Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: bearhunter99 on November 23, 2024, 07:07:00 PM

Title: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 23, 2024, 07:07:00 PM: I have the late Mission muzzy mule deer permit. From what I saw it looks like the rifle guys had it a little tough. Was hoping the weather would get them moving but it seems it might have been too little too late? Been out but still haven’t seen anything that makes me miss a beat for this tag. Anyone have any pointers? I live in the unit but the usual places that I know aren’t turning up much. Thanks.

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: mountainman on November 23, 2024, 08:39:36 PM: Watched a nice buck behind the 100 yard berm at the rifle club up #2 while shooting bows last week. They are around👍
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: NOCK NOCK on November 24, 2024, 06:40:50 AM: That sucks! IIRC where you live, The quantity/quality has been dropping for quite a few years now. Used to take lots of photos in the general area, has been 4-5 years since Ive turned up anything good there.

Have ya tried more north, shy of Ltown.
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 24, 2024, 07:57:02 AM: Yeah. There’s a few running around this area but all have weak forks. Been mostly focusing on areas I can get to with the side by side from the house. Rear end went out on my truck a couple weeks ago :bash: fricking ideal timing.

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 24, 2024, 09:41:36 AM: Quote from: bearhunter99 on November 24, 2024, 07:57:02 AM
Yeah. There’s a few running around this area but all have weak forks. Been mostly focusing on areas I can get to with the side by side from the house. Rear end went out on my truck a couple weeks ago :bash: fricking ideal timing.

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Day after I got my blacktail noticed my power steering pump was going out. I got lucky it didn’t fail up on the mountain.🤣
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: jrebel on November 24, 2024, 11:28:09 AM: Something about quality tags and rigs breaking down. Third to the last day of my quality hunt (years ago) my water pump went out on my jeep. Ended up with a nice 28" wide buck the day it happened, so I guess I got lucky.

Good Luck finding a buck.
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 25, 2024, 07:53:17 PM: Quote from: jrebel on November 24, 2024, 11:28:09 AM
Something about quality tags and rigs breaking down. Third to the last day of my quality hunt (years ago) my water pump went out on my jeep. Ended up with a nice 28" wide buck the day it happened, so I guess I got lucky.

Good Luck finding a buck.
Definitely! Last year my wife drew the Malaga cow tag and the first day of the season we lost the timing chain in the side by side…

Tough going today. Snow was wet and sloppy. Traded the side by side for the snowmobile. Fog was tough. A few loner bucks but none were chasing does. Tomorrow is supposed to be clear so here’s hoping.

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: jeffro on November 26, 2024, 01:11:13 AM: It was an easy, automatic hunt
One bomb, dead
Roads can be unforgiving
Chain required
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 27, 2024, 12:42:52 PM: Hows the hunt going?
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 27, 2024, 12:53:18 PM: Slow. Deer numbers are really down from what I’ve seen in the past. Been talking to two of the other tag holders. They are not seeing anything of note either - even on private. Been seeing a few bucks,mostly loners but there were a couple of bucks chasing a doe this morning. Fog doesn’t help.

Wet sloppy snow. Can’t really get anywhere without tracks or a snow machine.

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 27, 2024, 12:59:11 PM: I know a father and son that had the tag a few years ago.bthey hunted near Blewitt pass and Ingalls cr but that year I believe there was less snow.
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 27, 2024, 01:10:34 PM: With the snow they seem to be timbered up where the snow isn’t as deep. Makes it harder to sit and spot like usual. They aren’t getting out in the open sage as much.

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 29, 2024, 10:52:44 PM: Fog sucks! Most of the fresh sign is right at the elevation of the band of fog... Above the fog there isn't much, or any, fresh sign - below the fog there are quite a few does and smaller bucks. There were a few bucks chasing a doe a couple of days ago but other than that there isn't much rut activity at all. Just have to see what tomorrow holds although the fog forecast doesn't look too much better.... :bash:
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 30, 2024, 04:40:18 AM: A shame they here isn't as many of the larger like there used to be. My buddy has hunted the late archery Swakane for years and tells me that they just aren't there anymore. These late so called "quality" buck tags just are no longer that unless you lower your definition of quality. I spent a lot of time in the western end of that unit and those "big boys" are no longer there in any kind of numbers. A shame.
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 30, 2024, 07:21:16 AM: They are still out there just a lot fewer and farther between but that is probably a direct correlation to the reduced numbers. This time of year I used to see 50-100 deer in a long day out in the field this time of year - now a great day is about 20. It is still a great hunt - being out there without much competition but it is definitely not the pick and choose it used to be.

I think the genetics have declined as well. I’ve seen a few nice bucks that were big 3x3 and 3x4. A couple decent heavy 4x4 that just don’t fork deep.

Ah well. Back to the fog to try and turn something up!

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: boneaddict on November 30, 2024, 07:27:24 AM: It’s interesting you say that about 3x4s. Obvious I find them every year, especially in the Methow, but this year was uncanny, everywhere, where I normally film 5 points, this was the year of the 3x4. Drought maybe? Mass was way down as well on average.
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 30, 2024, 08:48:42 AM: That is another thing Bone. I haven’t seen much of anything for mass or darker horns for that matter. Everything has been light in mass and color.

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: Goose Noose on November 30, 2024, 04:44:52 PM: I also had this tag.. and I’m going to be preparing tag soup for dinner tonight. Fog was brutal.. passed way too many decent bucks in hopes I could catch up with a buck I had seen while scouting. Was nice to be out with a tag this time of year but certainly not what the tag used to be. Hope the outcome was better for you.
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 30, 2024, 05:22:35 PM: Maybe we should combine tags to get more flavor…

A buddy sent me a picture of a decent buck today but I couldn’t locate it. I think it went onto private.

They really need to give the muzzy permit more time with the fog this time of year.

In reality though quality tags just aren’t what they used to be.

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Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: bankwalker on November 30, 2024, 08:05:47 PM: I think the "quality" of these hunts anymore has alot more to do with the quality being that you get to see higher percentage of bucks than during general season.
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: boneaddict on December 01, 2024, 06:36:19 AM: I got a laugh this fall. I was filming up in the Chewuch and I found 6 tagholders all on the same road, so 6 tag holders and a photographer. Must be a good road :chuckle:
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: HereDuckyDucky on December 08, 2024, 08:23:17 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on December 01, 2024, 06:36:19 AM
I got a laugh this fall. I was filming up in the Chewuch and I found 6 tagholders all on the same road, so 6 tag holders and a photographer. Must be a good road :chuckle:

There’s a website showing your location at all times during season. It was not a coincidence.

RW
Title: Re: Mission Unit
Post by: jstone on December 09, 2024, 06:07:53 AM: Drive over Blewett Saturday saw lots of tracks on the side of the highway. Deer still moving through