Unit 636 Skokomish

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I know I will be opening myself up to a lot of flack,..........
 but I was wondering of anybody hunts this unit for deer ?
I might have been selected for the "Quality Deer" hunt in this unit, Nov 1st-24th. 2 pt minimum.
(I actually hope that I got drawn for L.T. Murray, but applied for this because it was closer to my home, hopefully during the rut, and 3+ extra weeks of deer season)
The reason I am asking, is that it is open :
Sept. 1-19 Archery, any deer,
Sept 25th-Oct 3rd Muzzleloader, 2pt +, 
October 16th-31st Modern, 2 pt+,
(My possible permit Nov. 1st-24th 2 pt +)
Nov. 18th-21st Modern, 2 pt +
Nov, 24th-Dec 8th Archery, 2 pt+, or antlerless.
So actually, other than 24 extra days, I only get to hunt deer with 9 other guys Nov 1st until the 18th, in a unit that gets hunted 44 days before my permit, and 19 days after/during my permit.
I will be happy with a legal deer, but it just seems like "Quality" has more to do with extra days without competition, during the rut, than the quality of the unit.
I am not asking for any spots, just anybody experienced with hunting unit, and what are the chances of getting to see a deer that is 3 pt+ ?
It seems to me that it gets pounded pretty hard, and the chances of a legal buck making it through 44 days of season.......
The new format for Hunter reports, is pretty useless, but an average 15-20% combined success rate, as low as 8% for archery in the past, makes me wonder.
This will be my first year actually "hunting" for deer, as I usually get my deer while hunting Elk, when a legal one is dumb enough to get in front of me.
and as a result I settle for a doe, or smaller buck. I would like to hang my tag on a decent Blacktail , but is it worth passing on any legal deer in the hopes of a bigger one from this permit ?

[MLBowhunting]

blacktails and the rut means anything can happen.

[PolarBear]

Canyon River area has some bruisers if you get off the road and get into the brush.  I saw the biggest blacktail of my life there but couldn't connect in time.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

It is official, this is the one I was drawn for !
Now the work starts !
My family has a cabin at a nearby lake, (different unit though) so I have a place nearby to base a scouting trip or 2 out of, let alone it is not too far a drive from my home.
I will plan on checking it out a few times before season.
due to drawing this permit, I will pass on shooting a doe until the 24th of Nov., hope it works out for me.......

[AKBowman]

I've hunted the very southern slopes of the olympics in 636 for three years straight. I didnt hunt it last year but I would ALWAYS see a ton of deer. I hunted it during archery late and hunted it with archery during rifle season. Theres a ton of good cuts and the land is steep and makes nice funnels for stands, etc along the creek edges.

Shoot me a PM and I will give you some specifics but you can hunt it flat or you can hunt the steep stuff, theres even some good sub-alpine hunting in this unit, like I said I usually hunted mid elevation above the flats. I think it is one of the best units b/c it is so diverse, there are giant BT's that live in the area I hunted but there are also a few real good migration routes to hunt the deer coming out of the high country and ONP later in the season. I'll just tell you it's not hard to find the trails they use year after year and if you catch it right you can really have the hunt of a lifetime and there are A LOT of deer in this unit that are truly once in a lifetime deer.

Check out around Beeville loop road for the flats ground stuff then move north to get into the steep stuff. I've always had better luck targeting funnells, pinch points etc in the steeper stuff myself but you've got a few years on me. 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I appreciate the input, and will keep you in mind,
I have a lot of homework to do before the season comes around, but because I used 6 points for this permit, I plan on putting in some time looking around.
I doubt that there will be any real snow to start a migration, and am counting on the rut.
But due to my lack of experience specifically targeting blacktail....
This will be the first time since 1987 that I will be hunting for deer when Elk is not open for me (other than a day trip or 2 in late Dec.)

[Dirty Mike]

i live in the area just outside of the unit, but i hunt it every yr good unit send me a message if you need any help

[PolarBear]

I spent many, many years hunting that unit, shot a bunch of nice bucks and have several cousins that are loggers in there.  I'll see what kind of info that I can get for you as the summer progresses.

[AKBowman]

I appreciate the input, and will keep you in mind,
I have a lot of homework to do before the season comes around, but because I used 6 points for this permit, I plan on putting in some time looking around.
I doubt that there will be any real snow to start a migration, and am counting on the rut.
But due to my lack of experience specifically targeting blacktail....
This will be the first time since 1987 that I will be hunting for deer when Elk is not open for me (other than a day trip or 2 in late Dec.)

It snowed more than a foot in the flat stuff 2 yrs ago...I cant remember if it was late Nov or early Dec but it gets really damn cold and can snow anytime from Nov on. Maybe not regularly but it can. I'm not real sure the snow has much to do with the migration though I think you might be correct it has more to do with coming down to follow the does down to the mid elevations. They do migrate though I've spent some time talking with the Biologist out of Matlock who grew up in the area and knows it real well. Either way its an awesome unit and well worth the six points you put in to get it.

I'm sure you will do well and have a great hunt.

If you want to hunt the rut than you HAVE to be out there the few days before and after the 31st of oct. They are always going nuts during those 5 days.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

If you want to hunt the rut than you HAVE to be out there the few days before and after the 31st of oct. They are always going nuts during those 5 days

My permit/tag is archery, so I have to wait for the modern guys to get out of the woods on the 31st...

[Blsum]

Make sure you look into the cat tags as well. There are some in there. keep your eyes open

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Cougar tag, Check
Bear will be open until the 15th also....
But here I go again, I will actually be DEER hunting, so I will most likely run into only Elk (No season) 
If I happen to see a Cougar, or bear, I will attempt to stick an arrow in.

[ABugg]

I agree with the earlier comments.  I'd add that much of the lower elevation portion of this unit is Green Diamond ownership and for the most part they don't open their gates until Sept 1st for vehicle access.  Then they're open until the end of December.  You can still drive into the high country to access forest service land along the South Fork Skokomish west to the Wynoochee, but many of the roads here have been decommissioned.   

[monster10]

Thats funny,I drew the archery tag for 636 for the same reasons and have no clue what to do.When I get some info Ill pass it along.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Thats funny,I drew the archery tag for 636 for the same reasons and have no clue what to do.When I get some info Ill pass it along.

Same permit, Archery 2 pt minimum buck "Quality" Nov 1st-24th
See ya there