Best dates for the late permit hunt.

[gutsnthegrass]

Swakane late rifle is November 1-20.  My question is, what dates should I take off from work?  I was thinking I would go in for a weekend or two at the beginning of season and if nothing happens I would take 4-5 days at the end of season.  I know that the snow plays a big part in this hunt, and the later in the season the better chance for snow.  Do you guys think I would be better off taking time off work early or later?  Just trying to figure out vacation time.  Thanks.

[GoldTip]

A lot would depend on the snow levels for me.  Looking like this is going to be a much earlier winter than usual, which could bring them all down low early on in November.  But yes, for a normal year I would focus my time off on the later portion of the season.

[SkookumHntr]

11-15 are days I would make sure I had off! 

[Ridgerunner]

they start to really get rutty around the 7th so I would go after then for sure for work days off.

[MtnMuley]

In my opinion, the Swak would be better toward the later half.  However, in a couple other units, the 1st week seems to be the best.

[boneaddict]

Go early to get the chance at the big buck before someone else
go in the middle becasue everyone goes late and early
go late because its probably the best hunting


what kind of rig do you have.  Sometimes late access can be a bear.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I just checked..  I've got 215 hours of vacation on the books.  If you'll transfer your tag to me, I'll be there for the whole late season.   

-Steve

[SkookumHntr]

-Even better yet hunt the whole time! From next year on out I get too if I ever draw Only took 10 years with my company to get that Thats why im glad I didnt draw anything when I had 1 week to split between deer and Elk

[bobcat]

If it was me I would be there from the 5th to the 14th. That would be 10 days of hunting and I'd only have to take 3 days off work, since the 11th is a holiday and I have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. I don't think you could go wrong by hunting the second week.

[gutsnthegrass]

Bone,
  I have an F-350 with chains.  I don't know what holiday is on the 11th but I sure as hell don't get it off, wish i did, that would make things better.  I am leaning towards the last week for vacation time and maybe the weekends early.  Thanks for the input guys.

[jackelope]

If I had to pick I would go as late as possible. The more time goes by, the more time there is for the mountain bucks to move on down. There's a lot of country up there for permit holders to hunt. I wouldn't worry about other hunters. I was there last year for the late archery and getting around was fine. There was some guys running chains but I never did.

[bobcat]

November 11th is Veterans Day.

The last week is definitely a good choice too. Actually that entire season should be good. When I hunted the Entiat I talked to a biologist and he told me the deer migrate down the first of November, snow or no snow. The does move down first, but of course the bucks aren't far behind since the rut is just beginning. I think a lot of snow would help to concentrate deer down lower which would make things easier. Of course it can also make it more difficult to get around. Either way, whenever you decide to go, you will have a good hunt. It would be nice if your job was flexible so that you could just wait and see what the weather is doing before you decide to head over there.

[jackelope]

The other thing I would do is bring your legs with you. Those steep canyon walls have all sorts of draws and breaks in them to hide deer. I wonder if enough people get out of their trucks when they're hunting in there.

[MtnMuley]

Absolutely, definately, and mandatorily, bring chains.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Hell, I take chains to the east side, even in October! You never know what the pass is going to be like. (no, not little Snoqualmi)  When you see the camp trailer in the mirror going down the road nearly sideways, you wish you'd have thrown on a trail chain.

-Steve