2009 General Modern Deer Season

[Blsum]

I would like to say good luck to everyone.

I'll will start off by telling you a little about myself. My name's Ben. I am from the wet side of the state (Shelton/Olympia). I'm 29 years old, married with a 2-1/2 yr old and one in the oven, and I'm an avid hunter. I've been hunting the wet side ever since I was 12. I spent most of my years hunting with the Rem. 700 .30-06 that Grandpa gave me. A few years ago I wanted a little more of a challenge. So I picked up a T/C Contender in a .357 Maximum for deer and a Black Diamond for elk. I've taken five blacktail in my career with the rifle. None with the Contender (I missed a huge buck a few years ago but thats another story) and I've taken 1 6x6 bull with the B.D.

 I've decided that I would like to expand my horizon's a little more and do some deer hunting on the dry side. I've taken almost a week off work to hunt the modern season. That being said I haven't the foggiest idea where to start. I will be hunting with at least one other guy. Neither of us have really hunted deer in E.Wa. I know there's ussually a bunch of people who ask for help and don't stick around. I'm not like that. I also don't want anyone's honey hole. What I'm asking for is maybe a little insite on some area's we could go with some what of a chance of getting a deer. I am in no way a trophy hunter, but hold myself to a strict 2 pnt. min.(Let'em go so they can grow) If anyone find's it in there heart to maybe point out a couple of area's to hunt, Thanks. Oh yeah. Neither of us have a problem with hiking. We would like to camp out of our truck/base camp. But we will not be driving around and just glassing. I truely believe you see more animals when your on your feet, and not riding around in a vehicle or on a quad. Unfortunatly I will not have anytime to scout any of these places.

Again Thanks

[Timberstalker]

You might want to try a 3 Pt Min instead of a 2 Pt.

[Armadillo]

Anywhere theres hills and roads 

[DeKuma]

Come on guys!  Lets not have another newbie bashing contest.

He is asking for a little direction and has shared his story.  Cut him some slack.   You were all non-experts at sometime as well.

[walt]

pm sent

[bobcat]

Do you want to hunt mule deer or whitetail? For muleys anywhere in Okanogan or Chelan counties

Come on guys!  Lets not have another newbie bashing contest.

He is asking for a little direction and has shared his story.  Cut him some slack.   You were all non-experts at sometime as well.

 

Besides, it's not like he's new on here. 89 posts and been registered for almost 2 years.

Blsum,  Best advice I could give you is for mule deer pick a spot somewhere in Chelan or Okanogan counties, and you should have a chance of getting into deer. You'll also have plenty of company but there's no way around that. Anywhere you have good numbers of deer you will also have high numbers of hunters. If you want to try for whitetails you could go in the Colville area but after the last two bad winters I'm not sure how many deer are left.

[nw_bowhunter]

"Blsum" pm sent.

[alecvg]

Here is my advice: I would first recomend Okanogan County, and you really can find deer anywhere, luck always helps too.  But for the best hunting, invest in a good pair of boots, and get away from the roads, pick a spot, and stick to it, use closed roads for access, you can hike up them, then hunt off of them.  But if you pick a spot, with lowish hunting pressure, and hunt it.  Another good thing to do if you want to invest a little more money, get a backpacking tent, and spend a few nights up there, so you don't have to hike in everyday.

Good Luck!

[Blsum]

You might want to try a 3 Pt Min instead of a 2 Pt.

Just so you know there are only a couple unit's in western wa that have any antler restrictions at all. I however don't shoot spike's. I have shot spikes in the past. I will never do it again. I understand that if I where to hunt mulies that there is a 3pt min. All I was trying to convey is I would rather let a small button buck walk away, and eat tag soup, knowing that I did the right thing. Personally I wish the state would make all of western wa 2pt min. with the exeption of kids and seniors. Besides you get more meat out of an older deer than you would a button buck. 

ps. I've responded to all your pm's that have been sent.  Thanks

[coop2424]

I could give you a couple areas to go in the Colville area if interested. PM me if interested it is a long drive but there is a lot of public property up there. 

[Buschingc]

If you hunt Okanogan County, good luck.... Lots of hunters.... The rifle season in Okanogan County is just one huge pumkin patch... I live in this county and I dont even hunt it..

[GrainfedMuley]

Blsum...there is a three point minimum for whitetails in easterm Washington also. If you don't want to do alot of hiking and want to maybe try some lowland muleys...south of a town called Creston on highway 2 about 70 miles west of Spokane, there is 12,500 acres of BLM land. Called Swanson Lake. Lots of ponds and lakes for water. Lots of little draws and coulees to hide in. I took a 116" three point out of there in the mid 90's. The area gets alot of pressure opening weekend. So get out and set VERY early and let everybody else move them around. After opening weekend the deer get pushed to private land.

[jollyskwala]

PM sent   

[Dmanmastertracker]

 "there is a three point minimum for whitetails in easterm Washington also."

 Nope, the whole north central area is spike or better, primarily the Blue Mountains are 3 point or better.

[BULLBLASTER]

"there is a three point minimum for whitetails in easterm Washington also."

 Nope, the whole north central area is spike or better, primarily the Blue Mountains are 3 point or better.

and mica peak...