GMU 250 Late season?

[bonneylakebowman]

I know this question has been asked multiple times and I have read the posts that talk about hunting the Swakane unit in the late season and the only thing i have really gotten from them is that there is going to be alot of people, the roads are deadly and to get out and walk.  My brother and I both drew doe tags and from what I have heard those are going to be fairly easy to find deer for.  My grandpa is driving up from Nevada to hunt with us and will be looking for a 3 pt. min and so will I.  I want to hold out on the doe tag untill the last minute.  With that being said we are willing to hike to get to the animals.  I was wondering if I could get some pointers on where to start?  I am planning on going over there for the opening weekend of rifle with my dad to do some scouting.

I was also wondering what the odds are of being able to get in there and set up a deer camp?  My grandpa has wall tents and a motor home and if he can get the motor home set up down in the bottom of one of the canyons that would be nice because my grandma is coming with if not is there alot of areas to be able to set up a few tents?

Nate

[MtnMuley]

Weather will be a factor on the tent thing and accessibility.  Put your time in glassing & hunting hard, and you should do fine.

[luvtohnt]

Weather will be a factor on the tent thing and accessibility.  Put your time in glassing & hunting hard, and you should do fine.

I have been up there multiple years and one year there was so much snow you could hardley go anywhere, other years like last no snow. I would keep the camp trailer low in case a snow storm moves in, cause I would hate to have to leave it up there. Like said above glass, glass, and when your eyes are tired glass some more.

Brandon

[jackelope]

if there's snow on the ground i'd be fairly confident telling you a motor home would be a horrible idea in any of those roads.

[usmc74]

I took my first archery deer up there many years ago.  We hunted up Entiat, south of Ardenvoir.

Camp low.  Even park the MH on the blacktop, and drive a truck up into hunt

I've seen some nice bucks up there

[bullcanyon]

It's really not that big of a unit.  You should not have any trouble figuring out where you need to be.  Like others have said.  You should camp low.  Not worth losing your mh for a deer.  Good luck and be safe.

[halflife65]

The roads are really steep.  Maybe a spot down low on the Entiat road to camp?  There are several campgrounds down there, although they may be closed by that time of year (not sure).

I wouldn't take a MH up those roads - probably even in the early season.  You can probably get up there alright, but you may thrash the thing.  It would be pretty scary when there was snow on the ground.

Anyway, you should have good luck shooting a doe in there.  Take your time and look at some nice bucks while your at it.  Have fun!

[teal101]

There is a trailer thats a ways up the Swakene canyon road that was parked in a camping spot.  it was obviously left due to a snow storm.  The roof was crushed in and it was destroyed.  Keep the MH down low for sure.  Those roads are hell all year long, let alone in the winter!

[eastside boy]

Uh...yeah, the Swakane canyon road is in hellish condition right now, it needs a good grading......pot holes and sharp rocks every where.  Good luck with the hunt, and I would suggest putting some miles on the boots when you can and get off the roads as far as you can.  I was able to get a nice buck (7x8) in the unit last year doing this.   

[eastside boy]

Also there are a bunch of burmed roads that vehcles cannot travel.....might be a good bet for your grandad to get out and walk some of those. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Also consider one of the nearby state parks - Confluence in Wenatchee is adjacent to the Swakane unit.

[bonneylakebowman]

ok thanks for the info guys.  I was planning on driving as far as i could then hiking as far as i could after.  my friend is going to come over with us to hunt and he has a jeep that is on 35's and is locked up front and rear so we should be alright on the roads.  what is the chances of my little brother getting on does over there?  he has an ichy trigger finger and wants to put the smack down on a doe with his new bow.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Chance of seeing does: 100%.  Chance of getting on does depends on his stalking ability plus dumb luck.

[boneaddict]

Bring chains.  That road gets a batch of wet snow and it is about as dangerous as it gets.

[bullcanyon]

Offer me 10 grand to drive those roads when they have snow and I'll will laugh at you.  Don't matter what kind of rig you got.  Those roads flat out scare the crap out of me.  Meet someone on them and you will have a pucker facter of 10.5! Take bones advice.