Winthrop/Cub Creek area

[WDFW-SUX]

180 ish rifle less for archery 

[alecvg]

I tell you boys, this is the lowest population of deer I have seen in the Methow my entire life. 

We saw 150 to 200 deer there saterday night just driving around outside of Winthrop past Big Twin lake and that whole area, that isn't too bad is it?  Or did it used to be way better than that?  Granted we only saw a few bucks, but we saw a ton of bucks this summer, including some nice ones.

[kirkl]

thats normal for that area out in those fields usually.

[turbo]

thats normal for that area out in those fields usually.

They are always there! I'm sure I will fill the doe tag but not sure about the buck her e in the methow.

[Buckoholic]

Just hunt Twin Lakes!! Went through there last week and seen 6 bucks 4 points or better!!! To bad there is so many tree huggers there!! On cub crk with the amount of pressure those deer have seen in archery and the amount they will see in modern try to still hunt!! Guys are going to be pushing those deer every which way!!! Find a high knob and plan on sitting.. I've killed several bucks up there that way!!

[boneaddict]

Actually there are usually about 500-800 there in that area, so yeah, that is bad.

[boneaddict]

Probably going to have to be bigger than 180, but then again, it might be bowsandhose I have to worry about instead of bucklucky.  What are the odds......course then there is Huntnphool and his moose and then Ridge....oh hell.

[shorthair-on-point]

Just hunt Twin Lakes!! Went through there last week and seen 6 bucks 4 points or better!!! To bad there is so many tree huggers there!!

My parents have a place on Twin Lakes. I was practicing on a 3d target in their back yard a few years back and had the cops called on me. The cop just laughed when he saw I was just shooting a target. Jokingly asked if I had a tag for that. I have had people yelling at me when I was pulled over on the side of the road just glassing deer around there. So yah, a lot of tree huggers there.

[wilywin]

I must admit i must be totally missing the boat on what everyone is saying.  All's i am hearing is how the numbers are down and how bad the hunting is going to be?  We have a spot where our family has been going for years and i was over there 2 weeks ago scouting around and cutting some wood in prep for the the upcoming season.  I have seen more deer over there than any year i can remember.  I even read last night in the washington/oregon hunting magazine how the Chewuch and Perryigin areas are on the rebound from the big fire a few years back.  We always see plenty around town but i counted almost 70 deer in the area i hunt. Heres a picture of a big fat 2 point that let me get to about 30 ft away. Just outside of town eating apples. Anyways just my thought!  Good luck to everyone this year.  10 more days!!!!

[turbo]

I'm up here scouting for the week and it's bleak. All of the deer are down low in the Valley again and the woods are bone dry and loud. The creeks are dry and the sign is lame up high, hopefully the coming rain will help. I think it's going to be porch hunting again this year in the Methow.

[Alchase]

Willywin, The deer you are seeing around town will also be there after the opener. Just outside of town on the west side of the road, I have seen deer every time I have been past that farm. We have been going up there for twenty years and I can't remember a time there was not deer in town. Last year coming out of Three finger jacks for lunch there were two bucks (3x3 and a 3x4) sparring in the River Bend parking lot right on the street, lol. How we tell if there is going to be a good year is how many twins and triplet fawns we see the year before. I have not heard how well they did this year, but two years ago there were allot of triplets so hopefully this year will be good. The deer in that area seem to move around. One year the Ramsey area will be hot the next you wont see many and Cub Creek is hot. You just have to listen to the locals and find the deer. Not as easy as it sounds.

[wilywin]

I agree with you totally.  I was just saying in the area where my family hunts,  the last few years i have seen tons of deer.  And almost every doe i saw a couple weeks ago had at least 1-2 fawns.  Saw several yearling spikes.    And yes the deer down in town are always there.    I was refering to my spot wich is almost 20 miles NE of town up in the hills. I have seen more deer the last 2 years than ever before.  Last year (2007) i got a nice 5x5 along with my uncle and his Doe tag.  The year before (2006) we got a 4x4 and 3x2 in our camp.  I just dont buy into the deer number being down.  Lots of fawns and lots of deer from what i have seen!  By the way only like 10 more days!  Woooo Hoo!

[BuckHunter23]

Thanks for all the info.  I guess we'll just have to see for ourselves.  Good luck to everyone.  10 more days!! One more question, what is the best bar to watch the Hawks game at on Sunday?

[DeerHarvester]

I live in the area and wish I could tell all of you that all the mule deer are gone from the deep snow last winter.  Most of you will still make the trip over the mountains either way so I will be honest.  The mule deer population may be down just a bit from the harsh winter, but there are plenty of legal bucks running around.  This should be another productive year.  For the most part the mule deer population is still on the raise in the Methow, compaired to the 90's, when we seen very low numbers.  I have been doing a lot of scouting and look forward to posting pictures of the Okanogan County Mule deer that will soon be in my freezer.      

[spin05]

You guys may be right about the deer areas kind of switching around year to year.All i know is i spent 3 full days there around the FS#100 and FS#200 roads and we saw no bucks there or in the 3-4 times we drove thru town.Granted when we drive thru town it is middle of the afternoon. Last year on day one we had 21 bucks come by our stand in 2 hours and and they were all non-legal 2 points or less except one wich i couldnt get to within 70yrds of. Now were did all those 2point bucks dissapear too? In my opinion its been going down hill ever since they started those youth doe tags over there.Dont get me wrong on helping out the kids,I have a 12 yearold son i take with me every year.Maybe its just coisedence???The 1st year we went over there 5 years ago we counted 300 +deer along the road from earlywinters to town.The last 2 years less then 20!!!!!!Our friends have a Cabin on the otherside of the HWY from Mazama and they noticed the same thing. So for you guys who are sitting on your nice pockets of deer around there i suggest you keep them hush,hush.... I dont think its like that everywear there.