Early migration/rut in the Methow?

[davew]

I got this guy Saturday morning fairly low in the Gardner unit.  He doesn't look like a local deer.  I heard of a few more like this taken late in the week.  Did the rainy weather start moving a few deer down into the valley?

[sirmissalot]

Pretty buck, nice shooting

[_TONY_]

They were calling for snow above 5000 feet last Wednesday, so it could have pushed some down...  Though, some will make their way down without any weather, too...

[rose673]

Would agree, for some at least, saw a good buck Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.... The first two were rutting and the third was bedded by himself.

[nw_bowhunter]

pretty nice.. like the dark horns

[elkoholic1]

 

[Smokepole]

It's possible the Little Bridge Fire moved some deer around this summer.  Maybe some came down Thompson early because of it.  I know the fire went pretty high up & there are migraters that summer up in that country.

[boneaddict]

Yes, a lot of big bucks started to move this weekend, and some dandys were killed.   I heard someone got a near 40 incher but haven't seen the photo yet.   

[no.cen.wa]

I think they may have moved down for whatever the reason, I camp at 5500 ft north of Winthrop 30 miles and although there were nice bucks taken we didn't see near as many deer, I passed on a few smaller bucks, missed one and still have a tag. There was one day of snow at 6000-6500 ft. but it was gone in no time. We went though the middle of it and there where no tracks on Saturday. It was in the 30's for temp in the mornings, about 10-15 degrees warmer than normal, so no snow, no cold, and many less deer we think. 

[bowman]

I almost connected with a dandy of a buck. Biggest one I've seen over there. He was traveling and I couldn't get a shot in the rocks . I was fairly low in elevation.

[vfilbert]

I got this guy Saturday morning fairly low in the Gardner unit.  He doesn't look like a local deer.  I heard of a few more like this taken late in the week.  Did the rainy weather start moving a few deer down into the valley?

Love that buck

[vfilbert]

My friend got a nice 3x4 at the teailheAd sat in the rain and fog. It looked similar to yours. Ill try and get a pic soon

[bigmacc]

A buddy of my dad got a dandy 6 by 6 in the south end of the valley.Sorry I wont get more specific or show a picture(I,ll probably get chewed out for this ) but I guarantee it was no local.