Swakane report?

[mikelonsford]

Got my first bow buck on Monday.  Saw about 30 deer a day Sat and Sun.  Saw probably 50 in the first hour on Monday and a bunch more through the day.  Saw 3 or 4 bucks everyday.  Had them in bow range but not ready for shots the first two days.  Saw them high and low.  Roads were not good but ok, we were chained up but others were not.  Ruts seemed to be worse than the sliding, the sliding was all manageable.  Good Luck...Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Mike

[big rack attack]

just got home from three days hunting the swakane! It was my first year hunting there. I seen one legal buck and about twenty does. I did get to see three bucks that other hunters got.One was a big 4 point, a 4x5, and a 3 point really nice deer.The roads up there are something else! I dont know if i will do it again next year

[Little Dave]

It's about what I saw, lots of does up high on the mountain and down in the low sheltered spots too.  Talked to a number of the road hunters, but they weren't seeing very much.  Pointed out a few places where I have been seeing the bucks, but the mile hike from the end of the road didn't seem to inspire them to get out of the rig.  Spotted one guy in a lawnchair in the back of the truck about 500 feet below, poised to shoot a monster buck waiting alongside the road should that ever happen.  Roads weren't too bad.  Mud wasn't too bad, roads slick, but I've seen worse.

Didn't get a buck, had two bucks just inside the pines about 100 yards down the hill.  Ran along the opposite side of the ridge to see if I could head them off for an ambush, but it didn't turn out.  Another doe and her fawn from this year came in there.  Wind was right so they didn't know I was right above them.  Just watched them browse for a while.  End of the day, I hunted the mountain top, in a snow covered clear cut.  More does up there.  Snow was crusty and noisy, so easier to hear the deer moving.  There are some big deer in there based on the tracks and fresh sign all over the place.  Kind of fun just watching the does.  Seems I was onto a new set of deer every other hour.  The evening light was yellow and orange which reflected on the snow and made the pine needles glow in the snow-free areas.  Two more does ahead of me on the way down the hill they were moving in the direction of my truck.

Someone got a buck higher on the mountain Friday afternoon.  Didn't get to see it though.

[joebear]

The hunting preasure was stupid. the amount of hunters up there this season will with out a dout push fish and game into takeing our general hunt and turning it into a full out draw. It was great hunting up there. the other thing is guys up there this year had no huntind edicit or respect for other hunters. heard to many stories about guys running off bucks out from under other guys thats just out of controle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eastside boy]

The hunting pressure was stupid. the amount of hunters up there this season will with out a doubt push fish and game into taking our general hunt and turning it into a full out draw. It was great hunting up there. the other thing is guys up there this year had no huntind edicit or respect for other hunters. heard to many stories about guys running off bucks out from under other guys thats just out of controle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   I hear ya!!!!!  And yes you are probably right in regards to the hunt being pulled from a general late season.  The last few years has been horrible for hunting pressure.  I think the multi-season permits are at least partially to blame...I think alot of guys are using this hunt as a back up/last desperate attempt to fill a tag, if not successfull during the modern seasons.   I doubt the WDFW will get rid of the multi season option any time soon....especially now when things are tight....they make to much money on it.

[lilswab]

Swakane report...I only hunted 2 days and I have to say that I was really impressed with that Unit for my first time ever hunting there.  1st day we saw 40 plus deer and only 3 legal bucks.  There were plenty of hunters but that really wasn't a problem except for them clogging up the roads.  I noticed very few were glassing for deer  but plenty were road hunting.  2nd day we got on 2 nice bucks one was a non-typical 5x5 with sticker points that made him about 26 inches wide. Unfortunatly, with the snow and bad wind we ran out of time and had to let him go!

[jackelope]

The hunting pressure was stupid. the amount of hunters up there this season will with out a doubt push fish and game into taking our general hunt and turning it into a full out draw. It was great hunting up there. the other thing is guys up there this year had no huntind edicit or respect for other hunters. heard to many stories about guys running off bucks out from under other guys thats just out of controle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   I hear ya!!!!!  And yes you are probably right in regards to the hunt being pulled from a general late season.  The last few years has been horrible for hunting pressure.  I think the multi-season permits are at least partially to blame...I think alot of guys are using this hunt as a back up/last desperate attempt to fill a tag, if not successfull during the modern seasons.   I doubt the WDFW will get rid of the multi season option any time soon....especially now when things are tight....they make to much money on it.

curious to know if the guys who are blaming the multiseason tag on the crowds in the swakane are applying for them too?
also...remember all the hunters are crammed into 1 week of season rather than 2...
also remember there's still a whole lot of bowhunting season still open...till the end of december even...so it's not a last ditch effort for some.
i haven't even started my last ditch effort yet.

[teal101]

Went up Friday.  Road was somewhat slick.  Chains were needed up towards the top.  Ended up not being able to make it up a small hill due to no chains and got a ride from some guys with chains who drove me a ways past my truck and dropped me off.  i hiked back to my truck and saw 1 doe.  Hunting pressure was insane.  Helped some guy and his daughter get their truck unstuck in the ruts near the top and headed home aorund noon.  Probably won't be going back up there next year.

[joebear]

Thats right Jack bring on the BLACKTAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jrebel]

Next year they are giving out 2000 multi-season deer and 600 multi-season elk.  You better bet they arn't getting rid of that tag. 

[eastside boy]

Next year they are giving out 2000 multi-season deer and 600 multi-season elk.  You better bet they arn't getting rid of that tag.