NE buck/deer population.

[birdmanwa]

Trying to see if we aren’t alone. We have seen a sharp decline in the whitetail population in 124 and 127. The buck population is horrible. You rarely see any mature bucks anymore.

What’s everyone’s else thoughts?

[tgomez]

I would have to agree with you. Haven't seen a nice buck all year in Mt. Spokane IEP property. Been out the last 3 days.  I have seen seventeen doe and zero bucks,  not even a spike. Two years ago I shot a big 4x4 on my birthday. Today is my birthday, I saw 5 doe and a coyote. From now on I will put in for a doe permit. I have never not gotten a deer and this may be the year. I feel your frustration.

[huntnnw]

30 years of extensive whitetail hunting for myself and I have never witnessed whitetail populations this bad. I’ve been having conversations with some good friends tonight about this exact issue. None of us have seen anything like this . I had a cam up in 127 in what was a great area from early June till today it got 1 pic of a dink buck in that time frame ! Absurd! I’m running cams in 105 right now and checked them last weekend. A first in my life I had a set up with 0 deer! Unbelievable! It was just 5 years ago in exact spot I had 7-9 bucks and 2 shooters . Another cam had 2 does and a yearling. Wasn’t able to check the other due to snow. I never saw a single deer last weekend .

[Seabass]

Last week I pulled 4 cameras in 121....all have been very productive areas in the the last 7-8 years.....not a single buck over 2 1/2 years old. I didn’t really even have all that many bucks either....maybe 4-5 bucks per camera and not one that was remotely close to being mature.

Never gone into the late archery season without a single shooter on camera. I had 2 or 3 bucks that made it through last years hunting season but clearly didn’t make it through the winter. Maybe they died of blue tounge...? No idea

[baldopepper]

I've watched the decline in whitetails around my place in 121 for the last several years. Boys did take three during the early hunt (two decent bucks and a spike), but they were the only bucks they saw in 3 days of hunting. Ran into several hunters this past weekend and all complained about the lack of whitetails. I can't really pin it on any one cause, but do know I'm only seeing a fraction of the whiteys I saw just 5-6 years ago. Still scratching my head over the doe permits they gave out for the area. 

[jnevs23]

I’ve noticed a big drop off in my usual spot in 124 the last couple years. It’s about 300 acres of private in the lower foothills.  Shouldn’t be much winter kill, especially with the last couple winters being mild. 2 year round creeks and a pond near, so blue tongue shouldn’t be an issue.  The cougar population is definelty high, I’m catching them on cam multiple times a year.  I’m attributing the drop off to cougars and one of the land owners letting too many other people hunt it.  I’m thinking the mature bucks have pushed over to other pieces with less pressure.  3 years ago I had 12-14 bucks show up on cam with 3 very nice bucks and some with real potential.  Last 2 years I can’t hardly find a shooter on cam.  I got pretty good buck last year during the rut but the buck numbers really seem to be down.

[Seabass]

I've watched the decline in whitetails around my place in 121 for the last several years. Boys did take three during the early hunt (two decent bucks and a spike), but they were the only bucks they saw in 3 days of hunting. Ran into several hunters this past weekend and all complained about the lack of whitetails. I can't really pin it on any one cause, but do know I'm only seeing a fraction of the whiteys I saw just 5-6 years ago. Still scratching my head over the doe permits they gave out for the area.

I was worried that this year was coming. Last year I had 4 shooters on camera but 2 of them were at least 7 1/2 years old. I was actually shocked when one of them was still alive last year. I had 4 years of him and he was older when I found him.

I didn’t have any bucks that were in that 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 class. I had 4 old bucks and a bunch of really young bucks.

[Seabass]

I am getting more an more cat pics...killed one from my stand in 2104. I just don’t buy cats being the major culprit.

[birdmanwa]

I think cougars  are big problem. They are big deer killers. I think the last 2 winters did more damage than people think, especially on the older bucks. You just don’t see many. It seems we all sort of agree on the declining deer population but the state sees it as stable with 30 bucks for 100 does which I think it’s way less than that.

[Jimmer]

Yup,,, east side sucks, don’t even bother..

[HUNTIN4SIX]

Many cougars in deer park.....drastic decline in does and bucks.  4 years ago 20 plus plus deer a day came in front of the blind....now maybe one.  More worried about the future of my children being able to hunt.  We have a very serious problem in N.E. WA.  Who do we go to or how do we change it?  I have been very frustrated about this for awhile, but enough people don't seem to care. There's my opinion!

[Seabass]

I think cougars  are big problem. They are big deer killers. I think the last 2 winters did more damage than people think, especially on the older bucks. You just don’t see many. It seems we all sort of agree on the declining deer population but the state sees it as stable with 30 bucks for 100 does which I think it’s way less than that.

Last year’s winter was worse than most realize. I had to leave 2 cams over winter because there was too much snow to even park my truck when I went back up the week after New Year’s.

[Limhangerslayer]

I've watched the decline in whitetails around my place in 121 for the last several years. Boys did take three during the early hunt (two decent bucks and a spike), but they were the only bucks they saw in 3 days of hunting. Ran into several hunters this past weekend and all complained about the lack of whitetails. I can't really pin it on any one cause, but do know I'm only seeing a fraction of the whiteys I saw just 5-6 years ago. Still scratching my head over the doe permits they gave out for the area.

I wonder if it was something that happened this summer?  We saw tons of whitetails this spring turkey hunting.

[Seabass]

I've watched the decline in whitetails around my place in 121 for the last several years. Boys did take three during the early hunt (two decent bucks and a spike), but they were the only bucks they saw in 3 days of hunting. Ran into several hunters this past weekend and all complained about the lack of whitetails. I can't really pin it on any one cause, but do know I'm only seeing a fraction of the whiteys I saw just 5-6 years ago. Still scratching my head over the doe permits they gave out for the area.

I wonder if it was something that happened this summer?  We saw tons of whitetails this spring turkey hunting.

I’m wondering the same thing...maybe blue tongue?

[jnevs23]

I’ve heard that ticks are taking a major toll on moose.  Maybe they are having an impact on whitetails as well