Chiwawa Deer Tag

[salmon]

Was wondering if anyone has hunted this during the late season. Good friend drew it and need any info anyone was willing to share. Thanks much in advance.

[BC CHASER]

Good boots and lots of hiking!  Preseason scouting will also help you out! 

[bobcat]

Preseason scouting is good so that you can learn the country but the deer won't be there until November.

[WAcoueshunter]

As noted, you need weather to get the migration deer moving in there.  There's some residents, but that's not what you're looking for with the late tag.  Year before last there was snow during the modern season and the deer were on the move.  We saw a great buck walking the road on the way in...he wouldn't have been there without the snow.  The south side of the unit is very dense and tough to hunt...the north side of the unit is more open and drains into the entiat, which should tell you something.  There's also some burn areas...would be good to find those during your pre-season scouting.

[CP]

The burns are several years old and have thick overgrowth.  Their glory years are behind them.  There is still a lot of standing dead timber from the burns and when the wind blows the trees come down.  I had to abandon my camp site last season when wind picked up and trees started crashing down.

Congrats to your friend, that should be a good hunt.

[teal101]

Like said the south side is STEEP.  The burns on this side are very thick now with trees around 10' high.  Theres a few nice meadows near the ridgeline though, so get some good boots.

[tmike]

I muzzle loaded it several years back and was discouraged by the lack of deer I saw when scouting. We got about 6 inches 3 days prior to the season and shot 2 bucks the first day. You should have fun.

[hoytem]

The burns are several years old and have thick overgrowth.  Their glory years are behind them.  There is still a lot of standing dead timber from the burns and when the wind blows the trees come down.  I had to abandon my camp site last season when wind picked up and trees started crashing down.

Congrats to your friend, that should be a good hunt.

I have had several come down around me in that unit...very scary.

[CTA]

Everyone's right about the boots.  Start your physical conditioning now...cause you'll take a pounding.  However, it is one of the most beautiful areas I've ever been to. 

Hard work is supposed to pay off, just not for me in this unit...YET.  Good luck to you, hope you find the big one. 

CTA

[sandythebowtotenmama]

Congrats. on the tag! If you don't have a lot of time for a lot of conditioning get 10 lb. or heavier ankle weights and walk around with them on doing yard work etc. then on some hiking trips, I have noticed an improvement personally in the last 2 weeks.

[Pathfinder101]

Congrats. on the tag! If you don't have a lot of time for a lot of conditioning get 10 lb. or heavier ankle weights and walk around with them on doing yard work etc. then on some hiking trips, I have noticed an improvement personally in the last 2 weeks.

That's a helluva good idea.  I never thought of that.  I may try that one.

[huntnphool]

That helps just be careful, you can hyperextend your knees resulting in serious problems down the road.

[Pathfinder101]

maybe not the best idea 5 weeks after hernia surgery...

[Slider]

Throw a pack on with 40lb in it while you mow the yard.

[muleracks]

I will 2nd the idea that scouting the unit to learn the roads and country is smart.  Don't expect a ton of deer until the migrators move in from the high country in early November.

The Chiwawa River basin itself is not that rugged or steep (in many places).  The Entiat side of the unit is really steep and has some of the best spot and stalk areas.

GMU 245 is a great permit.  Congratulations.

[beardown]

I had some buddies get that tag 2 years ago.  It was easy.  They saw several large bucks from the truck the first day and passed on them.  They ended up shooting bucks, but not as big as the first ones they saw.  They dont get out of the truck and they both shot 22-24 inch 4 points.

[hoytem]

I had some buddies get that tag 2 years ago.  It was easy.  They saw several large bucks from the truck the first day and passed on them.  They ended up shooting bucks, but not as big as the first ones they saw.  They dont get out of the truck and they both shot 22-24 inch 4 points.

imagine what they could've got if they got out of the truck! i haven't got a big one yet but i've seen some 27" plus come out around me.if the weather is in the big ones will show.

[beardown]

yeah they are older guys that cant get around well.  Another bad thing about them is that they dont use optics.  If your buddies hoof it and use glass, they will do well.

[cle elum bowhunter]

My biggest buck to date came out of that unit back in '93(last year I rifle hunted).  A nice, heavy 27" 3x4 with double eye gaurds.  I can tell you that nobody who have ever found him from a road.  Mid slope bench on a very steep hillside.  Had a little spring feeding off of it and until I got within 200 yards of the bench, there was no sign.  He spent all his time moving upslope to feed and used the bench as his bedding area.  Two heavily used trails up hill but none down.  Could watch the traffic go by on highway 2 from where he was living.  Back in my younger days I hunted that area alot growing up in Leavenworth.  Should be able to locate some nice bucks especially if the weather sets in. 

[bowhunterforever]

Any pics Cle elum?