patterson bucks

[Maverick]

Did anyone get a Patterson buck this year? Just curious

[fair-chase]

Not sure but it definitely was not the year to be picky. There were a few bucks hanging around when I went in for my meat shoot but if a guy was holding out for a wall hanger he might of ended up eating his tag this year. Seemed like all the mature bucks went north of the highway onto Agra NW land this year. Couple of dinks and one fair to midland buck were dividing their time between the FFTH land and the refuge. I really don't see a bruiser coming out of their this year but you never know the place is kind of hit or miss.

Tagging this because I am also curious as to how the buck hunt went.

[lonedave]

Nope.  I didn't see much in the way of big bucks.  Just some medium 2 and 3 points.  Saw the one 3x4 taken about 50 yards off the main road, but that was it.  I did sneak up to about 100 yards from the only 4 point I saw with about 8 minutes left on the last evening, but didn't feel like it was a good shot for me.  He was probably about 22" wide and about as tall, but not too big mass-wise.  He was feeding out in the grass east of the bitterbrush flat.  I think it'd be a better hunt if they could make it a bit later.  It was in the 90's every day and didn't start cooling off until about 7:00.

[fair-chase]

I think it'd be a better hunt if they could make it a bit later.  It was in the 90's every day and didn't start cooling off until about 7:00.

Yeah hot would be an understatement. It got down right miserable after 8am.

Did anyone else loose a kidney on the entrance road? 

Sorry to hear you didn't fill your tag out there lonedave. Hopefully you can notch it on a bruiser in the general season.

[Gringo31]

I know of at least one whitcomb tag that was eaten.  I was with that guy helping him, we could have filled a tag but nothing to get excited about.  Both of those units would be fantastic if they were post modern firearm hunts.

[Maverick]

thats a shame. ive seen some good bucks there before

[fair-chase]

Both of those units would be fantastic if they were post modern firearm hunts.

Yes they would be a much better hunt, but then the draw odds would get a lot worse as well. I think the reason behind the season dates is that after modern firearm you would have conflicts with bird hunters in these units. Could be wrong but I think that is their reasoning behind it. Both of those areas are hit pretty hard by bird hunters.

[Gringo31]

The dove hunters are on there during the current time so I don't see the difference.  Is deer hunting going to screw up the waterfowl hunts?

[fair-chase]

The dove hunters are on there during the current time so I don't see the difference.  Is deer hunting going to screw up the waterfowl hunts?

Not sure I was just speculating. I just know that the Paterson Refuge gets slammed during waterfowl and pheasant seasons. I did see a camera (traffic counter) on the road into the Patterson Refuge so there may be an effort to either mitigate usage or get the road repaired. I am hoping it was to catch enough cars to fix the road, so I backed up and pulled forward a dozen times.    Just speculation though. Maybe if all of us tag holders sent in a letter in requesting a later date for next year we could get it changed if it's not already too late in the season planning process.

[brutus1]

Tried to get my daughter a buck there and failed as her guide.  Two times had a buck in her sights and had cap problems. She should have gotten one if I would have had the same caps from last year. That's hunting though. Never seen any big bucks but found 4 arrow kills though.  Should have the whole area closed to bowhunters cause that took 4 bucks away from the permit hunters. The bucks where average size bucks that were wasted for the coyotes. So I know the both of us ate are tags there I didn't find a good buck to shoot maybe next time. Got to meet some nice people there on this hunt....

[lonedave]

Yeah, I was hoping she would have gotten one of them.  I was right there both times and hoped I didn't spook anything for you guys.  Nice to see you get your daughter out.  I managed to get both mine through hunter's ed years ago, but that's about as far as they wanted to go.  I did get my oldest out on a walk earlier for grouse and though we didn't find any, she did shoot my big bore airgun a bunch back at the truck.  She actually did pretty well with it.  She does like goiing with grandpa to the range an shooting pistols with him too.

The late hunt in 139 can be really good and if we get some good snow this year it may be great.  Maybe you can get her onto one then.

Dave

[brutus1]

Thanks Dave your a true sportsman. Might give that area a try late if scholl permits my hunting partner time off. She is in the nurseing program so time is limited for her. She had a good time and that was what I was after with her.  Good luck on the late hunt.