Upcoming First Deer Hunt GMU 117

[Nick_Barr]

Hey guys,

I am a bass fisherman, and fairly new duck/pheasant hunter, but will be doing my first deer hunt this weekend up in the Little Pend Orielle Refuge. Any tips/advice for a novice hunter in this area looking to harvest his first buck?

Thanks,
Nick Barr
-President, EWU Fishing & Hunting Club

[GUHunter]

I have spent some time hunting LPO over the last couple of years. I don't recall whether I've hunted the late hunt or not there though. I will say right up front that I am a total novice deer hunter, so take my words with a grain of sand. I was always surprised by the lack of deer I did see and the lack of shots that I heard. I did always see lots of sign though, especially near the heavier cover around the many streams in the area. Most of the deer that I have seen up there have been fairly high (the refuge manager agreed this is where to look before the snow). Its a nice place to stay as there are many places to camp on the refuge and maybe get some advice from some of the other hunters up there. Let us know how it goes. If I had more time, I'd probably at least give it a look.

[Jburke]

Lots of gated roads up there so it should be easy to find a place to get off the road and do some hiking.  I've seen some damn nice bucks come out of there, including my brothers 5x5 a few years ago.

[vandeman17]

My biggest piece of advice is to find some areas with some signs of activity, ie game trails and such and then find a spot to sit where you can watch them. I think that whitetail hunting in that area is a game of patience. My grandpa had a spot that he would sit EVERY year and he could sit there all day long. I never had that much patience but he would fill his tag dang near every year.

[Austrian Hunter]

They are rutting hard, now  Should be pretty good, just stay off private property!!!!

[NWBREW]

  Should be pretty good, just stay off private property!!!!

PLEEEEEEEEEEZE. Don't know why but it happens at my place every year. Lots of public land to hunt.

[Nick_Barr]

I've already scoped out on the maps the private lands, so I'm pretty aware of them.

Also, the south side of LPO is the national forest, so this is open public hunting land right?

-Nick

[Jburke]

I've already scoped out on the maps the private lands, so I'm pretty aware of them.

Also, the south side of LPO is the national forest, so this is open public hunting land right?

-Nick

Correct

[MackPrince]

Good luck.

Be patient, and dress in layers.

[huntnnw]

take a grunt tube!!

[Nick_Barr]

I was thinking since it seems the rut is here I should take a grunt tube, and a rattling bag.

[Fl0und3rz]

Bumping a zombie thread. 

Will be in here this week or over east of Chewelah.  Any tips for a whitetail noob are appreciated.

[Buckhunter24]

Bumping a zombie thread. 

Will be in here this week or over east of Chewelah.  Any tips for a whitetail noob are appreciated.

Its a nice spot to camp and hunt, the only difference outside of any other deer hunting in ne wa is you cant use bait I am pretty sure

[mossback91]

Look for rub/scrape lines...   the one buck I saw up there last weekend was running his pretty hard.

Correct on no bait on the refuge

[Fl0und3rz]

Good deal.  I haven't ever baited (honest, mom), so no change there.   I hope it is still on in two days.  Kind of hoping for some snow or snow to stick around.

[Cervus]

LPO is busy in late season, especially the roads (even the gated ones), obvious Meadows, and adjacent private timber cuts. My advice: work the public/private boundaries off trail to get away from the million other hunters and intercept dear moving on/off the Refuge.

[Fl0und3rz]

Thanks for the advice.  I haven't settled on the LPO, yet, and I might try near 49N ski area.