West Okanogan A Hunt

[Sporting_Man]

Got drawn for whitetail hunt... I like the area (fished Methow and Kettle rivers a few years back, stayed in Winthrop many times and been around Alta lake as well)... My main concern is private land and what to avoid in this hunt. I am not asking anybody to reveal their "honey holes", but I need to know if this is something really to look forward to, are there really that many whitetails (I did not pay attention when selected - I thought that was for Mule Deer hunt)? Apparently, I should hung east as far as possible in order to see some whitetails. It is overlapping with the west Elk season, so I have doubts - what to put my money on... Any reply would be helpful.

[WDFW-SUX]

Finding any whitetails that are not on random private in the methow is almost impossible.

[Sporting_Man]

That doesn't sound too encouraging.
I should have been clearer with description - hunt time is November 1-20, and GMUs are: 218, 224, 231, 233, 239 and 242...

[mossback91]

I know some good areas in the 224 but  you might have to convince me why I should share? all public land.....big whitey bucks

[Sporting_Man]

mossback91,
I am too new in this business to know how to earn someones trust and willingness to reveal those secrets. I admit that... I have no hunting secrets to share in return.  I can talk about fishing a lot, but all my sweet spots are not sweet any more. 
I appreciate the fact that you have at least pointed the GMU that I should pay attention to...
 

[Da stump]

    Just remember that whitetails love to be around houses and barns and such.  So in looking for good whitetail country find the best hayfields around and try to get permission.  Advance scouting is best for this and a few salmon to pass on helps.  Once you have been refused by all the farmers over there then it is time to get serious and find out where there is some public land.  You can usually tell the public land by the lack of any tracks or wild game on it.  Sometimes it is possible to find small tracks of land that are huntable that have had some deer on it.  Remember when setting up to wait for that big one that you should have multiple shooting lanes.  The one between the neigbors house and barn of coarse will have the biggest bucks in it.  Good luck to you

[SpotandStalk]

Plenty of whitetails on public ground to be found with that tag (you have a HUGE area to hunt)....if my family could put tags on them during general modern, I am sure you can find one during the early rut.  PM me and I can offer a few suggestions.

[Sporting_Man]

Thank you all for your replies. Got some clues, and thankfully - contacts from those who wanted to help. Will stay in touch and hopefully report some good stuff in November (ah, how distant it sounds now...).

[coachcw]

check wolf creek as low as possible , don't know about private there?, I've seen whitetails at the base of delacey just past chlipchuck. about a mile or two theres a bridge park just past it and use the old jeep road to the north . Good luck Coach.

[Pathfinder101]

That's a big area, you should be able to find something good if you scout a little this summer and maybe knock on a few doors.  Good luck

[Sporting_Man]

Aah, don't think I will be able to "knock on doors" this time around. I am way too busy and have to go to Europe for a couple of weeks.
I would rather just do search of public areas and do one scouting trip in September (most probably). So, that is why I asked for help. I understand the fact - whitetails are rather lowland creatures, and that is where private properties are in that area...

[coachcw]

you might try the lowwer end of beaver creek , seen a few good buck in there.

[boneaddict]

100% private.

[huntnphool]

100% private.

  And the upper end is a pumpkin patch