Chiwawa Unit

[wyattoswalt]

Does anyone ever deer hunt the chiwawa unit? I'm considering putting in for the quality buck tag, but have no knowledge of the area. Any information is appreciated!


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[chester]

Why would you apply with no knowledge? Seems like a waste of points to go in blind .   

[huntnnw]

Why would you apply with no knowledge? Seems like a waste of points to go in blind .   

with that response I am guessing you dont apply for sheep, goat or moose, cause most do not know those areas. I am also guessing you dont apply outta state

[chester]

Why would you apply with no knowledge? Seems like a waste of points to go in blind .   

with that response I am guessing you dont apply for sheep, goat or moose, cause most do not know those areas. I am also guessing you dont apply outta state

You’d be mistaken, but I usually scout an area before committing to it. In Washington depending on how many points he has , maybe run up there in general before dumping all those years points into a unit blind.

[huntnnw]

I have hunted all over the west and drawn multiple tags in WA without ever stepping a foot in a unit. No time to go look at units that you probably are not going to draw and could be 15 years or more later  

Plus with what the OP is asking is a late quality unit, there is no shortage of help on here and those tags are completely different than hunting the same unit on a general tag

[Dan-o]

I have hunted all over the west and drawn multiple tags in WA without ever stepping a foot in a unit. No time to go look at units that you probably are not going to draw and could be 15 years or more later  

Plus with what the OP is asking is a late quality unit, there is no shortage of help on here and those tags are completely different than hunting the same unit on a general tag

 

I've drawn several Washington tags for units I'd never or rarely set foot in.

They ended up being some of my best and most memorable hunts.

[RB]

I have hunted all over the west and drawn multiple tags in WA without ever stepping a foot in a unit. No time to go look at units that you probably are not going to draw and could be 15 years or more later  

Plus with what the OP is asking is a late quality unit, there is no shortage of help on here and those tags are completely different than hunting the same unit on a general tag

 

I've drawn several Washington tags for units I'd never or rarely set foot in.

They ended up being some of my best and most memorable hunts.

 

X2

 

[phildobaggins]

Good unit, apply for it and workout

[CP]

Good luck with that.  I hope that you have a lot of points.

[Ghost Hunter]

Right there with you.     My 2nd choice with 18 points.  At this point it's hard to draw (they all are).   Get one last fling or take the points to the grave.   

[Ridgerunner]

Lots of guys hunt the Chiwawa for deer.  A quick look at the applications tells you what units are the most popular to apply for so they more then likely have the most hunters hunting them during the general season as well. 

Late quality bucks in this state are no slam dunk, those that do the best with them hunt them as hard as they hunt the general season. If you want a road hunt find a unit that has lots of roads and open country to see, I'm not sure Chiwawa would be my top pick if that is the type of hunt you want. 

I've drawn tags in units I have not hunted before and had great hunts in this state but I will say there was ALOT of scouting and preseason work that went into each one of those hunts. 

[jrebel]

The biggest problem for the Chiwawa unit quality tag, is how big it is.  If the weather comes, it concentrates animals through travel corridors.  If the weather doesn't come, the unit is so big, you have to pick a general area (hopefully scouted prior to season) and get after it.  One side of the unit has lots of road access, the other has very limited road access.  The entire unit is steep / big country.  Regardless of all that being said....if you draw a quality tag, you should be able to kill a buck.  How big that buck is will depend on a combination of effort and luck. 

Everything I said above....applies to most mule deer rut hunts, nothing special.  As for info on this or other sites, you may want to introduce yourself before jumping straight into asking about units and hunts.  Generally speaking, hunters (and fishers) take hunting areas / spots as sacred ground.  Just a common courtesy to become part of the community before asking about hunt units.  All that being said, a lot of people will offer up help to people who draw special tags.  I, and most on this site, want special draw hunters to be successful.   

[Skyvalhunter]

I wouldnt put in for the Chiwawa the Napeequa and Maverick wolf packs have killed them all off. Just the same welcome aboard

[vandeman17]

One of my favorite parts about special permits are when you apply for new units. If you go to a new area to hunt a general tag, you might go scout it once or twice but something about having a permit in your pocket that really motivates you to learn a unit.

[Skyvalhunter]

Or contact Hunt WA members instead like I get yearly inquiries about on this unit

[Igor]

As stated, the Chiwawa unit is huge.  However, when the nasty weather comes that is a positive, rather than a negative.  Parts of the unit are at an elevation of 5400' - 5800', and are basically impassable when the big snow arrives.  We have been up there in years past, chained up on all four.......not fun.  Much of the unit is at a much lower elevation, and is still huntable, even when major snowstorms make some parts of the unit not accessible.

If you draw the late tag, do lots of regular season scouting.  Years ago we hunted the unit, both regular season and late season, and killed some very nice bucks.

PM me if you like, and I will share some info on the parts of the unit I am familiar with.

[teanawayslayer]

Good luck with that.  I hope that you have a lot of points.

points don’t matter. Help a guy out. Atleast he is asking prior to drawing

[Skyvalhunter]

One thing you have to take into account on the Chiwawa unit is unless your going to specifically hunt the Entiat side of it theres a potential that your area to hunt by vehicle access was reduced. The Sears cr/Poe mtn fires closed a lot of hunting area and probably wont open up this year. So you need to take that into consideration.

[CP]

Good luck with that.  I hope that you have a lot of points.

points don’t matter. Help a guy out. Atleast he is asking prior to drawing

All I can offer is best wishes and good luck.  I gave up putting in for that permit a few years ago.  Points do matter, and the odds of me pulling that draw before I age out or croak are slim to none.

Got points, have at it.   

[Stein]

Good luck with that.  I hope that you have a lot of points.

points don’t matter. Help a guy out. Atleast he is asking prior to drawing

When someone's first post is a blanket ask for "any info" on a tag where you have a 6% chance of drawing with 20 points, there are going to be a bunch of people wondering why they should make an effort to share when the poster didn't put forth the effort to use available tools at least enough to ask semi-informed, specific questions.

[jason stevens]

Lots of great area as stated before an yes you can draw that hunt with 1 point its a lottery an it happened last year for a buddy of mine. Do lots of scouting an prey for bad weather.

[teanawayslayer]

Lots of great area as stated before an yes you can draw that hunt with 1 point its a lottery an it happened last year for a buddy of mine. Do lots of scouting an prey for bad weather.

no way! it takes points and lots of them

[vandeman17]

Lots of great area as stated before an yes you can draw that hunt with 1 point its a lottery an it happened last year for a buddy of mine. Do lots of scouting an prey for bad weather.

no way! it takes points and lots of them

And when you have lots of them, you deserve a tag. Robbed if you don't get one

[wyattoswalt]

Good unit, apply for it and workout

Yes sir!


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[wyattoswalt]

As stated, the Chiwawa unit is huge.  However, when the nasty weather comes that is a positive, rather than a negative.  Parts of the unit are at an elevation of 5400' - 5800', and are basically impassable when the big snow arrives.  We have been up there in years past, chained up on all four.......not fun.  Much of the unit is at a much lower elevation, and is still huntable, even when major snowstorms make some parts of the unit not accessible.

If you draw the late tag, do lots of regular season scouting.  Years ago we hunted the unit, both regular season and late season, and killed some very nice bucks.

PM me if you like, and I will share some info on the parts of the unit I am familiar with.

Thank you, I certainly will!


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[wyattoswalt]

The biggest problem for the Chiwawa unit quality tag, is how big it is.  If the weather comes, it concentrates animals through travel corridors.  If the weather doesn't come, the unit is so big, you have to pick a general area (hopefully scouted prior to season) and get after it.  One side of the unit has lots of road access, the other has very limited road access.  The entire unit is steep / big country.  Regardless of all that being said....if you draw a quality tag, you should be able to kill a buck.  How big that buck is will depend on a combination of effort and luck. 

Everything I said above....applies to most mule deer rut hunts, nothing special.  As for info on this or other sites, you may want to introduce yourself before jumping straight into asking about units and hunts.  Generally speaking, hunters (and fishers) take hunting areas / spots as sacred ground.  Just a common courtesy to become part of the community before asking about hunt units.  All that being said, a lot of people will offer up help to people who draw special tags.  I, and most on this site, want special draw hunters to be successful.   

Thank you, and noted on the hunting forum etiquette.


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[wyattoswalt]

One thing you have to take into account on the Chiwawa unit is unless your going to specifically hunt the Entiat side of it theres a potential that your area to hunt by vehicle access was reduced. The Sears cr/Poe mtn fires closed a lot of hunting area and probably wont open up this year. So you need to take that into consideration.

Will do, I appreciate the information.


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[nwalpineguide]

Does anyone ever deer hunt the chiwawa unit? I'm considering putting in for the quality buck tag, but have no knowledge of the area. Any information is appreciated!


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Coming soon to a Hunting Forum near you: I'll be posting game camera videos from the 4 game camera units I left up in the Chiwawa unit over the previous fall and winter. These videos shall we say... see tepid interest each year that I post them. Grin.

Of course I'll have to edit them for several hours as there is usually over 100+ videos on each unit.

Attached is a sample from 2021



The cold spring, late melt and horrendous road and trail conditions has delayed my hiking into this unit to secure those cameras but last week things opened up. 

[WAcoueshunter]

Lots of good bucks summer up high in the Chiwawa and then migrate down through in November.  Same with the other similar units in the upper drainages, e.g., Slide Ridge, Mission etc.  The challenge is catching them in a place where you can actually hunt them.  The top 2/3 of Chiwawa is DENSE.  Not really very huntable.  So that mostly leaves the bottom 1/3 to hunt.  Essentially you are trying to catch them just before they cross into Swakane and Entiat for the winter.  No snow, and they stay up high and you can't find them.  Too much or too early snow, and they cross quickly into Swakane and Entiat.  The success rates in Chiwawa versus Entiat will tell you all you need to know.  It's easier to find them on the lower transition areas and winter range in Entiat.  Some years in Chiwawa can be super frustrating.  That doesn't happen in Entiat.

[nwalpineguide]

Chiwawa quality buck on migration/rut trail and in transition range. I believe he's a 6X6.

Finally pulled the 4 camera units I had out since mid October 2022. They held around 800 videos total.

This was the only adequate buck captured on video at 2 locations, about a mile apart from each other, where I place two units at each site within 50 yards of each other. Elevation; about 3,700 feet.

Enjoy!

[Ghost Hunter]

Wowzer!

[teanawayslayer]

Chiwawa quality buck on migration/rut trail and in transition range. I believe he's a 6X6.

Finally pulled the 4 camera units I had out since mid October 2022. They held around 800 videos total.

This was the only adequate buck captured on video at 2 locations, about a mile apart from each other, where I place two units at each site within 50 yards of each other. Elevation; about 3,700 feet.

Enjoy!

didn’t hunt the migration routes you’ve had on camera for years during your special permit hunt?

[nwalpineguide]

Chiwawa quality buck on migration/rut trail and in transition range. I believe he's a 6X6.

Finally pulled the 4 camera units I had out since mid October 2022. They held around 800 videos total.

This was the only adequate buck captured on video at 2 locations, about a mile apart from each other, where I place two units at each site within 50 yards of each other. Elevation; about 3,700 feet.

Enjoy!

didn’t hunt the migration routes you’ve had on camera for years during your special permit hunt?

I tried to and could not reach those camera sites due to weather, road and trail conditions. I posted an after action report back in November.

It's a difficult hunt, the Chiwawa is in November at the places I'm most familiar with. Part of that units appeal I guess!

[hunterednate]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

[teanawayslayer]

Chiwawa quality buck on migration/rut trail and in transition range. I believe he's a 6X6.

Finally pulled the 4 camera units I had out since mid October 2022. They held around 800 videos total.

This was the only adequate buck captured on video at 2 locations, about a mile apart from each other, where I place two units at each site within 50 yards of each other. Elevation; about 3,700 feet.

Enjoy!

didn’t hunt the migration routes you’ve had on camera for years during your special permit hunt?

I tried to and could not reach those camera sites due to weather, road and trail conditions. I posted an after action report back in November.

It's a difficult hunt, the Chiwawa is in November at the places I'm most familiar with. Part of that units appeal I guess!

very familiar with the unit and the weather that can come during those dates. Bummer deal

[Ridgerunner]

Stud buck for sure.

[Igor]

Here is a Chiwawa buck from a few years ago, taken right at Maverick Saddle.

[nwalpineguide]

Here is a Chiwawa buck from a few years ago, taken right at Maverick Saddle.

  Very nice buck Igor. Congrats!

They're on the move now, headed back into the wilderness.

[actionshooter]

Great videos.... killed my very 1st buck there when I was 19 on a late muzzy hunt in 1991.... if I knew then what I know now... LOL

Great videos... thanks

[huntnphool]

Here is a Chiwawa buck from a few years ago, taken right at Maverick Saddle.

 Fantastic Igor!

[nwalpineguide]

I wouldnt put in for the Chiwawa the Napeequa and Maverick wolf packs have killed them all off. Just the same welcome aboard

Sure hope the Maverick pack missed these two!

[wyattoswalt]

Does anyone ever deer hunt the chiwawa unit? I'm considering putting in for the quality buck tag, but have no knowledge of the area. Any information is appreciated!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Coming soon to a Hunting Forum near you: I'll be posting game camera videos from the 4 game camera units I left up in the Chiwawa unit over the previous fall and winter. These videos shall we say... see tepid interest each year that I post them. Grin.

Of course I'll have to edit them for several hours as there is usually over 100+ videos on each unit.

Attached is a sample from 2021



The cold spring, late melt and horrendous road and trail conditions has delayed my hiking into this unit to secure those cameras but last week things opened up.

Wow! Thanks for sharing!


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[PA BEN]

Why would you apply with no knowledge? Seems like a waste of points to go in blind .   

Like you have never asked a question on where to hunt?