Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: HawkenCody on June 19, 2023, 03:15:17 PM

Title: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: HawkenCody on June 19, 2023, 03:15:17 PM: Hey all,

I was fortunate enough to draw the late archery West Klickitat deer tag at the end of November. I spend most of my time hunting the Washington coast for elk and eastern Washington for mule deer. I haven’t had a chance to hunt 578 yet. I’ll spend some time scouting this fall but was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. Everything that I’m reading online is saying stay away from the north side of the unit and hope for some weather to push bucks down.

I would appreciate any input y’all had. I’m pretty physically fit and have no issue putting miles on my boots.

Thank you in advance for anyone’s input!
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: dilleytech on June 19, 2023, 03:33:18 PM: I haven’t noticed much migration of deer in this unit. One unit to the east 388 can have a deer migration. Your mostly hunting resident deer in 578. But most of this unit is private. My buck in my profile pic is a 578 buck. Keep in mind we have bench bucks and blacktail in this unit not big mule deer. There aren’t a lot of big bucks if inches was your goal getting this tag. You should be really happy if you can find a 130” deer. Most of the timber land is closed to public access so keep that in mind as well.
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: Shooter4 on June 19, 2023, 03:39:39 PM: Idk why this is even a quality tag deer number in that unit a very very low
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: HawkenCody on June 19, 2023, 05:33:19 PM: Dilleytech,

Yup, realized this was a blacktail/benchbuck hunt. It looks like a significant potion of the north end of the unit is owned by timber companies. Is any of the stuff owned by DGS timber or manulife insurance open for public hunting?

If not, it looks like the biggest parcel of state land is north of glenwood. Thoughts?
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: Shooter4 on June 19, 2023, 05:39:28 PM: Quote from: HawkenCody on June 19, 2023, 05:33:19 PM
Dilleytech,

Yup, realized this was a blacktail/benchbuck hunt. It looks like a significant potion of the north end of the unit is owned by timber companies. Is any of the stuff owned by DGS timber or manulife insurance open for public hunting?

If not, it looks like the biggest parcel of state land is north of glenwood. Thoughts?
Majority of glenwood area is actually Indian reservation now
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: dilleytech on June 19, 2023, 06:36:22 PM: Quote from: HawkenCody on June 19, 2023, 05:33:19 PM
Dilleytech,

Yup, realized this was a blacktail/benchbuck hunt. It looks like a significant potion of the north end of the unit is owned by timber companies. Is any of the stuff owned by DGS timber or manulife insurance open for public hunting?

If not, it looks like the biggest parcel of state land is north of glenwood. Thoughts?

It’s hard to say without visiting the location. A lot of lands were recently sold to different companies. You might have to go on a scouting mission and look for signs and be aware in 4 months they could be posted. You never know with the timber companies. It’s not in common to go to a section of land that’s been open for years to find it’s posted.
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: CJ1962 on June 19, 2023, 07:22:40 PM: I had the late muzzleloader tag in that unit a few years ago. I got blanked so I can share where not to go :)

I'll send you a PM.
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: 444Marlin on June 24, 2023, 10:56:32 PM: That would have been a great tag to pull 15 years ago when access and the deer numbers were better.

My kid pulled a youth elk tag for W. Klick, so I'll be out there with him this fall. The last few yrs I've been up there the numbers haven't been great. But the bucks I have seen where big bodied.

The sheriff and his posse have taken out some cougars, so I expect deer number to improve in the next few years.
Title: Re: 578 West Klickitat Archery Deer
Post by: KDB on June 27, 2023, 03:28:05 PM: Check timber company web sites to see what's opened for recreation. American Forest Management manages DGS ,Lupine and Broughton lands in 578. Hancock lands are open for hunting. Columbia Land Trust and Green Diamond also mange lands in 578.

owns