Second deer permit in the desert advice

[trophyhunt]

My dad also drew a second deer doe permit for the desert unit this dec 12-27th, he will be using a rifle.  He can't hike much or up hills, I'm worried about his ability to hike in the sand.  Anyone willing to give a good access point for a disabled hunter or possibly a name and number for private land that would welcome him?  Appreciate any help. 

[OltHunter]

Had that one a few years back.  PM'd my top spot that is not very hilly and seems to hold deer consistently.

[trophyhunt]

Got it, thank you!!

[Pegasus]

My dad also drew a second deer doe permit for the desert unit this dec 12-27th, he will be using a rifle.  He can't hike much or up hills, I'm worried about his ability to hike in the sand.  Anyone willing to give a good access point for a disabled hunter or possibly a name and number for private land that would welcome him?  Appreciate any help.

If he is just shooting a doe I would just go into the Pothole area on Road "C" SE. Just driving in you will probably spot deer. It is sandy for most of it but pretty flat. Sometimes a deer trail makes it easier to traverse. Anywhere you go in there you will probably see deer. He will have some company with the duck and goose hunters that will also be in there.

[Todd6117]

South from I-90 on Dodson road to Road 4 SW.  Then head east.  There is public land on the north side that has roads that you can get to high points on and look around. Not as sandy and I have always seen does in there.

[trophyhunt]

Thanks to all you guys, and the PM’s, appreciate all the info!

[trophyhunt]

Thanks again for the advice, heading out Saturday.  One last question, I don’t buy discover passes, just believe it’s BS.  So, should I expect a ticket or do you not need one??

[Ridgeratt]

Roll the dice 🎲
You are the one responsible for your choice.

[bobcat]

You don't need a Discover pass on a WDFW wildlife area. That's what your WDFW pass is for, the one you got for free with your hunting license.

[trophyhunt]

Thanks bobcat, wasn’t sure which public land we would be hunting on. 

[jstone]

I have never bought one. I am year’s ahead of I ever get a ticket

[Sandberm]

I'm curious what you see out in the Desert as far as deer numbers. I just spent parts of 12 days in a neighboring unit trying to arrow a deer only to see ONE buck, a 2x2. I averaged seeing maybe 6-7 does/day with a high of 13 one day. That's abysmal numbers and I am curious what the deer population throughout the basin looks like.

Saw, but did not talk to the game warden 3 times.

[Onewhohikes]

You might try a public records request of the helicopter survey results that WDFW does in the area after the seasons are over.

[vandeman17]

I duck hunt around the unit and though I don't physically see a lot of deer, I have been seeing way more tracks than years past. Hiking in the dark, then coming out late morning with my head down just trucking along doesn't help me spot many deer. 

[trophyhunt]

I'll let you know what we see after we are done.