Read 'em and weep - 2017 Game harvest reports are out.

[ctwiggs1]

It’s been a few years since they dumped the trophy units too so we should start seeing a decline from the huge peaks that were happening. 

[W_Ellison2011]

WOOHOO! I beat out the odds again! 16.8% of archery hunters harvested deer in the Mashel unit! Of course I'm used to hunting 513 that hasn't had a high harvest rate until the last couple years!

[MAVsled]

I was one of these 7 that reported, one of 5 that hunted....Zero success rate.
Perfect hunt weather. Cold, cloudy for first 4 days, then snowy days and dusting of fresh snow last 4 nights for quiet, cold conditions. In 10 successive days of Teanaway late archery buck, I saw only 2 bucks and maybe 5 does. Passed the 25 yard first day shot at the small 2 point. The other was a 4x4 at 600 yards away and on the move out of Dickey creek. Why? Wolves.
I spotted 2 wolves in a 3 day span, while hunting 3 miles on backtrails off the main roads. One black dark one, one grayish-white one. The 6" of fresh snow, their fresh tracks were right on Dickey creek and off a trail on Blue creek roads.

hunt #: 1085
Name: Teanaway
Unit: GMU 335
# applicants: 126
tags issued: 10
reports returned: 7
Number of hunters: 5
success rate: 0%
Antlered Harvest Total
1 Point : 0
2 Point : 0
3 Point : 0
4 Point : 0
5+ Point : 0

[fishnfur]

Ouch!  Nothing good about that report.

[Vine Maples and Cottonwoo]

Reasons:
Lack of Access
Poor Habitat, No Food- The programs/chemicals the Timber Companies and the State use to control weeds, deciduous growth actually destroy the kind of food deer need.
Predators
Poaching
Lack of Logging, and Slash Burning
Just a few possibilities

[bobcat]

Reasons:
Lack of Access
Poor Habitat, No Food- The programs/chemicals the Timber Companies and the State use to control weeds, deciduous growth actually destroy the kind of food deer need.
Predators
Poaching
Lack of Logging, and Slash Burning
Just a few possibilities

Number 1 reason in bold.

[Gringo31]

I'm glad to see so many folks reading the report....

[teanawayslayer]

I was one of these 7 that reported, one of 5 that hunted....Zero success rate.
Perfect hunt weather. Cold, cloudy for first 4 days, then snowy days and dusting of fresh snow last 4 nights for quiet, cold conditions. In 10 successive days of Teanaway late archery buck, I saw only 2 bucks and maybe 5 does. Passed the 25 yard first day shot at the small 2 point. The other was a 4x4 at 600 yards away and on the move out of Dickey creek. Why? Wolves.
I spotted 2 wolves in a 3 day span, while hunting 3 miles on backtrails off the main roads. One black dark one, one grayish-white one. The 6" of fresh snow, their fresh tracks were right on Dickey creek and off a trail on Blue creek roads.

hunt #: 1085
Name: Teanaway
Unit: GMU 335
# applicants: 126
tags issued: 10
reports returned: 7
Number of hunters: 5
success rate: 0%
Antlered Harvest Total
1 Point : 0
2 Point : 0
3 Point : 0
4 Point : 0
5+ Point : 0

why do you think there were only 126 applicants? Not much of a quality hunt and hasn’t been for quite some time.

[pope]

Reasons:
Lack of Access
Poor Habitat, No Food- The programs/chemicals the Timber Companies and the State use to control weeds, deciduous growth actually destroy the kind of food deer need.
Predators
Poaching
Lack of Logging, and Slash Burning
Just a few possibilities

 
Number 1 reason in bold.

Seems like hunters and granola crunchers could get behind a ban of using herbicides, form some kind of alliance against "the man". Popular among the progressive outdoor crowd are the writings of Edward Abbey, who considered the importance of habitat conservation to all user groups, including hunters:

"It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space."

[jstone]

That is kind of a no brained that the chemicals are doing in the animals. It is probably getting into the water and into the lakes and the rivers. Then what? Hiding it?

[PolarBear]

The elk #'s reported are not right. I have a hard time believing that there was only 1 bull taken in the Clearwater!

I know of 6 bulls taken in the Clearwater during archery alone.

[duckmen1]

The reports show 34 bulls taken during general seasons. As well as 1 bull and 2 cows from permit hunts.

The elk #'s reported are not right. I have a hard time believing that there was only 1 bull taken in the Clearwater!

I know of 6 bulls taken in the Clearwater during archery alone.

[White Pass Outfitters]

Some people are missing one big reason why numbers are so low.
How about the capability of our hunters. No scouting, putting in areas they dont know anything about, dont practice shooting enough and #1 to many hunters are out of shape and spend more time in camp drinking rather than out hunting. Get in shape and out of the truck and your success rate will go up. Its not always someones else's fault why your not successful. No roads mean more Bigger Bulls. My drops camps are even over 50% so really no excuses.     

[ctwiggs1]

Some people are missing one big reason why numbers are so low.
How about the capability of our hunters. No scouting, putting in areas they dont know anything about, dont practice shooting enough and #1 to many hunters are out of shape and spend more time in camp drinking rather than out hunting. Get in shape and out of the truck and your success rate will go up. Its not always someones else's fault why your not successful. No roads mean more Bigger Bulls. My drops camps are even over 50% so really no excuses.   

I don't think that is a problem that has developed over the last 3-4 years.  That's the consistent story we've been hearing since I was a kid - I'm assuming much longer as well.

I do think think the access passes for Weyerhauser land on the west side, combined with the removal of the trophy units on the east side, have likely contributed greatly to the overall decline of harvest.

A mean a 30% drop in 2 years statewide - can't just blame that on rut timing or a couple guys drinking booze.

[White Pass Outfitters]

Couple guys drinking, have you ever driving the 1500 line during rifle season. More Elk campers than Elk hunters. Just saying we get our animals every year.