deer hunting around Pullman?

[elkhunter1]

Does anybody know any public places to hunt around pullman? I'm a student at WSU and i have never hunted this area. Actually i've never even hunted muleys or whitetail, just blacktail deer. I would be glad to get any input.

[aaronk]

I'm new to the area as well (Spokane) and I am planning on heading north to some areas I have picked out on the Colville NF and Kanisku NF.  How did I select these areas you ask?  I researched maps or public land and tried to find areas with low densities of roads (and hopefully less hunters).  However, I am going into the season with low expectations of filling my tag but I am looking forward to exploring some new territory.

[mossback91]

I'm new to the area as well (Spokane) and I am planning on heading north to some areas I have picked out on the Colville NF and Kanisku NF.  How did I select these areas you ask?  I researched maps or public land and tried to find areas with low densities of roads (and hopefully less hunters).  However, I am going into the season with low expectations of filling my tag but I am looking forward to exploring some new territory.

Thing about spokane/colville areas is that a high percentage of the rifle hunters for sure are 100% road hunters........so usually form my expierence any public usually holds deer(with almost zero hunters in the woods)........late season.....rattle/grunt.........sit on rub lines all has shown me deer and last year was my first year ever trying out the whole whitetail hunting and thick woods deal.......

[aaronk]

I'm new to the area as well (Spokane) and I am planning on heading north to some areas I have picked out on the Colville NF and Kanisku NF.  How did I select these areas you ask?  I researched maps or public land and tried to find areas with low densities of roads (and hopefully less hunters).  However, I am going into the season with low expectations of filling my tag but I am looking forward to exploring some new territory.

Thing about spokane/colville areas is that a high percentage of the rifle hunters for sure are 100% road hunters........so usually form my expierence any public usually holds deer(with almost zero hunters in the woods)........late season.....rattle/grunt.........sit on rub lines all has shown me deer and last year was my first year ever trying out the whole whitetail hunting and thick woods deal.......

If the hunters in Colville are all road hunters that's better news for me because I am planning on heading into the brush.  I found a specific area that has about 20 square miles with no roads with a few logging units/clear cuts within.  That's where I'm heading.

But not to get too off topic...

I don't know a single thing about the Pullman area.  The only advice I've received since I've moved here is to head northeast and stay away from roads to have the best chances of finding whitetail.  I'm taking that advice and running with it.  You being in Pullman though you will be looking at an even longer drive than me so that may play a factor.  Keep us posted on what you decide to do.

[halflife65]

I used to hunt a lot between Wawawai and Steptoe Canyon on the hills above the road.  I graduated in 95 and haven't really been back since, but I've heard that they've posted a lot of areas, so I would take a drive down there before season started.

[elkhunter1]

Thank you for the input. Last year my dad drew the 49 degrees north moose tag and i remember seeing a lot of deer there not many bucks though.. but then again it was early october. That area is more whitetail type area is it not?

[dpdub]

Elkhunter,

I moved here last year and have spent a bunch of time and gas looking for areas to hunt, most everything is private ground.  There are some feel free to hunt places that I am sure will be plum full next weekend and there are also the breaks/canyons above the snake from Lewiston down two dams (Can't remember which is which).  I think that most of the land above the snake is Army Corps of Engineer land.  You will be able to tell where you can and can't go.  Also if you look at the wdfw website I think you can see exactly what areas the Corps owns and where they are.  On gohunt on the wdfw website you could also find a couple of wilderness areas near Asotin and one up near Spokane that might be worth checking out.

If we both don't connect during the early season, I would love to meet up and try up north for whitetail during the late season if you are interested.  Also there is a lot of public land near the mouth of the Grande Ronde, but it is super steep.  I wanted to backpack in over a hill or two down there this year, but my Dad is coming over to hunt and can't or won't try it.  We found a field with a few mulies in it this summer that we are going to try.

Good Luck

[aaronk]

If we both don't connect during the early season, I would love to meet up and try up north for whitetail during the late season if you are interested.  

If you guys end up heading north in November let me know.  I would love to tag along.  If I am intruding just say so and no hard feelings.  I'm planning on heading up there either way for late modern.  I've been living here since July and have yet to meet a single person and finding a couple of guys with similar interests would fun.

[elkhunter1]

Today i had to take a friend back to the airport in spokane and on the way back i saw tons of game. there were deer all over, but they were all in wheat fields around steptoe. I guess i just need to get out and drive around.

dpdub, more than likely i'm not gonna take a buck during the regular season, so i would really like to go up north and take a whitetail buck. That would be a lot of fun. Maybe we can hook up and plan a trip to go up there.

[webbspinner]

Hunted there for several years and when I can will go back there, my son is just starting hunting and quite honestly its personal now with these little blacktail
Take a drive across lower granite dam and go left up the canyon to the top.  First part is posted but once on top used to be a big gravel pit you could park at and hunt down to the river. lots of deer.  but dam used to close and lock am and pm so check that out.  between wawawai and steptoe canyon on the other end some good hunting.  Used to be able to hunt the non park side of steptoe butte too.  Up around Palouse and Garfield good whitetail hunting also.  but you should get out find a apot in the canyons and sit about 1/2 way down all day.  most people hit the bottom and go to the top or hit the top and go to the bottom or stay on top.  deer will move all day from pressure.  good luck and pm if you want.  killed deer every year there, big ones usually.

[webbspinner]

Maybe you blacktail veterans can give me some help with these brushy little buggers

[elkhunter1]

Webbspinner- Thank you for the information. I greatly appreciate it.

Another question i have though is there a good meat locker anywhere in pullman or colfax? i dont have tons of money to spend on gas since i'm a college student. So any info would be great.

[dpdub]

If we both don't connect during the early season, I would love to meet up and try up north for whitetail during the late season if you are interested.  

If you guys end up heading north in November let me know.  I would love to tag along.  If I am intruding just say so and no hard feelings.  I'm planning on heading up there either way for late modern.  I've been living here since July and have yet to meet a single person and finding a couple of guys with similar interests would fun.

YOU'RE AN INTRUDER!!!

Just kidding, I will pm you guys my email address.

[WSU]

There are a ton of deer in Pullman.  Any direction you drive will have tons of deer.  Take some time and go knock on some doors.  It is a little more difficult to get permission a couple days before the season, but still possible.  Next year, try going in the summer.  If you want muleys, go hunt the breaks.  Plenty of public and private land, and getting permission is definitely doable.  If you want whitetails, stick to the wheat fields.  It is mostly private, but again, getting permission is doable.  Anywhere with cover will have whitetails.  I killed bucks in Pullman the three years I hunted there while going to school, and I never hunted more than 10 miles from campus.  While your asking permission, you may want to ask about rooster hunting.  Tons of roosters also.  I sure do miss Pullman.  It was nice getting to hunt everyday.

[jrebel]

I have hunted this area a lot and fortunately know a lot of farmers that let me hunt their land.  If you are going to be there for a few years you need to get a summer job driving grain truck.  That will be your in   Other than that you really need to knock on doors and ask, the earlier the better.  There is public land down off the snake in the breaks (army core of engineer) and a few sections of "feel free to hunt" on your way to wawaii (spelling?) canyon.  However every inch of the public land will be saturated on the opening weekend.  The key to the public land in the breaks is get up and hike in the dark.  Be seated at least an hour before light and wait for all the other hunters who are affraid of the dark to push the deer at first light.  There are a ton of deer so good luck.

[halflife65]

I have hunted this area a lot and fortunately know a lot of farmers that let me hunt their land.  If you are going to be there for a few years you need to get a summer job driving grain truck.  That will be your in   Other than that you really need to knock on doors and ask, the earlier the better.  There is public land down off the snake in the breaks (army core of engineer) and a few sections of "feel free to hunt" on your way to wawaii (spelling?) canyon.  However every inch of the public land will be saturated on the opening weekend.  The key to the public land in the breaks is get up and hike in the dark.  Be seated at least an hour before light and wait for all the other hunters who are affraid of the dark to push the deer at first light.  There are a ton of deer so good luck.

I did that when I went to school there, as well.  And shot a bunch of bucks.

Get 3/4 up the hill in the dark - that's about the right elevation in my opinion.  You'll see the guys coming up from thte bottom but are still high enough to catch the deer that'll come running out of the wheat fields on top.  I shot deer by about 7:05 on opening morning 3 years in a row doing that...all 3 or 4 points from 18 to 22 inches wide.  Nothing huge, but they eat good.

[webbspinner]

Elkhunter, it truly is a great place to hunt, when I got out of school I spent 9 yrs working for a agricultural company in the area and had acres of private farmland to my self.  I really miss that, deer every year.  I always butchered my own but there used to be a grocery store there, Finch's I believe and my buddy had his done there if I remember right.  Kinda a custom meat cutting service type deal I think.  I know all the farmers who ran cattle always had the mobile butcher come out or hung em in the shop.  Seems like there was a couple of spots in Moscow that cut and wrapped.  Steptoe canyon out of Uniontown was not posted back then except at the very top.  Get a atlas and Gazeteer(sp) and check out the roads going into the breaks from wawaii to the idaho line.   Also north and west of Palouse along the palouse river all the way to Colfax and beyond used to be alot of land.  Good luck and try shot gunnin for roosters and Huns, lots of action even without a dog.

[packwoodcoug]

Graduated in 95 but had a ton of fun hunting.  In fact I'm thinking about making the 5 hr drive to get my son his first buck.  Once the farmers find out you are a deer hunter they will welcome you with open arms.  I had one farmer near the colfax airport let me use his dog bird hunting if I would come back and hunt the deer. Have fun let us know how it goes.

[elkhunter1]

Two more days and i'm shakin like a dog *censored*tin razor blades. I saw some decent bucks in the ravine i'm able to hunt. I can't wait until saturday!! I'm thinkin about checking out the Blue mountains area. a friend i know drew one of the those Blue mountain elk tags this year so i'll have to go scout for him. haha, it should be very interesting. I will definitely have to bring the camera.

[HuntinHard270]

Hey elk hunter Im a student here at Pullman as well. This is my first year here and did alil scouting and I have seen some of the deer in the canyons as well down by the river. This weekend is going to be terrible with hunters so I dont want to deal with them but I was thinking about going out during the week, so if you want to go then let me know.

[elkhunter1]

haha ya this weekend will be horrible.. at least it will rain.. that eliminates half the hunters right there.. i will probably go tuesday since i only have one class that day, and thursday morning

[aaronk]

This is somewhat related so I thought I would add it to this thread:  Has anyone done any hunting in the Revere Wildlife Area?  I am looking for a place to hunt that is a little closer to Airway Heights.  I drove up past Cusick yesterday and it just makes for a really long day (3:30AM to 9PM).  I also didn't see a single deer though I may go back up for the late season.  For the next few weekends, however, I was thinking about heading south and I noticed this "small" wildlife area on a map.  Any input or opinions would be great.

Thanks and best of luck with your seasons!

[jrebel]

there is another thread on hear about revere.  Lots of deer and lots of hunters for such a small area.   By now all the deer have pushed onto private land bordering the small piece(s) of public.  Good Luck

[aaronk]

there is another thread on hear about revere.  Lots of deer and lots of hunters for such a small area.   By now all the deer have pushed onto private land bordering the small piece(s) of public.  Good Luck

Yeah, I caught that thread after I posted this.  I was also reading about Sawnson Lakes Wildlife Area but it seems to be the same story - any deer left will be on private land now.  It sounds like I should just plan on heading back up to the Colville area and try again - maybe change my strategy and try road hunting    I'm not too sure. 

[aaronk]

Hey guys - I have decided on heading down to Escure Ranch (Rock Cree) BLM Management Unit tomorrow morning.  Does anyone have any opinions of this place?  I searched the forum but I couldn't seem to find it in past discussions.  Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Aaron