9 points for quality deer

[vandeman17]

I saw a guy asking about quality bull and there were some good responses so I would like to ask the same but for deer. My dad and I have 9 points and are hoping to get drawn for a deer permit. We would like to go after mule deer and just a quality hunt in general. While shooting a toad would be great, we are more looking for a hunt where we can see a good amount of deer and have chances at mature bucks. I was thinking the Entiat or Chiwawa hunts, especially since I live in East Wenatchee but am open for suggestions. I am not asking for spots because I am looking forward to scouting and learning the area prior to the season. Just more looking for where you guys would apply if you were in our shoes.

[400out]

  thats where i would go! good amount of deer and weather providing they are both toad worthy 

[bobcat]

I would look for the units with the most permits relative to the number of applicants. It really doesn't matter which one you draw, you just need to draw a permit. So go for the best odds permits. Especially since you only have 9 points. If you had 16 you could afford to be a little more picky, but with 9 points you gotta take what you can get.

(you could still put Entiat or Chiwawa as a #1 choice, just pick the best odds unit out of Chelan or Okanogan counties for your #2 choice)

[vandeman17]

I would look for the units with the most permits relative to the number of applicants. It really doesn't matter which one you draw, you just need to draw a permit. So go for the best odds permits. Especially since you only have 9 points. If you had 16 you could afford to be a little more picky, but with 9 points you gotta take what you can get.

(you could still put Entiat or Chiwawa as a #1 choice, just pick the best odds unit out of Chelan or Okanogan counties for your #2 choice)

Exactly. We were looking for a good unit but we know that with our points, the odds of a PRIME unit aren't that great. If I could just get my dad in front of a respectable, mature 4x4 then I would be happy!

[gasman]

IMO Entiat would be a true quality hunting area....You will see a ton of game and have a good chance at shooting a big muley.

If you draw one, get in touch, we will do some scouting 

[vandeman17]

IMO Entiat would be a true quality hunting area....You will see a ton of game and have a good chance at shooting a big muley.

If you draw one, get in touch, we will do some scouting 

I will do that for sure. Best part is that it would be easy to scout because it would be such a short drive!

[ribka]

And the Desert Unit. I saw some huge bucks in there last year

[Elkstuffer]

I've mounted some real nice bucks from the Chewuch unit over the last couple years. The last customer showed me some video of some great 150 type bucks and they averaged seeing 20+ bucks each day. I think they had 8 or 9 points each when they drew.

[johnnyaustin44]

Either chewuch or the desert. but any late tag would give you a good shot at a decent buck desert for a wide buck and chewuch for a heavy

[gasman]

I don't know if I would put in for desert after hearing all about ribkas's hunt last year, but is its archery, no problem.

[vandeman17]

I will have to read more about the Chewuch and where exactly it is. What kind of terrain is it?

[johnnyaustin44]

Just north outta winthrop. lot like eniat I think. BH45's kid had the tag last year

[bobcat]

You also might want to consider applying separately rather than as partners with your dad, you'll improve your odds considerably, as long as you don't mind going with only one person having a tag.

[Wea300mag]

Our group started putting in separately several years ago. They have all been drawn since then, I'm still waiting.

I think it's a great idea though. Even though I haven't been drawn for decades, I get to hunt with them.

[bobcat]

It's almost better to have only one good permit at a time, it's easier to concentrate on killing one really good buck, instead of having to find two or more mediocre bucks.

[vandeman17]

We have discussed if we were going to put in as a pair or not and are undecided. The tough part is the vacation time needed. We have a good area for whitetails that is our fall back plan so if we don't get drawn we were going to use our week on that hunt. My main goal is to get my old man a deer because I have got the last few animals when we hunt together and I want to watch him get a deer so I can see that look in his eye again and also so I can pack it out. 

[kirkl]

Good luck with 9 points. ill have 16 going into this years drawing

[Buckblaster]

I put in alone for permits and have found that when I do draw a good permit, I get several offers from friends wanting to tag along on my hunt.  If you get one of those rut permits, its a blast watching the bucks chasing the doe's.  Not to mention, you can expect to see alot of bucks during the hunt.  On my permit hunt last Nov, I saw 71 bucks in 8 days of hunting.  I'm not going to mention which unit that was, but that is a common experience for those who have drawn those wintering ground rut hunt permits in E WA.  That's what the special permits are all about.  Go for draws that have a reasonable expectation of being drawn or you could be sitting on the sidelines waiting for a premium tag for many years to come.  There are alot of different stategies and that is for each person to decide.  So good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[vandeman17]

Right now I am leaning towards 224 and 245 but I am going to wait and see what the 2011 harvest reports look like. Thanks for all the input guys.