Washington State Mule Deer Hunting Future (poll)

[jagermiester]

Any suggestions then?

How about prohibiting the use of two-way radios to unethically direct another hunter in on mule deer (and other big game animals)?

I know of at least one mule deer buck that would likely have lived to see another day if a unethical father/son combo hadn't used radios during this year's High Buck season.  Two last year.

Man the answer has been right here under our nose the whole time. That's it no more radios deer numbers bounce back.

This is all in good fun.
I'm with you man I hate unethical things too.

[Bushcraft]

It's all accretive. 

[archerykraze]

Yes, first of all I'd like to see the use of hounds brought back on the predators. I've seen a large increase of pressure on our Mule Deer Herds with all the available Multi Season Tags. Used to enjoy archery or muzzle season for the lack of competing hunters. With the endless multi season permits there is an army of hunters chasing deer from Sept 1 till end of Oct. We are running the herds into the ground when they should be gearing up for the winter ahead. Get rid of the multi season permits and increase the take on predators. Normally target mule deer but noticed the mule deer #'s were extremely low this year in my area so I took a 3X3 Whitetail Buck during archery to give the mule deer a breather. We can all make a difference, increase predator hunting, stop killing mule deer does and target whitetail for a change. Good Luck All!

[Ridgerunner]

It's shaping up to be a great season for Muleys with all the snow, should be lots of big bucks that get taken this weekend.


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[jstone]

There are lots of factors that need to be dealt with to make it all come together. Just one factor won't fix the problem.

[Humptulips]

Any suggestions then?

1st step is to get the Department to admit predators are a problem. Untill you get that solutions will never get implemented.

[Jpmiller]

I don't see much about whitetail being s factor. Washington has some pretty limited winter range for mulies and having to compete with whitetails much more so than in the past hurts. Wolves, bears, and cougars can be managed better as well but I think agressively reducing white tail numbers in mule deer areas will make a huge difference.

[fishngamereaper]

It's shaping up to be a great season for Muleys with all the snow, should be lots of big bucks that get taken this weekend.


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Great season or slaughter. While a good opening weekend is fun for some, what are the impacts for years to come.

[huntnphool]

It's shaping up to be a great season for Muleys with all the snow, should be lots of big bucks that get taken this weekend.

 It won't have much effect on the general, there needs to be a lot more snow up high than this to move those migrators down this early.

 That being said, if this keeps up the late tag holders will have a lot to choose from.

[wolfbait]

Any suggestions then?

I kind of think it's a little late for this discussion, as long as there is no accountability with WDF&Wolves. Next year and each year after, less hunters will hunt in places like the Methow etc. that don't produce.

If predator control is not emplimented to a point that lessens the impact on deer etc. then the herds will be in a predator pit, meaning they will never recover.

I don't believe WDFW give  about the state of the game herds, so I highly doubt they would be interested in cutting back on the seasons or eliminating all but the general with all categories in one hunt.

Reading some of the comments and from talking to other hunters over the last few years, there is no way many of them will stop hunting areas on their own to help the herds. So in a way they will hunt themselves with the help of uncontrolled predators out of hunting, and

WDFW will say "for the amount of hunters that showed up, hunting was a great success"........

[NOCK NOCK]

It's shaping up to be a great season for Muleys with all the snow, should be lots of big bucks that get taken this weekend.


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Hmmmmmmm.............Curious which way to take this 

But I'll bite,

A prime example of why the rifle season should be moved a week earlier.

[NOCK NOCK]

Any suggestions then?

1. Archery - Sept. 1-21 / Muzzy - Sept. 22-30 / Modern - Oct. 6-14   (2018 dates, and status quo on current gender guidelines)

2. Drastically reduce "Quality" permits. Make them truly quality. 

3. No more Multi Season permits....To offset $ loss, add 1 or 2 raffle permits (with a cap of 10 tickets per person)

4. Increase Cougar quotas  &    Initiate hounds again....aint gonna happen but should

5. Implement permits for 2 points. 

[muleracks]

My vote was no.  Winter survival is the most important factor facing the mule deer.  poor and disappearing winter range and competition with whitetail makes it difficult for mule deer to get through the winter.  Fires have also made it difficult for mule deer to find cover and avoid being a target for hunters but winter survival is what I would be concerned about not too many hunters.

[bullcanyon]

After spending the weekend in the Okanogan area and seeing one legal buck and not seeing anybody with a deer I'd  say the snow didn't help. We covered a lot of ground and talked to a lot of hunters. Buddies experienced the same. Not saying deer weren't killed, but it was pretty tough opening weekend with imo very good conditions. We beat up a bunch of burns with quality glass and didn't produce one deer in them. All the does we seen were low in the timber. Winter did some serious damage to the deer herd. Something better be done or we're not only gonna lose the deer, but we're gonna lose hunter participation.

Please tell me why there are any doe tags for this area when the wdfw knew how bad the winter was? I honestly want to apply for it just so one less doe is not killed. Makes zero sense to me!

[BULLBLASTER]

I admittedly haven't read through this entire thread. But I personally feel like a "pick your species" deer tag would be a plus. You could choose a whitetail, or mule deer, or blacktail tag. Then have specific seasons and permits for each.