How's the hunting around Pateros?

[chevysquid]

I have a buddy who has a friend who says we can hunt on his 50 acres near Pateros.  All I know so far is that it's about 5 miles out of town and butts up to some DNR land.  I asked my buddy to get some more info if he can.  The guy who owns the land doesn't hunt, and this will be my buddies 2nd year, so I gave him a few questions to ask. Anyways, sounds like it could be a good break.  That's still mule deer down there too right?

[chevysquid]

Pretty sure there aren't any crops on it.  I'm hoping for some draws and trees.  Said it butts up to DNR land.  So I am hoping for good cover the deer can run to when the shooting starts on the public land.

[wilsongideon]

There is alot of diverse country within five miles of pateros from the river to the dry sage to the timber up valley...most of it is winter range with a few resident deer

[muleracks]

That 50 acres will be hunted like public lands, unless the owner has it posted, so you may not have a private hunting spot.  50 acres is big enough if you plan to sit on stand but it's a really short still hunt.  Much of that private country is grazed heavily by livestock; the BLM and DNR land has better browse because they limit the number of cattle allowed to graze there. 
You should expect a near even mix between muleys and whiteys depending on the kind of sage/tree/farmland mix.   Good luck and have fun.

[chevysquid]

I have been told where it is now. it is off Bill Shaw road on the east side of the river straight north of town.  Looking at google maps I see some pretty barron sage brush area.  Will have to ask if it has been posted or not.  I could see some farmland to the east not too far.

[JackOfAllTrades]

No Deer around Pateros.  Wolves got them all!

-Steve

[wilsongideon]

Good luck with that area....have hunted that land before and its not bad until the deer all get blown out of the big draws opening day then they go hide somewhere and can't be found hopefully they go right to that private land you'll be on. but fifty acres in the sage ain't a whole lot of land the deer are stretched pretty thin down low its mostly winter range...no whitetails that i know of

[Skyvalhunter]

Definately check into what the deer prospects are. I have hunted some of the wildlife areas around Pateros. There are quite a few people that access the DNR properties. Don't expect deer to be behind every tree. There are the local deer there but the deer pop spikes during the rut or migration to the lowlands. Will be over there next weekend chasing grouse.

[robescc]

Stay close to the edge and watch the fingers that drop down to the river.  I shot a big 3x3 in that exact area about 9 years ago.  Make sure you count points.  There are a lot of big 2 points running around.

[muleracks]

I've hunted Knowlton Knob from the lookout down into French Creek.  Five miles from Pateros gets you into that area but much lower on the ridge.  Suspect there is a lot of sage and greasewood with some locals muleys.  This is an important winter range for the Methow herd.

[chevysquid]

The plan is to try and make it over there sometime in September to check out the place.  Looking at the area with google maps it looks pretty barren with scrub brush and sparce trees.  I'm hoping to find some draws for them to hide in or something.  Figure worst case scenario, can hunt the opening weekend there and then head up to where I had planned on going northeast of Winthrop if it doesn't pan out or look promising.

[robescc]

There is no more deer in winthrop.  All of the hunters chased them down to Pateros.

[chevysquid]

There is no more deer in winthrop.  All of the hunters chased them down to Pateros.

You must be the Winthrop Minister of Misinformation!