Got drawn for desert archery...

[deleted BGS]

Lets go soon and scout! I seen a dandy a couple weeks ago when I was over there. I didn't get drawn so ill be over there with ya.

[bigelk1030]

Good luck!!  Sounds like a great hunt!  Looks like i pulled the modern second deer (doe) hunt in december in the Desert unit.  I havent hunted there and looking forward to learning the area.  If anyone has tips on hunting the unit in december I am all ears! 

[billdo5]

I start work the 12th but I have weekends off so I'm down... I also have to scout alkali bull for my dad

[billdo5]

Hahahahahaha

[bigelk1030]

Good luck!!  Sounds like a great hunt!  Looks like i pulled the modern second deer (doe) hunt in december in the Desert unit.  I havent hunted there and looking forward to learning the area.  If anyone has tips on hunting the unit in december I am all ears!

December desert doe tag breakdown.
Set alarm for 8:00 am. Hit snooze till 10 am. Check out of hotel, you wont be back.  Miss breakfast at Mcdonalds by 2 minutes and get pissed cause they wont serve you. Go to Bobs and eat way more breakfast than you bargained for at the same price as Mcdonalds and have a nice conversation with waitress. Hit up Tri State at noon and BS a while (dont buy anything becuase their prices are too high), Hit up a quicky mart and grab a few snacks for the road. Drive out Dodson road around 2:00. Spot a doe or 20 off Rd 4 and substation. Look around and make sure no one comming. Roll down window. Second guess that. Get out of truck and lean on fence post. Shoot doe at 50 yards. Back truck into ditch. Load doe whole and hit the road back to Seattle by 3:00 in time to hit 5:00 rush hour and sit there longer than your whole hunt was today. Home with deer skinned and hanging just in time to catch 8:00 Sports Center.

Now that made me laugh out loud!!

[Special T]

BECAUSE ITS TRUE!

[billdo5]

Yeah doe tag will be easy

[coachcw]

good luck on that alki tag , it will be tough. stick to your desert tag !

[Opportunist]

pm sent

[billdo5]

Well I only have the desert tag since my dad has the alkali bull

[ribka]

I drew it last year. Can help if you promise not to brag about how good you are at calling mule deer.

I passed on a big 2x2 first day and 3 other smaller bucks during the week. Then the fog came in for the week making visibility around 50 yds most of the day.  I had quite a few stalks but making closer than a 100 yds was tough. You're hunting deer post rut that have just hunted by rifle hunters. Also quite a few stalks ruined by other hunters cutting me off. Saw guys that drew tags bring groups of their buddies to help them hunt so expect crowds out there.  Last year the full moon occurred  during the hunt so most larger bucks were noctournal.


I did see some huge bucks though and was able to get within 40 yds or so of two monster bucks standing in 6 to 7 ft tall sage. Was not able to make an ethical shot so passed. Most successful method I found was just sitting on escape areas where the other hunters pushed deer, using someone else to make slow drives to push them out of bedding areas (sage, bitter brush, catails) and hope to catch them leaving their areas. Or can lay  on top dunes at first light and spot deer which for me with a bow was least successful. This method would work good with a rifle. They are ultra sensitive to noise out there and sound carries a long way. Stalking is tough

Brought out a tree stand and did not find it to be of much use but really did not put much time into exploring the treestand method.   Sat on edge of alfalpha but deer came out too late because of full moon. Not successful for me.

Find private ground now before season. Start knocking on doors

Expect to put in 4-6 miles a day minimum hiking

That's my experience with the unit.

[C-Money]

Good luck!!  Sounds like a great hunt!  Looks like i pulled the modern second deer (doe) hunt in december in the Desert unit.  I havent hunted there and looking forward to learning the area.  If anyone has tips on hunting the unit in december I am all ears!

December desert doe tag breakdown.
Set alarm for 8:00 am. Hit snooze till 10 am. Check out of hotel, you wont be back.  Miss breakfast at Mcdonalds by 2 minutes and get pissed cause they wont serve you. Go to Bobs and eat way more breakfast than you bargained for at the same price as Mcdonalds and have a nice conversation with waitress. Hit up Tri State at noon and BS a while (dont buy anything becuase their prices are too high), Hit up a quicky mart and grab a few snacks for the road. Drive out Dodson road around 2:00. Spot a doe or 20 off Rd 4 and substation. Look around and make sure no one comming. Roll down window. Second guess that. Get out of truck and lean on fence post. Shoot doe at 50 yards. Back truck into ditch. Load doe whole and hit the road back to Seattle by 3:00 in time to hit 5:00 rush hour and sit there longer than your whole hunt was today. Home with deer skinned and hanging just in time to catch 8:00 Sports Center.

Sounds right to me. Wastickslinger, you should not have given up the RD 4 substation as a hot spot. I though I was the only one that knew about it! Now everyone will hunt there when drawn!

[wannahunt]

I would suggest any place off of dodson road and head east towards potholes. I think we have seen deer anyplace we've gone in. The tough part with a bow is getting close enough. Not the easiest place to get within bow range. One thing to remember is that it seems like when jumped they get out out of sight over one dune and then stop and settle down. good luck.

[shedcrazy]

I heard that they respond to elk bugles

[kirkl]

I heard that they respond to elk bugles

Only if your a championship caller