Big Methow mule deer

[Igor]

I know I'll get flamed for this, but here goes anyway.

Our hunting camp in the Methow has had probably 20, or so, hunters in the same group for many years.  A few have hunted the Methow......the entire Methow.......for 40+ years.  One lives around Winthrop, and has for many years.  We have hunted from the Mazama area, to Hart's Pass, to Cub Creek, up the Chewuck, to Thirty Mile Meadows, to Beaver Creek, to Benson Creek, to Black Canyon, to Black Pine Lake, to Newby Ridge, to Gardener Meadows, to Wolf Creek, and everywhere in between.  I say this just to add a little perspective.

We were discussing the subject of huge Methow bucks in camp this season.  Nobody in our camp has seen, nor heard stories of, a 500 lb. mule deer taken in the Methow Valley area.  That's not to say it hasn't happened, but if it has it's virtually a secret.....which is highly unlikely.

The hunters in our group like to sit around the fire at night, telling stories and consuming a cocktail or two.  We hear lots of stories, some true, some not.......but we have yet to hear any about 500 lb. mule deer.  Lots of exaggerating going on, but not much else.  A few of our members have been known to frequent Three-Fingered Jacks and the Antlers Saloon over the years during hunting season.  As far as I know, there haven't any stories of 500-lb. mulies circulating in those establishments, either.

One oft-mentioned aspect of hunting late in the season is that there are "migration routes" which big mulies use to migrate.  Migrate to where?  If there are indeed "routes", then they must be a route to somewhere.  They do not seem to be migrating down into the Methow.  If they were, I'm fairly certain that long-time hunters there would be aware of them.  Where do they go?  Are  there only 1 or 2 big bucks in the migration using this route?  Are there really mule deer bucks of that caliber in the valley today?  Interesting questions to ponder.

[Bigshooter]

 

[2MANY]

Such questions are a secret.
Especially if they are a family tradition.
We cannot help the family we are born into.......Unless..?

When it comes to marriage............Choose wisely.
Your hunting career success may depend on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Igor]

Such questions are a secret.
Especially if they are a family tradition.
We cannot help the family we are born into.......Unless..?

When it comes to marriage............Choose wisely.
Your hunting career success may depend on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Huh ??

[Twispriver]

It is a well known fact around campfires in the Methow that a gallon bag, if it truly holds a gallon, will weigh about 8.3 pounds if it is completely filled with water. What is not as well known is that same bag, when filled with cubed meat from a deer killed in a secret spot handed down for generations, will weigh 12 pounds.
Though I've never seen one, I can only deduce by these undisputed facts that the meat from these secret spot deer is as dense and heavy as lead. So The prospect of a larger than normal deer that weighs in, on the hoof, at 500 pounds is entirely plausible. 

[buckfvr]

I heard giant buck stories often back in the 70's when I hunted the Methow as a young man, 400lbs being the unbelievable weight being suggested in the stories I was told.  400lb being much more believable than the current 500lb stories of today.  Inflation I guess.

[carlyoungs]

Let the old man tell his stories. There might be some weight and inches added but who cares. I love reading about the old days. He's going to stop posting on here if you guys don't just let it go.
I have caught a 50 pound salmon at sekiu about 15 years ago. I told the story on this site and got blasted by several members. I know for a fact how big it was cause I caught it for 1 and 2 I weighed it. After a while I just gave up with trying to defend myself. I too have never seen or heard of a deer that big but who knows??

[wamuledeer]

I have weighed my 1 gallon ziploc bags of burger. 7-8 lbs average packed pretty tight. 11-12lbs in a bag, not possible, lol.

[Alchase]

I have never personally seen a 400-500 lb mule dear after hunting the Methow for 30 years.

What I can tell you is back in the day, when we could hunt late into November, we use to camp at the winter meadow above Pearigyn with 6-8 family groups.
We would sit in camp and watch the migratory herd of hundreds come into the winter feed meadow at dark. They seemed to be bigger and darker than the resident bucks.
Of course none would be around come shooting light.
The was a substantial increase in the number of deer coming through.
Those numbers just don’t seem to be around in the two weeks of the general season now.

[Igor]

Let the old man tell his stories. There might be some weight and inches added but who cares. I love reading about the old days. He's going to stop posting on here if you guys don't just let it go.
I have caught a 50 pound salmon at sekiu about 15 years ago. I told the story on this site and got blasted by several members. I know for a fact how big it was cause I caught it for 1 and 2 I weighed it. After a while I just gave up with trying to defend myself. I too have never seen or heard of a deer that big but who knows??

There is nothing wrong with "telling stories"......there are lots of them on this forum.   However, when one tells a "story" that flies in the face of facts, there is nothing wrong with a resulting discussion.  If I state adamantly on here that I saw a sasquatch in the woods while hunting, it is totally valid for members here to want details.  Likewise, if someone tells about a deer that is at least 200 lbs. larger than any recorded deer in Washington state, discussion will follow.   And, if this particular deer is just one of many taken in a top-secret location that only a few know about, you can bet your bottom dollar that there just might be a few skeptics.

[Alchase]

[quote ]

If I state adamantly on here that I saw a sasquatch in the woods while hunting, it is totally valid for members here to want details

Yea, like did you use chipmunks as bait 
Was he sufficiently blurry and walking backwards 

 

[zwickeyman]

How old are you guys, 11 ?

[Igor]

How old are you guys, 11 ?

Who are you talking to ?

[jstone]

How about next early archery season someone takes me into the Methow back country so I can shoot one of these big bucks. I am a believer
This isn’t a joke

[Buckhunter24]

Igor I'm guessing he's talking to you and for good reason.