Deer Populations in West Klickitat-578

[KDB]

  As a long time hunter in West Klickitat I have seen a long tern decline in deer populations. I blame it on cougars and an increase in elk populations. Do you agree?

[carpsniperg2]

All the klick units have been hit hard with a rise in the cougar population. We have seen a drastic change in 382/388 in the last 10 years. Its very sad now days compared to what it use to be.

Once all that land over there gets given back to the tribe I'm sure things will get better to 

[pianoman9701]

Lots of cougs. Lots of good habitat lost. All of Siouxon is hurting.

[brushhunter]

yep wind river got hit hardest first and now west klic is going down hill too...  wish they would let us have hounds back. or at least open cougar season aug 1st again when they are a little easier to call

[blacktail luv]

It is a shame to watch the demise of our deer herd.  Back in the late 90's/early 2000's there were deer everywhere.  I think the habitat has nothing to do with it, there is plenty of habitat to support a lot more animals than we have.  The elk have declined substantially as well.  The predators are just flat out out of control.  I don't know what the next 20 years are going to bring, but at this rate there won't be anymore deer to hunt.  I've lived here my whole life and to watch it happen first hand, year by year, breaks my heart.  Truly a sad situation.

[StringShot]

The turkey hunting has also become very difficult. I call in more coyotes than I do Toms. I haven't done much predator hunting besides bear, but I am going to get into it this summer and start thinning some out.

[packmule]

The cougar population is definitely high and having an impact.  I personally think that several factors are to blame.  The West Klickitat and Wind River herds are still being affected by hair-loss issues and the Wind River habitat is much different than it was 20 years ago when there were many new clearcuts available for feed.  To me the biggest bottle neck is in fawn recruitment.  It's pretty rare to see does and fawns together by late summer or early fall, the fawns have all been killed.  Drive through one of the towns with resident herds and all the fawns are still alive.  Black bears and coyotes are known to prey heavily on fawns and those populations are VERY high in these units. As previously stated the predator population needs to be drastically reduced to see any increase in blacktail populations.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

The does around our place drop there fawns close to houses I believe to be safe from the out of control predator population.

[nwwanderer]

Not just the Klickitat region.  I watched 8 bears on a few thousand acres this weekend, south east corner.  They are relentless with fawns and calves. 

[Limhangerslayer]

yep wind river got hit hardest first and now west klic is going down hill too...  wish they would let us have hounds back. or at least open cougar season aug 1st again when they are a little easier to call

unfortunately this would do no good as they fill their measly quota every year.

[HUNT-HARD]

I believe its a combination of predators and a lot of poaching that goes on in that GMU.

[millerwheeler]

I believe its a combination of predators and a lot of poaching that goes on in that GMU.

FULLY AGREE WITH THE POACHING IN 388 AND 382 IS A LARGE PROBLEM hubting there 20 years and it's flat out crazy what goes on out there

[Wazukie]

What makes you guys think that there's a lot of poaching in the 578?

Sent from the woods!

[Deer slayer]

What makes you guys think that there's a lot of poaching in the 578?

Sent from the woods!

I am wondering the same with 382. I am also wondering if it's so bad why it's not being reported when seen. Big bucks in 382 would be real hard to poach in the off season.

[logger]

of the handfull of cougars I have ever seen 3 of them were just out of glenwood up the co. road and 6000 area, all within 6 months of each other

[HUNTaHOLIC5]

When I was 10 and younger (early 2000s)  I spent way less time in the woods but still ended up seeing way more deer than I do now and most from the road. Very high populations of cougar, bear and coyotes. I also think the hair loss issue made a lot bigger impact on the herd than most people think.

[KDB]

Cougar numbers are higher than they were in the past. This is not a sound sample but the 1st 20 years that I worked in the woods in Klickitat County I saw 2 cougars and next 20 years I saw 8 cats.