's my location under my avatar.  Kind of a secret spot.

well then you should Be in for another great hunt this year! In fact I'm heading over tomorrow to find the one he should've shot. I'll send gps coordinates 

[teanawayslayer]

Is there anyone else who is holding onto a swakane tag? I'll be in the area tomorrow and I when I find mr. Big I would love to share a location. If so shoot me a pm.

[Rainier10]

Buddy shot a 150ish buck by accident yesterday. Said there where bucks everywhere.

@teanawayslayer  Fixed it for you, didn't want to have the place be any more of a zoo than it already is.

lol he wasn't near any road 

I know right where that is.  It's my location under my avatar.  Kind of a secret spot.

well then you should Be in for another great hunt this year! In fact I'm heading over tomorrow to find the one he should've shot. I'll send gps coordinates 

Sweet we should be in camp getting everything set up.  If you could tie him to a tree that would be great, maybe one that is twenty yards from a good approach angle so he doesn't see me coming.

[jstone]

Maybe close enough to roll into the back of the truck?

[jstone]

I  might need your number so when i shoot one on top of the ridge above your camp and I‎t drops a few thousand feet you can haul I‎t back up for me??

[Rainier10]

No problem, I always have my bullpac on ready to go.

[cbond3318]

Hope you both have your cell phones so when I shoot one on the peak above your ridge that’s above his camp way away from the road, you can bring it up to me.




Just kidding, i’ll Be in the diesel with chrome stacks.

[Rainier10]

Sounds like an informal Huntwa get together.

[teanawayslayer]

Here you go @Rainier10. Back leg tied to a tree. 

[teanawayslayer]

The tree was way to far away to tie him up so I used a tent stake.

[Kvw4x4]

looks like I should to the swakane unit next week?

[cle elum bowhunter]

Rainier,
I don't care where your camp is, I'm sure if/when I shoot something it will roll into the nastiest hole and end up coming out in little pieces.  I grew up in the Swakane, if you see me I walk funny because one leg is longer than the other from side hilling all my life(just kidding)  Only animal I've ever shot from the road was my moose.  If ya see a Maroon Ram with Firefighter plates say hello.

[Romulus1297]

The tree was way to far away to tie him up so I used a tent stake.

really that is a shooter.?

[Magnum_Willys]

The tree was way to far away to tie him up so I used a tent stake.

really that is a shooter.?

uh yea !

[Rainier10]

Thanks man i appreciate having options. Got the tent all setup and ready to go. Back home to get some work done tomorrow then back over for the rest of the week. Hoping to dump one opening day.