GMU 346

[rtspring]

I love it. The difference between data, and boots on the ground.

The Yakima area has the lowest success rate for mule deer for quite sometime. If it were me I would look else where if you are looking to harvest a legal buck.

There are bucks, and there is a lot of them.  Boots on the ground will reward your efforts. I've hunted it for deer for 29 years and cant remember not getting a buck.  Get away from roads!  Those places have a ton of roads and the stupid deer get taken out early

Data and boots on the ground, huh? Here is data for you, not that I don't spend plenty of time in the area this gentlemen is inquiring about, but here you go...

2014 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.1%

Archery was a whopping 5.1%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2014/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2013 modern firearm success rate in 346 was....  3.5%

Archery was 3.6%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2013/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8

2012 modern firearm success rate in the 346 was...   3.3%

Archery was 2.4%

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2012/reports/deer_gmu.php?District=8


Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

And as far as the OP question about areas, if you choose to hunt this unit Gold Creek would be my number one choice, then Edgar rock. Good luck, it is a tough hunt for deer, the data is there to tell you that.

Data numbers are like the politicians, never trust them.  What is true is that very few people hunt this unit for deer, so thats part of the reason for low harvest rates.

Yes 346 lost a ton of deer years back, but they are coming back strong. 

Heres a good one for you, I took my buck last year with my bow during modern rifle season..  Get away from the roads is my best advice for the OP

You are correct there are not as many hunting deer in these areas any more but there was still some 600+ modern rifle hunters with less than 4% success rate. There are bucks but not a lot of them, contrary to your post saying there are.

How many years out of the last 10 have you harvested a legal buck?

Nice job on the bow kill, wasn't last year your first year bow hunting?


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Yep first year bowhunting.  Ive killed a buck every year Ive hunted there that I can remember.  I started in 1985. Of course back then it was ANY BUCK. I missed a year here and there because the navy.  And of those 600 I can promise you 400 were weekend warriors scouting for elk.  Just like elk, there are pockets in there where you can see 50 plus deer a day.  5 years ago that was unheard of.  All Im saying is it is overlooked as a deer spot.  Sure dayton, spokane, blues blows 346 out of the water with deer numbers.  All you have to do is look at whistlin jacks past hunt pics and you will see my ugly face alot..  Of course I like that very few hunt there pm me your number and I will send you some pics of bucks that just may shock you..

[mfswallace]

Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse (native, non-native poachers) problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

Hugh,
I think you misspelled the problem... 

  grammar error so I corrected it for you.

 

[rtspring]

Now I am not going to keep posting the data but you will find this for harvest in a lot of the GMUs in the Yakima/Ellensburg area for the last 10 years due to a louse (native, non-native poachers) problem that killed off a lot of deer, which they haven't rebounded from.

Hugh,
I think you misspelled the problem... 

  grammar error so I corrected it for you.

If PLAT would stay away there would be tons of 180" bucks

[bobcat]

I know when my grandparents lived over there on the Naches River up by Rock Creek, we'd see tons of deer when we'd visit. But that was in the late 70s and early 80s. Driving the highway early morning or late evening was dangerous there were so many deer. Now whenever I'm over there, it's rare to see even one deer. Sad. And as someone alluded to, it's not so much because of lice, but the "poaching" that goes on all winter long over there. Well, year around actually, but mostly in the winter because it's easier.

[Ghost Hunter]

Looks like my odds aren't very good for my 1st year bow hunting, but you will find me spending all my September deer hunting time in 346.  Plan on wearing my boots out in the next 2 months.

[fastdam]

There are plenty of deer to hunt. Statistics dont tell the whole story.  You probably shouldn't pass up a legal buck though.

[fastdam]

Make sure you have a bear and cat tag too

[JeffRaines]

Numbers should be taken with a grain of salt... they don't take into account how many of those folks were road hunting, how many of them actually got out of the truck, and how many of them put some miles on their boots.

If it were categorized as such, I'm sure you'd see the smallest success in the first two... you'd also see that the first two make up probably some 60% or more of the overall number of hunters.

I think this is what happens with the bear hunt percentage, too. You have people that buy the bear tag "just in case"... you can see how that would severely skew the numbers. People who are actually going out hunting for said animal vs. people who would take one if they seen one but aren't really looking...

[bobcat]

Sure, the harvest success is lower than it could be due to many people not putting a lot of effort into their hunt. But does this only happen in the GMUs in the Yakima region? Why are success rates higher everywhere else? Are the only road hunters in the Yakima area? Mule deer success rates are two to three times higher in other areas.

[hughjorgan]

Here is what the biologist said the 2014 hunting prospects for district 8 were...

Deer harvest in District 8 has been down from historic highs for a number of years, most likely reflecting the effects of deer hair-loss syndrome associated with exotic lice. The average hunter success the last 5 years has been 8% compared to a statewide average of 28%. Following a sharp decline from 2004-2006, the harvest has been relatively static of late. There was no change in 2013. There have been mild winters and decent fawn production, but there hasn’t been much of a detectable population response. 2014 may not be much different, although there are some signs of slow recovery in the deer population. Areas such as the Teanaway remain among the best prospects for deer hunting opportunity.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/prospects/2014/district08.pdf

[mfswallace]

If you were legally able to hunt and kill as many deer and elk as you wanted to sell antlers and jerky meat, would you?? Enough said for alkali and all other gmu's around the Yakima area....

To bad they don't regulate the bad apples and manage wildlife like some other tribes

[bobcat]

Exactly. That's the reason for the low deer population in that area, not the lice. The WDFW just likes to be politically correct and they won't tell people what the real reason is.

[hughjorgan]

The louse did have a huge effect on the deer population, it is the reason the deer herd is what it is today. Though the natives coming in every winter probably is the main culprit in the herd not being able to rebound. I haven't seen any deer with louse in a long time. All the deer I have seen up here on chinook pass in the last couple of days look really healthy.