Swakane reports?(updated with photos again)

[bear]

I'm heading over this next week for a late buck hunt with my son and was just wondering how bad the general season was for everybody.  I don't expect it to be a great hunt as numbers appear to be down across most mule deer areas.  Also wondering if any of the higher elevations have received any snow yet.  I'm heading over on Saturday to scout and to hunt Sunday.  Sounds like the rut is definitely a bit early this year as well.  Bear

[NWBREW]

Snow levels are dropping...You are going to have a great hunt. I think the timing is perfect for the rut and the snow. Good luck and have fun.

[jrebel]

No snow anywhere in the swakane yet.  Deer numbers are normal, but the big bucks are not down from the high country yet.  It got hit hard with people durring the regular season so all the deer hunkered down.  I did not see any bucks running does.  All the bucks were still alone or in bachelor groups.  Good Luck.

[bear]

I'm heading out tomorrow to scout for a day and then hunt a day before coming home for a week.  Any reports?  I expect it to be extremely muddy with no snow, but we'll see.  I'll report back on Sunday evening or Monday morning.  Bear

[jrebel]

the roads are going to be muddy, make sure you have good traction on your tires.  Good Luck

[jstone]

Snow level seems high right know. hope it drops before late archery

[300wsm]

PM sent.

[hoytem]

all general season , no snow for us. very little deer as well, we were camped at 6700 ft.

[bear]

Well, we're back after a short trip to check things out a bit.  As expected it was muddy, with no snow at all, and very, very few deer.  A day and a half of scouting brought us to a total of 2 small forkhorns and 2 spikes along with about 15 does.  Not what one would want out of a special permit hunt, but I know that a week can change things quite a bit.  It seems like just the beginning of the rut, so a week and possibly some weather would help immensely.     Bear

[WArookie]

I was up there this weekend and saw 7 does.  I glassed a WHOLE LOT of country to see only those 7 deer.  A good high country snow will certainly help put more deer in the Swakane.

Brett

[jrebel]

Bear,

Where did you scout?  Remember the to look on the steepest, darkest northern aspect you can find.  There are a lot of big bucks up there and one can find them with a little hiking. 

[eastside boy]

Not enough snow up high yet to make it really good......same thing plagued me, I had the late Entiat permit in 07' and we just didn't get enough snow to bring down the high country bucks.  There where allot of bucks chasing does.....but they were just the local variety, nothing eye popping.   So hope for a bunch of snow!!!!  I think we are supposed to get some precipitation sometime this week with the snow level being at around 5k  at least that is what I heard on the radio this morning.

[bear]

We're headin' over for round 2.  Hopefully a week later and some snow will have changed things a bit.  This time I'm gonna bring the laptop with so I can update if needed.  Wish me luck!  Bear

[huntnphool]

calling for 10-20" the next couple days in the mountains

[bear]

Day 1- Seen quite a few more deer than last weekend.  Small bucks are hanging out with does still.  We saw one average size 4 point that my son may decide to take after a few days if we don't see anything better.  We also saw a few small 3 point and 2 point bucks.  It snowed and blowed hard today but the snow didn't amount to anymore than about half an inch.  We've seen a lot of does without any bucks chasing them.  Hopefully things are still getting better.   Bear