Snake River Area Help

[Thrasher]

I have been pondering addressing this topic for a while, but have been hesitant to ask for help. But, here it goes.

For the most part, I generally hunt near my home area, on the West side. Chasing smaller blacktail bucks, just enough to fill the freezer for a year. I grew up in Yakima area, Selah to be exact, and my Dad and I never got to hunt together due to my parents divorcing at a young age.

Over the past few years, my Dad and I have began getting closer and as of the past few years, he had mentioned that he would like to join me from out of state and just go along on a Eastern WA hunt with me for a muley. At this point, due to his age and other health conditions, I feel that it's now or never for us to go out and have a good hunt. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that just being able to spend time together on a hunt, is the memory I will have forever, but let's face it, if we got a decent buck together, it would make the trip much more memorable.

I have always wanted to go hunt over near the Snake with him, but the opportunity has never presented itself until this year. I have no idea where to go over there...none whatsoever. Like I said, I have thought about this, and searched for info and feel that I am now doing what I didn't want to do, get on a forum and ask. Mainly, I fish and I hate it when lurkers come on board and ask info and want a secret spot, without giving any info back. Well, I guess now the shoe is on my foot. I am somewhat being that guy I have learned to despise. That is clearly not my intent.

I could really use some help. In help, I don't mean a secret honey hole, draw, canyon, etc. I was just hoping for a good general area that him and I could head to that won't be a zoo, nor a waste of time. I am know that I am asking a lot, but it would be appreciated more than I can tell you. I have heard there are areas over there that you can pay a few bucks to cross property owners property to get to certain areas, but I have no idea where those areas are, or if it is even necessary to go to "those spots".

Anyway, if you feel like helping, I would appreciate it. Sorry if this comes across as a "beg", that is not my intent. Merely looking for a little help, but not a slam dunk.

Please pm info or help if you would like to keep it private.

Thank you again

Thrasher

[bobcat]

Which GMU are you looking at?

[Thrasher]

I am open for any suggestions.

When I said, I have no idea about that area....I mean none...zero. Sounds a bit ignorant, naive or clueless, but I am being straight forward and honest. I do not know that area at all.

[Dansk]

I used the mapping tool (go-hunt) on the WDFW website to find areas in the snake river breaks that were public.  There are also areas that will pop up as 'feel free to hunt' land.... CRP land.

Now these areas will be fairly small, and checkerboarded all over the place, but I really don't think people know or check out the web tool to find these areas.  I didn't see very many people there a few years back during modern.  You may end up driving around and checking alot of areas out, but it's so open over there it doesn't take long to glass.

You should search the forum for Snake River - I know I've read a few posts and have seen pics of guys hauling up deer out of the breaks... Be warned - those areas are STEEP.  Ewash looks flat until you look DOWN

[bobcat]

I used to hunt over there but it's been about 10 years now since I've gone over there for muleys. Just not enough deer anymore. Look at the harvest reports. They're only taking about maybe 20% of what it used to be. Also there is very little public land to hunt on. My suggestion would be to look at north-central Washington for muleys if that's what you want to hunt. The Snake River breaks just aren't what they used to be.

[Thrasher]

Thanks guys for the replies so far. This is exactly what I was needing to know. I have no idea what I am embarking upon by us heading over there. This was merely something that he had mentioned many years ago, but I am truly open for something that would better suit my taking him on a hunt. He had hip replacement surgery a few years back and a mild heart attack a couple years ago. So, by the sounds of things, humpiing up and down the STEEP, doesn't sound like it would be best suited.

He hunts Eastern Oregon on his quad, but I do not intend on "quadding" it.

Hmmm, so...Snake area bad. Like I said, I shouldn't have waited so long to ask, but I didn't want to be that guy. Now I am going to be that guy backed into the timeline crunch wall.

[bobcat]

Yes, it is steep, at least where the mule deer live, and there's really no access other than walking. At least if you hunt in National Forest you can drive to different areas and get out and hunt a relatively short distance from the road. The Snake River breaks isn't something I'd want to hunt without first doing plenty of scouting so you know exactly where you want to hunt. Even with the shortage of deer over there compared to what it used to be, there will be no shortage of other hunters competing with you for your spot. I just think you'd have much better opportunities if you hunted somewhere in the north-central part of the state. Even if you just pick a random spot on the map and hunt there, you will probably find deer. If not, you will still have lots of places to check out and it will be a much more enjoyable experience for you and your dad.

[Jburke]

I would check into the Wenatchee and Okanogan national forests.  Lots of access and some nice deer as well.  But with public land, there will always be other people.  Especially during modern seasons.  But the maps are fairly easy to come by as well.  The go hunt tool on the dfw website is a good starting point though.   

[jjhunter]

Thrasher,

If you are talking GMU 142 on the Snake, there is not shortage of deer.  My parents have a ranch there and I spend at least two weekends a month over there.   I was archery hunting last weekend and saw 40 or so bucks a day.  It is a great area to hunt - if you know someone or grew up there.  It is nearly all private.  If fact, I can thing of only one piece of feel free to hunt ground on the north side of the river!  Don't let the harvest statistics fool you, what has happened is that access had become non-existent.  We have 1/4 of the hunting pressure that we used to.  That is mainly due to the crackdown on trespassing and landowners getting tired of unethical hunters.  If future years, this would be a great place to look for a hunt with your old man.   You don't need to scout as there are a TON of deer.  Also, with all of the CRP put in the last ten years, the mule deer do not hang in the breaks as much as they used to.  In fact, they have ventured farther and farther up off of the river and into traditional whitetail country.   Check out areas with CRP within a few miles of the river.  I guarantee they will be teaming with deer!   Find some good areas, find who the landowners are, and start asking permission - early(July)!  Hope this helps.

[bobcat]

The scouting is necessary in order to find a place to hunt. That's why I said he would need to do lots of scouting. I don't know about the north side of the river as I always hunted the south side, but the last time I was over there (about 4 years ago) we would see maybe 30 deer in a day, when back in the late 90's we would have seen 3 HUNDRED. Numbers are definitely down at least in the unit I used to hunt.

[jjhunter]

The scouting is necessary in order to find a place to hunt. That's why I said he would need to do lots of scouting. I don't know about the north side of the river as I always hunted the south side, but the last time I was over there (about 4 years ago) we would see maybe 30 deer in a day, when back in the late 90's we would have seen 3 HUNDRED. Numbers are definitely down at least in the unit I used to hunt.

That is why I specified GMU.   GMU 145 has some public and a bunch of deer.  I know because I can watch the bucks through my spotter from across the river.  Some pretty nice bucks on the public in the breaks a few miles up from Central Ferry this year.  More than I have seen in the last five or so years.  They are hitting a spring at the top of one of the draws every morning.   There, I scouted for you.  

[tlbradford]

I hunted the south side of the river for a few years and it is not something I would recommend to even a young person who is out of shape.  That was in the late 90's.  The pressure wasn't bad at all and we would see a lot of deer.  It is the land of monster two points with no eye guards, which could get frustrating.  We kind of developed two ways to hunt it.  We would hump it up too the top and then glass the draws until we found deer.  The other method was to glass from below and if we saw a legal buck, then one or two of us would hump it up to the top, while someone came up through the draw.  It is very hard to get close to them if you try hiking from the bottom.  I never tried hunting the north side of the river, so I don't know anything about that. 

Good luck and I hope you and your dad have an excellent hunt.

[jjhunter]

Thrasher,
 We have 1/4 of the hunting pressure that we used to.  That is mainly due to the crackdown on trespassing and landowners getting tired of unethical hunters. 

JJ that's why I love hunting GMU 142 with a bow.  When you ask permission the farmers almost laugh at you for hunting with a bow in the open CRP.  But they still give you permission.  Unlike the rat race that is the rifle season over there. 

I've noticed the Mule Deer bucks are a little bit spookier this year than in recent years.  I wonder if poachers have gotten over there.

They are definitely different than hunting Montana, Colorado, Idaho deer.  They don't stick around to see what made that noise!     You should see the look on people's faces when I tell them I kill elk in the breaks with my bow every year.  Nothing like 100 degree heat and steep country to keep the wanna be's at home!

[colockumelk]

I believe you because I've seen elk near Rock Springs road.  I give you props if you get an elk every year.  They can really cover some ground.  Those elk move ALOT!!!!!

[jjhunter]

I believe you because I've seen elk near Rock Springs road.  I give you props if you get an elk every year.  They can really cover some ground.  Those elk move ALOT!!!!!

Rock Springs - you are getting close to my neck of the woods!

[buckmaster_wa]

Clockum its a great area if you got lots of money to pay the farmers.      Us poor folk have to hunt the public ground on the south side of the river.

[colockumelk]

Who said anything about hunting it.     All I said was that I've seen elk there, but that doesn't mean anything because they move around ALOT.  Also I've never paid any money to any farmer to hunt.  You know that. 

[popeshawnpaul]

Thrasher, I've hunted all along the Snake.  It's going to be a zoo no matter where you go.  You go get set up before daylight and wait for them to run all around.  Find the first 2 point with an eye guard and pop him.  Anywhere from Lyons Ferry to Clarkston is good and holds a lot of mule deer.  You need to be half way up between the top and bottom.  Either walk up from the water or down from the top.  It's not a secluded paradise and there won't be any booner bucks walking around...

[jjhunter]

Thrasher, I've hunted all along the Snake.  It's going to be a zoo no matter where you go.  You go get set up before daylight and wait for them to run all around.  Find the first 2 point with an eye guard and pop him.  Anywhere from Lyons Ferry to Clarkston is good and holds a lot of mule deer.  You need to be half way up between the top and bottom.  Either walk up from the water or down from the top.  It's not a secluded paradise and there won't be any booner bucks walking around...

Oh no, not a boater.   Be careful, a lot of guys think the Army Corps owns the breaks to the top.  Make sure you no where you are, a lot of guys "access" from the river and are trespassing.    We get the "Army Corps" line all the time - I can assure that the Game Warden does not accept that excuse.  In Washington, you are responsible for knowing where you are at all times.  We don't have to paint our posts orange!     You may not kill a booner, but I hunt it every year and have opportunities at 25"+ bucks.  There may be a lot of road hunters, but if you get access to good private, the presssure will be minimal and it will be a great hunt. 

[jjhunter]

Sorry Pope, not implying you are a boater, was just reminded of boaters from "access from the bottom. 

[Bean Counter]

"access from the bottom." 

That's what she said 

[Thrasher]

There may be a lot of road hunters, but if you get access to good private, the presssure will be minimal and it will be a great hunt. 

Therein lies yet another problem. Not knowing any of the property owners, or a place to go.

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I can see that this may end up being a "Let's do it next year" sort of thing. I just hate putting it off any longer than I have to. I clearly do not know where to send us. I'm not looking for a trophy, merely a decent shooter and a good time with my Dad.

[colockumelk]

If you are looking for some public land hunting for open country mule deer then check out the Columbia Basin GMU's.  Such as 278, 272, 379, 381.  There's a ton of public land and a good amount of deer.  It's flat and an easy walk for your father.  Just use google earth and find where there's some water a mile away from a road and head there.  Be there before light.  Good luck. 

[B.G.hunter]

gmu 186 has a large amount of public land and good size bucks but it is steep country

[Wea300mag]

I've hunted that area several times and it's a zoo unless you can find a super secret spot(private land).

[Old Dog]

I believe you because I've seen elk near Rock Springs road.  I give you props if you get an elk every year.  They can really cover some ground.  Those elk move ALOT!!!!!

Rock Springs - you are getting close to my neck of the woods!

I was there the 1st to the 3rd of this month chasing them with my recurve.  We saw 24 bucks in three days, but only 3 of them were legal.  I got in one exciting stalk, but couldn't quite get close enough. 
jjhunter, whose ground do you hunt on?

[jjhunter]

I hunt the entire county......depends on where I find the big boys. I am fortunate to have access to a bunch of ground.   I am a severly inbred whitmancountyan - which means I am related to far too many people in close proximity to one another.  Not many choices for a prom date, but it sure works out on the hunting side. 

[Slayock]

There is some good ground on the south side of the snake in Garfield county that is private but the owners dont hunt it because they cant drive to it.  I imagine they would give you permission to hunt it.  Its above Lower Granite Dam several miles.  I dont know for sure about being able to get permission but there is a pile of ground up that way that doesnt get hunted.

[GUscottie]

From my experiences...Def head towards C. Wa, near Ritzville, Washtucna, Hatton, Lind and even further north . I'm from a small town in there, originally, and every year I went on the CRP, I or my buddy got one.

As for scouting it, go out there find the feel free to hunt lands or the BLM. I had a fortunate youth and knew all the farmers in and around the area. If you have time, ask around to see what is public land. People are typically kind and if you hit them up in the Spring/Summer time, they def are willing to show you areas of public land where others typically aren't hunting, or where there is far less pressure.

As was stated previously, the area away from the Snake is far flatter, and easier to manage, and if there is water around, there are deer. Hunting near the Snake River Breaks: Rough going.

Either way, just doing some scouting before hand will increase your chances at finding land and maybe even finding a honey hole. I wish you the best of luck.

[Thrasher]

Well, thank you to everyone for their responses so far.

I was chatting with a friend and he had mentioned that many people head to Lower Granite Dam area.

What can someone tell me about this area? Is this hunting mayhem? crowds? He said that many people just drive the roads over there? I am rather confused and still have no idea where to take us, no leads on land owners, etc

Anyone want to enlighten me about this? PM's are ok.

[native-1]

I lived in clarkston for years.their are so many good areas over their.behind clarkston heights is the dump.check that and keep a close eye.i hunted just north of the main gate.the fields are big so glass for long periods of time then follow the road around to coyote gulch.half way down and sit.they move up in lat afternoon.good luck