I could use some advice

[countryboy]

This is my third year hunting and I could use some input hunting late buck or whitetails in the area for that matter. My first year hunting I took some friends I thought would be good at showing me the ropes to our private property surrounded by Colville NF. It almost ended my hunting life in one season. We spent all our time riding around on ATV's with a few evenings sitting in openings 50yds from the road waiting. We saw very few animals all season... none of use filled our tags. The past two seasons I hunted Idaho with my father and have had the time of my life. I filled my tag first day last season and got a nice 4x4 this year. We spent several months scouting and have put countless miles and 1000's of feet in elevation on my boots. My wife hunted as a kid and has been feeding off my new excitement for hunting the last two years. She is dying to go out and get her first buck. By the time I filled my ID tag we only had 1 day left to hunt regular season down on the Snake. We had a great time and saw alot of animals but nothing legal. I'm excited to take her out for the late hunt on our property up north but I'm not sure how to hunt it. I have really enjoyed the spot and stalk method and learning the habits of the deer in Idaho but it's very different country than our property up here. My ADD will go crazy if I try to sit in a tree stand or a blind all day. Should I rattle, bait, grunt, cover myself in honey and run around naked yelling "C'mere deer"? I want her to have a good experience but I'm affraid I'm going to end up with the same results I had up there a few years ago. If anyone wants to join us I would be happy to let you hunt our land after she gets her deer. (we have several thousand acres around Stevens Co.) Any input/advice is very appriciated!

[Birdguy]

Countryboy, first off great job on getting the Mrs. WANTING to go with you ! Second the tactics you use in Idaho will work in Washington, you may need to adjust them a bit as the area is a bit different. Good woodsmanship is the key in whatever you do. Use the cover, keep your eyes open (look for scrapes, rubs, ect.), watch the deer you do see to see what stage they are in (pre-rut or rut), try to keep the wind in your face, use what you do know about the area to your advantage. Stevens county has a lot of different terrain, without knowing what your place is like it is tough to get you specifics. Apples will help you concentrate the deer a bit. Bait on your private ground is seldom a bad thing (it can certainly help you get your Wife a good clean humane shot, making her trip more enjoyable) a cheap game cam can really help in the confidence area as well letting you know the deer are there and when they are there. Scents and rattling can be effective. I would skip the honey and yelling (and for goodness sake take no pictures if you decide to try it). Remember that the joy of the hunt is the HUNT! My Wife went with me one year and will go again anytime I ask (we have to much to take care of at home for us both to be gone right now), not because we got something but because we had fun. The weather sucked and we were soaked for three days but we had fun ( and she is better to sleep next to then my  other hunting partners). If it does not work out this year put in a littel more time next year scouting, watching the game in the area, and absolutely put out some apples and a cam or two and you will know what is going on and where. I would love to come over and help where I could but being 8 hours away I usually only get over there for turkey season and to visit some friends during the summer. I will bet someone else on this sight will offer some great advice and maybe even take you up on your hunt offer (great offer by the way and normally and great way to get the help you seek, timing might be the only thing hurting you this go round). Either way I wish you and the Mrs. a safe and great time. Remember it is not always about notching the tag, the good times and memories you take home is what will bring her back with you.

[countryboy]

My biggest issue is the dense timber. I'm used to spotting mule deer from 300-400 yds and putting a stalk on.

[lokidog]

Sounds like a good place to cut in some food plots like they do back east.  It'd help give the deer some good winter forage as well as provide a concentration area for hunting.

[Grizzly95]

What weapon? I have a couple trail cameras, you can borrow one if you need. If you do decide to do some food plots let me know, I would be more than happy to give you a hand. I would like to find a place for my daughter to late season archery, but I am not offering my help to get something out of it; just would like to give you a hand if you need.

[countryboy]

We own alot of land I have never been to, but the land I do know is all forest land. WAY to much time and money to get a food plot in place. It's a little late this year to get much use from a trail cam. It is 2 hour drive from here. I will be hunting this weekend and could put up a cam but wouldnt have time to check it until next weekend. I was thinking of setting up a salt lick. Even if it's just for next season. How well do they work?

[countryboy]

Sorry, I hunt modern for now. I would like to get into archery just to busy to commit yet.

[merlo105]

Ok salt licks I wouldnt worry about this time of year the deer arent needing salt, they'll need that durring the summer what they need is nutrition, protein to get them threw the rut and winter.. Apples would be a great start as the other guy had posted. And a trail cam would be great and if you could only check it once a week or even every two weeks that would be just fine... If your hunting the whitetails a trail camera can be key beings they will use the same trail year after year in some cases, So seek out a heavy trail toss up a cam and you may be set there. Now if your hunting the mulies in that thick country i wouldnt be able to give any advise except for checking out trails the deer live together and often take the same trails..If a tree stand is not your thing then keep tabs on these trail and try to find beds and still hunt your way in there towards the early morning or later in the day. look for any kind of sign possible there rutting now so you shouldnt have a problem finding where deer have been... There are plenty deer in that county you shouldnt have a problem finding them just look around if it looks cool to you hec a deer may also think it looks kool and be in there... hec just put time in and Im sure you'll be just fine....My 

[countryboy]

Opinions on using scents to attract? Best type, way to use them?

[hambone]

they are starting to rut up in that area talk to a customer that said they already had some snow try to get off the roads find some does if they are really starting to rut up they wont be to far from those does rattling and grunt tube will help i would take you up on the offer but helping someone with a palouse tag this weekend. good luck

[benbo30]

This is my third year hunting and I could use some input hunting late buck or whitetails in the area for that matter. My first year hunting I took some friends I thought would be good at showing me the ropes to our private property surrounded by Colville NF. It almost ended my hunting life in one season. We spent all our time riding around on ATV's with a few evenings sitting in openings 50yds from the road waiting. We saw very few animals all season... none of use filled our tags. The past two seasons I hunted Idaho with my father and have had the time of my life. I filled my tag first day last season and got a nice 4x4 this year. We spent several months scouting and have put countless miles and 1000's of feet in elevation on my boots. My wife hunted as a kid and has been feeding off my new excitement for hunting the last two years. She is dying to go out and get her first buck. By the time I filled my ID tag we only had 1 day left to hunt regular season down on the Snake. We had a great time and saw alot of animals but nothing legal. I'm excited to take her out for the late hunt on our property up north but I'm not sure how to hunt it. I have really enjoyed the spot and stalk method and learning the habits of the deer in Idaho but it's very different country than our property up here. My ADD will go crazy if I try to sit in a tree stand or a blind all day. Should I rattle, bait, grunt, cover myself in honey and run around naked yelling "C'mere deer"? I want her to have a good experience but I'm affraid I'm going to end up with the same results I had up there a few years ago. If anyone wants to join us I would be happy to let you hunt our land after she gets her deer. (we have several thousand acres around Stevens Co.) Any input/advice is very appriciated!

thats awsome , this is my second year hunting late white tail my brother got a 3x4 whitey last year , up in stevens co. outside of valley , wa , if i could help you i could but i try to pick up as much tips as i can myself , would love to hunt some private prop. , we currently go to my brothers buddys cabin up there he has 10 acres and we hunt all the public land we can get to near by , we will be up there from nov. 13-19 , its gonna be a great experience for her

[wannabhntr]

Get control of the ADD, find trails & scrapes lines and set up that tree stand.

[lazydrifter]

We set up our 1st trail cam this year, threw down some apples and had this buck in on the 1st night.  It doesn't take long.  Notice the time on the camera.  We actually had a bunch of pics before this.  He was in before legal shooting light was over.

[croix]

If you haven't scouted the entire property, you can start with some aerial views. Mapquest is great for getting an idea of where the thicker timber is and where you may be able to see a little better. It is NOT good for topography so keep that in mind. A real sweet looking clearing may be on the side of a ravine. The aerial is also good for finding old skid roads, natural funnels, etc.

Spot and stalk from 300 yds probably won't happen but there is plenty of timber in the area that can be still hunted. Sit on a stump until the ADD kicks in and then move slowly for a while until you're ready to sit again.

It seems early for them to rutting, but I haven't been up there recently so I have no direct input. Historically, they don't rut there until mid-late Nov. If they are following the does then an estrus drag may work out for you. I've run a drag before and hung it on a tree where I could watch from about 75 yards. I watched a buck nearly lose his mind trying to follow my drag trail. Other than that, I would use a cover scent and practice good woodsmanship.

Good luck.

[Dipsnort]

If you haven't scouted the entire property, you can start with some aerial views. Mapquest is great for getting an idea of where the thicker timber is and where you may be able to see a little better. It is NOT good for topography so keep that in mind. A real sweet looking clearing may be on the side of a ravine. The aerial is also good for finding old skid roads, natural funnels, etc.

Given the fact that you haven't personally scouted all of your land this is an excellent starting point.  Google Maps is my first resource when I'm looking for a hunting area.  You can easily zoom in and out and toggle between a normal map view, aireal photos and topography.