Chiwawa quality rifle tag

[cougkilr]

Luck was on my side this year and I drew the late rifle tag. This is the first permit draw for me, I’m pretty stoked to draw this tag. I do know parts of the unit fairly well but any tips or advice from guys who have had the tag in the past or who know the unit well would be greatly appreciated. I’ll be playing the weather as it comes and will adjust my hunts accordingly.

Thanks,

Brandon

[pianoman9701]

Congrats on drawing a great tag!

[jae]

Heck Ya! Congratulations on your tag.

[lemondog]

Congrats on your draw. Winter weather will be your friend. The rut will be on but you need the weather to get the back country bucks moving. Good luck!

[OltHunter]

feel free to PM for specifics or run questions by me, I'm happy to help.

have hunted Chiwawa the past 20 years, my buddy's dad had the tag a few years ago, so know the areas well.

Chiwawa has deer spread out over the entire unit, and it will take snow to congregate them more for easier glassing/viewing.  But too much snow and they are in their wintering ranges and out of the unit.

It's probably the harder of the Entiat herd units due to thickness of the land.  Focusing your efforts around the cougar burn and East down to the lower SE end of the unit will allow you to most likely see and look over more deer, but might not be the best quality running around without a big snow event.

In the thicker parts or up in higher elevations, there will be big deer around without any major snow, but you will most likely have to be tracking them for at least a month prior to get their habits and schedule.  Or else you're just essentially road hunting up there or backpacking in.  Not my style of hunt I'd look for in a quality tag, but that is an option.

Roads are generally okay but can get nastier the farther east you go in the unit. 

[cougkilr]

Thanks for the replies! The real unknowns for me are the migration habits as I’ve never been over there during the big migration. Any info is greatly appreciated, My plan is to do this tag justice, I will be working my butt off to make that happen, thanks!

Brandon

[Skyvalhunter]

Best bet is North side of the unit as far as glassing and catching the migrators. Scout around Maverick saddle

[cougkilr]

Well we’re getting close to go time! I was out in the unit last weekend and will be back in a few days helping some buddies out and doing some scouting. Any additional tips are welcome, good luck out there everyone.

Thanks,

Brandon

[MountainTracker]

I was out there about a week ago getting a lay of the land and scouting as I have the quality archery tag.  Most of the sign I saw was up high. No snow as of then. It was in the mid 30s and windy.  Good luck on your hunt and keep us posted.


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[WAcoueshunter]

This tag is really weather dependent.  To the extent you can have flexibility and hunt the clear days following a snow, that would be ideal.  You need some snow to start the migration. Too much snow and they move through to the Entiat or Swakane.  Actively snowing or about to snow is not great, because you are in the clouds and can't see.  You want those clear days when they are on the move.  But if you get it all right, it can be awesome!  I try to get up there each year to check it out.  Last year on November 8, no snow, but saw a few mature bucks and the rut was on.  Went back on November 22, and there was too much snow and we couldn't get up past about 4,000'.  We were plowing with four chains.  But down below that, where the snow was 4-8" or so, lots of bucks around. 

[Elkpiss]

LETS GO BRANDON!!

[Buzzsaw461]

  :chuckle:l

LETS GO BRANDON!!

[cougkilr]

LETS GO BRANDON!!

You better be up there with me chanting away!

[fishngamereaper]

My wx app says the high country in that unit is due for 30-40" of snow in the next week and a half...the lower portion will get 7-10"...
I would advise you to be over on the opener and whack a big un...
Oh ya..and bring chains for your truck..it's a long ways down off some of those roads...

[jason stevens]

You'll do great there are great bucks in the area I wish you luck