Sinlahekin Quality Deer

[SI Eagle]

Drew the tag after 20 years and just wanted to hear about any past experience anyone has had and what to expect. Any pictures or stories or suggestions would be appreciated.

[LabChamp]

Great tag, congratulations

[bigmacc]

My sons buddy chased an absolute monster of a buck around in there for 6 days, caught sight of him 3 different times and could not close the deal, I seen a picture of it taken through a scope, let’s just say I’m not doing him justice by saying he was an “absolute monster”, he was BIGGER! You will do fine, I don’t know the unit well but know people who do, there’s some nice bucks in there. If you’ve been putting in for it 20 years you probably have it figured out, good luck.

[elkrack]

The mule deer herd has been hammered in there but nonetheless it should be a great tag congrats    the whitetail herd is doing fantastic though so you could put your sights on a whitey

[SI Eagle]

Thanks, I figured it was pretty much a migratory mule deer hunt but I'd be happy with a great whitetail too.

[spin05]

The mule deer herd has been hammered in there but nonetheless it should be a great tag congrats    the whitetail herd is doing fantastic though so you could put your sights on a whitey

I agree. Last year was the first late hunt i never saw a legal buck the whole season

[SI Eagle]

That's not really what I wanted to hear. Are you talking about the early season or the late season?

[elkrack]

I’m sure he’s referring to the late archery hunt. Your tag is the best part of the season so don’t be worried your going to see bucks just not as many

[SI Eagle]

Anyone have a suggestion on a good place to stay or should I just plan on the wall tent?

[Bullkllr]

All kinds of state land and good camping spots imo.

[jstone]

I always thought that it would be part of the experience to wall tent it in the late season and hunt.

[dr.derek]

camp in the valley, Its got great access in bad conditions IMO

[SI Eagle]

No pictures or stories from past hunts?

[time2hunt]

Those northern unit have taken a beating over the last few years with wildfires and high success rates during general season. Plan in having the season off and spending long hours glassing and hiking. There’s still a few good bucks but nothing like years past.


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[Alan K]

Sister had the mule deer tag years ago, and my dad the whitetail tag a year or two before that.. Fun unit, especially with some snow. Sister ended up with a 160ish buck up the Toats Coulee drainage. We stayed at Liar's cove in one of their little cabins one trip, and hauled the trailer over the second. I'd camp in the valley if it were me, much closer to where we spent most of our time. Good luck!

[elkrack]

No pictures or stories from past hunts?

Well I wish I had pictures of the buck that my brother and his buddy passed on the first morning of their hunt! 27+ wide 4 point with big eye guards. The bucks downfall was weak fronts or backs I can’t  remember but he was a stud. They passed because it was 10 minutes into a 2 week hunt🤦🏻‍♂️   the buck was literally 2 miles from camp and just let us gawk at him for 10 minutes. They ended up passing on multiple bucks that day and then the rut slowed down and the weather warmed up. it wasn’t nearly as productive for the rest of the hunt. My brother ended up with a decent 4 point and his buddy shot a 3 point. I don’t have pics

[SI Eagle]

No pictures or stories from past hunts?

Well I wish I had pictures of the buck that my brother and his buddy passed on the first morning of their hunt! 27+ wide 4 point with big eye guards. The bucks downfall was weak fronts or backs I can’t  remember but he was a stud. They passed because it was 10 minutes into a 2 week hunt🤦🏻‍♂️   the buck was literally 2 miles from camp and just let us gawk at him for 10 minutes. They ended up passing on multiple bucks that day and then the rut slowed down and the weather warmed up. it wasn’t nearly as productive for the rest of the hunt. My brother ended up with a decent 4 point and his buddy shot a 3 point. I don’t have pics

You don't happen to remember about what the dates were do you? I can take the entire season off if I want but don't believe much usually starts happening until around November 8 or so.

[elkrack]

The rut was in full swing on the 6th and was considerably slower when it warmed a couple days later

[Southpole]

Definitely camp in the valley if you can. I had the buck tag last year and if I had to do it again I would have posted up inside the guts of the unit.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Definitely camp in the valley if you can. I had the buck tag last year and if I had to do it again I would have posted up inside the guts of the unit.

Did you get one, pics?

[Southpole]

Definitely camp in the valley if you can. I had the buck tag last year and if I had to do it again I would have posted up inside the guts of the unit.

Did you get one, pics?

Didn’t close the deal on anything. I dedicated the last 8 days of the season for the permit. Stayed in a rental house outside of conconully. Got up early every day, drove the side by side from conconully into the unit every morning. The weather was cold, snowy and nasty like I was wanting. Spent a lot of time in a few of the most reputable spots in the unit for whitetail. Nada. Seen a lot of does, no bucks on public land and they were extremely spooky, even for whitetail. The last day on the last half hour, almost getting hard to see and saw a little basket 3 I could have shot but wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. No regrets on any of my decisions except camping somewhere near Conner lake or forde lake. Had some acquaintances from Darrington that spent 2 full weeks camped by forde lake, hunted their butts off to only fill 2 of their 3 buck tags. They got a couple of little basket 3s, but they did see a lot more animals because of the camping I believe, said they seen some monster mulies periodically through out their stay.

[elkrack]

I always try and get a spot by forde lake. Great spot 

[SI Eagle]

Definitely camp in the valley if you can. I had the buck tag last year and if I had to do it again I would have posted up inside the guts of the unit.

Did you get one, pics?

Didn’t close the deal on anything. I dedicated the last 8 days of the season for the permit. Stayed in a rental house outside of conconully. Got up early every day, drove the side by side from conconully into the unit every morning. The weather was col
snowy and nasty like I was wanting. Spent a lot of time in a few of the most reputable spots in the unit for whitetail. Nada. Seen a lot of does, no bucks on public land and they were extremely spooky, even for whitetail. The last day on the last half hour, almost getting hard to see and saw a little basket 3 I could have shot but wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. No regrets on any of my decisions except camping somewhere near Conner lake or forde lake. Had some acquaintances from Darrington that spent 2 full weeks camped by forde lake, hunted their butts off to only fill 2 of their 3 buck tags. They got a couple of little basket 3s, but they did see a lot more animals because of the camping I believe, said they seen some monster mulies periodically through out their stay.

Thanks for the info Southpole, but just to clarify this is for the mule deer. I understand you can shoot whitetails but I have the late muley tag.

[Southpole]

Definitely camp in the valley if you can. I had the buck tag last year and if I had to do it again I would have posted up inside the guts of the unit.

Did you get one, pics?

Didn’t close the deal on anything. I dedicated the last 8 days of the season for the permit. Stayed in a rental house outside of conconully. Got up early every day, drove the side by side from conconully into the unit every morning. The weather was col
snowy and nasty like I was wanting. Spent a lot of time in a few of the most reputable spots in the unit for whitetail. Nada. Seen a lot of does, no bucks on public land and they were extremely spooky, even for whitetail. The last day on the last half hour, almost getting hard to see and saw a little basket 3 I could have shot but wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. No regrets on any of my decisions except camping somewhere near Conner lake or forde lake. Had some acquaintances from Darrington that spent 2 full weeks camped by forde lake, hunted their butts off to only fill 2 of their 3 buck tags. They got a couple of little basket 3s, but they did see a lot more animals because of the camping I believe, said they seen some monster mulies periodically through out their stay.

Thanks for the info Southpole, but just to clarify this is for the mule deer. I understand you can shoot whitetails but I have the late muley tag.

Yeah, I knew that you got the quality deer permit I was just answering Boss 300 about my hunt. It’s all good territory though, guys were seeing mature mule deer down in the valley too. Some friends that stayed with me all week, just to fart around while I hunted, seen a really nice mule deer buck rutted up with an entourage of small whitetail bucks a little above Blue lake.

[blindluck]

SI Eagle, I believe you can shoot any buck whitetail as well.

[Birdguy]

This should be an epic hunt! Cannot wait to see how it goes. That area is just so awesome, get a bit of weather (maybe not quite as early as last year) and have a blast! You should see plenty of deer and many more with some weather in the high country. Best of luck!

[ASienkiewich]

Tagging along. Play the weather right and camp in the valley. Goodluck. Should be a blast


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[Shannon]

I have property near Conconully and spend a lot of time in November over there. I'd say almost every year the mule deer rut is slowing down around November 20th. I get the most activity around the 5th through the 15th. When we bow hunt we have a few days of rutting activity and then it really slows down. Good luck on your hunt.

[Southpole]

Last year on the 16th we seen the most movement of animals then after that it petered out and got real slow. That’s also when the snow blew in too.