Thinking it might not be worth it this year.

[Rob Allen]

So in all my recent scouting around Klickitat  county deer seem to be extraordinarily sparce. From the river to the reservation  from 97 to the Klickitat  river there is just very little  evidence that there are a lot if deer. A few in the private fields  outside of Goldendale but little anywhere else. No fresh poop game trails have very little current  use . I only have two  three day weekends to hunt. Thinking the  woods might be a waste of time this year. Anyone  agree or am i being needlessly pessimistic?

[7mmfan]

That area has been on the decline for a long time. Sad to see it get to where it is now.

That being said, is it a waste of time? Do you only consider those 6 days in the woods worth it if you kill something? What would you be doing otherwise? Watching football? Give me 6 days in the woods with the odds stacked against me any day, I'll take those odds and love every minute of it. There are very few places as fun to hunt as the breaks of the Klick.

[bracer40]

That area has been on the decline for a long time. Sad to see it get to where it is now.

That being said, is it a waste of time? Do you only consider those 6 days in the woods worth it if you kill something? What would you be doing otherwise? Watching football? Give me 6 days in the woods with the odds stacked against me any day, I'll take those odds and love every minute of it. There are very few places as fun to hunt as the breaks of the Klick.

Yup! Fully agree!

[Naches Sportsman]

The woods is never a waste of time.

I've been out and about glassing and walking areas that used to hold deer around here and haven't seen much as well. Sure beats sitting at home or at work. 

[boneaddict]

Only way to answer that is for you to prioritize.   Is it worth time away from family or do you have other precious things to do? Is it worth the cost going in knowing you probably won’t harvest.     Hunting is Hunting.   Not killing

[Gringo31]

I'd agree that deer numbers appear to be the lowest I've seen....maybe ever.

[Special T]

When I'm out I'm hunting for more than just deer. Coyotes, mushrooms, berries...

[Bob33]

So in all my recent scouting around Klickitat  county deer seem to be extraordinarily sparce. From the river to the reservation  from 97 to the Klickitat  river there is just very little  evidence that there are a lot if deer. A few in the private fields  outside of Goldendale but little anywhere else. No fresh poop game trails have very little current  use . I only have two  three day weekends to hunt. Thinking the  woods might be a waste of time this year. Anyone  agree or am i being needlessly pessimistic?

http://www.chinookobserver.com/co/local-news/20170912/deadly-deer-disease-arrives-in-sw-washington

[bobcat]

I'll be deer hunting in the same area that I will be also hunting for elk in November. So with elk being my priority this year, I'm looking at it as more scouting for elk, but with a rifle in case I happen to see a deer. So if I see no deer, it's no loss.

[wolfbait]

Only way to answer that is for you to prioritize.   Is it worth time away from family or do you have other precious things to do? Is it worth the cost going in knowing you probably won’t harvest.     Hunting is Hunting.   Not killing

 

I have talk to old timers etc. who just like the hunting, camping etc. they have done it for years. Many don't care if they bring meat home or not, which is good at this stage.

[fishnfur]

 
http://www.chinookobserver.com/co/local-news/20170912/deadly-deer-disease-arrives-in-sw-washington


Man, that's bad news!

[Wazukie]

I would contribute the decline in the west klickitat do to the exploding cat population - just my two 

[pianoman9701]

You have several options.
Approach the private landowners where you're seeing deer on their property
Start scouting earlier and put out some bait
Hunt another area
Don't hunt

This year was the first in three seasons that I enjoyed elk/deer camp. You forget how valuable that time in the woods is. We didn't see squat for elk in 10 days. In answer to your original question, it was completely worth it.

[Seabass]

I never have regret for a day in the woods.

[rtspring]

Harvesting an animal is just a bonus to the geat time spent outdoors with family and friends..