Ellensburg area deer numbers...

[RightPlace-RightTime]

335 unit, I hiked in at 3:45 am, was sitting in my spot at 6:00am.  Hunted all day. I seen 14 deer,  i was up way high,  4 came out, watched them, then all the others came out and the two that i did not see the heads took off running instantly and ran over 500 yrs over shail and never slowed down. 
There was one spike in the group that i watched for 45 min. 
Another hunter later that day told me about the 2 deer that never slowed down.  I only seen them for about a 20 yrd slot but he was the one that seen them from about a 1000 yrs away that seen them run all that way and could not make them out.  Thats how hard they were running.  Im curious if they were bucks.  I never hear of deer doing that.  Just two seperated from all the other ones to run through all that open country.  hmm.  It was nice being out. 

[bankwalker]

I have seen more deer this year then last I saw two shooters in the first 1hr of legal light. Today I took a friend out and we saw 5does, and 2 bucks but they where to far away to count there antlers.
I have been hammering the predators in that area though (40 coyotes since 1/1/08)

you hunting around your town?

i just talked to a friend who lives just outside of yak, and he also has been destroying coyotes. resulting in him seeing alot more deer this year aswell. i dont think they threaten the deer, but the pressence of them might keep the deer away

[Cougeyes]

Same story, GMU 335...we got skunked.  Our area that we can usually pass on bucks to hold out for bigger ones didn't produce.  Very few deer seen only one legal one spotted and missed by the guy that was hunting with me.  A huge influx of people as well into our area and we hunt really high.  Hopefully it rebounds.  I agree cougar predation takes its toll on mule deer and elk, but isn't a significant problem in this GMU to totally turn the population into a downward spiral.  I think it was the harsher winter, deer lice and cougar predation all mixed together.  We found two deer sheds last year on south slopes while hunting and we hunt at 5700-6000' feet.  So...if these deer winter there they got hammered this past winter.  My two cents anyways.

[mulehunter]

Once it snow we can get together and find fresh Cat track and we can walk thur tracks and follow them as long as we can till we see them shoot them. That way we want Help to build Mule deer population up. Anyone Interested??  I have a Gmu 335 Forest Timber Gate access to hundreds thousands acres. Sent me Pm. Hope you have a good snowmobile!  It would be FUN and make good frined!

Mulehunter 

[mulehunter]

Great NEWS!!! Two COUGARS Killed up North West Teanaway area. Now 4 collared cats left to go! Boiloglist is going HATE US! 
Guy who owns property up by our and he talked to me yesterday that he seen three cougars in one spot on road and it was in July mid.  OH NO!!!
I got a lot more Infos about where and area and how many collared on cats. So There will be four for sure to hunt down in teanaway. I passed few old cat tracks where I was scouting over weekend.
How I found out that I talked to Officer in Rosyln today on my way home. He said two different hunter kill two Cats Open day for deer. 



Mulehunter 

[PA BEN]

It's state wide. The full moon. The deer feed at night and bed during the day. Saw a nice buck at 11:45 last night.

[fremont]

It's state wide. The full moon. The deer feed at night and bed during the day. Saw a nice buck at 11:45 last night.

Full moon
68 degrees
No wind
Deer lice
Earlier season (away from rut)
Hard winter

I know....I know....lots of nice deer pix since 8 days ago.  Those hunters should be congratulated.  Most of those guys earned them.....hard hikes....high elevations....rough country....sacrifice.  That said, there's been a seismic shift to the worse for many GMUs.  We need to decide as a hunting community whether general season works anymore.  I'm personally starting to doubt it.  I want to hunt with my friends, so I'd probably put in a group application.  If the whole state (or.....Eastside?  Certain GMUs?) went the permit-only way, I'd be lucky to draw what?  Every five years?  But that hunt might be a dandy.  In mid-November, looking for big rutting bucks in real hunting weather.  I dunno.  I'm not sure we're on the right path.   

[Rick]

346 was really bad this year.

I spent from Thurday before the opener to Friday after the opener and saw a grand total of 8 does. I saw all 8 does in two days.

I hunted high (in the snow) I hunted the sagebrush,I hunted the timber.

We've been hunting 346 for about 15 years and know the area very well.

Its hard to stay motivated when you know you just aren't going to see any deer.

[87samurai]

yea very bad year for me only saw a total of 5 deer all doe's in winthrop area. No deer in teanaway. On the drive home though i seen close to 50 deer in the farmers fields 4 of those were bucks not legal though. Also seen about 60 elk in the fields.

[mulehunter]

We were working so hard walking all over the mountain. He and I hiked so many miles up and down and spotted over thousand feet and start to sneak in to 50 yds and surprised them, only two buck with in whole weekend. Its not good! Great Excrise!! WHee...
Yes you right, We got picture take from our special Camera last night. it was beauitful MOON! No wonder why all Deer is bedding.

Mulehunter   

[Slamadoo]

A) how big was that buck in the background of that last pic? Im pretty sure there is a buck standing in the upper left hand corner of the pic.

B) I was hunting in Ellensburg area this week and saw 9 deer total, all of them on thursday morning after it rained all night wednesday and the fog was thick. 8 does and 1 little buck.

[300rum]

Was there a flash on that second pic?  Their eyes are lit up and if there was did it spook them? Or was it a trail Cam?

[WonkyWapiti]

GMU 254 was awful this year as well.  My group of 5 all got skunked and the 2 prior years we all tagged out.  All the legal bucks were hiding well.  Just to give an example one night I was set up in an ambush spot and in three hours I had a total of 28 deer pass me by of which 26 were does and 2 were spikes.

[mulehunter]

Yes it was flash on 2nd pic. I was sneaking in to almost 100 feet to him and they even not know I was right close to him.  it was almost 7 am Barely start to get light up. It was good one! It was not trailcam. let me show u other pic...

It was only 2x2 and about 10" tall. not even LEGAL buck yet.

Yes oh boy this road is awfully bad.. I had to use snowchain on 4 tires and use 4wheeler on CLAY mud! It was dangerous road!!! U see this picture of road was totally slipper even chains ON tires! Not funny. I dont like Clay mud road! I went up really steep hill to hike up more higher and went down could easily crash! I got stuck twice. I had fun!

Mulehunter

[300rum]

I was sneaking in to almost 100 feet to him and they even not know I was right close to him. 
Mulehunter

What are you doing with a rifle?  You should join us bowhunters.  Crap, half the bowhunters can't sneak that close to game, they want to shoot them at 80yds.      Good Job! 

Did the flash spooke them?