Working man raffle tag winner

[Terminalist]

I drew the North Central Washington raffle tag (which is good for any 200GMU mule deer hunt from September 1 through December 31). I am a working man and didn't stack the box like we know some guys do, which also means I can't hunt as long as I would like to not being retired.

Desert 290 rut sounds incredible, but the uniqueness and possible upside of gambling on weather and a migration hunt in Entiat 247, Swakane 250, Mission 251 etc. sounds like once in a lifetime.  I am not asking for a spot, I am trying to understand the migration since no one ever gets these dates to hunt and it is impossible to get information on them.   

How often is there enough snow to push the deer out of the Cascades before December 31?  I'm hoping to better my best buck which currently is a heavy mid 190's buck.
     
-PM's are also welcome   

[lewy]

Congrats on a sweet tag, enjoy every minute of it!

[jrebel]

Let’s see a pic of the hog you speak of.  A 200 inch deer is doable but I wouldn’t get your hopes up.  The areas you speak of just aren’t what they used to be.   I would personally hunt the rut regardless of the snow….the big bucks will be easier to find as they will be chasing does.  Just my two cents.   Good luck and make sure to post success photos.

[highside74]

Hunt 290 until you kill a masher or the weather shows up in Entiat. Then spend some time in the Entiat. Good luck

[Mfowl]

Congrats on your draw! Please let us know what you turn up.

As stated, I would try 290 in Nov and 247 or others in Dec.

[boneaddict]

Oh those Russian olives…..

[blindluck]

Just saw a monster in the desert unit.

[MtnMuley]

I am a working man and didn't stack the box like we know some guys do, which also means I can't hunt as long as I would like to not being retired.

I know of several guys who you're referring to that invest more than most in the raffles and they all work well in excess to your normal 40 hour work week. To them having the chance at a 4 month season means more of a chance to sneak away from work or work from the road and have a better chance at a quality hunt with their busy schedules. Shame on them for building successful businesses allowing more raffle tickets to be bought.

[C-Money]

Oh goodness! You have a dream tag!! I must agree, If you can focus on November with your time, you'll have the time of your life!! Looking around the desert is a must, but once they get moving in the mountains, I think I'd spend time there. Good luck!! Enjoy!

[Ridgerunner]

Dream tag, definitively hunt the rut but I believe that most of the bigger bucks don't show up on the traditional winter ranges till December and that they are rutting in country that is very difficult to get into.

[Sneaky Squirrel]

I know of several guys who you're referring to that invest more than most in the raffles and they all work well in excess to your normal 40 hour work week. To them having the chance at a 4 month season means more of a chance to sneak away from work or work from the road and have a better chance at a quality hunt with their busy schedules. Shame on them for building successful businesses allowing more raffle tickets to be bought.
[/quote]

Wow, sounds like you have sour grapes.... He must of pulled the tag you were trying for.    Regardless if you buy one raffle ticket or a thousand, it is kind of neat for the underdog to win. Sure didn't take the comments the same way your did....

[Tbar]

I know of several guys who you're referring to that invest more than most in the raffles and they all work well in excess to your normal 40 hour work week. To them having the chance at a 4 month season means more of a chance to sneak away from work or work from the road and have a better chance at a quality hunt with their busy schedules. Shame on them for building successful businesses allowing more raffle tickets to be bought.

Wow, sounds like you have sour grapes.... He must of pulled the tag you were trying for.    Regardless if you buy one raffle ticket or a thousand, it is kind of neat for the underdog to win. Sure didn't take the comments the same way your did....
[/quote]

It is very obvious that the op does not know the guys who "stack the box", otherwise he would have chosen different language. As stated by mtmuley, most of the Washington guys would fall into the workaholic category. Also not a time to further divide.  I have many thoughts on raffles that I will save for a different point in time,  we really need all demographics that support hunting and conservation on board right now.  Best of luck to the op.

[Sneaky Squirrel]

I know of several guys who you're referring to that invest more than most in the raffles and they all work well in excess to your normal 40 hour work week. To them having the chance at a 4 month season means more of a chance to sneak away from work or work from the road and have a better chance at a quality hunt with their busy schedules. Shame on them for building successful businesses allowing more raffle tickets to be bought.

Wow, sounds like you have sour grapes.... He must of pulled the tag you were trying for.    Regardless if you buy one raffle ticket or a thousand, it is kind of neat for the underdog to win. Sure didn't take the comments the same way your did....

It is very obvious that the op does not know the guys who "stack the box", otherwise he would have chosen different language. As stated by mtmuley, most of the Washington guys would fall into the workaholic category. Also not a time to further divide.  I have many thoughts on raffles that I will save for a different point in time,  we really need all demographics that support hunting and conservation on board right now.  Best of luck to the op.
[/quote]

Not trying to get anyone upset. I myself have no clue who stack the box and frankly i could care less. So my language would have been similar. I just took it that he hit the raffle jackpot and his time & money was limited. My understanding is that Raffles are normally guys with a lot of $ buying there tags, it is good to know that isn't always the case here in Washington. 

[Tbar]

I know of several guys who you're referring to that invest more than most in the raffles and they all work well in excess to your normal 40 hour work week. To them having the chance at a 4 month season means more of a chance to sneak away from work or work from the road and have a better chance at a quality hunt with their busy schedules. Shame on them for building successful businesses allowing more raffle tickets to be bought.

Wow, sounds like you have sour grapes.... He must of pulled the tag you were trying for.    Regardless if you buy one raffle ticket or a thousand, it is kind of neat for the underdog to win. Sure didn't take the comments the same way your did....

It is very obvious that the op does not know the guys who "stack the box", otherwise he would have chosen different language. As stated by mtmuley, most of the Washington guys would fall into the workaholic category. Also not a time to further divide.  I have many thoughts on raffles that I will save for a different point in time,  we really need all demographics that support hunting and conservation on board right now.  Best of luck to the op.

Not trying to get anyone upset. I myself have no clue who stack the box and frankly i could care less. So my language would have been similar. I just took it that he hit the raffle jackpot and his time & money was limited. My understanding is that Raffles are normally guys with a lot of $ buying there tags, it is good to know that isn't always the case here in Washington. 
[/quote]
You are not far off. It's an investment,  an investment with little security. Regardless of who wins the raffle is usually a good to great bet and generally not sour grapes to the small number ticket guy winning.   

[jrebel]

Well, there is one way to guarantee they OP will not share his story.....and a couple of you have nailed it!!!  Strong work criticizing a guy that has literally just won the hunting lottery.  You guys really know how to take a big steaming crap on fellow hunters.