No Deer but Plenty of Wolves

[wolfbait]

Last few weeks we have been cutting firewood, talk to a couple of guys coming out of Goat Cr yesterday, they were totally disgusted, they said they had been coming over for 20 years and couldn't believe what they saw and didn't see, wolves and no deer.

Today we talk to another couple up Bridge Cr, same deal, they said lots of wolf tracks and no deer, they said the only deer they had seen was in Twisp.

Should make WDF$Wolves happy, can't wait to hear Fitkin's deer report this year.

[Dick in the Dirt]

Why? His report will the same old lies. Tell the truth and they can't give tags away.

[jnordwell]

I think there goal of lately has been to keep hunters out of the woods. Well if they introduce a elk/deer killing machine with congress approval and receive money to do it then a win win..

[shallowforks]

yea n roswell, and the yeti and such too.

[rudysts]

I went out opening weekend GMU 117 saw 4 does total, checked all the funnels where I always see deer heading in to bedding areas or coming out it was pretty bad. I talked to a couple of the regulars that I know set up game cams and they showed me pics of wolves over a dozen and a bunch of cougars not much deer on the cams. did see some elk but the thing is they usually are not there till later in the year. I also have not seen any moose calves in at least 3 years.

[wolfbait]

Why? His report will the same old lies. Tell the truth and they can't give tags away.

Yep, but which lie will he go with this year, we can bet it won't be "deer hunting was very poor because of the overpopulation of wolves and cougars etc.". Instead it he will more than likely blame the fires or climate change etc..

It is time, for the locals to be extra careful, keep a closer eye on their children, WDFW's wolves are not the timid creatures they would like everyone to believe.

[Birdguy]

Bluebird weather will be the BIG focus this year. "The deer are in their summer range, temps in the 60s and 70s keeps them away form hunters. I am sure winter counts will be close to normal" I can see it all ready!

[LITTLEBUCK]

I do have to say, this is the worst I have ever seen since 1976 to present the amount of deer seen. 8 days of hunting with 6 to 8 miles a day I saw a grand total of 17 deer with 2 small bucks. Also saw big dog tracks in most drainages we hunted along with seeing 2 black bears.

[bigmacc]

Took the granddaughters out for 9 days of hunting in the Methow,  wolf sign up 8 mile, Falls Creek and Bear Creek. Talked to a fella I know up on Lamb Butte who's group seen a Grizzly with a young one, estimated her at around 700lbs, I guess they spotted her last year up in the same "area" but didn't have a cub. Seen cat tracks up Finley, Bear Creek, Ramsey and Boulder and I mean a lot of cat tracks. Needless to say, the absolute worst season as far as deer numbers I have ever seen in the Methow and with the amount of predator sign we seen(bear, cat and wolf) in new areas(expanding), this herd is doomed.....  

[wolfbait]

Took the granddaughters out for 9 days of hunting in the Methow,  wolf sign up 8 mile, Falls Creek and Bear Creek. Talked to a fella I know up on Lamb Butte who's group seen a Grizzly with a young one, estimated her at around 700lbs, I guess they spotted her last year up in the same "area" but didn't have a cub. Seen cat tracks up Finley, Bear Creek, Ramsey and Boulder and I mean a lot of cat tracks. Needless to say, the absolute worst season as far as deer numbers I have ever seen in the Methow and with the amount of predator sign we seen(bear, cat and wolf) in new areas(expanding), this herd is doomed.....

We knew it was coming, we have watched the decline for quite a while, now there is practically nothing left.

Several cougar have been seen down low on the Valley floor this year, some within a mile of Twisp, the town deer etc. have taken a pretty good hit too.

[timberfaller]

Having lived there most of my life and return to hunt now and then when I can,  I didn't bother buying a license this year.

My last two hunts up in the Methow showed me what I thought was happening over the last two decades.

As I was told by the person doing the "study" of the herd(for the second time), "for the numbers, the Methow herd is in great shape"

[Vista Matt]

It was the same in the Teanaway.  4 days and didn't see ONE deer.  put on over 20 miles up high and down low.  Heard wolves howling on Sat around 9 or 10am.  Lots of cat tracks and saw one while busting brush on a ridge.  Couldn't get my rifle up fast enough, those things are like lightning!  I wear a size 12 boot and the tracks are just as big if not bigger.  We got word that the cattle ranchers think that it's not the wolves or cougars thinning down the herds but the spring bears that are killing the new fawns.  They are seeing it with their cattle as well.   

[Boss .300 winmag]

It was the same in the Teanaway.  4 days and didn't see ONE deer.  put on over 20 miles up high and down low.  Heard wolves howling on Sat around 9 or 10am.  Lots of cat tracks and saw one while busting brush on a ridge.  Couldn't get my rifle up fast enough, those things are like lightning!  I wear a size 12 boot and the tracks are just as big if not bigger.  We got word that the cattle ranchers think that it's not the wolves or cougars thinning down the herds but the spring bears that are killing the new fawns.  They are seeing it with their cattle as well.   

 

Dude really.🤭

[Vista Matt]

It was the same in the Teanaway.  4 days and didn't see ONE deer.  put on over 20 miles up high and down low.  Heard wolves howling on Sat around 9 or 10am.  Lots of cat tracks and saw one while busting brush on a ridge.  Couldn't get my rifle up fast enough, those things are like lightning!  I wear a size 12 boot and the tracks are just as big if not bigger.  We got word that the cattle ranchers think that it's not the wolves or cougars thinning down the herds but the spring bears that are killing the new fawns.  They are seeing it with their cattle as well.   

 

Dude really.🤭

I wish i was joking man...  I did hear of some other hunters who saw a few does, but the majority of people that have been going there for years said its bad.

[Boss .300 winmag]

It was the same in the Teanaway.  4 days and didn't see ONE deer.  put on over 20 miles up high and down low.  Heard wolves howling on Sat around 9 or 10am.  Lots of cat tracks and saw one while busting brush on a ridge.  Couldn't get my rifle up fast enough, those things are like lightning!  I wear a size 12 boot and the tracks are just as big if not bigger.  We got word that the cattle ranchers think that it's not the wolves or cougars thinning down the herds but the spring bears that are killing the new fawns.  They are seeing it with their cattle as well.   

 

Dude really.🤭

I wish i was joking man...  I did hear of some other hunters who saw a few does, but the majority of people that have been going there for years said its bad.

Not that this.

We got word that the cattle ranchers think that it's not the wolves or cougars thinning down the herds but the spring bears that are killing the new fawns.