Hunting the Palouse

[ComradeBuck]

Hello all,

Been hunting the Palouse for modern the past few years and have been fairly successful, taking two smaller bucks in three years (I have access to a few private areas).

I have a few questions about special draws in the area: there is a "buck" whitetail tag for ten days in November, and then (depending on unit) some hard to draw "quality" whitetail/mule deer tags for a few days in late November.

Is the basic idea/advantage of these tags that they correspond to the rut better than the general season? Just trying to figure out how much "better" they may be than the general season, and if they are worth applying for.

Thanks for any input!

[BULLBLASTER]

They would give you more time in the field hunting. I typically apply for one, it lets me hunt the same bucks later on and possibly other bucks that are traveling in the rut.

The nov 20-24 hunt is pretty special. Those are the absolute best days to hunt the whitetail rut in wa IMO a family friend had one of those tags a couple years ago and in 3 days hunting passed 20+different bucks on one piece of property and missed a couple also. Ended up eating the tag.

As you probably know the key to the Palouse is private land access.

[Stein]

My daughter drew the buck tag.  I would never apply for it again, the area you can hunt is not exactly great for whitetail on public land.  I think we're talking about the same Blues tag, maybe not.  It was the worst deer hunt I have been on.  Tons of mulies, but no whitetail anywhere to be found.

[ComradeBuck]

That's interesting, I figured the Nov 20-24 dates were more the the mule deer rut, and maybe the early November whitetail draw corresponded to the whitetail rut more. But I guess not.

So it sounds like the hard to draw quality hunt is peak rut, and the other "buck" tag may just give me some extra time in the field?

I have decent access. Always able to find plenty of deer (whitetail and mule) and a few legal deer, but no real nice ones. I was hoping these tags may give me a better chance at a larger more mature deer.

Thank you for the input. I would love to have the courage to pass up 20+ bucks!

[ComradeBuck]

I was talking about the "Palouse" tag under the buck deer category. I've always seen more whitetail than mule deer on the land I have access to 

[WSU]

You'll get some good rutting action with the palouse tag and will have a better shot at getting a nice buck. 

[Stein]

I was talking about the "Palouse" tag under the buck deer category. I've always seen more whitetail than mule deer on the land I have access to 

Good deal, different hunt then.  Ignore my comments.

[ComradeBuck]

Sounds like it may be worth my time to apply for both then.

Any tag holder stories? Especially compared to the deer activity/patterns I see when I'm normally there in October?


Thank you to all for the replies.

[BULLBLASTER]

Oh you will see good rut activity in the nov 9-19 hunt also. It’s a good hunt with access the bucks are traveling that time of year. The big ones let their guard down a bit more than mid oct.

If you have access to Land I would say absolutely apply for it. 

[cougforester]

The Palouse tag is super fun. I whacked the first 4x4 I rattled in, and while I was packing him out I ran into two more 5x5s right off the road trailing does that stood there for about 3 minutes. They get goofy that time of year.

I apply every year though so you definitely shouldn't since I don't want more competition 

[ComradeBuck]

Never really experienced rut action in my hunting career. Hopefully I get lucky and get a chance this year....

[ASHQUACK]

I've drawn that tag twice. First year the weather was simply to nice to be conducive to deer activity.  I did shoot a smaller 4x4 that was chasing a doe. Last year I was under the gun and shot a 3x3 that was the 1st legal buck I saw. It's a decent tag and with weather cooperation, land access and time should produce a good buck.

[polishstunner]

Ive been in the palouse in this hunt every year for the past 10 years. Most of the time just spotting.  I would say that it is not a slam dunk, as whitetail are still whitetail. With 750 tags, I would say that there is quite a bit of competition to get on good land. Also, the muzzy hunt that starts nov 25th has farmers keeping guys clear= as many locals prefer that season. That is what I have seen. (In the areas with trees-cover). Also, i have seen a decline in mumbers the last couple years.....not to be negative.

[huntnnw]

there is no muzzy hunt in Nov in the palouse unit. Archery starts Nov 25th.

Rutting activity can be spotty at best with those dates, I live in 127 and run cams and can tell when the rut begins to go full swing this past year I didnt have a single pic at the house of a buck chasing does till Nov 21 and didnt get good till about the 23rd.
 
2 years ago I had the late tag and Nov 19 it was 68 deg when I climbed into my stand, I never had a single pic of bucks chasing does that year prior to the 19th. If we get weather it makes the hunt much better.

[wreckerman5288]

there is no muzzy hunt in Nov in the palouse unit. Archery starts Nov 25th.

Rutting activity can be spotty at best with those dates, I live in 127 and run cams and can tell when the rut begins to go full swing this past year I didnt have a single pic at the house of a buck chasing does till Nov 21 and didnt get good till about the 23rd.
 
2 years ago I had the late tag and Nov 19 it was 68 deg when I climbed into my stand, I never had a single pic of bucks chasing does that year prior to the 19th. If we get weather it makes the hunt much better.

There sure as hell is a late muzzy hunt in GMU 139 (and as of last year 142) for whitetail that runs from 11/25-12/8.