Conconully area...Where did the deer go?

[bsharp]

I've been hunting over in the Conconully area for the past 25 years and have never seen the population so low.  In 6 days I only saw 4 deer, 2 mulies and 2 whitetail.  Even the sound of gunshots was rare.  I realize that there have been bad fires in that county but there has to be more to the story.  Wolves, cougars, fire, weather...the perfect storm?  Thoughts?

Thanks,  Tim

[boneaddict]

Hairy poop

[grundy53]

My dad was over there last weekend. He didn't see a single deer.

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[hunterofelk]

In 2008 I hunted near Lone Frank Pass and got a buck on the fourth day. It was the fourth deer I saw. At least in that area the deer population has been low, typically.  Always hoping for a migration.

[M_ray]

Hairy poop

 
I just got back last night and I was in the conconnully area among several others and the story is the same all over, I think Bone has hit it on the head. I drove a over thousand miles in a week covering 5 different units, saw two ports of entry, drove a barbed wire fence separating me from Canada, three forest fires still burning, hiked into the Pasayten Wilderness and only saw 25-30 doe’s and about a dozen small bucks the whole trip and nothing worth shooting. I should have seen hundreds of deer instead saw hundreds of camps with no deer hanging. It is a very sad situation this state is in at the moment. There are a lot of factors from the political stance of not putting the fires out to poor management of the WDFW. I know no one wants to hear it but we really need to think about going to a draw only and one species limit or except that what we have now is the new normal. 

[vandeman17]

Hairy poop

 
I just got back last night and I was in the conconnully area among several others and the story is the same all over, I think Bone has hit it on the head. I drove a over thousand miles in a week covering 5 different units, saw two ports of entry, drove a barbed wire fence separating me from Canada, three forest fires still burning, hiked into the Pasayten Wilderness and only saw 25-30 doe’s and about a dozen small bucks the whole trip and nothing worth shooting. I should have seen hundreds of deer instead saw hundreds of camps with no deer hanging. It is a very sad situation this state is in at the moment. There are a lot of factors from the political stance of not putting the fires out to poor management of the WDFW. I know no one wants to hear it but we really need to think about going to a draw only and one species limit or except that what we have now is the new normal. 

Personally, I am totally ok with going to some kind of draw or something until the herd rebounds. Every year I see less and less deer in the Wenatchee valley so I can only imagine what its like up that way.

[Bearhunter]

MRay I couldnt agree with you more, exact same thing I saw while trying to find a legal buck for my son last week.  So very few deer, as well as the normal amount of hunters being down or spread to different areas.  The state Mule deer population is truly in a state of despair rite now... something has to change!

[full choke]

Hairy poop

 
I just got back last night and I was in the conconnully area among several others and the story is the same all over, I think Bone has hit it on the head. I drove a over thousand miles in a week covering 5 different units, saw two ports of entry, drove a barbed wire fence separating me from Canada, three forest fires still burning, hiked into the Pasayten Wilderness and only saw 25-30 doe’s and about a dozen small bucks the whole trip and nothing worth shooting. I should have seen hundreds of deer instead saw hundreds of camps with no deer hanging. It is a very sad situation this state is in at the moment. There are a lot of factors from the political stance of not putting the fires out to poor management of the WDFW. I know no one wants to hear it but we really need to think about going to a draw only and one species limit or except that what we have now is the new normal. 

Personally, I am totally ok with going to some kind of draw or something until the herd rebounds. Every year I see less and less deer in the Wenatchee valley so I can only imagine what its like up that way.

I agree with the drawing idea. Washington hunters just have to realize it is all or nothing. There would be no going back when the herd rebounds.... That is in no way how this state operates...

[M_ray]

Hairy poop

 
I just got back last night and I was in the conconnully area among several others and the story is the same all over, I think Bone has hit it on the head. I drove a over thousand miles in a week covering 5 different units, saw two ports of entry, drove a barbed wire fence separating me from Canada, three forest fires still burning, hiked into the Pasayten Wilderness and only saw 25-30 doe’s and about a dozen small bucks the whole trip and nothing worth shooting. I should have seen hundreds of deer instead saw hundreds of camps with no deer hanging. It is a very sad situation this state is in at the moment. There are a lot of factors from the political stance of not putting the fires out to poor management of the WDFW. I know no one wants to hear it but we really need to think about going to a draw only and one species limit or except that what we have now is the new normal. 

Personally, I am totally ok with going to some kind of draw or something until the herd rebounds. Every year I see less and less deer in the Wenatchee valley so I can only imagine what its like up that way.

I agree with the drawing idea. Washington hunters just have to realize it is all or nothing. There would be no going back when the herd rebounds.... That is in no way how this state operates...

Of coarse the draw is still only one part of this, yes there is still the fight against wolves and the new introduction of grizzly as well as the act that the cougar population isn’t dwindling any time soon. But the reality is if we keep doing the same thing as we are now I can promise you it is not working. We also get to put in for every category for permits which dilutes chances across the board. I’m in favor of a system which would increase my odds of a quality hunt every two to three years even if it means less opportunity for the lame general season we have now. Many out there will argue “I’M NOT GIVING UP MY HUNTS” as they are now, but all it is is hiking around with your gun looking at pretty country! 

[vandeman17]

Hairy poop

 
I just got back last night and I was in the conconnully area among several others and the story is the same all over, I think Bone has hit it on the head. I drove a over thousand miles in a week covering 5 different units, saw two ports of entry, drove a barbed wire fence separating me from Canada, three forest fires still burning, hiked into the Pasayten Wilderness and only saw 25-30 doe’s and about a dozen small bucks the whole trip and nothing worth shooting. I should have seen hundreds of deer instead saw hundreds of camps with no deer hanging. It is a very sad situation this state is in at the moment. There are a lot of factors from the political stance of not putting the fires out to poor management of the WDFW. I know no one wants to hear it but we really need to think about going to a draw only and one species limit or except that what we have now is the new normal. 

Personally, I am totally ok with going to some kind of draw or something until the herd rebounds. Every year I see less and less deer in the Wenatchee valley so I can only imagine what its like up that way.

I agree with the drawing idea. Washington hunters just have to realize it is all or nothing. There would be no going back when the herd rebounds.... That is in no way how this state operates...

One can only hope but I agree that once they enact a rule, they RARELY take it away. Only one I can recall was the 4 point minimum in NE corner.

[Tundra]

What does the WA MDF Chapter suggest?  I spent some time wandering around GMU215 and saw very few deer.....  and hairy poop.....

[KopperBuck]

Hairy poop

 
I just got back last night and I was in the conconnully area among several others and the story is the same all over, I think Bone has hit it on the head. I drove a over thousand miles in a week covering 5 different units, saw two ports of entry, drove a barbed wire fence separating me from Canada, three forest fires still burning, hiked into the Pasayten Wilderness and only saw 25-30 doe’s and about a dozen small bucks the whole trip and nothing worth shooting. I should have seen hundreds of deer instead saw hundreds of camps with no deer hanging. It is a very sad situation this state is in at the moment. There are a lot of factors from the political stance of not putting the fires out to poor management of the WDFW. I know no one wants to hear it but we really need to think about going to a draw only and one species limit or except that what we have now is the new normal. 

Personally, I am totally ok with going to some kind of draw or something until the herd rebounds. Every year I see less and less deer in the Wenatchee valley so I can only imagine what its like up that way.

I agree with the drawing idea. Washington hunters just have to realize it is all or nothing. There would be no going back when the herd rebounds.... That is in no way how this state operates...

One can only hope but I agree that once they enact a rule, they RARELY take it away. Only one I can recall was the 4 point minimum in NE corner.

This would decrease their revenue. As it stands, they'd either have to jack up tag or license costs.

[Ridgeratt]

This would decrease their revenue. As it stands, they'd either have to jack up tag or license costs.

Aren't they mulling over a 15% increase.

[lewy]

The thought of further limiting our opportunity bothers me, esp with the price we pay, when the real problems have failed to be addressed

[coachcw]

Oregon