Post by: ShedHead20 on June 22, 2023, 09:20:55 AM
Scrolled past the multiseason results from earlier this year, both Not Selected. First category down from there, 2023 Quality Deer – Hunts & Status – 1:1032 – SELECTED. The only tag I applied for in the category. Honestly, I was in a mild state of shock. I felt a knot start to form in my stomach and sweat in my palms. 14 points cashed in. Muleys in the rut, couldn’t believe it.
I called my wife first and she answered the phone with “What did you draw?” Knowing if I was not selected across the board, I would have just texted her the news. Being a great wife, she was excited for me and told me that I better start planning some trips. Take into consideration that the second day of the season is her 30th birthday and we have a two-year-old at home as well. She still is pushing me to go. Made a few more phone calls about the news and then the planning began right there on the mountain. Safe to say none of my job duties were completed for the rest of the day.
Thankfully, I am in the best hiking shape of life at the moment and have a solid mountain hunting gear collection. No new rifle needed, no new optics needed, no new pack needed. Practically ready to start the hunt today.
I am one of those guys that has been applying to this unit with only having stepped foot in it once before. Fell in love with it instantly. Bucks to be had here I believe. I’ve been a decade long lurker on this forum who visits almost daily and have seen some great deer taken on this hunt. I have also seen great people reach out and help others with this tag. This is why I love Hunt-WA.
Don’t worry, I already have many trips planned to the unit over the summer and fall. Mainly in search of areas to set up base camp, find possible corridors for November, many maybe make some local connections. Being a “migratory hunt”, I’ll be scouting the land and not so much the deer. If someone believes that not looking for deer and not hanging cameras is a mistake, please let me know. Some members may receive PMs from me with questions about what the area is like in November as some help from others will help me out a ton. So please feel free to reach out!!
I’ve never been much of a poster here, but I will try my best to keep the forum updated throughout the summer and the hunt itself. I’ve always enjoyed reading and following threads that detail the tag holder’s journey.
I’m beyond grateful to draw and more pleased with this tag than any other quality elk tag out there. The journey has already begun!! Muelys in November, lets gooo!!
Josh
Post by: Karl Blanchard on June 22, 2023, 09:33:59 AM
P.S. While you think you don't need any new gear, a good tag is a great excuse to convince the Mrs. that you do in fact NEED some new stuff :chuckle:
Post by: Berin Denson on June 22, 2023, 09:35:19 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on June 22, 2023, 09:39:16 AM
Post by: Mtnwalker on June 22, 2023, 10:08:23 AM
Post by: time2hunt on June 22, 2023, 05:19:39 PM
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Post by: NOCK NOCK on June 22, 2023, 06:18:48 PM
Get a tracked machine or snowmobile as back up transportation. My buddy got snowed out the year he had the tag. Big drifts along the ridge made it impossible to get back to where the buck were crossing .
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THIS :yeah: and most definetly have chains for all 4 on your vehicle.
Post by: ShedHead20 on June 22, 2023, 08:11:11 PM
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Post by: Romulus1297 on June 22, 2023, 08:39:30 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on June 23, 2023, 05:49:12 AM
Post by: cougfan79 on June 23, 2023, 08:01:40 AM
Aaron
Post by: Falcon on June 24, 2023, 10:24:59 AM
Have a great hunt, and hope you kill the buck of your dreams :drool:
Post by: VikingMidget on June 28, 2023, 09:40:56 AM
Post by: ShedHead20 on July 17, 2023, 09:48:10 AM
One thing I did notice was finding a good spot for a wall tent might be limited. There are spots right next to the road way down by the entiat river itself and one decent spot up Shady pass rd around 5500 ft, but, I believe that may be too high in elevation for snow. Im sure there are more spots that would work I just haven’t found them yet. I like to be tucked away when wall tent camping, but I may not get to be picky for this hunt. 25-mile canyon side was limited in spots also.
The slopes/canyons that drain directly down to the lake are insane. Very deep and steep. The Big Hill warming cabin was cool to come across. How many members have their name signed in there? All the roads in the area are in surprisingly good shape. I’m used to Yakima county roads, so anything is better then them.
What does a typical snow fall year look like and at what elevation for the Entiat side? Is it too deep (over 3ft) at 6000ft by then? Can a guy hunt up to 7000 ft? I guessing each year is different. Members, please share any past experiences with the weather.
Overall, great 1st trip and actually calmed my nerves about the hunt. The country in spots is much more huntable than I first imagined before seeing it. I’m excited to do some more poking around in certain spots and do some real boot leather burning now that I’ve seen it.
Post by: Transka on July 17, 2023, 04:01:45 PM
Congrats on the Draw Josh! Hit me up. I have been in this unit 39 years always camp at the last house up from the 25 mile creek side. Big camp, Big fires lots of beverages.
Daughter drew tag in 21 and son and I drew last year. Reach out when ready
Ryan Tanska
Post by: Fletch on July 18, 2023, 10:16:08 AM
Post by: mburrows on July 18, 2023, 10:37:31 AM
Went on the 1st scout trip of the year to the unit this past weekend. Stayed two nights, one in the Big Hill Area and another in the Handy Springs Area. The purpose of the trip was to get the best overall view of the unit from the higher points. Not so much scouting one area in particular. Mainly driving the couple roads in the area to learn them and try to visualize what they could look like in November. I also hiked some ridges on the Entiat side and found some great potential areas for the hunt. I definitely will be specializing in these areas on the next trip. Even saw two small bucks and two does.
One thing I did notice was finding a good spot for a wall tent might be limited. There are spots right next to the road way down by the entiat river itself and one decent spot up Shady pass rd around 5500 ft, but, I believe that may be too high in elevation for snow. Im sure there are more spots that would work I just haven’t found them yet. I like to be tucked away when wall tent camping, but I may not get to be picky for this hunt. 25-mile canyon side was limited in spots also.
The slopes/canyons that drain directly down to the lake are insane. Very deep and steep. The Big Hill warming cabin was cool to come across. How many members have their name signed in there? All the roads in the area are in surprisingly good shape. I’m used to Yakima county roads, so anything is better then them.
What does a typical snow fall year look like and at what elevation for the Entiat side? Is it too deep (over 3ft) at 6000ft by then? Can a guy hunt up to 7000 ft? I guessing each year is different. Members, please share any past experiences with the weather.
Overall, great 1st trip and actually calmed my nerves about the hunt. The country in spots is much more huntable than I first imagined before seeing it. I’m excited to do some more poking around in certain spots and do some real boot leather burning now that I’ve seen it.
Really hard to say what that weather will be like. Could be impossible to get to 6000ft in a vehicle or the roads could be completely bare. More than likely youll have snow and getting up to the top in a vehicle will be a chore. Youre on the right track and checking the right boxes.
Post by: ShedHead20 on September 05, 2023, 07:20:01 AM
I'll be doing another scout trip soon and I'll keep you guys updated on the progress.
57 days.
Josh
Post by: c.jones on September 22, 2023, 10:06:34 AM
Thanks for the update!
Post by: Transka on October 01, 2023, 08:10:09 PM
Post by: ShedHead20 on October 09, 2023, 09:31:48 AM
I ran into a forum member that gave me some real gems of advice and has been more than helpful with information on this upcoming hunt. I truly appreciate all the other members who have reached out over PMs so far. All that info is definitely being used.
After sleeping in the cool October air and seeing the yellow larches up high, I couldn’t help but to get excited for November. The tag journey has been a blast so far and learning new country and talking to new people is a great experience. Now my only stress is getting my camp list completed with all the boxes checked and to hammer out the logistics for gear and hunting partners. I have the wall tent set up in my yard currently for a quick look over. I feel great with my rifle and have been shooting on the regular.
I have 22 days left then is rutting mule deer.
Post by: ShedHead20 on October 25, 2023, 07:14:58 AM
Thanks fellas
7 days
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 25, 2023, 11:39:49 AM
Post by: ShedHead20 on November 02, 2023, 07:38:56 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 02, 2023, 07:40:58 PM
Post by: Mtnwalker on November 02, 2023, 07:52:58 PM
Good luck I cant wait to hear the updates and see the grip and grin pics!!!
:yeah: Hope you turn up a toad
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 07, 2023, 08:33:39 AM
Post by: Transka on November 13, 2023, 10:55:51 AM
Post by: jstone on November 20, 2023, 05:31:45 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 20, 2023, 06:46:24 PM
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Post by: Romulus1297 on November 21, 2023, 11:42:03 PM
Post by: ShedHead20 on November 22, 2023, 08:30:21 AM
First, I want to thank my wife for holding down the house and dealing with our 2 year old son at home the whole time I was gone. Pretty lucky to have a wife that would do that. I would also like to thank the forum members who reached out and stayed in contact with me throughout the summer and the hunt. Some real stand up guys on here and don’t know how I can repay them back for giving up that much info on their preferred unit.
I spent a awesome 15 days straight in the unit and would see multiple small bucks (very small 4x4s and under, TONS of 2x2) everyday. The weather wasn’t the perfect mule deer rut weather. Minimal snow and even at the top of the high ridge there was maybe 12-15 inches total. Never really got super cold, coldest I saw at camp was about 18 degrees and would get in the mid 30s - 40s almost everyday.
I mainly hunted the 25-mile side and spent a few days in the entiat side as well. Really early in my hunt, I passed two very nice bucks, not knowing I wouldn’t see any bigger ones after that. They were not the giants I was looking for but respectable bucks. In general season, there would have been no hesitation. It was hard to pass in the moment but I was thinking I would turn up some other big boys as the season went on. That’s hunting!
I did it all from road hunting, still hunting, days and days of glassing, hiking ridges, and walking miles on decommissioned roads. Just never turned up the “big crusty”. It was neat to see lots of deer everyday and to watch to bucks rutting. You can just about walk right up to some of them.
On the last night I had to hunt, I took the biggest smaller buck I was able to find. He’s not a dink and actually has some mass to him. But with no 2023 meat in the freezer, I was happy to take him. He had a huge body on him and noticeably bigger body than the other small bucks around.
The pack out was fairly easy. 650ft of elevation straight up. Did bone in and did 2 trips. I killed the deer about 345pm and was done by 730pm. So back to the wall tent in time for dinner!
Overall, a great hunting trip. This was new area for me. So to find deer and kill deer in the new area was also a plus to me. Got to spend 2 weeks in the mountains and a few days with my brother and good friend. Just didn’t get the big guy that everyone wants. He is probably standing in my favorite bowl that I glassed the most right now. Probably just a 190” tank of a buck.
Thanks again for all the support, that’s what makes this site great!
Josh (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20231122/28fe0dc975fc2af41bf6fef87e223911.jpg)
Post by: Gentrys on November 22, 2023, 08:53:21 AM
Post by: time2hunt on November 22, 2023, 09:05:43 AM
you see any cats Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: NOCK NOCK on November 22, 2023, 09:56:53 AM