Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Bearhunter308 on October 14, 2024, 11:25:49 PM

Title: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: Bearhunter308 on October 14, 2024, 11:25:49 PM: I live in Chehalis, on the westside, and have done nearly all of my hunting over here. My boys (ages 10 and 11) are both hunting this year. The public land I was planning to hunt with them, and had a tree stand set up in was just logged, and I’m not enjoying fighting the crowds, driving in our local state land.
Thinking of doing a day or two with them on the East side. I have zero experience hunting the desert, but would like the change of scenery and opportunity for them to get a whitetail.
I’m seeing in the regs that gmu’s 373, 379, and 381 are “any deer” for whitetail.
Looking at Onx, I’m seeing 22,000 acres of BLM land in the Juniper Dunes Wilderness, along with parcels of WA State Land interspersed here and there.
Can anyone familiar with the area give me some advice? Would this be worth my time driving over and hunting public land? I’m not looking for monster bucks, I just want my boys to fill their tags.
Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: andrew_in_idaho on October 15, 2024, 04:48:32 AM: You’ll be more likely to run into muleys in the listed units.

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Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: bustedoldman on October 15, 2024, 06:31:13 AM: Quote from: andrew_in_idaho on October 15, 2024, 04:48:32 AM
You’ll be more likely to run into muleys in the listed units.

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This exactly......Juniper is a off road vehicle park, the majority of whitetails were wiped out the last bout of EHD. I havent seen one the last 2 yrs, not saying there isnt any around but......
Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: buglebuster on October 15, 2024, 07:12:32 AM: You’d be better off heading a little farther east next weekend when the few units open for youth whitetail doe open up. Not hardly any whitetail in 381. There’s some, just not many.
Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: Bearhunter308 on October 15, 2024, 08:17:37 AM: Thanks for the heads up. Looking now around 136. Lots of private farms, but I see some state land and BLM. That would be 3 pt. min or antlerless this weekend for whitetail.
Any idea the ratio of whitetail to mulies in that area? Or would I be better off going all the way to the border, like 124 or 127?
Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: bustedoldman on October 15, 2024, 09:45:57 AM: Quote from: Bearhunter308 on October 15, 2024, 08:17:37 AM
Thanks for the heads up. Looking now around 136. Lots of private farms, but I see some state land and BLM. That would be 3 pt. min or antlerless this weekend for whitetail.
Any idea the ratio of whitetail to mulies in that area? Or would I be better off going all the way to the border, like 124 or 127?

They are scattered in there as well but best bet is to head NE, E, SE of there......
Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: MeepDog on October 15, 2024, 09:50:42 AM: Yeah the "any deer" for whitetails in 379 and 381 is a preventative measure, not a holy cow we have a lot of them measure. I ran cams for years in 381 and I got only a couple whitetails ever.
Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: buglebuster on October 15, 2024, 11:13:31 AM: Quote from: Bearhunter308 on October 15, 2024, 08:17:37 AM
Thanks for the heads up. Looking now around 136. Lots of private farms, but I see some state land and BLM. That would be 3 pt. min or antlerless this weekend for whitetail.
Any idea the ratio of whitetail to mulies in that area? Or would I be better off going all the way to the border, like 124 or 127?

Those units will have a lot, also look into 142 and 139. 136 has them too but you’ll likely find more in the other units.
Title: Re: Wondering about unit 381
Post by: Bearhunter308 on October 15, 2024, 12:18:51 PM: Thanks!