hunt unit 101

[sivart33]

the 101 hunting opens nov 10th for white tails, i am planning a trip out there but i will not have any time to scout it out before hand with work/building my house on weekens and it being a 6+ hour drive for me, can anyone give me some info on it, like is all the white tails on private land, or is there any state land to hunt?  just want to get a jump on the dear early maybe a weekend out there or 2 before my season starts on the west side. any info will help was planning on going out but pouring foundation and starting building on weekends now so kinda screwed myself for a scouting trip.

[Bean Counter]

I've been in this situation once or twice. The best thing I've learned is to take a few creature comforts and/or good food. Do what you need todo so you can hunt all day long.

[bighorns2bushytails]

ive spent a little time in 101, shoot me a pm and ill tell ya what i can.

--bh2bt

[Sledd]

I suggest you get a Forest Service map of the area.  Go to www.digital-topo-maps.com and look at that area.  It will show roads, topo and google earth overlaid.  Best of all it is FREE!!!!  The Google is 2006 but is still fairly accurate.  Knowing where the open areas and tree cover through funnel areas is valuable.  It will save time and gas.

[boonerboy]

lot of public ground. whitetail #'s are not what they used to be. have steadily declined over the past 5 yrs. or so. That being said, there are still some there and you should be able to find em' with out too big a prob. I suggest picking up a good map that shows private and state if you don't know the area. Some locals post alot of state land and even gate the roads. 

[Hangfire]

As a general statement, the whitetail are at the lower elevation the Mule deer higher. There is mixing, especially if snow high. Be aware of your target. There can be some very large whitetail bucks fairly high up, with the mule deer. A lot of public land. A Friend of mine hunts that unit for the late season. You have the peak of the whitetail rut to hunt. My friend while rattling last year, within 200 yards of a land owners house, called a cougar to within 10 feet. It wouldn't leave so he put a arrow through it.

[halflife65]

!

[sneakyjake]

I'm doing the same thing as you.  I have a couple of climbing tree stands and was just going to do my best at picking a spot and sitting tight.  Hopefully it will be productive.  I have a lot of good memories of hunting in PA and watching the deer all day from the stands.  Not sure if it is like that in this area, but I will find out.

[CAMPMEAT]

I live here and I'll tell you it seems like the whitetail disappeared. All I've been seeing is Muleys. Not to say that there aren't whitetails, but just wierd. There is alot of timber company land here. 1000's of acres. As for getting permission on private land, forget it. I can't even get permission to hunt it. I hunt ALL the time for coyotes and know just about all the major landowners.
PM me and maybe I could meet you in Curlew when you come over here and I could give you some direction.

Campmeat

[Oneshot1Kill]

Hey campmeat, just wondering, but were you up here years ago when supposedly there were hundreds of whitetails in the fields and muleys were only on the tops of the mountains around here? Some old time was tellin me a few years ago that it used to be like that. I can kinda believe it cause in the field by our house there used to be like 20 deer a night. Now there's none...

[CAMPMEAT]

Hey campmeat, just wondering, but were you up here years ago when supposedly there were hundreds of whitetails in the fields and muleys were only on the tops of the mountains around here? Some old time was tellin me a few years ago that it used to be like that. I can kinda believe it cause in the field by our house there used to be like 20 deer a night. Now there's none...

10 years here. When I first moved here, all I saw was whitetails down low and muleys up high. Now I see just the opposite. I've got some nice muleys
hanging around here and  1-2 whitetails. I don't understand that. Just wait until archery season when the whitetails are in rut..... I think that's when it'll break loose.

[boonerboy]

Hey campmeat, just wondering, but were you up here years ago when supposedly there were hundreds of whitetails in the fields and muleys were only on the tops of the mountains around here? Some old time was tellin me a few years ago that it used to be like that. I can kinda believe it cause in the field by our house there used to be like 20 deer a night. Now there's none...

when I first started hunting the area about 15 yrs. ago there were deer everywhere. Our local friends that we stay with live on Customs rd. along the kettle river. Back then the Kettle river seemed like the line in the sand for the deer. Nothing but whitetail on one side and nothing but mule deer on the other, was kinda strange to see. the fields would litterally be jam packed with deer every night. Now it seems the mulies have spread to areas we used to never see them and the whitetail have almost vanished compared to then. Pretty sad to see really. I hope they make a comeback.

[CAMPMEAT]

boonerboy,
It's really strange. Come rut season, different story. I've seen some huge whitetail bucks then. I've only got 2 whitetails hanging around the house, doe and fawn, that's it. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Hey campmeat, just wondering, but were you up here years ago when supposedly there were hundreds of whitetails in the fields and muleys were only on the tops of the mountains around here? Some old time was tellin me a few years ago that it used to be like that. I can kinda believe it cause in the field by our house there used to be like 20 deer a night. Now there's none...

when I first started hunting the area about 15 yrs. ago there were deer everywhere. Our local friends that we stay with live on Customs rd. along the kettle river. Back then the Kettle river seemed like the line in the sand for the deer. Nothing but whitetail on one side and nothing but mule deer on the other, was kinda strange to see. the fields would litterally be jam packed with deer every night. Now it seems the mulies have spread to areas we used to never see them and the whitetail have almost vanished compared to then. Pretty sad to see really. I hope they make a comeback.

Look up: www.easternwashingtonbowhunting.com
This is what it's like in the winter. This is my friends website he just started.

[Oneshot1Kill]

Man, Metcalf knows where all the deer are.  He should start a guide service or something. haha

[CAMPMEAT]

Man, Metcalf knows where all the deer are.  He should start a guide service or something. haha

Becky told me they wanted to start something like an outfitting deal. Who know's, he probably doens't want to give away his secrets.....hahaha.  It took awhile for him to even tell me.

[Oneshot1Kill]

Yeah, my bud goes hunting with the Metcalfs and anytime after he goes with them he won't even talk about the hunt. Even if they get something, not a word about the kinda terrain they were hunting even! Though forest pretty much describes most of around here... haha

[D-Rock425]

I'm going over on the 12th for 3 days never been there myself but the buddy I'm going with has killed a few deer over there.  Sorry I don't have any info for you maybe I will when I get back

[antlerman]

I have heard the deer numbers are better from the west side of 101.  Maybe the winters have not been quite so bad for them on the west side.  I would start on Forest Service Land and be on the ground scouting before the season or on the first day.  Located trails with scrapes and get set up.  We have seen the most buck activity from the 10th to the 15th.  Also, hunt midday.  Many bucks are taken or seen after 9:00 A.M. 

[Jeffrey]

I don't blame John Metcalf for keeping his hunting areas close to his chest...I would do the same thing!  However, why does he have a website with pictures of obvious hunting situations...and also states "If you wanna know more about us please use the contact page and email us at any time"?   just askin'

[CAMPMEAT]

I don't blame John Metcalf for keeping his hunting areas close to his chest...I would do the same thing!  However, why does he have a website with pictures of obvious hunting situations...and also states "If you wanna know more about us please use the contact page and email us at any time"?   just askin'

email them and see what they say. His wife put all of that on their website as far as I know.

[PolarBear]

Th East side of the unit and around the Kettle Crest are your best bets for deer numbers. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Th East side of the unit and around the Kettle Crest are your best bets for deer numbers. 

Bring tire chains. We have wet sloppy snow here @2200 '. Kettle Crest is 4500' + -.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I have been up there a few times....no deer there 

[CAMPMEAT]

I have been up there a few times....no deer there 

I see deer low and not hardly any sign higher than my house. See alot of bobcat tracks high though.

[Sledd]

I just returned from bow hunting white tails near Republic.  It seems they climbed trees and are holed up. Only one buck came within sight of my tree stand and busted me which was my fault for moving.  WT are smart and have excellent noses and eyes.  They even see movement in trees.  The rut is definitely on with bucks cruising all day long.  At least that is what the locals are saying.  Personal issues required my presence on the west side but I plan to return next month.  Friends who hunt there tell me to find the food source and set up near it.  Good Luck to all.  Don't trespass.

[jnevs23]

I hunted thur fri sat up there without seeing many whitetails.  My spot up on top of Sherman has become a ghost town the last couple years, hardly any sign at all.

[CAMPMEAT]

I went out cougar/bobcat hunting today on the 6120 rd. off of Boulder. I did not see any deer tracks until I was in the snow, probably muleys. I'm guessing 3000 ' and it was only 1 or 2 deer at best.  I did see allot of coyote and bobcat tracks though in the snow, no luck.
I don't think those stinkin' whitetails are rutting yet. Maybe just starting. It was snowing up there when I headed home.

[huntnnw]

They are rutting ....got lots of pics of bucks chasing does.... whiteys are high...I am close to 4,000 ft and higher in some spots..lots and lots of tracks.

[CAMPMEAT]

They are rutting ....got lots of pics of bucks chasing does.... whiteys are high...I am close to 4,000 ft and higher in some spots..lots and lots of tracks.

That's weird. I live here and haven't seen any whitetails chasing any does. In fact, I haven't seen any deer at all at 3-4000'.
What part of 101 are you at ? You're in luck, I don't like deer meat so it's not a big deal to me if you don't want to share. I'm a coyote
huntin' fool, that's my deal.

Campmeat

[boneaddict]

I hunted thur fri sat up there without seeing many whitetails.  My spot up on top of Sherman has become a ghost town the last couple years, hardly any sign at all.

That pack is wreaking havoc thats for sure.  Since they don't exist you should hunt them.  I'm thinking seriously about it.   There was getting to be some good moose and elk in there.  Between the north half hunting from the rez and the wolves, thats pretty much RUINED

[jnevs23]

Three or four years ago when I started hunting up high I saw more sign than anywhere I had hunted.  You couldn't walk without seeing trees shredded everywhere.  Didn't see alot of animals so to speak but that's because of the country.  When I did see deer they were often mature bucks,  now I'm pretty much hunting low all the time when I'm up there.  I've been wondering what the deal is and sounds like now I know.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

They are rutting ....got lots of pics of bucks chasing does.... whiteys are high...I am close to 4,000 ft and higher in some spots..lots and lots of tracks.

That's weird. I live here and haven't seen any whitetails chasing any does. In fact, I haven't seen any deer at all at 3-4000'.
What part of 101 are you at ? You're in luck, I don't like deer meat so it's not a big deal to me if you don't want to share. I'm a coyote
huntin' fool, that's my deal.

Campmeat

Campmeat,

I can also attest from  recent experience that there are plenty of Whitetail in 101. I have had cameras out at various times this year all over the east and west side and I have seen no shortage of whitetails.  During that entire time I only spotted a handful of Mule Deer and they seemed to be in pockets of habitat.

I will say there numbers seem to be down from 6-7 years ago but I expect that with the two bad winters.

That being said I will say the populations were impacted more than some of the other GMU's.

[CAMPMEAT]

I still think it's funny that I don't see many whitetails since I live here and hunt everyday. I'm not saying they're not here, but where are they. I hunt  mostly on private property and see muleys 99 % of the time. Oh well, one of these days I'll see some after the season ends. I have about 8 whitetails that hang around the house and that's it. I don't get worked up about deer anyhow, I like killing predators. That's my cup of tea.

[huntnnw]

I will just say almost center of the unit 

[PolarBear]

Now you are in my neighbrohood. 

[sneakyjake]

You don't like deer meat or you can't cook?  What kind of carnivore doesn't dine on venison?

[CAMPMEAT]

You don't like deer meat or you can't cook?  What kind of carnivore doesn't dine on venison?

 

If you're talking about me, yes, I do not like deer meat. I love Elk meat though. I shot a deer about 25 years ago and my friends told me to hang it the garage for a week at 50 degrees until it got green on it. I did and it was moldy and was horrible. I did not know that was stupid, but I do now. So, I hunt coyotes instead. 

[sneakyjake]

Don't be a quitter.  Shoot a big fat doe in the snow and get her cooled down asap.  Take her home and cut her up into steaks and ground.  Flash fry in butter with a little blackening season and serve with mushrooms and some twice baked potatoes.  You can't go wrong.  Can't eat the yote.  Ewwwww.

[CAMPMEAT]

Don't be a quitter.  Shoot a big fat doe in the snow and get her cooled down asap.  Take her home and cut her up into steaks and ground.  Flash fry in butter with a little blackening season and serve with mushrooms and some twice baked potatoes.  You can't go wrong.  Can't eat the yote.  Ewwwww.

I did shoot a 3 point whitetail 3 years ago at 15 feet, yes 15 feet with my 308 TC Encore pistol. Had it cut and wrapped. My wife loves it. I guess I'm still leery of the taste. I'm sure I'll try it one day............gulp !