2018 seems very lean

[Ridgerunner]

Either guys aren’t sharing their success or it was a bleak year out there.........it’s more quiet than normal around here.


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[Birdguy]

I think it is a combination of both. Lots of folks do not share success pics or stories anymore on here for a million reasons. But I have talked to a lot of hunters who did not do well this year either. Conditions are not great for sure, deer numbers are down it appears in most of eastern Washington and a lot of guys will not really hunt the west side until the weather moves in this week.

[MtnMuley]

Many of us aren't even pursuing muleys anymore in WA. Numbers are horrid in general. I don't even see a rebound in the near future. Makes me sick.

[NOCK NOCK]

Bleak year is my guess. Hot and sunny here in central WA, not the best for hunting/deer movement.

Just what the mulies needed this year to help the herds recover a bit. 

[cougforester]

Today I saw 34 does in NCW, one spike buck. Between Friday and today I hunted from 7400', 7 miles deep to 3500' half a mile off a road. Total deer count from this trip and 2 days for opening weekend was into the fifties for does and a total of 3 bucks with 2 forkeys and a spike. Not sure what else I could have done to find something with antlers on it, but hopefully all those does means a bump in the buck population soon after.....?

[boneaddict]

Many of us aren't even pursuing muleys anymore in WA. Numbers are horrid in general. I don't even see a rebound in the near future. Makes me sick.

 

[hunter399]

A few more years WDFW is gonna have a hard time selling tags.

[deerhunter_98520]

Worst year since I can remember....I usually see 15+ deer a day in my spots...and it's been a chore to find one deer this year 

[3nails]

 Going to be an explosion of blacktail bucks being posted in the next 10 days.

[RB]

The weather was horrible for Deer hunting in the NE should have packed sunscreen. The only place I found good sign was a fair distance into the nastiest dog hair blow down patch I could find, and then only does. Saw a few after dark and in the morning before light.

 I know giving up anything to the WDFW is hard to talk about but maybe Mule Deer should go to permit only?? Something needs to be done to build the herds back, even the sign I was seeing was less than years past. 

[slowhand]

I agree with permit only for muleys. No more over the counter mule deer tags.

[CLARKTAR]

The weather was horrible for Deer hunting in the NE should have packed sunscreen. The only place I found good sign was a fair distance into the nastiest dog hair blow down patch I could find, and then only does. Saw a few after dark and in the morning before light.

 I know giving up anything to the WDFW is hard to talk about but maybe Mule Deer should go to permit only?? Something needs to be done to build the herds back, even the sign I was seeing was less than years past. 

Yep! Horrible weather. I just left the N.E. part if the state and look forward to blacktail hunting. It was nice to hike a new area I guess ..

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[hambone]

Was hunting huckleberry unit saw moose and a few does and i mean a few hunted 49 to saw less there weather way to warm

[deerhunter_98520]

Going to be an explosion of blacktail bucks being posted in the next 10 days.

I agree, usually the does are atleast out n about to look at but not so much this year

[headshot5]

Yeah this next week is going to get really good!