Nick

That's been the majority of my experiences with Wa St late rifle whitetail season in the NE as well, since the mid 90's. WDFW has adjusted the season's overall, so the rifle hunter just barely gets a glimpse of the rut (it appears to me at least). Sure, there are some "rutting bucks" but those dummies usually get wacked, toot-sweet. Mid to late 80's in the NE was fantastic hunting, as the season ran through T-day, and half of Spokane didn't head North to hunt as well.

If I want to hunt a late whitetail; ideally it's a special permit where the number of hunters are controlled, or I go to a neighboring state where the season runs to the end of November. Road trips are always fun regardless though! Glad you got to see some different scenery too.

I chased elk around the neighborhood this weekend, and the bulls are still chasing cows and bugling. Gotta be a couple of cows that they missed last month and that has these 2 big bulls pissed off! I keep finding cow/calfs pairs, rather than a barren cow for my tag but I have lots of time too.