Last years insane deer numbers

[predatorG]

I saw more deer last hunting season than I have seen in my whole life. Admittedly, I hunted harder than I have in my whole life, but there still seemed to be an uncanny number of deer. Everyone I talked to seemed to see them all over the area. Did anyone else experience this ? If so, do you think there will be as many deer this season ? I went out for bear today and had a doe charge in to 5 yards as I stood in a clear cut, so right now the odds seem good. Anyone else think the same ?

[Tbar]

 Where?

[Ironhead]

Nope

[Special T]

I saw a lot of deer in Port Townsend... wernt scared of much, and I don't remember seeing that many in Anacortes!

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[predatorG]

Where?

I'm from kitsap. There seemed to be lots of deer around my place.  The puget lowland climate obviously helps that, less cold and way more good year round. It got kinda chilly this winter so I'm not sure how much that will affect it. Anyone from around here seen many deer ?

[dreamunelk]

There has always been a plethora of deer in that area.  Could be you are learning to see the wildlife instead of the forest. 

[sumpnz]

It was the opposite of that in the Methow Valley.  Granted I only had 2 days to hunt last year, but talking to folks that had been at it all week number were WAAAYYYY down.  The canyon I was hunting I'd never seen less than 6 deer a day in there.  2 days and not even 1 doe.

That said, where I live there have been more deer (at least antlered bucks) around this spring and summer than I can recall from previous years.

[kball4]

I think Kitsap is a very overlooked blacktail unit, which is fine for me.  Lots of logging lots of clearcuts and private timber land is still open to the public for walk-in.

[singleshot12]

Seems all areas switch every few years even in the same county. Deer will change their breeding and feeding areas.

[fishnfur]

I think Kitsap is a very overlooked blacktail unit, which is fine for me.  Lots of logging lots of clearcuts and private timber land is still open to the public for walk-in.

Poachers got 'em all.  Don't even bother with Kitsap!

I've seen a bunch of deer down south and in Mason.  I've seen almost no fawns though - four to be exact.  Most mature does seem to be hanging with yearlings, presumably last year's fawns.  Normally I find lots of fawn pics on the cams, but not this year.

[predatorG]

I think Kitsap is a very overlooked blacktail unit, which is fine for me.  Lots of logging lots of clearcuts and private timber land is still open to the public for walk-in.

Poachers got 'em all.  Don't even bother with Kitsap!

I've seen a bunch of deer down south and in Mason.  I've seen almost no fawns though - four to be exact.  Most mature does seem to be hanging with yearlings, presumably last year's fawns.  Normally I find lots of fawn pics on the cams, but not this year.

I spooked a little yearling doe out bear hunting yesterday. As soon as I touched my lips to the fawn in distress call her mom came careening out of the wooods and ran up to about 5 yards from me.

[predatorG]

There has always been a plethora of deer in that area.  Could be you are learning to see the wildlife instead of the forest. 

I think this is part of it, but even so my friend saw 2 big bucks get hit by cars last year. He also said there were more deer around his house. Hopefully deer numbers are just on the rise.

[kball4]

There is also housing developments popping up every week it seems like probably pushing deer into residental areas. 

[lokidog]

I saw the most deer at once the other night driving from my house to the dock, thirty of them in less than a mile of driving .

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[jmscon]

Last year it seemed like a lot of animals were in their winter range early, as though they knew there was a bad winter on its way! That might be why it seemed like there were more deer but they were herded up early.

[muleracks]

There were plenty of mule deer around last summer and many of them made it through the winter.
We are watching 2 does, 3 fawns and 3 mature bucks (blacktail) in our back yard eating apples most every day; Snohomish.  Blacktail did well last winter in the rain.

[hunter399]

I know in northeast washington,numbers are way down,last year winter was hard on our herds over here.

[boneaddict]

I'm glad blacktails are doing well.  Not the same story for the deer on the eastside