Qual deer lol

[hoof rot]

Grand ronde qual deer permit sucks....thanks for everybodies input, just kiddin u guys left me hangin, my cuz got the biggest buck we could find, a small 3pt. Been on a handful of qual deer n elk hunts in wa and im not impressed, I do better otc.......

[adamR]

I would say that a quality hunt is what you make of it.  Getting a giant isn't necessarily what makes it quality.  Focus on the time spent with hunting buddies and getting to be in the woods when very few other people are interferring and enjoy the positives.  My wife's quality hunt certainly didn't go the way I expected but that doesn't mean it sucked.  If getting a giant buck is the only part about the hunt that matters you are hunting for the wrong reasons.

[Jimmy33]

I would say that a quality hunt is what you make of it.  Getting a giant isn't necessarily what makes it quality.  Focus on the time spent with hunting buddies and getting to be in the woods when very few other people are interferring and enjoy the positives.  My wife's quality hunt certainly didn't go the way I expected but that doesn't mean it sucked.  If getting a giant buck is the only part about the hunt that matters you are hunting for the wrong reasons.

Oh whatever...it’s nice to shoot big bucks after waiting several years to draw.


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[adamR]

In not saying it's not awesome to finish it off with a giant.  I'm just saying you can't let the fact that you killed a small buck dictate the whole hunt.

[cem3434]

I would say that a quality hunt is what you make of it.  Getting a giant isn't necessarily what makes it quality.  Focus on the time spent with hunting buddies and getting to be in the woods when very few other people are interferring and enjoy the positives.  My wife's quality hunt certainly didn't go the way I expected but that doesn't mean it sucked.  If getting a giant buck is the only part about the hunt that matters you are hunting for the wrong reasons.

Oh whatever...it’s nice to shoot big bucks after waiting several years to draw.


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If you want to shoot quality animals, start saving your pennies and hunt pretty much any other western state. To many people + horribly managed game + too many predators = Washington hunting. In my opinion, quality in this state means less hunters in the woods and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with antler size.

[hoof rot]

I agree I luv just being out hunting, but wdfw needs to quit sellin "wolf tickets"

[700xcr]

I would say that a quality hunt is what you make of it.  Getting a giant isn't necessarily what makes it quality.  Focus on the time spent with hunting buddies and getting to be in the woods when very few other people are interferring and enjoy the positives.  My wife's quality hunt certainly didn't go the way I expected but that doesn't mean it sucked.  If getting a giant buck is the only part about the hunt that matters you are hunting for the wrong reasons.

I agree! My father always said that getting an animal is a bonus and being out in the outdoors with family and friends is the most important part of the sport. I only had a few hunting trips with my dad as he was busy taking care of my mother because of health issues. Then when mom passed away he had health issues. We finally drew a mule deer doe tag on a partner draw. He hadn't drawn for any tags in 20yrs. We prep for the hunt, but passed away a couple of months before the hunt. Even though he was gone for the hunt, he was next to me in spirit right next to me. So enjoy the times spent with family with friend in the great outdoors.

[bear]

Not sure it's even worth putting in for the quality tags anymore.

[Snakeriver]

Did you see any elk?

[hoof rot]

Did you see any elk?

yes about 40 total..2 spikes 2 rags

[trophyhunt]

I would say that a quality hunt is what you make of it.  Getting a giant isn't necessarily what makes it quality.  Focus on the time spent with hunting buddies and getting to be in the woods when very few other people are interferring and enjoy the positives.  My wife's quality hunt certainly didn't go the way I expected but that doesn't mean it sucked.  If getting a giant buck is the only part about the hunt that matters you are hunting for the wrong reasons.

Oh whatever...it’s nice to shoot big bucks after waiting several years to draw.


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If you want to shoot quality animals, start saving your pennies and hunt pretty much any other western state. To many people + horribly managed game + too many predators = Washington hunting. In my opinion, quality in this state means less hunters in the woods and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with antler size.

agree with this mostly, but I do think we have a chance at world class animals here, that arechery buck killed this year with archery is world class!

[cem3434]

I agree 100% trophy, I'm just suggesting that animals like that are super rare. Another example is the Mission bull, which may never be topped in this state. The mentality of hunting in this state is shoot the first legal animal for most hunters. When most hunt other western states the hardest thing is to not shoot the first legal animal because of how poor the opportunities are here. I guess I'm just saying when I finally burn my quality points, I'm not thinking about shooting a world class animal. Im thinking about a better opportunity to hunt with less pressure and if a world class animal steps out then that's the icing on the cake. One thing is for sure, when I finally burn my quality points then WDFW won't get one more cent out of me for permit applications.
I think I'm sitting on 18 points for quality and OIL permits, so I'm thinking that I should be done playing the game in the next 10 years.  I personally started playing the points game in the other western states about 8 years ago and will start cashing some of my points in next year. My wife's Idaho mule deer tag this year was by far the best "quality" hunt I had ever been a part of. Maybe I'm jaded because I think hunting in this state is a joke and WDFW only wants to manage our money and not the herds.  Rant over.... for now.

[jackelope]

I don’t want to be “that guy” and sound like a jerk, but how much time and/or research did you put into the quality deer aspect of the unit? I’ve spent way more time than I should reading threads on this forum and I don’t honestly think I’ve ever heard of or seen a big buck from the Grand Ronde unit.

I hope you had fun with your buddies. That’s what counts.
.02


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[trophyhunt]

I agree 100% trophy, I'm just suggesting that animals like that are super rare. Another example is the Mission bull, which may never be topped in this state. The mentality of hunting in this state is shoot the first legal animal for most hunters. When most hunt other western states the hardest thing is to not shoot the first legal animal because of how poor the opportunities are here. I guess I'm just saying when I finally burn my quality points, I'm not thinking about shooting a world class animal. Im thinking about a better opportunity to hunt with less pressure and if a world class animal steps out then that's the icing on the cake. One thing is for sure, when I finally burn my quality points then WDFW won't get one more cent out of me for permit applications.
I think I'm sitting on 18 points for quality and OIL permits, so I'm thinking that I should be done playing the game in the next 10 years.  I personally started playing the points game in the other western states about 8 years ago and will start cashing some of my points in next year. My wife's Idaho mule deer tag this year was by far the best "quality" hunt I had ever been a part of. Maybe I'm jaded because I think hunting in this state is a joke and WDFW only wants to manage our money and not the herds.  Rant over.... for now.

1000% agree!  Especially with being done w the points game here in wa!  23 years and counting for me!

[ridgefire]

A quality draw hunt should mean a better chance at a good buck imo. Once I draw my tags I will never give them another penny for draws as well.

[hoof rot]

I don’t want to be “that guy” and sound like a jerk, but how much time and/or research did you put into the quality deer aspect of the unit? I’ve spent way more time than I should reading threads on this forum and I don’t honestly think I’ve ever heard of or seen a big buck from the Grand Ronde unit.

I hope you had fun with your buddies. That’s what counts.
.02


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it was my hillbilly logger cuz, he dont do computers, we scouted the unit boots on ground after he drew the permit on assuming it was worthy and not his first choice, so ya its his own fault for assuming "quality"....he spent plenty of $ and sweat, the quality just isn't there on a 4 day hunt...lessons learned for him.

[jackelope]

I don’t want to be “that guy” and sound like a jerk, but how much time and/or research did you put into the quality deer aspect of the unit? I’ve spent way more time than I should reading threads on this forum and I don’t honestly think I’ve ever heard of or seen a big buck from the Grand Ronde unit.

I hope you had fun with your buddies. That’s what counts.
.02


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it was my hillbilly logger cuz, he dont do computers, we scouted the unit boots on ground after he drew the permit on assuming it was worthy and not his first choice, so ya its his own fault for assuming "quality"....he spent plenty of $ and sweat, the quality just isn't there on a 4 day hunt...lessons learned for him.

10-4. Understood. Like I said, i didn’t want to sound like a jerk. The quality mule deer tags in the Blues are tough. I had one in 2010. Killed the first buck I saw, and it was on the 3rd day hunting and we covered some pretty significant ground both on foot and with the glass.


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[trophyhunt]

I’ve always had those permits on my radar, especially after picking up a couple sheds in there.  Not sure about the grand ronde but I know there are some pigs in the other units!

[hoof rot]

Too small of unit, story of my cuz jbird's life

[boneaddict]

Ive seen some critters in there that would blow your mind.   Sure beats what they are shooting up north these days.   I hope he still had a good hunt

[jackelope]

In 2010 the biologist told me the biggest deer in the state live in the Blues. He also said they were extremely difficult to find and that the really low deer densities and the rugged terrain are what allows the deer to get really old. I’ve followed a lot of the Blues late mule deer hunts and have seen a bunch of deer killed on the Wenaha and Tucannon permits and I’ve not seen one bigger than 150” that I can think of.
I’ve seen some general season bucks that were just as big or bigger.  Some people know where to find them every year and some people get really lucky. We’ll see a true giant come out of there one of these days.


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[borntoslay]

Heres a good one.Heard this guy packed in mules for over a week and this was the only buck he saw. Used to deliver to a ton of the custom meat shops down in se wa. You wouldnt believe some of the hogs those farmboys got in their garage

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[Hot Lunch]

You could say low densities again. Blues mulies are tough maybe impossible to find. Plenty of hunters hit those hills including the wilderness and occasionally somone pops one. I think a week spent hunting is better spent somewhere else.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Heres a good one.Heard this guy packed in mules for over a week and this was the only buck he saw. Used to deliver to a ton of the custom meat shops down in se wa. You wouldnt believe some of the hogs those farmboys got in their garage

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That’s the only one I would need to see.