Where are the bucks

[Ridgerunner]

Either the forum has declined in popularity, people are posting less pics, or the deer hunting has been slower than normal this year.  Let's hear from the guys that have been in the field and what you are seeing(or not seeing). 

[NOCK NOCK]

Just got back from a 3 1/2 day archery hunt(only had 4 days to get it done this year so shot a 2x3, saw lots of weekenders, saw 12 legal bucks....they are out there.

[predatorG]

Noticed the same thing. Seems super super slow for the end of Sept. Normally people have got some nice bucks that they’ve been watching all summer by now. I would understand some slow mulie hunting after fire season but I’m not even seeing many Blackies or white tails.

[bigdub257]

Just got back from a 3 1/2 day archery hunt(only had 4 days to get it done this year so shot a 2x3, saw lots of weekenders, saw 12 legal bucks....they are out there.

Curious if this was public land or private?  Congrats either way!

[npaull]

Bucks generally don’t exist in September. They are born and grow up entirely after archery season.

[257wbymagkiller]

Bucks generally don’t exist in September. They are born and grow up entirely after archery season.

Seems to be true for the wet side. My cams are non existent of bucks

[HUNT JR]

I’ve been out 5ish days already and the only thing I’ve noticed so far is that I suck  . I’ve had my chances, but for some reason or another they haven’t come together yet.

[boneaddict]

All the above.

[OutHouse]

I've hunted five days. Have seen tons of mule does but no mule bucks, well a spike. Have seen a few whitetail bucks but no shot opportunity. I agree its slow and normally would have had a shot opp by now.

[dvolmer]

Get used to it Washington State. It just going to get worse.

[baldopepper]

I think the anti's are sneaking around with saws and cutting off the antlers making all the 3 and 4 points into two points. 7 bucks in the yard yesterday, 1 small 4 point and six 2 points. Lots of does and fawns with several sets of twins which is nice to see.

[kselkhunter]

"Neener neener neener, you can't get us."

So many bucks, and deer in general in the neighborhood this year.  Lots of twin fawns, which is good for the herds. 

[7mmfan]

I spent a day east of the mountains this last weekend. Covered about 10 miles off the road and saw about 30 deer, half a dozen bucks, 5 of them legal. The amount of sign I saw was impressive. Covered a lot of ground in the truck and saw a handful of deer, all does, but all those does had fawns. They're out there.

[eliandsky]

On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter


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[BIGDOG253]

I hunted whitetail for 6 days and had 4 days of not seeing anything. I busted a bedded buck on my way into my spot but other than that, no other bucks came by. We had a ton of action of the cameras all summer and they were on camera multiple times a day up until 8/30. Not sure what happened but they seemed to have disappeared for a while. I only had a few does and fawns come in.

[OPtrah]

My hunting partners buck. Olympic Mountains High Buck opening day 138 yards.

[Platensek-po]

My hunting partners buck. Olympic Mountains High Buck opening day 138 yards.

Awesome velvet blackie! Love it!

[NOCK NOCK]

On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter


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That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.

[hunter399]

On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter


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That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.

But WDFW says .....
We have perfect buck to Doe ratio,Deer population are stable and just perfect and peachy.
Maybe that's just WDFW checkbook talking.

[Jpmiller]

I've actually been into more bucks this year than I can ever remember. Trying to seal the deal with my 6 year old with me has upped the difficulty level a bit though. Best hunting problem I've ever had though. He's having a great time so far.

[Twispriver]

OPtrah that is an awesome picture 

[Watimberghost]

OPtrah that is an awesome picture 

great country and great buck!

[Skyvalhunter]

On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.

But WDFW says .....
We have perfect buck to Doe ratio,Deer population are stable and just perfect and peachy.
Maybe that's just WDFW checkbook talking.

Of coarse their ratio is perfect. When you have 100 deer total and 18 are bucks as opposed to thousands of does and hundreds of bucks. The WDFW can make a sh*$ shake look like a strawberry milkshake until you drink it.

[hunter399]

On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.

But WDFW says .....
We have perfect buck to Doe ratio,Deer population are stable and just perfect and peachy.
Maybe that's just WDFW checkbook talking.

Of coarse their ratio is perfect. When you have 100 deer total and 18 are bucks as opposed to thousands of does and hundreds of bucks. The WDFW can make a sh*$ shake look like a strawberry milkshake until you drink it.

Or a $!#@ sundae ,with a rotten cherry on top as I like to call it.
Same smell
Spot on 👍

[Tball77]

Winthrop was absolute garbage.  Seen 20 bucks in 6 days.  1 whitetail 4pt on legal land and a handful of spikes and 2pts.  Only 5 legal mule deer bucks but all on private.  Last year in 7 days chased 30 legal bucks legal land.  Killed a 2x3. 

[Tball77]

I seen minimal does during the ladder part.  Had opportunity to kill but decided against it based on the numbers.  If you have an every year camp in the twisp, Mazama and Winthrop area be prepared to see very little.  Not sure if the 2 fires did it but it’s not good.

[Skyvalhunter]

That area needs a break to see if it can come back some but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[pd]

OPtrah: That is very impressive.  Congratulations to your partner.