Yakima Training Center. Gotta love it...or hate it.

[Soldier5]

I just spent 8 days in the field at YTC playing Army and go back for another six days tomorrow. Saw several elk and deer, mostly through thermal sights at night. But that was really the only time I had time to look. I found myself several times wondering what was over the next ridge or what was bedded in each draw or what I would see If I had the time to hike the mountains in the distance. So my question is, what do I have to do to hunt that area? Is it a draw only area, or is there a general bow season for YTC or the surrounding areas? I know I could probably find the answers to my questions in the regs but I don't exactly have time for that right now. Gotta get ready to get back at it tomorrow. Thanks in advance for any help or advice. I'll also take any information anyone is willing to part with about coyote hunting in that area 

[Todd_ID]

It's otherwise known as the Alkali unit GMU 371 in the regs and is draw only.  4 deer permits Sept. 1-25 for archery last year with 273 applicants in 2009, and 5 elk permits Sept. 1-24 with 62 applicants in 2009.  From what I hear it's a tough hunt for both but especially elk.  Those who are successful generally take very nice animals.

[1bugman]

Got drawn for modern any elk last season. Cool area. Only saw 4 elk, one bull. Lots of deer. will put in for Deer. Saw some good ons. Won't put in for elk out there again. Looked like only one of the the archery hunters got a bull. one of the Muzzy's got a bull. a Three of the modern got bulls, but from what I could tell only one of them was very nice. Lots of Yote hunting out there.

[jackmaster]

its a great tag and its easier for you to get on post because your in the service, you can go back there when you got sometime and go coyote huntn, you have to draw for deer and elk its a hard draw but well worth it a guy i work with has drawn that tag twice and he and his group whacked big ass deer, its great yote huntn as well the only problem is they can close any part of the fort at anytime, you still have to go register and all that crap but i will be alot easier for you, what m.o.s are you, when i had to train there i was 11-b (light) all we did was walk never got to ride in a vehicle we came in on chinooks and left on blackhawks, we never saw a damn thing though to many grunts stumbln around and damn we froze are butts off, but that was in 92, things may have changed

[Soldier5]

That's kind of what I figured. I thought I had heard somewhere that it was a pretty tough tag to draw. That's too bad. What about some of the outside areas? I guess what I'm asking is, is there any general seasons around that area? I'm from western Oregon and have always wanted to hunt the desert for deer or elk but never have. And I think i'm definitely going to try and make it out that way in the near future for some coyote hunting. I'm well over due for some good coyote action. I'm a 35M (human Intelligence Collector), right now I'm in a scout troop...so basically I'm a cavalry scout right now. We get there in strykers and live out of them. I think I'd rather walk though.

[jackmaster]

That's kind of what I figured. I thought I had heard somewhere that it was a pretty tough tag to draw. That's too bad. What about some of the outside areas? I guess what I'm asking is, is there any general seasons around that area? I'm from western Oregon and have always wanted to hunt the desert for deer or elk but never have. And I think i'm definitely going to try and make it out that way in the near future for some coyote hunting. I'm well over due for some good coyote action. I'm a 35M (human Intelligence Collector), right now I'm in a scout troop...so basically I'm a cavalry scout right now. We get there in strykers and live out of them. I think I'd rather walk though.

you know you might look at the wahluke unit it is surrounded by awesome units but i have no clue about the animals it holds i hunt only the westside, good luck man....GO ARMY....scouts out...

[trophyhunt]

I'm the guy that drew there twice it was back in 2003 and 2004.  The big difference between then and now is that the Indians have been killing the crap out of anything that walks in there, just ask the guys at the gate.  They can kill anything and don't even have to wear hunter orange.  That's the real reason the permits have been cut down so much, not the hair loss like the state said.  I don't put in for it anymore, there are better tags out there.

[adamR]

I am in the service as well and I got drawn in 2010 for archery deer... saw lots of does and probly a dozen bucks, the buck I scouted and actually got on opening day was easily 190" 28" wide, we also saw a 3 point that was 26" wide and had the body of a fawn, pretty cool buck but never got on him...
I ended up tagging a 2x3... fun unit but I won't hunt it again unless it's with a rifle
as far as elk goes I know a guy who tagged a 5x7 bull two years ago opening day so they are out there, but they are hit and miss
I also watched a guy in my group shoot a bear on YTC... and as far as I know it is the only bear ever taken there, at least the only one documented...
Coyotes EVERYWHERE!!!