204 Okanogan East, Help request

[Jingles]

If you look you will see a lot of these fires do not have an end date until the end of Oct gonna be either tough to find a public land hunting area or it is gonna be so crowded with hunters no deer will stand a chance and might be a few non game animals (2 legged) shot, sure glad I went archery this year. If you do go out general season PLEASE be damn careful.

[dutchmanaz]

This won't be popular at all, but if the herds are stressed so badly from lack of browse and cover, I would choose not to hunt in those areas.  They will struggle to survive without the added pressure from hunters. 

[greenhead_killer]

its a big unit, even with part of it on fire. youll be fine when season rolls around. honestly you probably wont have to get out of your truck if you put enough miles on the roads.

[81husky]

If the National forest is closed, what roads are you suggesting they hunt from? I don't take kindly to people shooting deer in my field.

[greenhead_killer]

im not suggesting shooting out of peoples private property. theres roughly 230k acres of nf in that unit, if they close the nf, might be sol this year, hopefully not the case but never know what these fires will do.  if they dont, he will have lots of options if he gets out and puts some miles on

[81husky]

I shouldn't have inferred that you were suggesting that. It does get old having people drive by at 2 MPH looking for deer. Gotta wonder if they see one, what are they going to do?

[greenhead_killer]

Totally understand. Our place is about 10 miles from you.  I caught the neighbor poaching, I mean recovering a deer on our place last year. Always a nice way to meet new people

[greenhead_killer]

I think if the op stays in the south end of the unit, he should be just fine.

[slowhand]

Slowhand, if your heart is set on hunting the reaches of Bonaparte, then you will have to modify your plans a bit.  As already reported, the picture is grim for the most part.  The east side of the mountain from Lost Lake to Bonaparte Lake to Wauconda is pretty much toast.  On the west side, where I live, the fire has come over the top and burned down roughly 1/2 of the way to the head of Siwash Creek and Fourth of July pass. 

Now for some good news... the local logging crew boys are busy putting in fire breaks along the Lost Lake Road to Havillah and Mill Creek Road, which, knock on wood, should stop it from getting down to private property.  There has been lots of air support the last two days and the weather has taken a turn for the better.

Couple of ifs... if the fire gets stopped and if the FS opens their roads, there will still be a fair amount of FS ground to tromp around on that holds whitetails.

Finally if all goes south for you and your buddy, give me a call.  I can help with direction or access to my ranch.

Dale
(509) 485-1910

Saving your number as our backup plan, thank you so much. This forum is full of so many kind people.
Please stay safe up there and god bless you.

[Bogie85]

If the National forest is closed, what roads are you suggesting they hunt from? I don't take kindly to people shooting deer in my field.

I would never take an animal on private property unless I had permission prior. I might look at them just to admire but I have on x for a reason.

[slowhand]

If the National forest is closed, what roads are you suggesting they hunt from? I don't take kindly to people shooting deer in my field.

I would never take an animal on private property unless I had permission prior. I might look at them just to admire but I have on x for a reason.

I wouldn't believe him... This guy looks shady to me. See that Turkey.. I wasn't there when He got it. Could have been on private land? 
Just kidding around.. We will fill that doe tag Zack don't You worry. "best season ever" got to stay possative no matter what.

[huntnfmly]

I shouldn't have inferred that you were suggesting that. It does get old having people drive by at 2 MPH looking for deer. Gotta wonder if they see one, what are they going to do?

Or maybe they are just looking at deer
Nothing wrong with driving around looking at deer

[81husky]

[/quote]
Nothing wrong with driving around looking at deer
[/quote]

Nope, nothing wrong at all. I do it all the time. I don't do it during hunting season with 3 other guys all dressed in orange though.

[bhawley76]

If the National forest is closed, what roads are you suggesting they hunt from? I don't take kindly to people shooting deer in my field.
You own the rest of 204 that's not National forest?

[greenhead_killer]

That unit is either private or nf, so he’s not wrong in asking that. Few tiny chunks of state with even smaller sections of blm. He doesn’t own the rest of 204, but lots of others do. I know where he’s at and shooting out of peoples yard is not uncommon. It gets old dealing with that sort of people.