Author Topic: WA Mule Deer - what's the report? (Read 17916 times)

pacyew · « **on:** March 03, 2007, 07:54:16 PM »

If you hunted Mule Deer in Wa this year, how was your season? Our mule deer resource is under pressure from many directions, such as habitiat loss from continuing development, incursion by whitetails and just the finicky nature of mule deer themselves.

Where did you go in general this past season and what did you see? Don't give away your spots, but what was it like for you this past season?

2006 I hunted for a week up Little Bridge Creek, between 3000' - 5000', off of the Twist River Road. Saw deer every day, but every deer I saw was extremely spooky. More so than usual for this fairly remote backpack area. Midweek I found cougar scat with deer hair which might explain some of my experience.

What are your own WA Mule Deer tales?

Ridgerunner · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2007, 06:59:10 AM »

I hunted the high hunt primarily. Saw a few bucks but nothing too big, let them all go. A good time up there in the high country though.

boneaddict · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2007, 02:03:55 PM »

Hey PACYEW, you were hunting my stomping grounds. There is a pack of wolves in that area, which might also explain some of what you were seeing. There was a huge Tom working in there on the middlefork, but probably more than one cat in there. Last year I went to my favorite spot and found very few deer. Wolves stated howling at the top of the ridge, and the four point I was watching got the heck out of dodge. I climbed the ridge and found where 3 wolves were tracking the huge cat tracking a huge buck. Poor deer didn't have a chance. Anyhow I moved to a different local this year. I had an all season permit, so hunted the general with my new Trad bow and nailed a buck at 7,000 feet. 6995 to be exact in another Methow haunt.

GOcougsHunter · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2007, 03:40:41 PM »

Great deer picture, boneaddict. Hunted a bunch of country that steep and danged if I've ever been able to successfully get in to a decent enough shot without dropping the deer off a 1000 foot cliff. How much work was it to get him out?

chep · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2007, 10:24:49 AM »

I agree. That's a fine photo and nice lookin' animal. Thanks for sharing.

pacyew · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2007, 10:36:03 AM »

Yep, that's one fine WA mule deer! What a beauty.

Wolves. That explains a lot. As usual there were quite few cattle on summer range up where we were and they were spooky as hell as well. Not good.

boneaddict · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2007, 06:48:31 PM »

I couldn't walk for a week after getting him out. I boned and caped him there and then the work began. I'm fortunate to be the size of a moose myself, but was a hurtin unit when it was all done. I was a L O N G ways from the truck and as any of you know that Twisp River country is either up or down. Thanks for the compliments.

4tboys · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2007, 12:01:53 AM »

6995 feet that is one hell of a long shot!!!!!!!!! Just kidding that is a very nice deer. My boys rifle hunt over there, we have a friend who has a cabin off twisp river road. We are seeing alot more whitetails every year. My boys are 14 and 15 and harvested does every year on the youth hunt. They have both had a shot at some nice bucks but they got to experience good ole' buck fever.

boneaddict · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2007, 06:22:28 AM »

There is a gigantic whitetail up there quite a ways up river. Loggers were keeping a pretty close eye on him and he has been hunted very hard. So far he has outwitted everyone. Word is out though. There were tons of guys after him this fall, and he flirts rightthrough private and public land. Al he had to do was hide in-between all the rigs on the road from the people looking for him. He was gigantic 3 years ago, so is probably going to die of old age. My friend got a nice one on private ground quite a bit down river, near where poorman comes in, and I have seen some out in the Sage over on Frost. I found a pretty good shed out there too. I think those might have been coming out of the Methow, or peters puddles direction. You are right, they are on the increase.

jackelope · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2007, 01:27:06 PM »

lots of does and fawns over in the southeastern corner. my buddy killed an average 3x3 and i let everything walk. i did see a few good bucks scouting before season in the farmland, but never saw them during season. more mule deer than whitetails this year though, which is a good sign for the muleys. hopefully some of those fawns i saw will be nice bucks in a few years.

WAmuleyHunter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2007, 07:45:28 PM »

Hey guys, just signed up, got the heads up about this new site form Boneaddict.

Had a good year this year, i took a dandy 26 inch 4x4 muley opening morning about 10 minutes in. also our of my group of buddies we got 3 more bucks in the general season. Definitly a good year, but hunting was hard. Then my dad took a dandy buck that goes around 204 and 29 inches wide. He had the Raffle Tag.

Last year i had a special permit and took a dandy 8x7. If you read and get the WA fishing and hunting news, then you have seen these articles and photos and cover shots.

I am excited for this years draws and upcoming season!!!! Good luck to all.

boneaddict · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2007, 07:51:41 PM »

Welcome Garrett! I'm glad to see you joined up. I'll be begging for you to get your Dads story on here as much as you can put in print with some of your great photos. For some of you guys with your old hunting pamphlets, I believe thats Garrett in there smiling with one heck of a buck (the non-typical mentioned above)on the raffle permit page. (page 25) I think anyway. Then the fact Dad drew the permit the next year. I'm hoping some of your luck rubs off dude. WELCOME

and congrats on one heck of a year

jackelope · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2007, 10:04:41 AM »

Garrett...good to see you joined up here...
Jackelope
(echohill)

Jerome · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2007, 07:44:09 PM »

Yeah i seen some of those bucks in the paperback magazine. There impressive thats for sure. I have seen some jaw droppers over in the Entiat unit. This year i am going to try my luck with that archery permit.

boneaddict · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2007, 09:14:08 AM »

The Entiat is always got some awesome bucks!
Hi Jackelope, didn't recognize you. I guess you can delete your private message on MM.

MichaelJ · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2007, 11:33:38 PM »

Well, this last fall was my first year ever hunting archery and I took a doe on Sept. 15th up the entiat... saw a couple forkies but nothing even legal... Got my brother in law his first EVER deer (2x3) up in Concunelly (sp?) during the general (he's 29 years old too!). Had a VERY memorable season and am looking forward to this next year! I got a job working for Icicle Creek Outfitters for the summer so hopefully I'll find some new stomping grounds!

Michael

Chappyk16 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:47:52 PM »

This we saw alot more mule deer in the area we hunted, less whitetails. Last year there were more whitetails. Eastern, WA. But there was also a blood bath of animals killed.. all my buddies and us did really well this year

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Author Topic: WA Mule Deer - what's the report? (Read 17916 times)

chep

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