Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Webfoot on June 14, 2020, 11:29:09 AM

Title: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Webfoot on June 14, 2020, 11:29:09 AM: Lucked out and drew the Desert rut tag. 17 points.
Now I am asking for information from anyone that would be willing to help me out. Like where to drop the pickup camper near good access points or any other information that may help me with this this great hunt. I know next to nothing about hunting this area or mule deer for that matter as I have spent most of my life hunting blacktails.

Thanks
John
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: ThurstonCokid on June 14, 2020, 11:39:35 AM: It’s a great area. The tag I’ve always applied for. I’d do a lot of glassing pre hunt and figure out some game trails to the water. You’ll enjoy it! One of the best in the state

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: opdinkslayer on June 14, 2020, 11:47:25 AM: Congrats on the tag John :tup:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: nwhunter on June 14, 2020, 12:07:56 PM: Wow that should be a fun hunt!! A little luck for Forks in the draws this year...Archery tag or rifle?
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: highside74 on June 14, 2020, 01:05:56 PM: @deerlick would be a good resource. They have had a couple rifle Desert tags in their family in the last few years. I would send him a PM and try to chat in the phone.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Webfoot on June 14, 2020, 01:27:04 PM: Rifle Scott starts Nov. 7th. I would gladly trade you tags. lol.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Mfowl on June 14, 2020, 01:27:45 PM: Congrats on your draw! I have the archery B tag just after your season. Feel free to let me know where the mashers you don't put a tag on are hiding! :chuckle: Enjoy your hunt!
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: duckmen1 on June 14, 2020, 05:14:15 PM: pm sent.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: blindluck on June 14, 2020, 08:24:04 PM: There are some nice bucks out there, some dandy 2 pts running around as well. Should be able to find something pretty good in the 26-28” range if your lucky even a 30”er
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: crabcreekhunter on June 14, 2020, 08:47:27 PM: Should be a fun tag, a Desert buck from a while ago...
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: James E on June 15, 2020, 10:58:00 AM: Hi WebFoot - I have the Muzzle loader tag - early October. Im a little familiar with the area. I have a couple of buddies who have had the tag. I will use their info and start scouting Aug - Sept. Lets keep in touch. I will tell u what I see - areas etc. I would really appreciate it if anyone else has any info. I don't think the tag is as good as in the past. Im not expecting a 30" -be happy with a decent 4pt.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: C-Money on June 15, 2020, 11:13:04 AM: Congratulations on your tag! Look at Sunbasin, Suncrest, & Sunrise campgrounds. All should put you within 30-40 min or less of all access to the Desert. Sunrise Resort is probably the nicest, as its on the lake. You could look at Mardon Resort or the Potholes state park for quicker access to the south end of the unit. Hope you get a big one.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: MerriamMagician on June 15, 2020, 11:27:17 AM: You can also park and camp your trailer for free at certain locations around the unit. There are usually hunters camped out on road C SE during those hunts. Provides quick access into the unit. :twocents:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Ace on June 18, 2020, 10:47:37 AM: Hunted it last year. Early rifle. Got a monster. What hunt did you draw ? What weapon are you using ? Got lots of info for you. Glad to help you out. I’ll even go over and do a scout with you.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Ace on June 18, 2020, 10:55:33 AM: PM me if you like
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: jstone on June 18, 2020, 11:03:46 AM: Nice bucks fellas
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: HntnFsh on June 18, 2020, 11:04:37 AM: WOW!
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Buckhunter24 on June 18, 2020, 11:07:12 AM: Great offer Ace, that is a great buck too
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: highside74 on June 18, 2020, 11:12:57 AM: Whoa...that'll work
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: OutHouse on June 18, 2020, 11:25:25 AM: Quote from: Ace on June 18, 2020, 10:55:33 AM
PM me if you like

Your not a former bio for the game dept are you? A guy I went to school with said his dad was a former bio and showed me a pic of a monster he took in the desert unit and that set of antlers rings a bell.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Onewhohikes on June 18, 2020, 11:44:36 AM: Don't PM me I know nothing about the unit
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: teanawayslayer on June 18, 2020, 11:52:02 AM: Quote from: Ace on June 18, 2020, 10:55:33 AM
PM me if you like
did you ever put a tape on him ace?
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: SkookumHntr on June 18, 2020, 11:54:43 AM: You aint a kidding ace, that is a monster!! :drool:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Ace on June 18, 2020, 01:36:35 PM: Haven scored him yet. Still at the tax. The 1st time I ever been in that unit was Labor Day weekend before the hunt for a scout. I do a TON of home work on all my draw hunts. Seen some other real nice bucks in there. Seen one that I thought was over 200”. Couldn’t get on him. Do your homework. Here’s another one I did a ton of homework on.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: blindluck on June 18, 2020, 03:08:08 PM: There are two other nice bucks I’ve seen in the general area where Ace killed his last year. We have some carrot fields right next-door which I understand the dear love. I’m sure he’ll steer you in the right direction.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: James E on June 18, 2020, 04:51:37 PM: Ace - That’s a very respectable Toad. The 2nd pic really shows how big it is. My buddy had the tag 3 yrs ago. He got a nice 1 - not as nice as urs. I would appreciate any help that ur willing to give.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Ace on June 18, 2020, 07:54:56 PM: The game warden told me the year before where I got mine a 32” was taken from right there. I probably won’t get drawn for there again so I’ll help anyone who gets that tag. Got some good spots. Stay away from the A rd and C rd. They get hunted hard. There’s secret spots !!!
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: link on June 19, 2020, 07:58:53 AM: You say rut hunt, assume the latest one with 5 tags? I don't think you need to worry about a spot getting hunted hard. C road wouldn't be a bad choice.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on June 19, 2020, 08:39:38 AM: Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 07:58:53 AM
You say rut hunt, assume the latest one with 5 tags? I don't think you need to worry about a spot getting hunted hard. C road wouldn't be a bad choice.
Pffff what do you know about the desert! Your buck still had milk on its lips :chuckle:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: C-Money on June 19, 2020, 09:23:24 AM: Quote from: Karl Blanchard on June 19, 2020, 08:39:38 AM
Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 07:58:53 AM
You say rut hunt, assume the latest one with 5 tags? I don't think you need to worry about a spot getting hunted hard. C road wouldn't be a bad choice.
Pffff what do you know about the desert! Your buck still had milk on its lips :chuckle:

Oooh! Shots fired! We need a pic of the milk lip buck...
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM: I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 19, 2020, 10:56:15 AM: Great bucks!

And stud bull @Ace , did you work for Trails West?
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: westside bull on June 19, 2020, 11:16:56 AM: :chuckle:
Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:
: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: jstone on June 19, 2020, 11:17:30 AM: WOW
I would like to see what his dad looked like if he is a milk sucker.!!
Gzzzzz
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on June 19, 2020, 11:19:14 AM: Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:
:chuckle: I think you did ok with that one 😍
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 19, 2020, 11:48:57 AM: That buck is ridiculous
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: blindluck on June 19, 2020, 12:36:04 PM: Heart attack
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Ace on June 19, 2020, 01:01:43 PM: I did home work and the 61-62 unit in WY holds some flat ass monster bulls !! It’s a wilderness and non res are required to hunt with a outfitter. In the desert unit the last hunt is after everyone else has been there. The big ducks are more on guard even in the rut. But you have a lot less hunters. They get pushed into the reserves and private property. The sage is short and some tall. My buck was in the tall sage away from all the trees. To many hunters ther. The sage was up to 6-7 ft tall. Lot’s of trails in the sage. Played PAC Man with him before he finished made the mistake. He was in rut and had 10-12 does with him. Some of you PM’ed me and I sent you my #. Happy to help any one who got drawn
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: hoffmas56 on June 19, 2020, 01:13:53 PM: Great tag to have, my first choice also, but no luck. I accompanied a friend two years ago who had the early rifle desert unit tag. Saw lots of deer, but the does were all on high alert, difficult to stalk without being busted. He did not fill his tag due to work commitments and missed opportunities. He had some chances at nice bucks, would not take a 4-500 yard shot, and stalking was futile. Several campgrounds in the area, one near Winchester waste way, north side of I-90, mid point of the unit, near Dodson road, or Potholes state park, Sunrise resort in Moses Lake, or another one along the lake in Moses Lake. The rut tag is definitely the tag to have, helps keep the bucks distracted. As stated earlier A and C roads get most of the pressure. Dodson road and Adams road are also good access points into the unit. Lots of Russian olive brush and cattails for the deer to hide in, but also a lot of open sagebrush to glass and hike. Lots of sand, so hiking gets tiring, get in good shape, and you will enjoy the hunt. Several of my friends guide in this unit, one helped a client get a 180 buck in there last fall. I can get you info if you want.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: nwwanderer on June 19, 2020, 01:19:10 PM: link, that one needs some milk, tough to gather grass without teeth. Thanks, special
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: deerlick on June 19, 2020, 01:20:13 PM: best glass you can afford and do not be an idiot and skyline yourself on every dune in the unit and you will do fine
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Ace on June 19, 2020, 02:11:12 PM: If you have a camper you can stay at a area about 2 mi south on the Dodson road. It has a restroom. There you are real close to where I got mine.. if I don’t have anything going on with work I’d be happy to go over with you on the hunt for a second set of eyes
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: HntnFsh on June 19, 2020, 02:25:13 PM: Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:

Decent last day meat buck there. Better than eating a tag I guess! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: bornhunter on June 19, 2020, 02:41:45 PM: Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:

Beautiful buck.
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: C-Money on June 19, 2020, 06:37:03 PM: Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:

Oh wow! That is a monster!
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: dewandgin on June 20, 2020, 09:51:16 PM: :yike: :yike: I mean Not a bad buck I guess :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: Dan-o on June 20, 2020, 10:41:26 PM: Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:

I don't know.... Kind of weak 10's and 11's.

:yike:
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: highside74 on June 20, 2020, 11:39:57 PM: Quote from: Dan-o on June 20, 2020, 10:41:26 PM
Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:

I don't know.... Kind of weak 10's and 11's.

:yike:

He said 10s and 11s😂
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: FullDraw on June 25, 2020, 02:00:18 PM: I will keep putting in for this hunt. Will have 13 points next year. Tagging along to see what happens this November. Best of luck!
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: C-Money on June 30, 2020, 02:05:20 PM: I watched a buck with future potential get nailed by a semi this morning on I90. No good!
Title: Re: Drew the Desert quality tag.
Post by: huntingaddiction on July 02, 2020, 11:09:38 AM: Quote from: link on June 19, 2020, 10:52:29 AM
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who know a lot more about that unit than me. I did manage to find a milk sucker to stick my tag on though. :tup:

Wow...that's an impressive buck!