Vail Tree Farm Help!

[bankwalker]

They have graphs posted on the photo board at the check station which breaks down the harvest numbers for the last few years.

I have not seen that, I would still be very, very skeptical more 3 points are harvested than 2 points, based on what I've seen in 10 years there. The average buck is nearly always a spike are forky, I have seen one 4 point, my own 3x4 and another three point. I have heard from the check station personnel of another dozen or so nicer bucks over the years, but if you look at the opening day reports in the Olympian, you rarely see a mature buck posted in any given year, perhaps one or two. At any rate a 2 point rule actually would protect more 3 points, it takes just that much more time to put that 3rd point on them before they are gone...

almost all the guys i know who put their time in vail and get a big buck every year wait till after the check station closes down before they leave out for the night.

the day i braught out my 2pt there were 4 other 2pts and 2 3pts at the check station and that was at 1pm.

the day we braught my gf's 2pt out there was 1 3pt and 2 4pts at the check station.

this season i seen more 3pts and 2pts running around then i did spikes. and i seen 5 spikes all season and 7 button bucks.

now if people would let those spikes run free for a year that would be sweet. i specificly let them run free just for that reason.

my deer stats for the season in vail come from one little valley, with maybe 3 clear cuts throughout it. 4 second growth cuts and one 5 year old cut. with 2 sets of tall timber at either end of it. and a creek bottum running through it.

and the deer move ALL day though the 2nd growth. we watched a couple clearing all day long for one weekend and the deer were moving in and out of the 5 year old cut into the feeding areas and back. and then a couple hours later deer would be moving again. all day long it was like that both days.

and there were 8 or 9 deer taken out of that little area. only 1 was a spike.   

[uncoolperson]

there are actually more 3pts taken then 2pts, 4pts, 5pts combined in the tree farm.

remember that "4-point" that was shot but the guy gave up lookinig for?

[bankwalker]

basicly the trick to vail is either get out and bust the brush OR sit and wait for someone else to move the deer to you. but i guess thats the key to hunting anywhere...

if you find a good area with alot of deer sign then hunt that area. even if there are 90 other people with you. there was at least 5 other people glassing the same areas i was hunting each day me and my gf took our deer.

the day my gf got her deer, there was 3 other deer taken. within 20 minutes and within 600yds of each other.

[bankwalker]

there are actually more 3pts taken then 2pts, 4pts, 5pts combined in the tree farm.

remember that "4-point" that was shot but the guy gave up lookinig for?

those guys got a 5pt and 2pts this season. and a doe.

[Antlershed]

almost all the guys i know who put their time in vail and get a big buck every year wait till after the check station closes down before they leave out for the night.

My buck last year was never counted because they pack up the check station right at dark. Also, when they used to have two gates open, the deer going out the other side were never checked.

[bankwalker]

yup thats the way to do it.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 A lot of people don't get checked, if they drive on by there's no one chasing them down and many do, that is likely where the harvest data they post is skewed.

[ABugg]

The data from the check station is used to get yearling buck to adult buck ratios not total deer harvested; studies have shown this to be a decent index to overall buck mortality, which WDFW uses in deer population models.  The harvest data WDFW reports is from hunter harvest reports.  You might be able to get antler point data from the local biologist. 

[Jeremy S]

I haven't shot a deer yet but I'm going to spend some time scouting out that way soon, and during the season I'll hunt it during the week on my bicycle (hopefully to avoid the crowds). I'd like to hope that when it comes down to it, I won't settle for than less for a big two point, however I've been doing the opening weekend thing for about 13 years so I'm itching to put some meat in the freezer

[bucklucky]

The loggers get to run around there in there vehicles and hunt during the week. Good luck.

[PolarBear]

The loggers get to run around there in there vehicles and hunt during the week. Good luck.

One of those loggers is a friend of mine and he gets a nice buck in there during archery season when it is closed to the public.  He has offered numerous times to take me in with his key but I turn him down every time.  He is a good guy but I don't hunt that way.

[deerslyr]

Yah I know a guy who snuck up there during late archery and said he saw 2 of the biggest blacktails hes seen....then he got chased out by security.

[heavy hauler]

i think it would be nice to go 3 point or better state wide for deer.that would help the trophy quality a ton.then for the "meat hunters"  you could have  a doe day like was done years ago.

[billythekidrock]

then for the "meat hunters"  you could have  a doe day like was done years ago.

 

I couldn't even imagine the amount of bucks killed during the old "Doe day". I remember family friends killing monster bt bucks on the last day of doe day even though they never saw a horn. Brown it's down is not good for the herd quality.

[heavy hauler]

they didnt have antler restrictions back then.its  not hard to tell the difference between a doe and a 3 point or better.