GMU 239/224/231 - Methow/Twisp

[boneaddict]

Primarily because of the season dates last year and the huge numbers of mature bucks killed. 2 major fire years took away much of the winter range as well. Big snow year last year pretty much rounded it out. All that and the biggest waste of air bio in the history of mule deer and you have it in a nutshell why it's pathetic.

Throw in a dozen or two wolves, some unwarranted antlerless harvest and you have it in a nutshell ( or that falls into the waste of air bio category)

[johnsc6]

 

Primarily because of the season dates last year and the huge numbers of mature bucks killed. 2 major fire years took away much of the winter range as well. Big snow year last year pretty much rounded it out. All that and the biggest waste of air bio in the history of mule deer and you have it in a nutshell why it's pathetic.

Throw in a dozen or two wolves, some unwarranted antlerless harvest and you have it in a nutshell ( or that falls into the waste of air bio category)

:yeah:our game department is inept, the biologists are years behind actual numbers and even when they do get it right the commision sets the seasons

[MtnMuley]

Primarily because of the season dates last year and the huge numbers of mature bucks killed. 2 major fire years took away much of the winter range as well. Big snow year last year pretty much rounded it out. All that and the biggest waste of air bio in the history of mule deer and you have it in a nutshell why it's pathetic.

Throw in a dozen or two wolves, some unwarranted antlerless harvest and you have it in a nutshell ( or that falls into the waste of air bio category)

Absolutely correct. Mine was just a quick rant.

[DBLDWN]

It's not just in the northern GMUs, 245, 247, 250 and 251 are also not looking real promising

[bigmacc]

I must say I agree with bone 100 percent, I just returned from 5 days of scouting the area and in the 51 years I have hunted and scouted the area it was the worst I have seen as far as numbers, my dad has 75 years of hunting the valley and he was with me, he said "the worst he has ever seen". We hit a lot of different elevations, honey holes and areas where we usually see good numbers and good bucks........horrible to say the least! We will be hunting a different part of the state this year. I agree with what others have said, a combination of fires, doe harvests, a tough winter and an over the top harvest of big bucks last year all add up to  dissmall numbers. I think it will be at least a few years before things start looking up unfortunately.

[WAnoob]

Not the most positive thing I've read today! I'm headed to this general area for my first east side hunt in 2 weeks. The party I'm going with (my first time with them) seems to have the majority of them tag out. Although they do burn quite a bit of boot leather. I'll let you guys know how it goes and at worst if I can't connect I still have a week to try for blacktail on the wetside.

[jackelope]

Primarily because of the season dates last year and the huge numbers of mature bucks killed. 2 major fire years took away much of the winter range as well. Big snow year last year pretty much rounded it out. All that and the biggest waste of air bio in the history of mule deer and you have it in a nutshell why it's pathetic.

Throw in a dozen or two wolves, some unwarranted antlerless harvest and you have it in a nutshell ( or that falls into the waste of air bio category)

Absolutely correct. Mine was just a quick rant.

Can't believe you left those out. You're slipping, bud.

[7mmfan]

This is the first year in a long time that we won't be hunting the Methow. We opted to give them a break and kill some of Idaho's deer instead. Maybe shoot a blacktail at the end of the season close to home.

[rbi999]

I live on the very south end of 215, Sinlahekin. Deer around my place have always been numerous. Can see 15-30 mulies any given morning or evening without looking hard from my living room window! In the last 4 weeks I have seen 1 doe! Worst I have seen.

[cbond3318]

I'll add that although I have no past years for comparison , I have put 21 field days in 233 and have seen less than 20 deer, 4 MD bucks , none mature and  MD does. 2 young WT bucks and 6-7 does. This is all on Public Land and a large expanse of area, covering a lot of boot miles. Seems low to me FWIW.  Could be a jaded assessment as I have never been in the area but I do have a good understanding of Habitat and the amount of deer I could expect to see.

[Elkrunner]

I had a friend go up in the perrygin and chewuch for a week and he only saw 6 deer. 

[huntnphool]

 Well it's certainly a good thing WDFW issued 1000 additional doe tags as well as increased rut tags in 2014 or else the ENTIRE herd would be gone do to bad weather and starvation, rather than just most of the herd!

 We dodged a bullet there!

[Elkrunner]

Well it's certainly a good thing WDFW issued 1000 additional doe tags as well as increased rut tags in 2014 or else the ENTIRE herd would be gone do to bad weather and starvation, rather than just most of the herd!

 We dodged a bullet there!

I'm still trying to figure out how many does were taken from those tags.  Does anyone know?

[Griz231]

2014 Deer Special Permits

District 6 Totals

Antlerless 584

2014 Deer General Season

Antlerless Modern 0 - Archery 337  - Multiple Weapons 20 - Muzzleloader 0

So I'd say in District 6 there were 941 Antlerless but that is probably Mule and Whitetail combined and not sure if they included the extra doe tags they gave out.

[WARHORSE]

The ok and methow valleys took an absolute beating!! After being out  this past weekiend of muzzleloader and seeing very few deer i probably will not even try to kill one the rest of the year. By far the worst i have ever seen as far as deer numbers go.