WA/Yakima Firing Range/Alaki A Hunt information

Moosestock

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I would appreciate any information or tips on areas in the Yakima Firing range/Alkali A Hunt. My son has drawn a tag and the hunt is the week of Thanksgiving. I usually hunt blacktails in Western Wash and have never been in this area. I understand there are some awesome Muley Bucks taken in this area every year and it is a very high success rate hunt. I have heard its a "Glass and Stalk" type of hunt as it is very open country. This suites my normal hunting well as glassing and using a spotting scope is the normal way I hunt Blacktails and Elk in western washington and we are very successful most every year. We want to try for a very good Buck and any information would be greatly appreciated. I plan on starting to scout this weekend before the regular deer season and will go over several times more but it would really help if any of you know some of the "Zones" in this area that great Bucks come from. Thanks for the help.....Les
 
Hunterofelk did well there last year, he may be able to help. I did get signed up at the base and did some scouting this year, I also used to live in Eburg, I know that area a little. It is very much open country.
 
As per the firing center, you should, as much as possible, find out the schedule out there. It changes based on training activites. Some areas that were open when you scouted might be closed when you try to go hunting. Just check with the guys at the check in station and make sure you get as much information as you can so that your not surprised when they tell you that you cant go where you had planned. Have a back up. I'd head north and east from the gate - east. . .

There still is some nice deer out there around the red zone in particular, the impact area, the bucks head there to find the does, the does go there because there's always good fresh feed as a result of the fires.
 
I hunted the first part of the season in the Saddle Mountains. Looks like good buck country and plenty of room to roam around off the roads. We had fog from Saturday till Friday. Couldn't see very far. People were shooting bucks and does though, but not me. I saw only a couple of bucks in the area I was hunting, even had a shot and a miss at a decent 3X3, so I switched to the south end. I saw a lot more deer along the Yakima Ridge and on the last day around 10 o'clock I shot a buck with nice solid antlers, 'bout a 20 inch spread, three main points and double eyeguards. For a desert buck with little fat, the meat is very good. I think many of the older bucks were dead or off the range by the last day, but defintly check out the south end. The game people will tell you the trophys are evenly spread through the range and I guess that's true. Look for good feed and water and the top third of the hills. They honestly try to open most of the range during the rifle season. The zone just off of the main impact area is off limits unless you are an employee or with one.
I liked the range. The rules keep the crazies out and you can road hunt or walk hunt and have a good time.

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"Look for good feed and water and the top third of the hills."

Great avise!
 
I've worked on the training center quite a bit and seen some real nice bucks, like the other guy said you may find a place you really want to hunt but the military may be using it that day for training. The place is a lot of rolling hills and draws with roads all over the place.When you watch the video (about 20 minutes) you get a card that basically says youve watched the video and your ok to hunt.After that they will tell you which areas are open and your off. You will need to check in and out each day and there is some lodging on base for very affordable i'll see if i can round up the number for the lady that runs that if you want. If its a slow training time its really easy to get a room. The biggest buck ive ever seen alive was 100 yards off one of the main dirt roads downrange very tall and very wide ....big.pm me if you want that number and i will get it for you, one of the guys i work with practically lives in yakima and has explored the training center a lot more than i have and he may be able to show you around over there on one of your scouting trips.
 
Try going up to the top of cold creek. Look toward the river. There are some deep isolated draws and some nice bucks hang out there now and then. I have been there a lot and have seen nice bucks In most of the places you can go. The ridges run east-west. Get 3/4 up the gullys befor first light and glass back across the main valley. You will be able to watch 3/4 different draws on the other side from one spot if your in a good position. The deer move up in the AM to bed for the day. Dont expect to see a ton of deer and hunt at least 5 days, good luck!
 

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