Twisp area deer

[huntnfmly]

Hey guys my turn I've been doing the search on here and mostly really old info and I know it's not even close to how it use to be.Quite a few years ago we hunted up behind perrygin
We are taking my daughters friend out for her first hunt ever not expecting much on the hunt just mostly to get her out.
I have some specific questions on some areas outside of twisp and looking for someone who wouldn't mind answering in pm's and if not no worries.
Thank you
 

[powderbounder]

The area over there has been hit hard with wolves and the other predators. It’s beyond what it use to be. I know lots of people that have stopped going over there. Including myself. Good luck if you go. PB

[huntnfmly]

Thanks for the response I've talked with a few other people and decided we're heading somewhere else.
Good luck to you this season

[huntnphool]

The area over there has been hit hard with wolves and the other predators. It’s beyond what it use to be. I know lots of people that have stopped going over there. Including myself. Good luck if you go. PB

 Not to mention fire.

[bigmacc]

Sorry, but I would find another area to take a young hunter. 25 years ago it would have been area number 1.

[bornhunter]

Just got back from there tonight. Saw one doe.

[Skyvalhunter]

One doe? That's 1 more than I saw

[wsmnut]

 

[Mr Mykiss]

Heading there right now. I’m hopeful that I can beat one doe...we’ll see.

[KP-Skagit]

Happy to help. Feel free to PM if you are still looking. There are still deer to be had.

[bornhunter]

I actually saw more than just one doe. I saw two really nice trophy buck archery targets. Stopped and glassed them for a while to kind of get a sense of what used to be

[BGhunter]

The archery doe season has also had a big effect on that herd in my apinion

[OutHouse]

The archery doe season has also had a big effect on that herd in my apinion

I think that's right. My brother has taken a few big does in the latter half of archery season (years ago) but we don't do that anymore. I am to the point where I think the Methow should be shut down for mule deer for at least a season. There are still definitely deer to be had but each one taken means less to be had in the future.

[Fishmaker57]

I would definitely head somewhere else, as the whole Methow Valley is but a shadow of what it used to be. Yes, there are still some pockets of deer, and if you live in the area and scout hard, you can find them. But for new hunters, who actually would like to see multiple deer, try Douglas County. Not a ton of state land, but quite a bit of permission land, that you can get into if you take the time to call and visit.

It is a shame what WDFW has done to the mule deer in the Methow Valley, through mismanagement and not really caring. There should be ZERO doe seasons in that area, regardless of weapon. After the fire, the was many people asking to put up feed stations, some even did it on their own....despite WDFW saying no. Huge winter kill, too many doe tags, predators everywhere....and still WDFW doesn't care. 

[OutHouse]

I would definitely head somewhere else, as the whole Methow Valley is but a shadow of what it used to be. Yes, there are still some pockets of deer, and if you live in the area and scout hard, you can find them. But for new hunters, who actually would like to see multiple deer, try Douglas County. Not a ton of state land, but quite a bit of permission land, that you can get into if you take the time to call and visit.

It is a shame what WDFW has done to the mule deer in the Methow Valley, through mismanagement and not really caring. There should be ZERO doe seasons in that area, regardless of weapon. After the fire, the was many people asking to put up feed stations, some even did it on their own....despite WDFW saying no. Huge winter kill, too many doe tags, predators everywhere....and still WDFW doesn't care.

Agreed but I will add that the whitetail appear to be doing just fine so allowing any deer for them during archery would not be a problem in my opinion.

[Skyvalhunter]

Boy I sure hope this last dumping of snow in the high country doesn't bring out all the road hunters with their jacked up 4x4's to start shooting any deer with an antler. Would be a shame to see the remaining deer get wiped out.

[meatwhack]

If they don’t get shot cougars will eat them.

[Skyvalhunter]

What about wolves in the valley?

[bigmacc]

What about wolves in the valley?

Been seeing signs of them in the last 6 months in areas I have not seen wolf sign in before, they are either multiplying or spreading into new areas looking for food, unfortunately, its probably both.

[sidehil]

There are deer to be had...Just got to hunt hard and long.... we been hunting it for 35 years and some years have been very slow in the past

[sidehil]

sorry about the rotation but same deer on same bicycle....im the one sideways, It was posted here before so nothing new......

[bigmacc]

There are deer to be had...Just got to hunt hard and long.... we been hunting it for 35 years and some years have been very slow in the past

I know exactly where you got that buck, we used to see bucks out there every day, killed 9 out there in one day(sun up till sun down), that was in 1988 I believe, back in the day we used to take em down hill, used to cost us a dollar because we had to buy a jug of cider from the property owner (dad of the fella thats there now, used to be friends of my grandparents back in the 40,s 50,s and 60,s). There are still deer around, don't think anyone is saying they are all gone but its getting closer and closer to that. We used to see over 500-800 come through that area in a 2-3 day period of November, this last year during the same time period my son and I went to do a count and seen 11 over a 3 day period, 2017- 18 and 2016- 9, very sad, in fact we haven't seen more than 100 come through there since 2001, numbers just keep getting worse and worse. Sure you can bump into a deer anywhere, the chances are just diminishing year by year it seems. Thats a nice buck

sidehil-I sent you a PM, you won't believe this.

[Dick in the Dirt]

I use to see 20/30 deer a week come though our place. Today I saw one for the first time in two weeks. Lots of White tail.

[no.cen.wa]

Many things contribute to the decline of our Mule deer herd in the Methow, one that many don't believe is the "antler restriction" that started back in the late 1990's

[no.cen.wa]

Sorry, hit the wrong key! now I'll explain.
In 1997 the game dept brought us 3 point or better for mule deer, seemed like a good idea but my hunting buddies and I hunted the first 2 years away from the Methow. We went back on the 3rd year and it was great! I wrote a letter the the to the region 2 Wdfw manager Mark Quinn, I'm sure bigmacc remembers him. I told him it was great hunting but I was really against it to start with. He sent me info from other western states that showed it would hurt the herd over time and he was VERY much against it. And explained with much backup from other state biologist's saying it would be bad for the mule deer herds, but mostly great revenue. I'll have to say, I saw what he said happen, all the wolves, coyotes ect didn't help but it was going downhill already.
I've got the material, maybe I'll dig it out after the season and post it. I posted this info once and was attacked by some, don't care to go back there again.
John G.
Remember the word "revenue" it's all the current WDFW cares about!

[sidehil]

Read your reply, your way off and if I had to drag that deer thru private property I would have to hike 10 miles towards Twisp and drop 3k in altitude but nice try:) I shot that 4 or 5 years ago but with all the wolves, cougars and bears there are still deer, just got to get your ass out of your truck...…:)) just having some fun.....   

[Igor]

PLEASE........PLEASE.......PLEASE.

Don't turn this into another "I remember when there were millions of deer in the Methow........" thread.  The last one beat that horse to death..........many times over.

Just my 2¢.

[meatwhack]

That’s a big bodied old buck there.

[bigmacc]

Read your reply, your way off and if I had to drag that deer thru private property I would have to hike 10 miles towards Twisp and drop 3k in altitude but nice try:) I shot that 4 or 5 years ago but with all the wolves, cougars and bears there are still deer, just got to get your ass out of your truck...…:)) just having some fun.....

I gotcha

[Skyvalhunter]

There are deer to be had...Just got to hunt hard and long.... we been hunting it for 35 years and some years have been very slow in the past

I used to hunt that area quite a bit and the deer numbers there just aren't what they use to be. Speaking of getting off your butt. Igor there's a thread calling your name.

[Igor]

I used to hunt that area quite a bit and the deer numbers there just aren't what they use to be. Speaking of getting off your butt. Igor there's a thread calling your name.

Huh ?

[Mr Mykiss]

Count.
Yard deer: 20ish doe/fawns, 4 bucks (1 legal)
Private farmland deers: 40 doe/fawns, 20 bucks (10 legal, nothing big)
Good old public land: 0

[no.cen.wa]

My cousin went over to put up some game cameras in the Beaver Creek, Loop Loop area a couple weeks ago, he brought them home! After hiking around looking for a good spot he saw nearly NO tracks, well, I should say no deer tracks, he's hunted that area for over 50 years with very good luck Now he's looking somewhere else. I sure hope someday it recovers.

[X-Force]

Deer are there. Put in the work. Get to know the area.

There may not be as many as 20 or 40 years ago but look at winter range, fire development, etc.

[boneaddict]

Hey guys my turn I've been doing the search on here and mostly really old info and I know it's not even close to how it use to be.Quite a few years ago we hunted up behind perrygin
We are taking my daughters friend out for her first hunt ever not expecting much on the hunt just mostly to get her out.
I have some specific questions on some areas outside of twisp and looking for someone who wouldn't mind answering in pm's and if not no worries.
Thank you

If you have specific questions Id be glad to help.  If the question is where to go, Im not your huckleberry.  I have been really sick so my response time may vary, also why I am just seeing this thread.  I havnet taken the time to read pages 1-3 yet, so you may have already gotten your answers.  If so, goodluck.