Desert Decisions

[Ridgerunner]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Pathfinder101]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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...