More big bucks this year?

[Rainier10]

Is it just me or are there more big bucks hitting the dirt this year?  I am just impressed at how many mature animals are not only showing up on here but that I also saw at the taxidermist the other day.

What gives?  Is the website more popular, people just more comfortable posting pics or are there truly just more big bucks to be taken this year?

Are wolves pushing them into areas with more hunters and the big deer will take their chances with hunters rather than wolves?

Maybe the WDFW game management practices are working.

Maybe this is the normal amount of big deer, but it just seems like a bunch of mashers have been taken before the quality permits kick in.

[Skyvalhunter]

From talking to my fellow hunters it has been a low deer kill year. But I am sure that in some places it is better than other. Although we haven't hit the Late Permit season yet. But if you listen to Fitkin it is an above average year but then if you listen to him tomorrow he will say it below average. Alot of this is as a result of the nice weather and moon lit nights.

[HighCountryHunter88]

From talking to my fellow hunters it has been a low deer kill year. But I am sure that in some places it is better than other. Although we haven't hit the Late Permit season yet. But if you listen to Fitkin it is an above average year but then if you listen to him tomorrow he will say it below average. Alot of this is as a result of the nice weather and moon lit nights.

 

i think more are hitting the web than before...

[buglebuster]

I'm seeing about the same amount of bucks killed as usual but I also noticed alot more big bucks. I think it was just a really good antler growth year 

[boneaddict]

I think I have seen more deer on here, which is good that folks are sharing, but while talking to outfitters and friends that have been at this awhile, success seems down overall.   I imagine it varies in different areas everyyear though.

[coachcw]

I just heard of a huge buck that was shot on manashtash ridge by a guy using a muzzy with a modern tag 30.5 wide with like 16 inch points 4x4. waiting for photos to confirm .

[MuleySniper]

I think big bucks get killed every year. The influx of the Internet and the growth of this site allows more people to easily show their trophies while still remaining anonymous.
MS

[huntnphool]

I think I have seen more deer on here, which is good that folks are sharing, but while talking to outfitters and friends that have been at this awhile, success seems down overall.   I imagine it varies in different areas everyyear though.

Success in the Methow Valley was down.

There have been a bunch of decent bucks posted up this year, maybe more guys posting pics than usual, but there hasn't been many real large (higher scoring) bucks posted compared to previous years IMO.

[boneaddict]

I agree

[rtspring]

I let the biggest one get away!!!

[huntnphool]

I let the biggest one get away!!!

And the late tag guys appreciate that too.

[Buckmark]

Must be all the guys hunting the tripod area...

[Rainier10]

It appears as those opinions very a little but nobody thinks it is the game department doing a stellar job of management. 

I am thinking a combination of good antler growth this year, more people using this site and being more comfortable.  I agree that there aren't a big number of stellar bucks but there seem to be more really nice bucks that most would be happy to be able to take.

I hope it continues through the late hunt and I can't wait to see how the late permit guys do.

[SkookumHntr]

Seen lots of bucks in the back of trucks opening day! They were definetly out! After that the deer seemed to hunker down pretty good.

[elkh8me]

From talking to my fellow hunters it has been a low deer kill year. But I am sure that in some places it is better than other. Although we haven't hit the Late Permit season yet. But if you listen to Fitkin it is an above average year but then if you listen to him tomorrow he will say it below average. Alot of this is as a result of the nice weather and moon lit nights.

 

i think more are hitting the web than before...

[Alan K]

In SW Washington, it's been fewer bucks being killed but bigger for sure.  (Amongst the fairly large circle of people I know)

[bugs n bones]

 

I let the biggest one get away!!!

And the late tag guys appreciate that too.

[bowhunterforever]

I was about to ask the same question. Seems like theres a lot more big bucks on here this year then ever.

[mkcj]

We hunted 6 days at the cabin mostly north of Winthrop and I thought the number's were way down, that being said the deer I did see taken were nice they had a good  spring aiding in early growth, just not the numbers WDFW said were there. The closest we came was Saturday I was at the neighbors sitting around the fire with there group BSing and my 2 boy's thought they would take a drive up into the burn and do some glassing trying to find a buck we jumped the day before, as they were driving up the road they were  almost to the parking spot to make the mile plus walk in to glass when the truck that was driving the road in front of them stopped and a guy get's out and shoots a 4x4 not 50 yards from the dirt road. My oldest has the late whitetail tag for 218 so hopefully we can find him a buck then.

[huntnphool]

We hunted 6 days at the cabin mostly north of Winthrop and I thought the number's were way down, that being said the deer I did see taken were nice they had a good  spring aiding in early growth

Agreed