WA. DESERT UNIT HELP.

GREG · Oct 3, 2006

JUST RECENTLY FOUND THIS SITE AND HAVE BEEN SPENDING HOURS READING THROUGH POST AND LOOKING AT ALL THE IMPRESSIVE PICTURES. EXCELLENT SITE, I WISH I WOULD HAVE FOUND IT SOONER. I WAS DRAWN FOR A ARCHERY DESERT UNIT TAG. I DO NOT KNOW THE AREA VERY WELL AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO START SCOUTING. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING OUR NEW HOUSE AND I PROMISED MY WIFE I WOULD FINISH IT BEFORE I GET SERIOUS ABOUT SCOUTING. NOW THE HOUSE IS DONE AND I'READY TO GET OUT THERE. I PLAN ON GOING UP THERE EVERY OTHER WEEKEND UNTIL SEASON STARTS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO ON WHERE I SHOULD START LOOKING. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREAT! THANKS, GREG

ridgerunner · Oct 4, 2006

HAve you called the bio? They can ususally offer up some pretty good info. I am sure someone on here may jump on and give you some advice. The only things I remember from talking to the bio about it is that the eastern half has more deer and you need to hunt them like you would whitetails as they get in the olive tree groves and can be very difficult to spot. Not much help I know but at least its something. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Craig · Oct 4, 2006

Put the tools down and hunt. You will probably never draw that tag again. Sorry I don't know anything about that unit but good luck. Welcome to the site.

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

Desert is mostly private, so you'd better start knocking on doors soon. Good luck.

fletch · Oct 4, 2006

Desert is mostly private? Have you ever been here? It is most entirely state land. Greg I will PM you.

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

There are some great parcells for hunting upland game and ducks, but you are incorrect. The entire western 2/3 of Grant County is mostly large ranches and some orchards, with nice draws in the western portion. I have hunted ducks and pheasant in Grant County often, since you asked politely. The wildlife areas get pressured tremendously during deer season. If it were me, I'd knock on doors, but what the hell do I know....

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

I would go one further, being that the State land is very fragmented in Grant County in to little blocks, you'd be wise to check in with bordering landowners just to be on the safe side. I've heard many stories of people hunting what they thought was State land in Grant Co. and ranchers tend to react very harshly to trespass.

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

-Pressured during the (permit) seasons.

fletch · Oct 4, 2006

I dont mean to get into a pissing match, but the desert unit lies between George and highway 17, south of I90 by far only a small portion of Grant county...while it may be true that most of the unit is ag land, the majority of the deer are on state land. Having hunted the desert unit with my own tag and helping others harvest deer in this unit, The large majority of the deer found within this unit are accessible on state land. The majority of the private land consists of agricultural circles, most of which is bordered by state land. Getting permission basically gets you through the crop to the state land behind...almost always accessible via some other shorter route. Alot of the pheasant and duck hunting is based around the thousands of acres of water found in our county but there are also very large open areas of rolling sage brush found within this unit. The duck/goose hunters actually help the hunting in this area as they push the deer away from the reservoir and waste ways in mid-October to the wide open sage brush of the central desert unit, all state land.

crabcreekhunter · Oct 4, 2006

My dad had the rifle tag in 2004. There is tons of public land with a bunch of geat bucks. That year the better quality bucks were taken on the public ground. I'm not sure when your season starts but if it's during the rut the bucks will be out all over the place. During the rut most of the good bucks we saw were on big sage flats that get over looked. If your tag is before the rut the bucks are more likely to be by the water (Potholes Resevoir, Frenchmans,Winchester wasteway) in the willows. I would stay away from agricultural fields and pay more attention to the sage flats, willows, and russian olive groves. If you have any questions just give me a pm.

crabcreekhunter · Oct 4, 2006

Fletch is very correct about the duck hunting pressure moving the deer from around the resevoir and up onto the sagebrush.

boneaddict · Oct 4, 2006

Since Fletch doesn't want to get in a pissing match I will just because its apparantly in my nature. YOU'RE CRAZY D-man. Have you ever been to the desert unit? Its almost all public. Please Greg, if you have any inclination at all, respect Fletch for his information. He is a very successful hunter, knows the desert better than most, and it happens to be his backyard. He was kind enough just to help a young man harvest a very nice deer out there. Please be wary of bad information on this site. There are some that don't have a clue.

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

It is a small unit and you probably know the boundaries well. The point about the duck hunters, though, seems to suggest since most of the state land is near the water that the deer would be pushed for that reason on to private ground? I have seen a lot of mulies around the reservoir and sign near the water where we duck hunt during the duck opener, but the problem at least where we hunt at the south end of the unit is because once the duck hunters go in first it pushes the deer to the neighboring property. I can be more specific, but only by PM as it is one of our regular hunting areas. It sounds though like you guys hunt a different area, so you may have had a different experience.

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

Hijack, hijack. Bonehead, who invited you? What did you just contribute?? Piss...

boneaddict · Oct 4, 2006

I was contributing to Gregs question, because I actually know what I am talking about. As a new member I wanted to make sure that he knew there were folks on here with great information, and those that didn't have a clue. As a photographer, I have spent tons of time out there, and as an outdoorsman, hunter etc, Fletch has spent more time out there than most. What you contributed was crap information. If you have ever spent anytime out there you would know that the duck hunters drive most of the big bucks from those ungodly swamps out into the sage, which happens to be mostly public land. As an expert you might know that though right. Sorry to hi-jack your misinformation thread. I may not share all information, but if I tell you something it will be the truth and not misinformation.

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

I'm just laughing over here at how full of yourself you are. I did exchange by PM with Fletch my exact experience in that area. Obviously I've done you some wrong in a past life to just jump in and start flipping crap my way. Ever hear the phrase -everyone's experience is different? Don't tell me I lie. Period. You have something further on that take it to PM, I have some opinions of your posts I'd like to share also. If your going to try to tell me that on a per acre basis, Desert is MOSTLY public land, your out of your mind.

GREG · Oct 4, 2006

Thanks every one for all the replys. I just put a call in to the local Bio. Waiting for reply. Now that the house is done I'm getting really excited about scouting and the upcoming hunt. I know I may never have a tag as good as this one ever again and I need to put in the time and effort to make good on it. Fletch, thanks for the pm I will be in touch soon.

boneaddict · Oct 4, 2006

Good luck on your hunt, you will enjoy it! The aesthetics aren't that great, but the animals are awesome.

Dmanmastertracker · Oct 4, 2006

Good luck Greg, your doing all the right leg work, I know it will pay off for you. It will be interesting to see if the bio suggests trying private land.....

slider · Oct 4, 2006

Can't we all just get along? Good Luck

WAstickslinger · Oct 4, 2006

I too spend many hours in the desert unit. There are big bucks on private land and there are big bucks on state land. You guys are arguing about how much is private and not helping the guy out who made the post. Who gives a crap if it is private or state. Most of these farmers will let you hunt. Just stop them and kindly ask. Heck most of the farmers out here will tell you where to look. And yes the duck and hunters move bucks away from the water late in the season to the sage pockets.

From what I hear the biologist will give you some help, along with every other tag holder who calls. Probably going to tell you to park near the radio tower on Dodson road and head east. Or he will tell you to take Hiawatha and go to Job Corp Dyke. Not bad places to start. Keep in mind there will be others in those same areas. I will send you a pm with some tips.

boneaddict · Oct 4, 2006

Good point stick slinger and slider! I was too hasty in my attacks. I'll just make it clear that Fletch knows what he is talking about and if he gives you advice you would be wise to listen. Enough said!
Dman.....I sent you a pm. We can take up our conversation there so we aren't hijacking this thread.

Greg. I will be out there about the same time you are. I will be doing some photography if you are interested in a call if I happen on a big one, shoot me a pm with a number. I have enough other adventures before then, so probably won't be out there in October this year. There is always a possiblilty though. Right now moose has priority. : )