Eastern WA 101,108,117,111,105 Hunting

[Dpgindy]

Hey gents, first time hunter going out with 2 others this weekend. We are all Active Air Force trying to get our first deers in Washington. We would greatly appreciate any knowledge on land and any spots you would be willing to tell about. No hurt feelings if not, I get it. But yeah any help would be awesome. Thanks, Donovan.

[Scheindogg]

Pm on the way

[Dpgindy]

Also we are down to hike in.

[jwfaber1]

I'm in the exact same boat! My friend and I are both first timers as well, and we've been researching these same units. We may not make it out this weekend, but we'll definitely be going out for the late season in November. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!
We plan to backpack hunt, so hiking is no issue.

[jwfaber1]

We're currently leaning toward 105, with finding deer and getting away from highest hunter densities being top priority, in that order. Is this a decent unit to meet that criteria, or are any of the units Dpgindy listed?
Appreciate the help!

[vandeman17]

most of those units hiking in or backpacking aren't needed or even an option. Plenty of public land where you can get in, find some active game trails and set up and wait.

[jwfaber1]

Do most folks just car-camp in the area and head in each morning? I've seen a couple of fairly road-less looking areas on OnX that I would think would offer refuge for deer from the hunters that don't get in very deep, but it's hard to tell without being there just how easy it would be to get to in a few hours.

[vandeman17]

Do most folks just car-camp in the area and head in each morning? I've seen a couple of fairly road-less looking areas on OnX that I would think would offer refuge for deer from the hunters that don't get in very deep, but it's hard to tell without being there just how easy it would be to get to in a few hours.

Some people tent camp or bring a travel trailer but a lot get a room in one of the closest little towns and go that route. I have done both

[jackelope]

Not really a backpack hunting type area where the late rifle hunts are in the northeast, #1, and #2 there's a high probability of it being real cold with snow up there at that time as well. Something to keep in mind.

[jwfaber1]

Understood. Any advice on which unit to tackle? I'd appreciate any pointers! Doesn't have to be specific

[dmoua]

Most of the roadless area's are extremely thick.

[Lapua07]

105 has lots of public and lots of private. Know where you are at as a lot of the deer I have seen in 105 this year have been on the private. That being said... I hunt 105 ALOT. Beings it’s close to home. Deer numbers aren’t all that high. Lower than last year even I think. Only seen a handful of deer total this year. Not to be discouraging. They are still there. Hoping the late season gets them out with some weather.

[sneakyjake]

We were in 101 and the mule deer population has been crushed.  Worse then last year. Hardly anyone hunting.  Will take a while for them to rebound.  Lots of winterkill.  Saw more dead then alive.  We had 5 very competent hunters covering ground.

[mburrows]

Getting away from roads isnt essential to finding deer up in those units like it is for other parts of the state in my experience.  That being said, they wont be on the road but you dont need to pound in several miles to find animals. 

[dscubame]

Hold off until the last possible days in November and hope the rut has kicked in, is the best advice you can possibly get.

[addicted1]

Consider getting some turkey tags too. Lots of birds and they are pretty easy haul if you get on a flock.

[MeatMissile]

I left 101 a few days ago to hunt blacktails out west, if that tells you anything.  I’ve seen more deer in one day on the west side than I saw all week in 101.

[Ridgeratt]

I left 101 a few days ago to hunt blacktails out west, if that tells you anything.  I’ve seen more deer in one day on the west side than I saw all week in 101.

Spent the last week up in 101/105.
I saw numerous young bucks, Several old bucks and 11 does. 6 mulies, 2 Blondes and 3 Brunettes.   

This was last Saturday.

[bearpaw]

My advice is to look at the wolf pack area map and avoid those areas. I lease numerous ranches for hunting in the northeast, I think every one of our deer hunters has killed on the first day of their hunt this year so far. But a wolf pack has moved in on one of our best ranches and the deer left, they either got eaten or they left, they are mostly gone, fortunately we have numerous ranches leased and the other ranches are doing us real good.

Additionally I know a guy who has worked on some of the wolf studies, (for anyone wondering, he's not a member of this forum) in his own words, when the wolves move into a drainage everything else moves away from that drainage, he has watched it happen with radio equipment on numerous species.

Some of the areas in the northeast that were my favorite hunting areas have been ruined by wolves, not nearly as good now, so I avoid the wolf areas now. There is still some really good hunting  in northeast washington, the best deer harvest units are in the northeast. You don't have to go deep for whitetail, some of the best hunting is little overlooked spots right close to human inhabited areas. Whitetails thrive in close proximity to humans!