Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 07:36:11 PM

Title: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 07:36:11 PM: I've hunted the SE and west side a lot, but I've never hunted the NE corner. It looks like there is a lot of national forest land between Spokane and Canada but I keep hearing references to hunting private land versus the public land. Are there no deer in the public land areas? I know in the SE corner that you can hunt a lot of Army Corps of Engineer land that is often more productive than the stubblefields. Is the hunting similar up north or is it a whole 'nother animal?
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: oldleclercrd on November 05, 2012, 07:48:24 PM: I think its more the fact that the private land is usually open with agriculture fields, with plenty of food, and trees versus mostly trees and not alot of food on public. Also private ground is pressured less then public. Finding deer isnt impossible on public, you will just need to do some scouting.
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 07:54:21 PM: I may get a chance to spend some time up there next summer to check it out. My buddies and I are thinking of having a couple of good "man weekends" and we might head up there. I guess one of them has a friend who has a cabin up near Ione that might be available.

Do you think its worth going up that far north? It seems like the Selkirk unit is way the heck up there. It seems like everyone and their mom are talking about the Huckleberry/49 Deg North/Mt. Spokane. Seems like a guy might be able to get away from that if he went up north.

If you've hunting the west side, how would the number of hunters compare? Is it Vail Tree-Farm bad?
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: oldleclercrd on November 05, 2012, 07:57:36 PM: During these "man trips" thats a great time to knock on a few doors. The worst they can say is no.......... well some people up there might just shoot you. :chuckle:
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: CAMPMEAT on November 05, 2012, 07:58:18 PM: There's a lot of USFS land up there.
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: bosshogg112 on November 05, 2012, 08:02:07 PM: you could always get an Inland Empire Paper company pass. :twocents:
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 08:03:44 PM: I'm going to have to do some homework. I've only taken one whitetail and it was purely out of opportunity while hunting mule deer. Looks like a lot of the area up in the NE corner is pretty thick and wouldn't lend itself as well to the spot/stalk hunting I've done in the SE corner.
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Kola16 on November 05, 2012, 08:08:43 PM: Quote from: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 08:03:44 PM
I'm going to have to do some homework. I've only taken one whitetail and it was purely out of opportunity while hunting mule deer. Looks like a lot of the area up in the NE corner is pretty thick and wouldn't lend itself as well to the spot/stalk hunting I've done in the SE corner.

I usually do not see the deer till it is hopping away with its nice rack and big white tail. And I walk very slow :P
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: deaner on November 05, 2012, 08:10:56 PM: just get up there next year early on and do some scouting and door knocking. enough effort and you wont be disappointed. effort put in = reward recieved
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Mudman on November 05, 2012, 08:14:52 PM: Quote from: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 08:03:44 PM
I'm going to have to do some homework. I've only taken one whitetail and it was purely out of opportunity while hunting mule deer. Looks like a lot of the area up in the NE corner is pretty thick and wouldn't lend itself as well to the spot/stalk hunting I've done in the SE corner.
Huh? Thick like here? You need to take a drive and see some country! My problem is my bow doesnt shoot 150yards! :chuckle:
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 08:19:33 PM: I haven't been up there, just looking at pictures. I've never been further north than deer park in the daylight. I once made an ill-advised trip in college up to Tonasket that went through there. But, it was dark and I'm lucky I didn't fall asleep and kill myself :bdid:
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Jonathan_S on November 05, 2012, 08:27:45 PM: door knocking won't be super productive. I'd say three days of public land scouting would be more effective than three days of private land that might get you a few thousand acres. There are deer everywhere. Not like ten years ago but still plenty. I've never been somewhere that is comparable to the Vail Tree Farm except maybe the Little Pend Oreille NWR during late buck before it was 4 pt minimum. Scout hard and you'll learn more than any road hunter ever has. I have hunted 105, 101, and 117 for eleven years and still am learning. A lot of it is complete adventure so don't get lost. The farther NE you get, the creepier and denser it gets...easy to loose your way. A good place to start is anywhere in 101 and some of the southern parts of 105. I would say if you've got big plans to shoot a monster up there to be prepared to wait a few years and to learn a LOT before then. It's not easy to hunt and spot and stalk isn't going to get you as much success as stand hunting. If you've got the SE figured out for deer, about the only reason to that far North would be to learn a new spot for bear hunting maybe.
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: NWBREW on November 06, 2012, 10:08:51 AM: Lots of public land but to answer your question......yes, it IS a whole nother animal.
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: sebek556 on November 06, 2012, 10:13:06 AM: also be able to tell the difference from logging road to driveway :tup: had quite a few get confused in the early season...
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: CedarPants on November 06, 2012, 10:13:22 AM: Quote from: Mudman on November 05, 2012, 08:14:52 PM
Quote from: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 08:03:44 PM
I'm going to have to do some homework. I've only taken one whitetail and it was purely out of opportunity while hunting mule deer. Looks like a lot of the area up in the NE corner is pretty thick and wouldn't lend itself as well to the spot/stalk hunting I've done in the SE corner.
Huh? Thick like here? You need to take a drive and see some country! My problem is my bow doesnt shoot 150yards! :chuckle:

Actually he's right. As much as some on the west side would like everyone to believe that there are 150 yards between trees over here with deer just wandering around in the wide open during daylight, up north is some of the thickest stuff you can get into - if you want to get into it :chuckle:
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: mdbuck5x5 on November 06, 2012, 10:46:43 AM: Quote from: CedarPants on November 06, 2012, 10:13:22 AM
Quote from: Mudman on November 05, 2012, 08:14:52 PM
Quote from: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 08:03:44 PM
I'm going to have to do some homework. I've only taken one whitetail and it was purely out of opportunity while hunting mule deer. Looks like a lot of the area up in the NE corner is pretty thick and wouldn't lend itself as well to the spot/stalk hunting I've done in the SE corner.
Huh? Thick like here? You need to take a drive and see some country! My problem is my bow doesnt shoot 150yards! :chuckle:

Actually he's right. As much as some on the west side would like everyone to believe that there are 150 yards between trees over here with deer just wandering around in the wide open during daylight, up north is some of the thickest stuff you can get into - if you want to get into it :chuckle:

:yeah:
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: brackens on November 06, 2012, 11:22:12 AM: Yeah, put yourself on the North side of a mountain and it is triple thick, in the true NE corner!

Quote from: mdbuck5x5 on November 06, 2012, 10:46:43 AM
Quote from: CedarPants on November 06, 2012, 10:13:22 AM
Quote from: Mudman on November 05, 2012, 08:14:52 PM
Quote from: Three_Oh_Eight on November 05, 2012, 08:03:44 PM
I'm going to have to do some homework. I've only taken one whitetail and it was purely out of opportunity while hunting mule deer. Looks like a lot of the area up in the NE corner is pretty thick and wouldn't lend itself as well to the spot/stalk hunting I've done in the SE corner.
Huh? Thick like here? You need to take a drive and see some country! My problem is my bow doesnt shoot 150yards! :chuckle:

Actually he's right. As much as some on the west side would like everyone to believe that there are 150 yards between trees over here with deer just wandering around in the wide open during daylight, up north is some of the thickest stuff you can get into - if you want to get into it :chuckle:

:yeah:
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Colville on November 06, 2012, 11:53:17 AM: If you end up way up north, as said, the woods are jungle thick. That being said, you're better off doing some scouting between now and end of March. Unless you are going to just hunt clear cuts and roads you'll end up in the thick. There are good spots to be found and hunted that won't look it once the leaves are all back on the trees.

Go while the leaves are gone and you can see what the late season will hold for you. In the summer you'll walk right past potentially great spots that you just couldn't see.
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: Mudman on November 06, 2012, 01:06:05 PM: There are deer wandering around just not in hunting season!!! Ive hunted 101 204 but only seen thick stuff on north sides of mnts. I dont think anything is thicker than some of this wetside jungle? Cant speak for far corner yet but I will get up there soon. Honestly I have never seen anything over there that compares to the worst of west side.
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: dmartin on November 06, 2012, 08:05:32 PM: Being from the NE corner, I've only shot a couple deer on private land. harvested almost each buck on public land. either USFS or state land. alot of public land borders private land that holds hay fields and what not where bucks move to once its time to eat. you should be able to see alot of hair on any public land around there. public land around spokane gets hit hard but public land south and north of spokane is good :twocents: only an opinion
Title: Re: NE WA for Dummies
Post by: huntnnw on November 06, 2012, 09:47:29 PM: plenty of deer on the natl forest...most of the giants shot in 204 are all natl forest :chuckle: