2018 seems very lean

[NOCK NOCK]

a lot of irony in this thread. Folks want more/ better deer......for what?, so we can go shoot them.
Not happy with deer numbers in WA so I’ll go hunt another state.
Another irony is seems that a lot of folks that have killed a lot of big bucks are the ones who are most adamant about saving the herds and calling for reduced opportunity.....hmmmm
If y’all continue to yearly take out the best breeders it’s not hard to see that is also part of the problem.

Have y’all forgot that hunting is more than killing a trophy buck every year?

It should be about family and friends enjoying the outdoors.......don’t need to kill a buck every year to do that.

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[The Marquis]

Also, a lot of coyotes are seen, but not shot.  That's not helping a thing.  If I see a coyote, I'm shooting the  out of it and all of it's fur covered buddies.

[no.cen.wa]

I hunted Pasayten, Sinlahekin and Chewuch, very very few deer, worst ever. Saw 6 deer( don't count road hunting and farmer fields, but no bucks road hunting.) I hunt Tripod burn area and it is trash down everywhere. There are lots of yotes, cougar, bear and yes wolves. My hunting partner was was talking to another hunter that saw 4 wolves, they were barking and trying to get his German Shephard to come to them, the dog was tied up and so lived for another day. The hunter yelled at them and they took off, but one came back and just stared at him for quite a while,,, not scared of him at all! there were others that saw wolves also. He was so stunned he didn't even think about shooting it,,, too bad.
As far as draw for mule deer, I'm not much on it, been trying for 21 years the get quality draw for 224, I started when I was 48,, and,,, well, you do the math.
I believe the mule deer in NCW NEED less hunting pressure, less days by all groups, at least 1/2 the amount of days!
The WDFW is NOT managing the mule deer herd in NCW at all! Well they won't have to for long, the herd will be gone.
nough said, for now
John G

[206]

E WA mule deer declined in my area when they created another season - muzzle loader.

[Bullmoose]

We have been seeing a lot more mule deer Further east then we every have before

[NOCK NOCK]

We saw quite a few deer and bucks this year, last year not so much. The point is, ya can’t have an awesome year every year.

2015 was a banner year for many. Just paying the dues now. Imo

[CougHunter]

Also, a lot of coyotes are seen, but not shot.  That's not helping a thing.  If I see a coyote, I'm shooting the  out of it and all of it's fur covered buddies.

It's interesting that there's research to suggest that shooting coyotes actually spreads them out and increases their numbers. I still took a shot at one last weekend, but I feel a little more conflicted about it lately.

There are many days out in Eastern WA where I end up seeing more coyotes than deer. I'd like to see their numbers drop. I still try to shoot them, but I wish there was more research looking into the impacts of this.

[bigmacc]

Also, a lot of coyotes are seen, but not shot.  That's not helping a thing.  If I see a coyote, I'm shooting the  out of it and all of it's fur covered buddies.

It's interesting that there's research to suggest that shooting coyotes actually spreads them out and increases their numbers. I still took a shot at one last weekend, but I feel a little more conflicted about it lately.

There are many days out in Eastern WA where I end up seeing more coyotes than deer. I'd like to see their numbers drop. I still try to shoot them, but I wish there was more research looking into the impacts of this.

Keep shooting them, show no mercy on them, I seen 3 of them drag a 2 or 3 day old fawn out of a small thicket this spring, nasty animals. Trust me they are everywhere they don't need to be shot at to spread out.

[MtnMuley]

Another irony is seems that a lot of folks that have killed a lot of big bucks are the ones who are most adamant about saving the herds and calling for reduced opportunity.....hmmmm

I'm lost on the irony there?  Perhaps a lot of the guys who have killed a lot of big bucks know more than the average Joe and have noticed sharp declined in deer populations all over NCW and decided to hang up their weapons for a few years.  I'm not telling others to follow my path, but looking for ways to increase herd health.  There is no doubt in my mind that myself and several others could continue to kill mature bucks here if we chose to, but we don't. Unfortunately things change for the worse a lot more these days, so if having limited draw seasons is what it's going to take to be able to rebuild this herd, then I'm all for it.  It affects me just like it affects you.

Have y’all forgot that hunting is more than killing a trophy buck every year?

Absolutely.  That's why myself and friends have devoted a lot of our free time these days in helping the next generation of youth harvest their first animals.



Be careful who you selectively single out here, as I don't think they're your real threat.

[boneaddict]

  spot on

[Karl Blanchard]

spot on

  I'd be as so bold to say the guys who consistently kill, especially mature animals, have a far better grasp on herd dynamics, predation, habitat, etc.  Than the guy who bumbles into a 2.5yo buck once a decade or so.  I can probably speak for mtnmuley, bone, and some others when I say we care more about mule deer than we care about mule deer hunting.  Because without the one, you cannot do the other 

[Taco280AI]

Other than being warm, I don't know what's going on this year. It's October 26th and right now it's 65 degrees in Boise. Tomorrow is supposed to be 70!

I'm not having trouble finding elk. In fact I found some today and the bulls are still bugling! I'm finding does too, 20 does and fawns today, with one little herd of 12. Find them every time. But where are the bucks?? There aren't any bucks with any of the does. Not hanging out near them, not sniffing them. Just not there.

I go  3-5 miles off the roads, up 2500-3500 feet in elevation gain... no bucks.

[MtnMuley]

spot on

  I'd be as so bold to say the guys who consistently kill, especially mature animals, have a far better grasp on herd dynamics, predation, habitat, etc.  Than the guy who bumbles into a 2.5yo buck once a decade or so.  I can probably speak for mtnmuley, bone, and some others when I say we care more about mule deer than we care about mule deer hunting.  Because without the one, you cannot do the other 

Amen

[NOCK NOCK]

I believe you missed my point. 

[hunter399]

Here's a pic of mangement from WDFW.