Quality Deer (modern) - Entiat or Desert?

[tbrady]

Hey Guys,

I'm up to 15 points now for quality buck and hoping that 2020 might be the year finally.  I have hunted Entiat almost exclusively and have had some luck but things have definitely been trending down in the last several years.  Before the last couple of years Entiat would be choice #1 but I'm starting to think about putting down Desert as #1.

I've never set foot in that unit though whereas I know Entiat really well from one end to the other...  I've looked at the unit in Google earth and it looks to be about 2/3rds private land.  Is private land access necessary for having a good chance at a booner?

Any input greatly appreciated.

thanks
tim

[dvolmer]

Go with what you know!  Desert hasn't been all that great lately either.

[jstone]

Not familiar with the desert unit
Entiat unit is just as bad I am sure. You will get a deer but quality buck?
You will have fun though

[boneaddict]

Two completely different hunts.  What do you want to get out of the hunt?

[bobcat]

I'd say apply for the early Desert hunt, just because it's an easier draw. 1 in 85 odds for Desert versus 1 in 300 for Entiat. You're unlikely to ever draw Entiat with those odds. 15 points doesn't even make much difference. Put Entiat number one and Desert number two.

[tbrady]

Two completely different hunts.  What do you want to get out of the hunt?

That's a really good question that I should give some serious thought to.  The simple answer is I want to get a deer with a 30"+ rack.  I don't consider myself a "trophy" hunter but I have passed on several muleys over the years because they were small.  The last time I took one was around 10 years ago and it had a 25" spread.  I don't need to shoot anything to have fun, I just love being out there.  I grew up in VA/NC where it was not uncommon to take 15+ deer a year because we were so overrun with them and farmers had hundreds of tags to use.  Plus, once that thing is on the ground the fun is OVER.    So I guess Bone, I want an opportunity at a once in a lifetime buck.  Even if I choose to not pull the trigger on anything I will have fun just being out there.

[vandeman17]

Two completely different hunts.  What do you want to get out of the hunt?

That's a really good question that I should give some serious thought to.  The simple answer is I want to get a deer with a 30"+ rack.  I don't consider myself a "trophy" hunter but I have passed on several muleys over the years because they were small.  The last time I took one was around 10 years ago and it had a 25" spread.  I don't need to shoot anything to have fun, I just love being out there.  I grew up in VA/NC where it was not uncommon to take 15+ deer a year because we were so overrun with them and farmers had hundreds of tags to use.  Plus, once that thing is on the ground the fun is OVER.    So I guess Bone, I want an opportunity at a once in a lifetime buck.  Even if I choose to not pull the trigger on anything I will have fun just being out there.

A 30+ inch mule deer is quite the lofty goal, no matter what tag you have in your pocket. As others have said, I would go with the unit I know better and then hope that the weather lines up and you have luck on your side. Bucks that size aren't easy to find but they are around

[Odell]

Two completely different hunts.  What do you want to get out of the hunt?

That's a really good question that I should give some serious thought to.  The simple answer is I want to get a deer with a 30"+ rack.  I don't consider myself a "trophy" hunter but I have passed on several muleys over the years because they were small.  The last time I took one was around 10 years ago and it had a 25" spread.  I don't need to shoot anything to have fun, I just love being out there.  I grew up in VA/NC where it was not uncommon to take 15+ deer a year because we were so overrun with them and farmers had hundreds of tags to use.  Plus, once that thing is on the ground the fun is OVER.    So I guess Bone, I want an opportunity at a once in a lifetime buck.  Even if I choose to not pull the trigger on anything I will have fun just being out there.

I would look for that opportunity out of state and then keep applying for Entiat as your #1 and desert as a#2. It could easily be 20 years before you draw either tag

[boneaddict]

Here are some points.....

If you want a camping experience, wall tent etc Entiat would be your choice over the desert.   The Desert is close enough to my home I've never thought of camping out there, but not sure what your choices are besides a state park. 

Entiat you are hunting migratory deer, whereas the desert you are hunting local desert dwelling swamp rats.

Private property isnt much of a problem for either unit really, though the desert has a bunch, but there is still alot of land out there.   There is the option for Ag hunting out there.

How well do you get around.  Desert is flat, but reality is the sand and dunes and putting in due diligence hiking out there.....where as Entiat could be a roadhunt if you wanted it too. 

[Henrydog]

As you pointed out, much of Desert is Private. 

Many on here think the unit has not been producing like it has in the past.  I think you can say that about any Mulie hunt in Eastern Wa.  I used to bird hunt the Desert area (I Have never had the tag) but I have seen some dandy's. 

That black sand and looks fairly flat from the truck will give you a heck of a work out.

[boneaddict]

I hate to bring up a non PC term these days, but an old timer once told me.... 

-a secret to success in hunting is to learn an area extremely well, hunting it at least three years and that would make your success ten fold. 

Anecdotally I can be on either side of the fence on that one.    It is something I think about.   I might attribute my success contrary to that because of my understanding of deer and how they might react in the geography they are in, but following his success over the years, he has certainly evidenced his claim.

my biggest argument to that is  that its fun to hunt in different bioms.   It might not get you that 30 incher, but you might get more enjoyment out of the hunt, which is why I asked the question.   If you are after hunting migratory mule deer with majestic vistas.....  or you want to play tag with one in a Russian olive patch with the roar of I-90 in the background and guys shooting ducks.     

[tbrady]

Sounds like I should take a road trip out there...  I enjoy hunting new places but the thought of I90 traffic and duck hunters doesn't sound so great.  I get around pretty good, a typical day archery hunting for elk is usually involves about 8-12 miles of hiking and a few thousand feet up and down.  The terrain definitely impacts my enjoyment.  I much prefer the openness and mountains of eastern WA over the more dense tree farms of western WA. 

The only time hunting gets "not fun" for me is if the fog comes in and I can only see about 50 yards, then I start to go nuts.

[boneaddict]

Just things to think about.  Not trying to discourage or encourage one way or the other.  The odds of drawing either are very sad, even with ten more points.   Some of the best parts is dreaming. 

[jstone]

I have 13 points and can’t get an archery permit to save my life. So good luck

[jjhunter]

I hate to bring up a non PC term these days, but an old timer once told me.... 

-a secret to success in hunting is to learn an area extremely well, hunting it at least three years and that would make your success ten fold. 

Anecdotally I can be on either side of the fence on that one.    It is something I think about.   I might attribute my success contrary to that because of my understanding of deer and how they might react in the geography they are in, but following his success over the years, he has certainly evidenced his claim.

my biggest argument to that is  that its fun to hunt in different bioms.   It might not get you that 30 incher, but you might get more enjoyment out of the hunt, which is why I asked the question.   If you are after hunting migratory mule deer with majestic vistas.....  or you want to play tag with one in a Russian olive patch with the roar of I-90 in the background and guys shooting ducks.   

An intersting thing that I find is that while I may struggle at first in a new area, I typically have my best hunts (find biggest deer) the first time that I hunt a new area.  What I attribute this to is that:

1)  I am excited to hunt new terrain (hunting hard/ultra focused)

2)  I glass and hunt everything because I am not making assumptions based upon past experience  (this s a good area/this is a bad area - spending too much time looking where I have seen a big deer before, etc).

3)  I cover way more country (I am not locked in on my "good spots")


Anyway, this is just something I've come to realize over the past 10 years hunting across the West.
 Kind of interesting...

[jstone]

That’s another great view.!!
Never thought of that.

[OutHouse]

Stay with Entiat. Regardless of the herd it's a dream hunt from the pictures I've seen. Never spent much time in the unit myself but the pics do it justice.

[tbrady]

Thanks for all the input guys!

[teanawayslayer]

Are you set on both units? I mean your going from one extreme to the next as bone has stated. Why would you not be interested in the chiwawa or the swakane? They both border entiat and you would be hunting the same deer for the most part. Both those units give out a decent amount of permits and way less applicants. So pretty much you would have the same experience in either of those units. Personally I’ve never put in for the entiat. Hunted it with a buddy who had a raffle tag a few years ago. He harvested his buck the 3rd week of December. It was not a 30” buck either. Fine buck for this state  none the less. I was not impressed with the amount of quality deer in the unit even that late into December. Good luck on the draw!

[idahohuntr]

Stay with Entiat. Regardless of the herd it's a dream hunt from the pictures I've seen. Never spent much time in the unit myself but the pics do it justice.

Good advice.  I drew 3 mule deer tags last year and my wife had an Entiat tag.  Her tag was hands down more fun than any of mine. Lots of deer, no people, beautiful country...tough to beat these days!  Size of bucks, I personally did not see any buck over 165.

[tbrady]

Are you set on both units? I mean your going from one extreme to the next as bone has stated. Why would you not be interested in the chiwawa or the swakane? They both border entiat and you would be hunting the same deer for the most part. Both those units give out a decent amount of permits and way less applicants. So pretty much you would have the same experience in either of those units. Personally I’ve never put in for the entiat. Hunted it with a buddy who had a raffle tag a few years ago. He harvested his buck the 3rd week of December. It was not a 30” buck either. Fine buck for this state  none the less. I was not impressed with the amount of quality deer in the unit even that late into December. Good luck on the draw!

Not set on both units but at this point I would rather hold out for Entiat since I'm familiar with it.

[walleye1]

You should have been building pts in some other states because Washington has no trophy units. A 30" is possible in either but unlikely.

[huntnnw]

I personally wouldnt hunt desert as part of the experience is the terrain. I do not like sage flat land hunting and much more prefer the mystery of what each day brings in the rut from a migratory mountain muley moving into where you are. This is really only something you can anwser. If you are serious about killing a big muley you need to be outta state hunting. There are a lot of hunts that are OTC or very little points that are as good or better than WA best so called mule deer units.

Like mentioned your points really dont mean much in those draws unless you apply for units with far less applicants you could draw next year or 10 years from now.

I have never understood the 30" muley guys want. i would shoot a heavy 180" 24" buck all day long over some wire horned 30" buck just because hes wide.

[Magnum_Willys]

30 incher in the Entiat? I dreamed that too. Reality is much different.  24” , 160
Class more realistic.  Did see a 3 point pushing 27”.   

[huntnphool]

 As long as you are not concerned with score, 30” is doable! You are very likely to find a 30” two point.

[Magnum_Willys]

As long as you are not concerned with score, 30” is doable! You are very likely to find a 30” two point.

I think I saw that one! 

[MerriamMagician]

Personally I would stick with Entiat since you know the unit. Having that said, I drew a desert tag in my early teens and do a lot of other hunting and recreating out there. There are some really unique genetics in the area that produce some really cool deer. Some of those cool features include heavy mass, wide racks, and unique antler configurations. Often times those unique bucks don't score all that great, but have lots of character and just flat out look cool. A 30" or wider buck is actually not too ambitious of a goal if you draw the second rifle tag in the peak of the rut. Any of the other seasons will be much more difficult however as the big bucks dig in like ticks in the thick wetland cover when the ruts not going on.

[Hot Lunch]

Your draw odds are around 3% I wouldn't make to big of plans.

[Rb1]

I have 21 points, and still have not drawn Entiat yet😂


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[Ace]

I hunted the desert last year. 18 points. Hunted the 1st rifle season. They just started to rut. Get away from the A and C roads. Hunt close to the private fields. No hunters. Seen some real good bucks. Including this one. 29 1/2” wide. Close enough to 30 for me. You get drawn and I’d be happy to give you all the info I have

[full choke]

I hunted the desert last year. 18 points. Hunted the 1st rifle season. They just started to rut. Get away from the A and C roads. Hunt close to the private fields. No hunters. Seen some real good bucks. Including this one. 29 1/2” wide. Close enough to 30 for me. You get drawn and I’d be happy to give you all the info I have

Great buck! 

Congratulations!

[hoffmas56]

I live close to the desert unit, and accompanied a friend, two years ago, who had the tag. We saw several 25-26" bucks, but he could not get closer than 500 yards, in the open sage country. He did not fill his tag, another friend who was with us, ended up shooting a 20" buck. This hunt was during the early rifle season. The bucks were not yet in the heavy rut, which made it difficult to close the distance. I have also hunted the Entiat unit, and have seen some monsters killed during the rut. I have 16 bonus points, and apply for Entiat, first choice, and Desert late hunt, second choice. I know both of these units are capable of producing 30" bucks, because I have seen pictures and mounts from both. As many others have stated, bucks of this size, are hard to find in this state, even with a special permit.