18 Quality Deer Points..... Where would you go?

[Rainier10]

I had a tag that let me hunt Chiwawa and Entiat this past year.  I have never been in the other two units.  I would say that I saw more deer in Entiat but I also hunted entiat more.  I think any of those units will be good but you do need the weather to cooperate.  You need snow early to get them moving and clear weather during your hunt so you can glass.

[fishngamereaper]

Pick a less popular unit and burn the points.

I get a "quality" wa deer tag every 6-7 years cause I avoid the popular units. I still have fun successful hunt's.  Most any central wa unit can produce big bucks.  My biggest mule deer to date came from a less popular unit near e-burg. So they are out there. Drawing the tag and the hunt itself is most of the fun. The harvest is an added bonus.

[Karl Blanchard]

He said multiple times in his post about not wanting to leave washington state for this hunt. I am pretty sure Idaho, Montana, Utah etc are not in the state of washington but I could be wrong. 

he also said he wants a decent muley buck. HANDS down best advice for killing a 4pt over 20" wide is not to apply for sub 10% draw odds hunts. Its to go to MT and hunt the rut. Odds are not in his favor to draw a WA quality deer permit any time in the next 20 years. ID is no slam dunk. UT is DEFINITELY no slam dunk. MT there is a pretty reasonable expectation of a better than average 4pt if you can stay off the trigger long enough to find him.

Tomorrow is never a guarantee so get busy huntin 

[vandeman17]

He said multiple times in his post about not wanting to leave washington state for this hunt. I am pretty sure Idaho, Montana, Utah etc are not in the state of washington but I could be wrong. 

he also said he wants a decent muley buck. HANDS down best advice for killing a 4pt over 20" wide is not to apply for sub 10% draw odds hunts. Its to go to MT and hunt the rut. Odds are not in his favor to draw a WA quality deer permit any time in the next 20 years. ID is no slam dunk. UT is DEFINITELY no slam dunk. MT there is a pretty reasonable expectation of a better than average 4pt if you can stay off the trigger long enough to find him.

Tomorrow is never a guarantee so get busy huntin 

Not to beat a dead horse but he said, he wanted to shoot a washington mule deer over 20" wide. Maybe its a goal of his, he didn't say and hasn't responded to his one and only post.

" I'm just hoping to find a good hunting experience WITHOUT having to leave Washington State." That is tough to do in Idaho and Montana.

[Karl Blanchard]

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

 

[fishngamereaper]

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

 

Exactly how I feel with 23 oil points for goat, sheep and moose...

[vandeman17]

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

 

Totally agree as I am sitting with a decent amount of points and make out of state plans every year.

All I was getting at was he asked about central wa units with 18 points and where we would apply. Telling him to hunt Montana doesn't seem to be helpful feedback. I will now step aside

[Mtnwalker]

He said multiple times in his post about not wanting to leave washington state for this hunt. I am pretty sure Idaho, Montana, Utah etc are not in the state of washington but I could be wrong. 

he also said he wants a decent muley buck. HANDS down best advice for killing a 4pt over 20" wide is not to apply for sub 10% draw odds hunts. Its to go to MT and hunt the rut. Odds are not in his favor to draw a WA quality deer permit any time in the next 20 years. ID is no slam dunk. UT is DEFINITELY no slam dunk. MT there is a pretty reasonable expectation of a better than average 4pt if you can stay off the trigger long enough to find him.

Tomorrow is never a guarantee so get busy huntin 

Quit sending guys to my honey hole! Jeez man! 

[Karl Blanchard]

Its a diversion tactic to better my WA draw odds 

[Karl Blanchard]

If the goal is a bigger WA buck then scouting and hunting any of those units general season is a much better bet then trying to draw a quality tag. Like I previously stated, odds of drawing in the next 20 years is statistically very low and whether its general season or a permit season, big bucks are never a guarantee.

[ghosthunter]

Well one of my partners killed a 27.5 buck at the end of the regular rifle season. We did have a little snow early and it was below 32 degrees most days.
My interest in the draw is to get to hunt later and for 20 days.
I second guess the unit because the FS is letting the Mountain Bikers build trails all over it.

The buck this year was the 2nd big buck we've taken out of 20 years of rifle regulars seasons.
We know of six others in different parts. So a over 20 incher is possible in regular season. But mostly luck.

Good luck OP

[Boatman]

Guys:

Thanks for all the help.  With that advice, I think I'll start building points in Montana.  Will probably just buy a point in Montana this year.  Maybe I'll go with Plan B and go hunt late Whitetail in the Clearwater region with my cousin.  Apparently there are some tags left in a few of those units. 

[dilleytech]

If I was boatman I would put in for whatever unit has the highest draw odds. Hopefully burn all those points you have invested in then forget about ever drawing again and hunt out of state.

[Miles]

We know of six others in different parts. So a over 20 incher is possible in regular season. But mostly luck.

Good luck OP

I disagree completely with the luck comment.  With a little effort and scouting, a 20+ incher is an attainable feat every year.   For those folks who grew up hunting a spot in wa and refuse to leave it, it may not be attainable.  Try new things and new places.   Adapt, as hunters should.  Get away from your typical pumpkin patches and put some time in.   

[Karl Blanchard]

We know of six others in different parts. So a over 20 incher is possible in regular season. But mostly luck.

Good luck OP

I disagree completely with the luck comment.  With a little effort and scouting, a 20+ incher is an attainable feat every year.   For those folks who grew up hunting a spot in wa and refuse to leave it, it may not be attainable.  Try new things and new places.   Adapt, as hunters should.  Get away from your typical pumpkin patches and put some time in.   

mainly this. If a big buck is what a guy wants, he can't just leave it up to the deer gods. Attack it with deliberate purpose. Guys who kill big deer every year do so by going out and intentionally seeking out big deer. Its something anyone can do if they so choose.