Desert GMU 290 vs Deer area 5382 in GMU 382

[UN4GVN60]

I have 15 points putting in for the muzzleloader tag for GMU 290 but after reading some of the post here I'm wondering if its worth all the hype. People are saying the deer are nocturnal and it's too hot and so on. So I'm wondering if maybe the draw for deer area 5382 might be a better choice. Hunting when its cooler and during the rut. Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated.

[carpsniperg2]

Depends on the year. Sometime the rut here is done or mostly done by muzzle loader. Seems to fall between the end of modern and start of muzzle. If your looking for a bigger deer hands down stick to 290. The deer here are mensch legs and it takes a pretty rare deer to break 160 around here. Most shot are probably 120/140 for nicer bucks. It can be a great hunt if the rut is still on. I don’t know that chunk of ground but if cats are not working it to hard. Should be some deer around.

[Limhangerslayer]

Not really getting your question?  Put  in for both, highly doubt you’ll draw both of them in the same year

[Mtnwalker]

  2 different categories, 290 is a Quality tag the other is a Buck Deer tag. You can apply for both and drawing 1 doesn't burn your points for the other.

[highside74]

Unless you are like me a few years ago when I drew Desert and Ritzville archery in the same year. 

[Limhangerslayer]

Unless you are like me a few years ago when I drew Desert and Ritzville archery in the same year. 

haha, that sucks!  Especially if you had a lot of points in both

[Mfowl]

I have 15 points putting in for the muzzleloader tag for GMU 290 but after reading some of the post here I'm wondering if its worth all the hype. People are saying the deer are nocturnal and it's too hot and so on. So I'm wondering if maybe the draw for deer area 5382 might be a better choice. Hunting when its cooler and during the rut. Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated.

I wouldn't burn 15 pts on Desert ML. Rifle yes, ML no.

[millerwheeler]

I think carpsniperg2 hit the nail on the head both units are much different depending on what your after I have hunted 382 my whole life and gotta agree

[ThurstonCokid]

I’d love to have the ML desert tag. But what do i  know


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[MerriamMagician]

I don't know anything about deer area 5382, but the muzzy tag in gmu 290 honestly has some crappy dates in very early October. Not sure what the reasoning for having it so early in the year is with a primitive weapon while the rifle and archery tags for out there get to hunt the rut.  The big bucks the unit is famous for still exist, but killing one outside the rut is a real chore.