Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: crankin04 on August 29, 2017, 04:17:46 PM

Title: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: crankin04 on August 29, 2017, 04:17:46 PM: Has anyone else had any success in these units during the Modern Firearm General Season? Do you hunt them (247,250,251) every year? Do you think the herd is holding up well enough with such low success rates? Everyone always talks about how the late draw tag is really the only "worthwhile" time to hunt because of the rut (which makes perfect sense including the migratory period), but curious as to how many of you actually get off the roads and spend the week glassing and hiking around trying to find that 1 LEGAL buck or two :P
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Obviously not asking for anyones honey holes or areas of "success" as I have taken a couple bucks out of 2 of those 3 unites in the last 5 years, just like hearing peoples opinions as I work and live in the Wenatchee area and prefer to hunt around here, lol
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: gasman on August 29, 2017, 06:29:02 PM: All those units are good and hold dear. Obviously not as many deer as when the weather hits in the High Country and the rut starts to drive them down but they all hold dear year round.

It takes some time to get to know the country up there, it's pretty big and once you do you heard were deer fold through early season you'll have a better chance at success every year. First few years of hunting a new area is always a learning curve, but it's well worth spending the time out in the woods.

:tup:
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: crankin04 on August 29, 2017, 08:14:29 PM: Couldn't agree more! It's the age old theory on this one... The more time put in from first light to last light the more chance for success in these units 😜

There's always "luck" but I like to call that extensive glassing! And patience upon patience lol
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 30, 2017, 08:49:12 AM: If I hunt the Modern Firearm General Season I usually go into Chiwawa, though I have hunted Mission unsuccessfully. The 2016 Modern Firearm General Season harvest report for those 3 units show 470 bucks taken.
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: crankin04 on August 30, 2017, 09:12:10 AM: If that's JUST for modern firearm general, then I suppose that isn't bad at all for an 11 day season depending on total amount of hunters...?
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 30, 2017, 10:18:29 AM: Quote from: crankin04 on August 30, 2017, 09:12:10 AM
If that's JUST for modern firearm general, then I suppose that isn't bad at all for an 11 day season depending on total amount of hunters...?
That is just modern firearm general, and likely a bit low as multi season license holders who killed during modern general aren't included. Hunter numbers are higher/success lower depending on how many reported hunting more than one GMU http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2016/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=7
Swakane 123 bucks 542 hunters 22.6% success
Mission 157 bucks 796 hunters 19.8% success
Entiat 190 bucks 1,323 hunters 14.4% success
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: muleracks on September 01, 2017, 09:35:30 PM: Weather has a big impact on the harvest rate and the quality of bucks taken in those three units. Roughly 80% of the mule deer are migratory so when they move into those units with road access the mule deer population and harvest rates sore. Not all of the migratory bucks come out of the deep Cascade (Wilderness areas); many of them do spend the summer at high elevations in the Chiwawa and Slide Ridge units.
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: Greg Mullins on September 04, 2017, 05:00:36 PM: We went over Saturday and Sunday we saw about 20 does 6 bucks 1 3x3 a few 2points and a spike
Title: Re: Swakane/Entiat/Mission GMU's during MF General
Post by: crankin04 on September 06, 2017, 10:23:39 AM: Quote from: Greg Mullins on September 04, 2017, 05:00:36 PM
We went over Saturday and Sunday we saw about 20 does 6 bucks 1 3x3 a few 2points and a spike

Hey Greg, Which GMU?