Palouse late season Muzzy

[CedarPants]

Anyone planning on hunting the palouse for late season muzzy this year?  I was planning on hunting the Selkirk for the late season but just noticed the Palouse is open, so I'm likely going to do that instead.  Took a nice buck out of there last October during modern, but switched to muzzy this year to change things up a bit and have better seasons with less people.

[teanawayslayer]

Anyone planning on hunting the palouse for late season muzzy this year?  I was planning on hunting the Selkirk for the late season but just noticed the Palouse is open, so I'm likely going to do that instead.  Took a nice buck out of there last October during modern, but switched to muzzy this year to change things up a bit and have better seasons with less people.

better seasons are true for sure.  As far as less people there is a little truth to that also.  There has been an increase of people during muzzy season in the past 6 seasons.  7 years ago in the area we hunt there was only three of us in the area now it is like modern fire arm.  The whole reason we switched to muzzy in the first place.  I think there are a ton of us that don't like the sea of orange.  Haven't hunted the palouse with a muzzy.  I have hunted 381 kahlotous during the late muzzy season.  There isn't much difference in the terrain.  Great late hunt though.

[CedarPants]

That's what I've been hearing too, lots of muzzy hunters as of late.  I'm lucky enough to have access to private ground, so thankfully I won't be overrun with people.  Just wondering how hard they will be rutting Thanksgiving weekend - I'm assuming it will be a good show with lots of action!

[Maverick]

lets see a pic of the buck you took from last year!

[CedarPants]

Here he is.  Not a giant, but respectable.  Took him at 11am after an hour and a half belly crawl.  He was bedded in the center of a stubble field at the top of a knoll with 2 other bucks and about 6 does.  Fun hunt!

[jjhunter]

Most years, those late muzzy dates are between the first estrous and second estrous cycles.  When the season used to run into the first week of December, you could catch those second estrous does coming into cycle and some great rut activity.   Some of biggest deer were killed during this time by locals.   The season is not as good anymore as the majority of your rut activity happening between about the 7th and 20th of November and again around the 5-10th of December.   About 3 years ago, the rut came on very late (around the 20th of November) and the muzzy season was awesome. 

Killing a "cookie cutter"  125" whitetail or 22" mule deer buck in the Palouse is no great feat during any season as there are just a lot of deer/bucks.   If you are hunting a particular big buck or two, the timing is everything.   Muzzy can be a great time to catch one in a vulnerable position.

[CedarPants]

Thank you JJ - I think?  Wasn't sure at the end there if you were belittling my deer or just offering up a general opinion.  Either way, the info you provided was really helpful so thanks again. I'm more looking for the experience than a giant buck really.   Having spent most of my time in a tree stand up north during November I'm looking forward to some spot and stalk opportunities down south

[jjhunter]

The spot and stalk hunting is a lot more action packed in the early muzzy season while the bucks are in their summer patterns.  I think that this is the most fun time to chase bucks with a muzzy.   You are hunting calm deer, in more of their "natural patterns."    Once those rifles start going off and the pick-ups start rolling, it takes the deer a year to forget about it.   

There are some good early season opportunities that are relatively close to you.  Even some public that is really good early!  Another option if you are looking for a different experience.

[CedarPants]

Ya that's the reason for the switch. Our game cams up north show pretty much nothing but nocturnal activity during modern anymore.  Good opportunities for muzzy, but all tree stands and patience.

I've spent a lot of time on pretty much all the traditional public mule deer land in my area (Escure, Crab, Fishtrap, Coffeepot, etc) and am considering one of those as an option.   They all get absolutely hammered during modern so hopefully muzzy is better

[Mandownitis]

That sure looks like your just off the Endicott road in that picture.

[CedarPants]

Good eye

[huntnnw]

last season the rut peaked Nov 24-26 in 127...was seeing bucks all day long..on the 25 th saw 17 bucks after that it was less and less bucks to where I was seeing maybe 1 or 2 out during the daylight. Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to chase whiteys around here,some of the biggest bucks I have ever seen are in the that week.

[huntnnw]

cheney and roosevelt is open...as always..127 is not open

[CedarPants]

That's ideally what I'd like to do, would be find a good spot in 130, 133, or 136 for late muzzleloader.  Most all places I know hold mulies, with whitetail being few and far between (and almost non-existent on what tracts of public land there are).  Down out of Colfax I do have access to good private ground but certainly wouldn't mind hunting closer to home Thanksgiving weekend.

[hirshey]

My parents head that direction for the late muzzleloader. They've enjoyed their hunts in that unit, and have had fairly good success.