Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: jweber240 on April 25, 2013, 06:22:12 PM

Title: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: jweber240 on April 25, 2013, 06:22:12 PM: Hello everyone! I have been reading a lot on this forum but have very few posts. I have only been bow hunting for a handful of years with a couple small east side deer to my credit. I want to get out and scout before the Sept. bow season begins and have questions for you experienced bow hunters or any hunter for that matter. I have an area in mind that is a few miles back off the road through heavy forest until you gain elevation then it clears to some rolling to steep terrain with good south facing slopes to glass. I know there is plenty of cover over there but in regards to the heat is it safe to assume that if you can find a water hole out there you can bet that there is some deer around? Would this water hole draw other deer from farther away as well? It may sound dumb but just need the extra word from an experienced hunter more than I that would feel like finding a water hole plenty deep in the bush is a game magnet. I appreciate the kind advice and hope to get some more posts up about my experiences this next season. Thanks!
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: pendoreilleadventures on April 25, 2013, 06:36:57 PM: IT depends on how high you are. High mountian bucks can get all the water they need from the water in the plants they eat and dew in the mornings so water holes may not be the best best. Like i said all depends on location. I would recommend reading a book by David W. Long calledPublic Land Mulies the Bottom Line. Very good read and gave me alot of good info.
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: Todd_ID on April 25, 2013, 06:58:08 PM: Deer (and elk) will go to water each day....period. It may be at night, though. A treestand over a well used trail that goes from a bedding area to water would be a good idea. Scratch that.........great idea. If they are using that trail daily, then it's a good one to count on filling a tag on. However, if they are using that trail at night, then it could take 15 days in the stand before you fill that tag, but you will fill it.
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: trophyhunt on April 25, 2013, 07:23:48 PM: Oh, the title made think of a different SPOT, sorry....... that's for a different thread. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: jweber240 on April 25, 2013, 08:01:43 PM: Quote from: pendoreilleadventures on April 25, 2013, 06:36:57 PM
IT depends on how high you are. High mountian bucks can get all the water they need from the water in the plants they eat and dew in the mornings so water holes may not be the best best. Like i said all depends on location. I would recommend reading a book by David W. Long calledPublic Land Mulies the Bottom Line. Very good read and gave me alot of good info.

Thanks for the tip on the book I'll will order it up and read it. I will be out scouting those water sources at about the 4,000ft level so nothing crazy. This would also be over towards the eastern part of Okanagon County. Possibly some white tails in the mix as well with that elevation and location.
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: pendoreilleadventures on April 25, 2013, 08:40:26 PM: If your at 4000 feet then water is a good bet find there bedding area and setup on the trail going to andfrom

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: wilsongideon on May 05, 2013, 09:19:43 PM: all the areas in okanogan co. that I have hunted have to many watering holes to sit on any particular one. but if you do find one with a good trail it might produce...But its pretty likely the deer will be watering at night :twocents:
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: huntnnw on May 05, 2013, 11:24:22 PM: I know here in NE WA there are WAY to many locations for water to ever know where they drink...I can think of a spot in the high country of ferry in the big timber that I know of 14 springs on one face with a large creek in the bottom. All the places I elk hunt in N ID and NE WA water is never hard to find. Now if you were in NM or AZ and find water tanks then I say yes!
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: JM on May 06, 2013, 07:46:53 AM: Todd_ID is 100% right on the animals getting water every day. Are you hunting Whitetail or Mule deer? I know whitetail will often use the same trail or travel path over and over where mule deer will usually be more sporatic. Also even if the deer are nocturnal at the time you will usually see them moving just before dusk or just after dawn.

Not sure how often you are able to make it over to scout, but trail cams would be a good idea. Once you figure out the caliber of animals in the area and the general direction they are coming from. You can then try and figure out where they are bedding by glassing from a distance.

Even though mule deer are more sporatic they'll often use the same bed over and over for most of their life especially the larger bucks. Once you figure out where the bucks are bedding and plan your stalk from there. One thing to keep in mind is that if you blow the stalk on a big buck in it's bed you're more than likely not see that deer till next year. So be patient and don't rush any situation if you don't have to. Not sure if any of this will help? Good luck
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: billdo5 on May 06, 2013, 11:09:59 AM: Take into consideration that Mule deer can go without water for quite some time because they can get a good enough amount from the plants they eat depending on where you are at... If you want advice you should give a general area....
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: Becky on May 06, 2013, 11:11:23 AM: Quote from: trophyhunt on April 25, 2013, 07:23:48 PM
Oh, the title made think of a different SPOT, sorry....... that's for a different thread. :chuckle:

:yeah: hahaha, I had to click the thread to see what the topic of discussion was about.
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: DoubleJ on May 06, 2013, 11:16:18 AM: I have a dirty joke about this but I can't tell it on here, only in pm's :chuckle:
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: jweber240 on May 08, 2013, 01:05:39 PM: Quote from: billdo5 on May 06, 2013, 11:09:59 AM
Take into consideration that Mule deer can go without water for quite some time because they can get a good enough amount from the plants they eat depending on where you are at... If you want advice you should give a general area....

I will be hungting national forest in some thick timbered areas in 204. I have found some water holes when scouting off the road (no trails) about 3 miles in. The area has a pretty large radius of before hitting any roads. There are none that penetrate this area. Some good exposed south facing slopes and plenty of draws and deep timber. Will be about 4,000ft elevation and the last time I bagged a small whitey in 204 it was dang near 100 degrees and I arrowed him over water. However, this was on my property near Chesaw. My thought was that there seemed to be no serious types of water near or around the radius of this area except a couple water holes that I had located. Putting up some game cameras for a nice soak is what I plan to do next. Hopefully I can share what I find soon. Thanks for all the advice.
Title: Re: Finding "THE" Spot
Post by: wilsongideon on May 08, 2013, 05:48:22 PM: Sounds like a nice spot! Be interesting to see what the cameras find