Umptanum

[EDT]

Went up to Umtanum this am, hiked in 2-3 miles, glassed like crazy, did not even see fresh deer scat.  Lots of old elk crap though.  feels like a down year.  What is your experience in the Umtanum this year?  One great thing, however, was that we did not see any other hunters out there, but tons of road hunters.

[demontang]

Well the part I was in there was all kinds of deer but not much for any horns.

[tjthebest]

I went muzzy elk hunting in umtanum and we saw alot of deer and sign.

[colockumelk]

The unit I elk hunted this year had more legal bucks than I have seen in the last 4 combined.

[Ellensburg]

#'s seem fine in that unit and there are always legal bucks there to be had. Its just a wide open unit that requires a lot of work to get them.

[gasman]

I guess it depends on what part of the unit you hunted. I heard there were quite a few deer taken last weekend out of that unit. At least more then expected.

[rotty33]

I also saw a ton of deer while muzzy elk hunting, including a nice 5x5.  I jumped him after glassing a 2pt. bedded down. I didn't see any more deer, but my conscience was telling me there had to be another deer there.  Sure enough as I walked toward the 2pt up jumps the 5pt rookie mistake!!!

[ribka]

Took a friend out and saw over 25 deer, including 3 bucks opening morning, in 2 hours. I know at least a doz bucks taken. 4 were really nice ones.

[EDT]

I went up north side of Clemans nearly directly above the feeding station, hiked up from the bottom road, nearly to the tree line, went over a few canyons then went back.  What has your experience with this part of the unit been?  I was sure I was going to see something.  Lack of water source?

[EDT]

#'s seem fine in that unit and there are always legal bucks there to be had. Its just a wide open unit that requires a lot of work to get them.

Hey Ellensburg, what do you have to do to get one in that unit? 

[klickriverchromer]

#'s seem fine in that unit and there are always legal bucks there to be had. Its just a wide open unit that requires a lot of work to get them.

Hey Ellensburg, what do you have to do to get one in that unit? 

I went up north side of Clemans nearly directly above the feeding station, hiked up from the bottom road, nearly to the tree line, went over a few canyons then went back.  What has your experience with this part of the unit been?  I was sure I was going to see something.  Lack of water source?

You have to do a lot of glassing and get over the edge of the canyon faces to glass down in the nasty nooks and crannies that they hide in after opening weekend!! And watching the deer and haveing friends watch them during muzzy season always helps.. And there is plenty of water sources on Clemens you just have to no where they are.. atleast 5 springs that I no of myself.  And there are plenty of deer that use that side of the hill.  I saw deer in there last weekend..

[EDT]

Thanks Klick,

This just proves that even though I have been successful in the past when hunting, and I think I know what I am doing - I have ALOT to learn!  Thanks for the pointers.

[Hilltop123]

Except for the opener, I have hunted GMU 342 all week. Deer numbers look about normal, from my observations! What has me puzzled is that last year, I seen bunches of young sub legal bucks. I was expecting a good crop of legal bucks this year, but the buck crop just never materialized? Thursday I had to give my legs and feet a break, so I drove the ridge from Durr Rd. through to the Wenas side, by the time we were done,  3 of us were at 60+ head, that's a goodly amount of deer to be seeing, for just driving around. We did see 2, big 2 pts., one had me put a 1 1/2 hr stalk on him, just to let him walk,  so much for giving my legs and feet a rest!
Here's some tips, they seem to work for me:
 
Slow your speed down: I watch some people, you'd think they were on a power walking contest, if you walk at a steady unbroken pace and infrequently stop, deer will let you walk right on by and just lay there watching you. They will hold just as tight as any gamebird, if they think they can get away with it.

If you got optics and you should, use them, ALOT!: On a whole day hunt, I bet almost half of it is sitting on my butt, glassing! If you can afford it, buy a compact 20X spotting scope, their light, small fit easily into a back pack, and you can get one for $100. They can save you a some boot leather and time, not chasing sub legals. Although it didn't work that way for me on Thursday, distance, heat mirage and lack of a closer vantage, wasted a hour and half.

[EDT]

Thats some good stuff Hilltop, sounds like this is your grounds.

[Hilltop123]

Just a small parcell is mine, but I'm surrounded by the rest