Chilliwist quality deer

[Muleycrazy01]

I drew this tag 5 years ago at 22 years old and killed my biggest buck to date (173 3/8”) with my best hunting buddy by my side, my dad, this year we drew again! This time as a group so I get to help him kill his biggest buck to date and then go after one bigger then the one I already killed in 2013!

[bowhunterforever]

Awesome

[Falcon]

I drew this tag 5 years ago at 22 years old and killed my biggest buck to date (173 3/8”) with my best hunting buddy by my side, my dad, this year we drew again! This time as a group so I get to help him kill his biggest buck to date and then go after one bigger then the one I already killed in 2013!

Muley.  Awesome.   Can we see a pic of this bad boy

[Muleycrazy01]

Falcon, this was the one I put down in 2013, went 173 3/8” P&Y was #11 in WA the year I killed him, with a little luck and a lot of snow maybe I’ll be able to put down one in the top 10 this year

[Falcon]

That buck has WOW factor

Good luck on your hunt

[Hockey21]

Congrats on the coveted tag. I hunt that unit every year cuz we have family there. Last year was a sad year but I'm hoping this year is better. I'll let you know if there's any big ones spotted and where they're hanging out.

[Skyvalhunter]

Hockey do you feel there will be a turn around this year and there might be some decent bucks in the unit?

[X-Force]

Fun hunt. Usually lots of deer. Last time I was in there on a late tag was 3 years ago and kicking up a solid 4 pt was almost impossible but they are in there.

Good luck.

[Muleycrazy01]

Hockey, I heard it was a bit rough last year talking to a couple buddy’s that had that tag, wasn’t much weather and definately wasn’t real cold, our beloved wolfs don’t help much either, 2013 when I Drew there wasn’t any snow but was in the single digits, hopefully this year will be similar to that It wouldn’t hurt my feelings either if there was a foot of snow.

[Hockey21]

Sky, I hope so but I'm 99% sure it will be just like last year. The herd over there is hurting and hasn't had a chance to rebound back from 2015. There are a few occasional big boys that wonder into the area, but I think that area needs a few years before it can be "good" hunting. The guys who are lucky and get drawn for the late "quality" tags see a few shooters worth chasing.

[Hockey21]

Muleycrazy, you have a better chance at spotting bigger bucks with the late tag, that's for sure. Unless there's a lot of weather pushing them down, it will probably be another season like last year.

[Muleycrazy01]

That’s what I’m hoping for, like I was saying when I drew in 2013 there wasn’t any snow but it was down in the single digits and the bucks were on the move, opening day I passed up ten bucks nothing smaller then a 4pt, I know the rifle guys had a hay day with them in 2015 and the fires didn’t help anything, with some luck the weather will push some nice ones down

[Hockey21]

Muleycrazy, have you been out hunting with this tag yet? I was over there modern opening weekend and saw a few little 2 pts and a lot of does. I ended up shooting the first and only legal buck I saw and it ended up being a pretty good one. 4x4 plus eye guards with a big body. I wish i could tell you where to go, but the family hasn't seen much either. They don't go very far into the hills though. I hope you guys get a nice one and if i hear of anything I'll PM you.

[Muleycrazy01]

No sir I haven’t, it doesn’t open Until the 21st but I’m chomping at the bit even though it’s sounding pretty lean, the weather doesn’t seem to be going in our favor either, it’s a damn good thing it’s an any buck permit, I wouldn’t mind having one of those big 25” wide 2 points stepping out in front of me

[Hockey21]

How's the hunt going? I was up there for thanksgiving and only saw a nice 6x6 whitey. Have you seen any nice muleys?

[Muleycrazy01]

We saw some studs but ended up eating the tags, predators are unreal, the area we were hunting was producing the most quality bucks, the day after the snow we cut a fresh cat track later on that day we found his kill, we were seeing as many yotes everyday as we were deer, we both agreed we were either going to kill a mature buck or nothing at all, they were all on high alert and staying on the ridge tops, my guess to avoid the cougar attacking from above. Sunday was our last day there and we worked up a solid 3x4 about 28” wide heavy and dark, tried putting the sneak on but the crunchy snow and his does had other plans. All in all it was quality time spent with my father that really mattered, we had a great time together as always. As Fred Bear said “a hunt based on only trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be”

[Falcon]

Great attitude and a awesome post.   Sometimes it just needs to be about the hunt

[oldschool]

 I live there mulycrazy shoot me a pm on yote location I will work on them. thx paul

[Hockey21]

At least you had fun and got to enjoy the beautiful valley. I've seen more yotes then ever before and I want to shoot them but It's always while I'm putting a stalk on a deer. I also saw more bear sign this year then I've seen in the last 30 yrs. It's crazy. At least you got to see a nice buck and you got to spend time with your dad.

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea the good old days of the Chiliwist have gone like the rest of the Methow valley units. Sad state of affairs.

[Muleycrazy01]

You got that right sky, was sad to see the change from when I drew it in 2013 to now, in 13 there were bucks litterly everywhere we went, this year it seemed yoties took their place, we saw just as many yotes every day as we did deer I fear for our mule deer population here in the west.

[bigmacc]

Yea the good old days of the Chiliwist have gone like the rest of the Methow valley units. Sad state of affairs.

Truer words have not been spoken, unfortunately the Methow has turned into a predator pit and with the influx of out of state folks it is oh so slowly beginning to turn anti.....Sorry about the tough luck Muleycrazey01, at least you were in some beautiful country.