Author Topic: Desert Decisions (Read 9485 times)

Ridgerunner · « **on:** April 18, 2009, 10:59:37 AM »

With two choices now what do you go for? I typically don't put in for this one but would think the second hunt would be the better draw.

bobcat · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2009, 11:18:50 AM »

I don't know but it seems to me that the first hunt would see more rutting activity. By the second hunt the rut will be mostly over and the bucks not moving much. But I'd take either one if I could draw it.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2009, 09:08:36 PM »

Quote from: bobcat on April 18, 2009, 11:18:50 AM

I don't know but it seems to me that the first hunt would see more rutting activity. By the second hunt the rut will be mostly over and the bucks not moving much. But I'd take either one if I could draw it.

Really? They must rut earlier there than here in SE WA. I was still seeing a lot of rutting activity down here after the middle of the month.

bobcat · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2009, 09:49:05 PM »

Well, really I don't know. That's why I started out my post with "I don't know but it seems..."

Just knowing that the does come into heat usually about 1 week into November, and with a high buck to doe ratio, I would think they would all get bred right away, and the rut would be over by mid-November. That new permit is Nov 21-29. It just seems a little late to me. But I've never hunted deer there so to me it's all just speculation. Hopefully somebody will throw their 2 cents in here who has more first hand knowledge of the deer in that specific unit.

wastickslinger · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2009, 10:05:25 PM »

The new permit would be a better rut hunt. They usually are rutting end of Nov.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2009, 10:07:38 PM »

Quote from: wastickslinger on April 18, 2009, 10:05:25 PM

The new permit would be a better rut hunt. They usually are rutting end of Nov.

That was my feeling. Seems like it starts to hit about the middle of Nov and is in full swing by the 3rd and 4th week.

280ackley · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2009, 10:15:45 PM »

I drew the archery tag a few years back and spent Thanksgiving in Moseslake. It started after the rifle seasen and the bucks were still rutting. The worst part of the hunt was following the rifle hunters. The dear were real spooky.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2009, 04:30:17 PM »

Quote from: bearmartin on April 18, 2009, 10:15:45 PM

I drew the archery tag a few years back and spent Thanksgiving in Moseslake. It started after the rifle seasen and the bucks were still rutting. The worst part of the hunt was following the rifle hunters. The dear were real spooky.

Did you tag up Bearmartin?

280ackley · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2009, 08:08:34 PM »

No, I missed the one and only chance I had at a P&Y buck under 40 yards. I had a hard time getting past the 100 yard mark. They were real spooky at the start of the seasen (rifle had just finished) and then it snowed and froze for the rest. That made stocking real noisy. I defiantly had a fun hunt though and saw a ton of deer.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:53:24 AM »

I always wondered about that tag. I know Desert is about the most coveted deer tag in the state, and I saw that the odds for archery were not that bad, but I always wondered how it would pan out being right after rifle season. What you said was kind of what I expected. Big bucks, spooky, open country, tough to stalk and unpredictable weather. I know there's some hawgs out there though...

caseyv21 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:24:50 AM »

i have 9 points built up and i've always wanted to hunt the desert but the rifle hunt makes me a little nervous, do you think its even worth it to hunt archery in the desert?

wastickslinger · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:28:18 AM »

Quote from: caseyv21 on April 20, 2009, 08:24:50 AM

i have 9 points built up and i've always wanted to hunt the desert but the rifle hunt makes me a little nervous, do you think its even worth it to hunt archery in the desert?

I live here and I have never put in for archery desert. I know guys get one once in a while with a bow out there but man it would be very very difficult. I personally think that there are better archery draw units.

jager · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:58:12 AM »

I personally have never hunted the unit.
I had two relatives that were drawn for the archery rut hunt last year.
They said they could not get close enough to the deer.
The deer were constantly moving because of the rut, were spooky from rifle season and the lack of cover made for a very difficult if not impossible hunt.
One really nice buck was spotted but another hunter came walking (skylighting) over the ridge and the deer was gone.
They felt their points were wasted on that hunt. Neither tagged out.

woodywsu · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2009, 09:20:31 AM »

The desert rut is later than others throughout the state. Nov 10th you will start seeing little bucks running around chasing does, but come the end of November, rut activity picks up. I still think they best time of the year for a hunt would be January when the deer have settled down to all the hunters and come out of the brush.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2009, 10:14:27 AM »

Quote from: woodywsu on April 20, 2009, 09:20:31 AM

The desert rut is later than others throughout the state. Nov 10th you will start seeing little bucks running around chasing does, but come the end of November, rut activity picks up. I still think they best time of the year for a hunt would be January when the deer have settled down to all the hunters and come out of the brush.

With my luck I'd be stalking one and his antlers would fall off...

woodywsu · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2009, 10:21:58 AM »

I saw one buck Saturday that was still packing. Drop them pretty late in the desert

caseyv21 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2009, 09:15:52 PM »

thanks yeah i'll probably put in for the entiat instead

Timberstalker · « **Reply #17 on:** April 21, 2009, 08:49:45 AM »

I wouldnt waste the points to put in for the Desert archery tag.

fishunt247 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2009, 08:58:27 AM »

I muzzleload for deer, and the desert is the only tag I ever put in for. I have 9 pts, but am not putting in this year because I drew Montana. Has anybody drawn or know anybody that drew the desert muzzleloader tag?

Bookworm · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2009, 09:13:46 AM »

A guy I work with drew one a couple of years ago. He shot a pretty decent muley.

wastickslinger · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2009, 10:19:45 AM »

Quote from: fishunt247 on April 21, 2009, 08:58:27 AM

I muzzleload for deer, and the desert is the only tag I ever put in for. I have 9 pts, but am not putting in this year because I drew Montana. Has anybody drawn or know anybody that drew the desert muzzleloader tag?

Only problem with that tag is thatis is so stinking hot still. Bucks are right out in the middle of the nastiest tallest cattails they can find.

I'd like to see Rifle in October for a week, muzzleloader in Nov for a week and archery in Dec for a week. Youth in September, 2 point only. January 65 and older 2 point only.

boneaddict · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2009, 10:31:39 AM »

I think I would keep a closer eye on the firing center. I haven't looked at the regs to see if they have any hunts this year, but with it being closed a year. Thats a whole years worth of bucks that weren't shot and got a year under their belt.
The desert is sought after by reputation alone. Not sure if any of you have spent time out there but its not a cake walk by anymeans.

bucklucky · « **Reply #22 on:** April 21, 2009, 11:52:24 AM »

Basically the Desert sucks

jackelope · « **Reply #23 on:** April 21, 2009, 11:54:35 AM »

there are permit hunts on the firing range for all weapons.

WDFW-SUX · « **Reply #24 on:** April 21, 2009, 11:54:47 AM »

YTC is giving out a ton of tags......

jackelope · « **Reply #25 on:** April 21, 2009, 11:58:01 AM »

Quote from: WDFW-SUX on April 21, 2009, 11:54:47 AM

YTC is giving out a ton of tags......

they sure are...

boneaddict · « **Reply #26 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:06:12 PM »

Way to exploit (and ruin)a resource. That could easily be another awesome hunt. I'm afraid to go look.

WDFW-SUX · « **Reply #27 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:10:13 PM »

112.......buck tags

boneaddict · « **Reply #28 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:11:39 PM »

Holy crap! I'm not sure there are 112 bucks out there.

WDFW-SUX · « **Reply #29 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:13:27 PM »

half of those are archery 8 muzz and the other half is Mod. There are some Doe tags too that I didnt add up..........I guess damage is an issue out there

If they gave out 5-10 permits a year it could be as good as any hunt in the state.

colockumelk · « **Reply #30 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:03:09 PM »

Quote from: WDFW-SUX on April 21, 2009, 12:13:27 PM

half of those are archery 8 muzz and the other half is Mod. There are some Doe tags too that I didnt add up..........I guess damage is an issue out there

If they gave out 5-10 permits a year it could be as good as any hunt in the state.

It would never be as good as the Desert. You're forgetting that the Yakamas are allowed to hunt out there and can shoot as many bucks as they wish. We couldn't hunt there last year because of training but Yakama's could and did harvest alot of really nice bucks. My uncle works out there and saw many of them coming through the gate. There was two trucks that brought out around 15 really nice bucks in about a two week time frame. It's a damn shame is what that is.

boneaddict · « **Reply #31 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:20:22 PM »

oh sure fire me up again. So how is it we are blocked access due to military but they aren't.

WDFW-SUX · « **Reply #32 on:** April 21, 2009, 02:17:54 PM »

Wow thats special.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #33 on:** April 21, 2009, 02:54:40 PM »

videoman · « **Reply #34 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:48:34 PM »

Back to the desert unit. I personally think they are giving out to many tags but I like the idea for splitting the unit up. That is one thing the WDFW did go this yr is spreading the points out especially for elk.

WDFW-SUX · « **Reply #35 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:51:09 PM »

I wish all of the tags were spread out especially OIL.

andrew_12gauge · « **Reply #36 on:** April 21, 2009, 07:42:27 PM »

considering that most of the bow tags end up going unfilled(maybe 1 or 2 a year take bucks) I dont think that 20 rifle tags and what is it 5 muzzy tags now is that many tags there are a lot of deer out there taking out 25 bucks isnt gonna hurt the population any

big_bucks · « **Reply #37 on:** April 21, 2009, 08:24:34 PM »

Quote from: andrew_12gauge on April 21, 2009, 07:42:27 PM

considering that most of the bow tags end up going unfilled(maybe 1 or 2 a year take bucks) I dont think that 20 rifle tags and what is it 5 muzzy tags now is that many tags there are a lot of deer out there taking out 25 bucks isnt gonna hurt the population any

unlimited injun tags are a bigger problem IMO

andrew_12gauge · « **Reply #38 on:** April 21, 2009, 08:26:25 PM »

i dont think the injuns are shootin deer out in the desert

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