So what's the whitetail deer scene like here in Washington?

[Jonathan_S]

Blacktail are hard to hunt, duh.

You'll notice though that it's the same people year after year who take mature animals. Kind of like mule deer and whitetail...hmm weird 

Consistent success is built on the same principles regardless of species.

[Parasite]

We'll see what happens. I got a whole lot to figure out, and the older I get, the less years I have left to do it. Illinois was fun the last few years. Shot 8 deer in 2017, but since I moved I only got to hunt about 9 days in 2018. I grazed a 135" buck, and had a 160" buck almost in range. If I would have stuck it out a few more days, I would have tagged out, but my host pissed me off so I quit 5 days early.

[Jonathan_S]

 

Also I love the fact that your handle is Parasite and that your "host" made you angry.

A guy can make it happen with any of the deer species here in Washington. If you're hunting archery then you'll have two months of good time in the woods

[fishnfur]

...and Idaho is a favorite WT tag of many hunters here too.  You might want to take a look at that as well.

[bearpaw]

We'll see what happens. I got a whole lot to figure out, and the older I get, the less years I have left to do it. Illinois was fun the last few years. Shot 8 deer in 2017, but since I moved I only got to hunt about 9 days in 2018. I grazed a 135" buck, and had a 160" buck almost in range. If I would have stuck it out a few more days, I would have tagged out, but my host pissed me off so I quit 5 days early.

There's pretty good whitetail hunting in eastern WA, but do yourself a favor and view the location of WA wolf packs and avoid those specific areas, game numbers are not rebounding from the last winter kill in those areas. I think the biggest adjustment for you will be only hunting for 1 deer per year. But you can make up a lot with all the diversity of species in hunting and fishing in the northwest. It;s pretty easy to plan hunts in adjoining states too.

[bearpaw]

wolf pack locations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/packs/

[ljsommer]

It's a serious question. I honestly don't know. You just don't see it hyped up much on TV, YouTube, etc. I'm curious.

Cause they haven’t figured them out 

It would take 3 seasons just to film a show.
If you like hunting, hunt Blacktail and Roosevelt elk.

When you get frustrated, head east for the "easy" hunting.

If you like *nature walks* hunt blacktail. If you're anything like me, you'll spend hundreds of hours bringing your best hunting-game and you won't see a single animal. They truly are ghosts. I know for a fact, 100% that there were deer around me last time I was out but I also knew I had no chance of seeing them.

[boneaddict]

I’ve seen at least one world record, without hesitation, and several others that would blow your mind.   💥🤯

[gee_unit360]

I’ve seen at least one world record, without hesitation, and several others that would blow your mind.   💥🤯

LOL

[Parasite]

So it was mentioned earlier in this thread that the mule deer herd was not in good shape. Can someone please elaborate?

[boneaddict]

Predators are out of hand, massive wildfires destroyed key range, bad winters, over harvest, piss poor management.....

[elkboy]

Honestly, blacktails have not had it good in the last decade either. Intensification of forestry practices and loss of key low elevation habitat to development are leading causes.

[grundy53]

Predators are out of hand, massive wildfires destroyed key range, bad winters, over harvest, piss poor management.....

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[grundy53]

Honestly, blacktails have not had it good in the last decade either. Intensification of forestry practices and loss of key low elevation habitat to development are leading causes.

In SW Washington the hair loss epidemic destroyed the herd in the mid 90s until a few years ago. They still haven't recovered from that. Probably has a lot to due with intensive spraying of clear cuts which kills most of their browse.

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[boneaddict]

I wonder how pressure and harvest are impacting them as well, with fewer mule deer, Im sure more folks are turning to home grounds and late season hunts.