Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: NWBREW on September 12, 2025, 07:33:11 AM
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Finally happened to my disbelief. After many years (23 points) I drew the one and only Aladdin mule deer special permit that runs from Nov.3rd to Nov.24th. I have hunted in that unit many times but for whitetail and elk. Have seen some monster muley as well. While it may not be a OIL tag, at 62 years of age it is a once in a lifetime thing for me .
I am looking for a little help in regards of areas. I have many trail cams out (11) but would like to know if anyone has suggestions for the southern areas of that unit. Most of my time has been spent north of smack out In the black canyon, Stone, Mountain and Silver Creek areas. I am planning on doing a hike up Ambacrombies mountain in the next few weeks, but not sure if that would be worth my time scouting for mule deer up there. Has anyone hiked it or hunted up there ?
I have a plan A and a Plan B I’m just looking to add to that with a plan C, D and E. Any info is very much appreciated. It’s a long season. My daughter will be up hunting with me so while she is looking for white tails, I’ll be looking for a muley As my special permit tag season runs through the late Whitetail season.
I hope to hear something back from somebody you can PM me if you want. I appreciate it.
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Man its been years but I saw a HUGE mule deer there hunting whitetail in the rut, prob. around 2007. Solid 180" buck, still clear as day in my head. It was not where I would've expected him, down on the valley floor with a dozen doe's.
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Same, I have ran into a couple, all while whitetail hunting. I often thought about that permit, I just never saw the numbers for it and with it being around whitetail time, decided I'd rather do something different. Have a great hunt
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The southern end of 111 does not have many mule deer, I'll send you a message with a few ideas.
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Ive hunted the unit for many years.
If I had that tag, Abercrombie would be my plan A
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:yeah:
Good luck! :tup:
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Thanks for all the info. and PMs. I appreciate it all. I’ll be doing the hike in a few weeks, maybe during elk rifle. This will be an interesting hunt for sure.
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Prouty corner loop rd to Old Dominion Rd. Get into the state and timber company land up there. Lots of bears and deer of both species.
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Just checked cams. Very few deer with some having only bear pics. A few mulies but nothing very big. I believe EHD is taking a very heavy toll this year even at high elevations. Very sad to see. I have not made it up Abercrombie yet but plan to do so prior to the permit season start. I have a stress test scheduled for Friday (I had a heart attack 11 years ago but doing well now. Just want to be sure all is well before the hike.) Moved some cams and hung a few more. Just a few pics posted. I believe the whitetail buck is infected and probably dead now from EHD.
I will take any info gladly for mule deer in unit 111. Best of luck to everyone.
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Got to be a nice mature buck running around somewhere up there. Enjoy the hunt with minimal competition in country you enjoy is what I would do. However big the buck ends up being is what it is.
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Here's a couple from that unit but these were taken before any wolves existed. Also the area has grown up massively and there isn't near the area to hunt anymore. Their used to be a late hunt over there from around Thanksgiving to the first week or so of December. We would camp at the end of Silver creek rd. And hunt from there. The last time I was there mule deer hunting was in the early 2000s on the regular season. I left camp on foot at the end of silver creek Rd and went up the Abercrombie trail hit the top at daylight and I hunted back towards silver creek on the ridge on top.when I got to the basin at the top of silver creek I was shocked at how much it had grown up. I dropped down off the top and walked the old road back to camp I covered a lot of ground that day and saw 0 deer and one giant bull moose. If I had that tag I think I would definitely try Sherlock I've seen some bruisers up there. Just remember I haven't hunted that area for years but genetics are genetics the numbers are down but you never know. The first one was shot up on Silver car in 1987 and the second was shot on Sherlock early 90's. I've seen bigger than the first one on Sherlock. Just my :twocents:
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Dandy bucks
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Heck of a buck👍used to have some friends that would wack a dandy in that turf from time to time.
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Finally filled the tag. Fantastic hunt, hard hunt mentally. I had a total of 8 trail cams set out since August with very little to show. The place I ended up spending most of my time was at the top of a ridge about 5k in elevation. Only had 3 mule deer pics total on that cam with one being a narrow young 4x4, one forky and a doe but I knew there had to be more just didn’t know what. Every day I spent on the ridge provided no sightings of any wildlife. I had told my buddy at one point that I didn’t think there was anything alive up there but being as stubborn as I am I kept going back glassing as much ground as I could. Then came a massive storm. I was at my cabin that night and I thought the roof was coming off it was so violent. Glad I was not on the ridge that night. Woke up in the morning and started out but had to clear trees out of the county road before hitting the road up to the ridge . With that I was running late to get up there before light. When I got close to the ridge I parked the truck and started out . I was going to go up to a bluff to galss but for whatever reason I decided to hike towards the clearing instead of glassing first. I have no idea why I did that but I did. When I hit the first clearing I saw a mulie doe only about 50 yards away. Then another and another. At that point I noticed this buck literally right in front of me walking away. He was big and wide and I knew he was mature, I just had to be sure he had 3pts. I grunted at him and he turned his head and looked at me with no concern at all. I grunted again and he turned broadside. One shot and he dropped. Hunt over. When I walked up to him I was amazed at the size of him. Huge body. I’m guessing he was at least 6 or 7 years of age, maybe older I don’t know. Main frame 3x3 with a 4” cheater and eye guards 26” wide. Eye guards were busted along with the tips on two other tines. Heavy, dark antlers. 23 points to draw that tag and I am very pleased with the result. I know there are bigger antlered bucks but shooting a truley mature mulie buck was the ultimate goal. Thanks for all the advise from members. I do appreciate it all.
And I never did make it up Ambacrombie mountain.
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Blurry but shows the size of his neck. Just massive
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Dandy
Congrats
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Nice buck congrats
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Sounds like you got what you wanted out of the hunt, not an easy mule deer tag to fill and you did it with a mature buck. Who cares if there are bigger ones out there or not.
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Awesome - congratuations!
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Congrats! Sounds like you put in the time.
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Heck ya! Congrats
Definitely a good one.
Those tags aren't easy, dandy buck for sure.
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Congrats! He’s a beauty!
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Congrats!
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:tup:
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Great buck!! Congrats!
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Great buck .👍
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Congratulations, glad to see you found a big mature buck! :tup:
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Congrats again Devin!
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Nice buck! :tup:
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very nice! congrats
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Way to get it done, congratulations.
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Congrats bro sorry wasn't there
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Beautiful buck :tup: :tup:
