Late Palouse Tag Holders

[Jimmer]

“Little to no access”? Really dove into your search

[ljsommer]

“Little to no access”? Really dove into your search

Correct, as classified on https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/02254/wdfw02254.pdf - quoting: "Private lands; access is extremely limited.  If you cannot secure access to private lands, do not apply for these hunts"

As I've said, it was a dumb mistake I won't repeat. Didn't mean to spoil your morning over it.

[7mmfan]

“Little to no access”? Really dove into your search

I think it's time to drop it.

[Sundance]

I'll throw myself to wolves here. Proud westsider who applied for and drew the Late Palouse tag. Heading out Friday and will be hunting until Tuesday. I've been on the phone with area biologists for the past month picking their brains and calling hunters I know who have more experience with the area. Spent countless hours on OnX dropping pins and scoping out areas to hunt. Called landowners for access and sent some letters. Made my "realistic expectations" for the hunt and am looking forward to having a great time with friends and hunting a new area/terrain. I may end up eating the tag and heading back to the westside for late archery or late muzzleloader (multiseason tag). It's going to be a blast and I don't give a rip what anyone else thinks of it. Best part of hunting public lands is whether it's in the Olympics, Cascades, or the Palouse tag area I have the same opportunity as everyone else. I get to grind in my style of hunting and am thankful I'm not stuck behind the desk I'm sitting at now.

[ljsommer]

I'll throw myself to wolves here. Proud westsider who applied for and drew the Late Palouse tag. Heading out Friday and will be hunting until Tuesday. I've been on the phone with area biologists for the past month picking their brains and calling hunters I know who have more experience with the area. Spent countless hours on OnX dropping pins and scoping out areas to hunt. Called landowners for access and sent some letters. Made my "realistic expectations" for the hunt and am looking forward to having a great time with friends and hunting a new area/terrain. I may end up eating the tag and heading back to the westside for late archery or late muzzleloader (multiseason tag). It's going to be a blast and I don't give a rip what anyone else thinks of it. Best part of hunting public lands is whether it's in the Olympics, Cascades, or the Palouse tag area I have the same opportunity as everyone else. I get to grind in my style of hunting and am thankful I'm not stuck behind the desk I'm sitting at now.

Awesome! Looking forward to hearing a trip report. Good luck!

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Good Luck to you guys whether west siders or east siders.  There are still deer here, just a few less than last year.  I'd try to focus on areas that had year round running water.  Maybe more near the Snake River breaks if possible.  Or in the higher elevations.  If it includes 127 I was into some good sign few weeks ago on public land.  Have fun, be safe, and good luck.  Also, in case you didn't know, the Palouse seasonal roads are crap when it rains so stay on asphalt or gravel when possible.

[KP-Skagit]

I'll throw myself to wolves here. Proud westsider who applied for and drew the Late Palouse tag. Heading out Friday and will be hunting until Tuesday. I've been on the phone with area biologists for the past month picking their brains and calling hunters I know who have more experience with the area. Spent countless hours on OnX dropping pins and scoping out areas to hunt. Called landowners for access and sent some letters. Made my "realistic expectations" for the hunt and am looking forward to having a great time with friends and hunting a new area/terrain. I may end up eating the tag and heading back to the westside for late archery or late muzzleloader (multiseason tag). It's going to be a blast and I don't give a rip what anyone else thinks of it. Best part of hunting public lands is whether it's in the Olympics, Cascades, or the Palouse tag area I have the same opportunity as everyone else. I get to grind in my style of hunting and am thankful I'm not stuck behind the desk I'm sitting at now.

Out of curiosity did you have luck with hunt by written permission land? While I was going to school in Pullman we did a lot of outreach trying to get permission places. Phone calls, letters, offered fresh salmon and crab for access. The only time we ever got permission we were charged for it, told we would have the area to ourselves, just to find a couple dozen other rigs there on opening day. We did get some private access on some land that was not part of the WDFW program. All in all, just made me view "hunt by written permission" as "Closed". Could be landowners didn't like college kids, maybe had bad experiences in the past.

That said, we found success in our time there, hunting the FFTH pumpkin patches.

[Sundance]

I lived in Pullman and worked in Moscow while my wife finished college about ten years ago. I experienced much of the same as you described in that area for gaining access. I have focused my efforts on public lands with year-round flowing water access and targeting landowners with land-locked state lands. So far my success at gaining "trespass permission", i.e. permission to cut though private to hunt public land has been 50/50. I have some people I need to go meet with in person who I talked with over the phone. I'm chalking this tag up to an experience and an adventure, I want to take a mature buck and will gladly eat the tag and go home for the late season. I've zeroed in on some specific parcels and GMU's but I'm never opposed to picking up and driving 100 miles to another area. Two years ago I hunted 5 GMU's for elk in 7 days to get on a good bull, it was the most fun I've ever had archery elk hunting.

[KP-Skagit]

I lived in Pullman and worked in Moscow while my wife finished college about ten years ago. I experienced much of the same as you described in that area for gaining access. I have focused my efforts on public lands with year-round flowing water access and targeting landowners with land-locked state lands. So far my success at gaining "trespass permission", i.e. permission to cut though private to hunt public land has been 50/50. I have some people I need to go meet with in person who I talked with over the phone. I'm chalking this tag up to an experience and an adventure, I want to take a mature buck and will gladly eat the tag and go home for the late season. I've zeroed in on some specific parcels and GMU's but I'm never opposed to picking up and driving 100 miles to another area. Two years ago I hunted 5 GMU's for elk in 7 days to get on a good bull, it was the most fun I've ever had archery elk hunting.

Do you have the Buck Tag or the QT?

[Sundance]

Buck deer, so whitetail only.

[KP-Skagit]

Can't speak to that one. My friend in college drew the quality whitetail. Probably the most fun I have had hunting without a tag in my pocket. 2014, year before bluetongue hit them hard.

[andersonjk4]

Good luck to all the tag holders. The bucks are starting to cruise.

I drew both the Buck-Palouse tag and the Quality-Steptoe tag. Returned them both. EHD ravaged both areas I hunt (127 and 139). Saved my points the chase them again some other day.

[KFhunter]

“Little to no access”? Really dove into your search

I think it's time to drop it.

It is time to drop it.




Look,

It is super frustrating, just look at spring bear tag threads.

You've every right to put in for every tag you want, but outta respect for those that have put in year over year, scouted, gained access and put in the time....outta respect for them... do your level best to do that tag justice, whatever tag it may be.


I think the op has taken enough knocks over this and has been very respectful, if I had info I would share it and help fill that tag because he's taken the knocks so well.

Good luck

[jackelope]

What couldn’t you secure?  Thinking of heading up there for a day or two next week.

I have no access to private and tried to secure a couple hunt by reservations and wasn't able to (one reservation available? seriously?) and I am coming from Tacoma so it's a journey. Honestly I shouldn't have put in for the hunt, or any other special hunt for that matter, without knowing 100% where I could go to hunt it. Dumb mistake, won't make it again.

Or how about and suck it up and come over and hunt public land? The “private” lands with reservations get the piss knocked out of them just like public. West siders that draw a permit on the east side expect to harvest a deer, the Palouse tag is not as easy as you think, but you can put on your big boy pants, come over and give it your best. A couple buddies and I know public and private property very well and do extremely well because we put in our time. I drew this year, they didn’t…. Sorry you’re crying about that you did draw.. wow

Time to throttle back a little, @Jimmer
Maybe familiarize yourself with the forum rules.  Here's a link if needed, but they start with "Forum Rules & Policies
This forum is intended to be a family friendly and helpful venue for hunters, fishers, trappers, and other sportsmen...." and go on from there.
Here's the whole thing:
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,163263.0.html

[KFhunter]

As bad as the deer got hit maybe a few ate tags isn't a bad thing