Observations from Okanogan Area?

[Tundra]

Family has been hunting mule deer in the Okanogan area since the early 50s, generation 3 is now carrying on the tradition.  : )  Sadly, I've missed the last few seasons as I live in Alaska and can't ever seem to make the logistics work in October.   

Dad commented that deer numbers really seemed down this year.  Even on years when the big bucks weren't around he usually sees quite a few does and some young bucks.  This year they only saw 6 does and covered more territory than is typical.  (they spent a week out there hunting)   

He has seen increased sign of "paw prints" in the area the last few years, but even those seemed less this year.   Seeing a cougar in the wild is not that common, but within our party we have seen at least 1 a year for the last 5-6 years.   Why is that significant?  Family has been hunting that area since the 50s and had never seen a cougar (only minimal sign) until mid 2000s.   Lot of cattle run around the hills we hunt in.  Wonder if any ranchers are having issues with predators?

Are you guys seeing an impact in your hunting areas by an increase in predators?  Dad seems to think that last 4-5 years had a pretty good increase in bears and cougars and now the entire area feels "dead."   The last few winters probably haven't helped any, but was curious if other hunters had similar thoughts or evidence. 

Perhaps wolves or coyotes are part of the problem?   

[boneaddict]

Wolves and cats.   Bear are being held in check better.    I am afraid your families observations are being shared by many. It tends to be the norm this year.  Every once in awhile you'll get someone that pipes in that they seen a ton, but I often wonder about those sightings.   From what I can tell from all of my wanderings we are definately on a downward trend or spiral.

[NRA4LIFE]

We hunted between about 4000-6000 feet and the only deer we saw in there walked right through our camp.  I only had a couple days to hunt so I wasn't able to do a whole lot of exploring up higher.  Almost no deer to be seen but bear crap EVERYWHERE.  You could not go out and not find a dozen or more piles.  Some very fresh, some not.  But not a bear to be found.  Strange.

[Tundra]

Interesting...  Are there confirmed sightings of wolves in that area?  I can tell you we have seen the Cougars.   I can confirm 3 for sure, the rest I have to trust my family on.   The bear sign we have seen has been in years past.  My Dad pretty much felt the area was just sort of "gamed" out.  Just grouse and not much else.

Does WA F&G have a plan to help check the cougars and wolves?  Is the Mule Deer Foundation championing this effort?  I feel pretty out of touch with that area being up here in AK, but it will always hold a spot in my heart due to my history with it.  Sure hate to see it just die out...   Mule Deer are my favorite critters to chase...

[boneaddict]

I saw tracks last year in Salmon Meadows and Lone Frank, and we had a gentleman on here photograph one in the Sinlahekin.  He was hunting yotes I believe and videod the critter.   Republic is full of them, so not sure where you are at, but they are in the hood.     

[WaltAlpine]

We were in the Tunk Mountain area for most of the week and saw almost nothing. Not even a lot of shots heard. Lots of fresh sign in the area, but they definitely moved on before we got there.

[Buckmark]

Besides the predator problems (4 legged and 2 legged) the rifle hunt is to early IMO for any great success, atleast in my area. The weather this week is highs in the 40's, lows in the 20's and possible snow. Also "back in the day" the hunt went for 3-4 weeks......
Waltpine did ya look at the field of alfalfa and corn on the corner of talkire lk rd and hwy 20?

[Kowsrule30]

Hunted the whole muzzy elk season and opening weekend of modern deer in 368... Saw 9 deer... One spike, a 3x4, a 3x3... The rest were does... Not one had a fawn... Didn't see as much cat sign as usual but we never saw any snow either...

[CAMPMEAT]

We were all over the Loomis/Sinlahekin area Saturday and back to Conconully and saw zero of anything.

[tmtimestwo]

I would tend to agree with it being a bad year, Spent 6 days 7 miles in and cover 32 miles of country in that time without seeing a single animal, a lot of fresh sign every morning, not sure if it was just temps keeping them nocturnal or if something was pushing them. Definately far fewer animals than I would have ever expected in covering that much ground. Don't want to speculate on predators as this year was an odd one for weather as well.

[ldjbuff]

The weather was a killer this yr for archery season, they fed at night

[Bwana Bob]

I don't feel as bad after reading all these posts on the okanogan. I hunted 7 days and saw very few deer. It was the worst year I ever hunted in WA.
I saw more grouse than deer. And I thought that I had lost my deer hunting MOJO.
What a bummer of a season.

[bobcat]

Doesn't sound good. I'll be there for a week in mid-November so I sure hope there are still a few bucks around.

[CAMPMEAT]

FYI for you late tag holders : SAGE BRUSH, enough said. 

[mazama]

Hunted up high on hiway 20 wa pass saw no deer ,very little shooting on delancy ridge also sunday night no deer in Klipchuck cg,harts pass heard 2 shots second weekend,low overall sucess rate. saw lot of bear sign in two areas i hunted.