WA state Mule Deer question

[AutumnPulse]

Question for you WA state Mule deer hunters. Why does the Desert A unit have the most applicants? Does that unit produce some of biggest bucks in the state? Or is just because it is fairly easy terrain to hunt and has plenty of bucks that are at least a four point but not typically huge?

What do you think?

It seams to me that there might be better opportunity to catch a monster coming down out of the mountains during the rut in a unit like the Swakane or Naneum.

Thanks,

Autumn Pulse

"Be a straight-shooter in all that you do."

 

[Icicleoutfitters]

The Desert Unit has a reputation for producing big buck. It produces big bucks because harvest is very limited. Units like Swakane have deer migrate in from the high Cascade Mountains where they also have a chance to grow old and support big racks.
Good nutrition is vital to but without a chance to live 4 or 5 years you will never get big racks.

P.S. Glad to see that some antlerless permits are being issued to keep the deer population below the carrying capacity of the Desert.

 

[andrew_12gauge]

The more time you spend in the desert you will realize that there are a lot of average four points but there are a few true monsters out there. They are not stupid though and they use the thick cover near frenchmans and winchester wasteways to their advantage, but when we are baling hay at night out there we often see them out feeding in the alfalfa fields. it is a very fun hunt if you can draw the permit