What size to hold out for in the Swakane?

[gutsnthegrass]

For the late rifle hunt, Nov 1-20.  I was hoping to hold out for something 160" or bigger, is this a reasonable size or to far fetched.  I have shot a 145" mulie out of the Entiat a few years back during a late archery hunt, so I want to up the anti a bit.  I'm a bit worried about all the fires over there and where the deer will hold up now, but I have read that some of the burned areas are already starting to green up a bit.  I am not a road hunter and am not afraid to get out and bust ass to make this hunt worth while.  What do you guys think should be a reasonable goal for this unit.

[jstone]

Sure 160" is very possible. Weather you get trigger happy or not?

[ellensburgpo]

From what I've heard and the pictures I've seen there are a bunch of big bucks up there. I've seen two buck taken by buddies that are both over 160. Good luck.

[uplandhunter870]

i think its doable but that area is far from "greening up", i would also be concerned with access right now, last i heard is that USFS still has the road closed and are not let anyone in, including the lucky sheep hunt tag holder here in town.

160" is doable for that area but be prepared to hunt long and hard

[Ridgerunner]

pray for lots and lots of snow, then it should be pretty doable.

[jackelope]

What Ridge said.
If there's not a lot of high country snow you're gonna have a hard time, green up or no green up. If I  remember correctly the guys hunting those tags last year had a hard time finding deer. I spent 4 days in there last year for the late archery and saw 2 shooter bucks. 1 might have been 160...the other was 140's maybe...kind of a neat non-typical.

[coachcw]

I'd plan on spending a lot of time behind a good spotting scope , there in there just be patiant and glass every inch of those thick canyons . that stuffs to steep and crappy to hunt inless you find your buck first and go after him . good luck i have tag envey.

[gutsnthegrass]

Thanks guys,
  I heard this morning that this year is supposed to be a la nina' year, wich means colder and more precipitation.  Hopefully it hits early and the weather cooperates.  By the way, if any of the other tag holders are reading this, contact David Volsen with the Wenatchee district office.  He had some pretty good info and was helpful.   

[banannaclip]

i would hold out for a 30 pt ,40'' spread with dual drop tines  and crab claws

[400out]

i would hold out for a 30 pt ,40'' spread with dual drop tines  and crab claws

Let me know how that goes    

[shedcrazy]

160 is a realistic goal, You are going to want some early snow to get them moving down. And yes all roads leading anywhere near the main canyon are still closed. Go over your maps, the unit is alot bigger than just the main Swakane canyon. I've found plenty of sheds from bucks that will break the 160 goal. Good luck, I wish I had the tag...

[bear]

Pray for snow.  It's not that good of a tag without snow.  Lots and lots of snow!  Still a fun hunt even without the snow because there's just nobody around.  Last year I had the tag and we didn't get any snow to speak of.  Good luck!

[400out]

Pray for snow.  It's not that good of a tag without snow.  Lots and lots of snow!  Still a fun hunt even without the snow because there's just nobody around.  Last year I had the tag and we didn't get any snow to speak of.  Good luck!

DId you fill your tag anyays?

[bear]

I took this deer on the last hour of my hunt.  I spent about 10 days hunting.  That is about 2 inches of snow at the top of the unit.

[400out]

Nice buck but your right you need weather!

[HardCorpsHuntr]

The best thing about snow is locating deer!  It's my experience bucks will show up in their traditional rut area snow or no snow!  As far as a 160" that's a good number, but keep in mind there's many young spindly buck that will go 160ish and some non-four-point toads that wont.  I would shoot the later any day!





    

[banannaclip]

ok how about a 29'' 4 point with deep forks

[HuntingFanatic]

Thats a little disappointing there bear. You couldnt shoot a buck with a neck at least!?!? That IS a toad!

[alanger]

08 buck late swakane

not big or anything, last day buck

[buckreaper]

As I've posted before, I have one of these tags.  Been wondering some of the same things that have been stated here like  realistic goals, what if we don't get snow, is it a good hunt if the snow doesn't fly, what effect will these fires have, if any, plus many others.  I've been in the unit twice so far since the draw and love the country.  Seen a couple small bucks and some does.  I'm in Chelan for the week so I'm heading in there a couple days. 
Like to say thanks for any and all info everybody has posted even if it seems insignificant to most.  As of now I'll be spending most, if not all, the season by myself.  So, if any of the other permit holders want to share drinks, laughs, and stories let me know.  Don't know where I'll be camped.  Haven't figured that out yet.  Good luck to all.

[cle elum bowhunter]

About the second day of late archery last year(days after the close for the modern tag) I saw a 29-30" BIG 4x4 that I would guess to have gone 180 easy.  Heavy with deep forks, an hour after spooking him on a blown stalk, I jumped another heavy buck that was probably 27ish and looked to be a 4x5.  So yes, there are some nice bucks but they will be in the steep-n-deep drainages.  Mid slope.  Try and find some big drainages that you can glass from the top to locate and then put on the sneek.  Good luck.

[jackelope]

The late archery season is after the rifle season and the odds of there being enough snow for the rifle season to push the mountain bucks down is less....much better odds of snow/high country migratory deer during the archery season.
That's the iffy part about these permits.

[idahoelkhunter300wby]

congrats on drawing the swakane tag. You are gonna have a great hunt. My neighbor has also drawn the tag. I have shown him some pictures I have taken in that unit of some buck from the past. I think the minimum you should hold out for is a 160.  dont be fooled by not getting weather. Snow is great but some of the big bucks still come down. I can say this with certanty because I bow hunt this unit and the last 2 years has sucked for weather but I have still seen some nice bucks that I could have killed with a rifle. If you do get snow, hold out till the last couple of days and make sure you have 4 chains for your 4x4.
Enjoy and take lots of pics.

[carpsniperg2]

heck i would just hold out for a deer you will be happy with. score is nice also but a lot of times i like the bucks that will score less because of mass or trash etc. shoot somthing you will be happy with and good luck

[link]

Don't get caught up in 'what doe's it score?' .  I would rather shoot a  heavy, narrow 3x4 with some mass that scores 150 than a 28" wide, spindly 4x4 with long 4's and short 3's that scores 160-170. You gotta factor in wall apeal. But thats just me. When you first look at a buck, you should have a pretty good idea if you want to kill that buck. If you're he-hawing around about shooting that buck, you shouldn't, you probably won't be happy with him.

[gutsnthegrass]

Thanks for all the info guys.  There is alot of different opinions on here and they are all noted.  I know its not the size that makes the hunt, but it sure would be nice to come out of there with a nice buck.  I know the weather is a big factor in this area, and I hope that it cooperates, kind of seems like a crap shoot.  Thanks again.

[Deep Forks]

  Gutsinthe, Ive hunted the swakane, and the two units that border it chiwawa, and entiat for about 40 yrs.  That earlier fire is going to be good for your hunt.  I took a fellow tag holder in last year and he scored a beaut, 172 net an missed the larger one , right over his back.  PM me and I'll tell you about some far better areas than the main swakane.  Couple great camp spots where you'll see animals from camp,  I rifle hunt this some so could meet up and I'd show you around.  Shoot a message if interested. Deep Forks

[jrebel]

No Snow = Very little chance at 160 class buck.....
Lots of snow (2-6 inches in the bottom)  =  Great chance for 160 class buck.....

I am not sure I would hunt where it burned anyhow...that time of the year.  Unless the snow falls early.

[Deep Forks]

  Gutsinthe, Ive hunted the swakane, and the two units that border it chiwawa, and entiat for about 40 yrs.  That earlier fire is going to be good for your hunt.  I took a fellow tag holder in last year and he scored a beaut, 172 net an missed the larger one , right over his back.  PM me and I'll tell you about some far better areas than the main swakane.  Couple great camp spots where you'll see animals from camp,  I rifle hunt this some so could meet up and I'd show you around.  Shoot a message if interested.  Big Buck

So is it Big Buck, or Deep Forks?

Some have to keep better track of what site they are on...

That'a what i like about you Miles, always keeping your eye out for the other guy.  It's Deep Forks

[Deep Forks]

No Snow = Very little chance at 160 class buck.....
Lots of snow (2-6 inches in the bottom)  =  Great chance for 160 class buck.....I am not sure I would hunt where it burned anyhow...that time of the year.  Unless the snow falls early.

---Even with little snow if he hunts some tuff areas on the north west side he'll do well.  Unless there is 12" or more snow at the corrals I wouldn't be near the new fire area.  But what do i know, can't even keep my name right.  Guts  in the grass I will PM you later  today.  

[DOUBLELUNG]

The best thing about snow is locating deer!  It's my experience bucks will show up in their traditional rut area snow or no snow!  As far as a 160" that's a good number, but keep in mind there's many young spindly buck that will go 160ish and some non-four-point toads that wont.  I would shoot the later any day!





   

That is good advice.  It is a realistic number, but to have a better than 50/50 shot at finding one, be prepared to hunt long and hard.  Justbecause they are in there, and there are few other hunters - it is not a cakewalk.

[HntnFsh]

Been watching this thread with great interest.I also have the late rifle tag.Hope some of you guys dont mind me shooting you a pm for some info.

HntnFsh

[Armadillo]

all depends where you are. I dont think the migration or snow factor is as big of a deal in the swakane as it used to be theres lots of places that hold decent amounts of good bucks all year around but as the weather cools down the deer tend to roam more and you see more while driving and such. Last year during early archery I saw as many as four shooter bucks in a single day which is about what i see during late archery, its like real estate, all depends on three things: location, location, location. Granted my current location to hunt comes from my family roaming all over the unit since the 1940s but I do believe snow does play a factor in the amount of deer seen whatever it may be (more migration, deer visibility, ect). From what ive witnessed I cant draw any conclusions that say snow is the only thing that brings big deer down from the mountains but i can say that snow makes it easier to see more deer and you dont have to go as far 

[bobcat]

I had the Entiat permit in '04, and when I talked to a biologist about it, he told me the deer migrate down November 1st, snow or no snow. The does go first but the bucks follow, since the rut is going on at that time. As far as what size to hold out for, as others have said, I personally wouldn't worry about what a buck might score. A young kid killed a buck in the Entiat in '04 that was a massive 3 point, with eye guards, very long tines, tall but not real wide. Great looking buck but I doubt it would score very high.

[Armadillo]

anything with a nice looking rack that is an amazing tag! just be sure to carry chains in your rig 

[buckreaper]

I keep reading on here to make sure and have chains for all four.  I do, but after traveling many roads in the unit since learning I got drawn, I'm not sure I'd want to travel some of them even fully chained-up.  I'll go wherever I can.  I'm going to make the best of this opportunity and leave it all out there.  Planning more scouting trips.  Still looking things over.

[jstone]

Yep chains are a must. with them on you should be OK, There where times when i thought that i could make it up a steep road without them. NOPE ended up going backwards. Stuffed it into a ditch. Not fun installing chains sideways in the road.

[boneaddict]

I really hate that backwards sliding feeling.   There aren't alot of guard rails up there either.