Twisp Modern Deer

[DuckDuckGoosed]

Hello,  I am going to take an elder friend out this weekend who has not hunted in many years due to health concerns.  One mention though that I’d take him out and he’s out getting his rifle serviced, trying on his old boots, ready to hit the hills.  I know he can’t cover much ground on boots unfortunately. I usually hunt a minimum of a mile away from truck or backpacked in, and never in Twisp.  Any tips and suggestions for the area and suggestions to be prepared taking a less than able bodied man are appreciated. Just want a safe and memorable time out.  Looking forward to the hunt and love that I get to make hunting a reality again for my friend.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well I personally would head further north but thats just me. The deer are few and far between in the Twisp south area. But thats just my observation. Might to hit an area where you can do a little walking then glass alot.

[h2ofowlr]

Hunted it for two days and never saw a buck in that area other than private land properties.  Saw more hunters than deer.  Twisp area gets hit really hard by hunters.  I would leave your location options open and hit a spot with less hunter traffic.

[boneaddict]

Take a left or a right.  Anywhere in the Methow Valley is a beautiful spot to stretch the legs.   Obviously he will be glad to be out.  Realize the expectations of seeing a deer will be almost zero and a buck even less.    I doubt that will matter.   

[DuckDuckGoosed]

Take a left or a right.  Anywhere in the Methow Valley is a beautiful spot to stretch the legs.   Obviously he will be glad to be out.  Realize the expectations of seeing a deer will be almost zero and a buck even less.    I doubt that will matter.

You’re correct, I don’t think will matter. Thanks!

[Hockey21]

Worst year I've seen in the Twisp area in a long time. Usually either my father in law gets one or I do and all we got was tag soup after 7 days. We saw 3 - 2 points and 1 - 3 point on Monday. Stalked the 3 point for a few miles and another hunter shot it when we got within 200 yards. We were trying to get my son his first.  My family knows of 3 bucks shot (including the one shot in front of us) out of alot of hunters, including many who live there. It was just a weird year. Way too warm and way too dry. Most of the fresh sign we found was above 3200'. We went everywhere, way up and way out, and it was impossible to walk through the timber without someone hearing you in the next county. Hopefully you guys have better luck!!

[rickomatic]

Worst year I've seen in the Twisp area in a long time. Usually either my father in law gets one or I do and all we got was tag soup after 7 days. We saw 3 - 2 points and 1 - 3 point on Monday. Stalked the 3 point for a few miles and another hunter shot it when we got within 200 yards. We were trying to get my son his first.  My family knows of 3 bucks shot (including the one shot in front of us) out of alot of hunters, including many who live there. It was just a weird year. Way too warm and way too dry. Most of the fresh sign we found was above 3200'. We went everywhere, way up and way out, and it was impossible to walk through the timber without someone hearing you in the next county. Hopefully you guys have better luck!!

We were up the valley in Winthrop, and I concur, it was one of the worse years I've seen since I started hunting there in 1973. No animals or sign down low. Even the Winthrop town deer were unusually absent. Other than the doe one of our camp got on a disabled permit, my son was the only one that got anything decent. But he went up to 7000 feet, and the one he got was a local 4x3. Tough year. Guys we know up there that score every year ate tag soup.

[h2ofowlr]

Went back this weekend and decided to go way back in and hunted high.  Burned the legs out, but did see a wide bodied 3x3 at 900 yards moving up and over the ridge.  Billy goated over to where he crossed the ridge and I figure he beded up on the North side of the ridge in the timber.  I looked it over for several hours and never located him again.  It was still super dry, the worst I have seen it in a long time.

[Tbar]

Went back this weekend and decided to go way back in and hunted high.  Burned the legs out, but did see a wide bodied 3x3 at 900 yards moving up and over the ridge.  Billy goated over to where he crossed the ridge and I figure he beded up on the North side of the ridge in the timber.  I looked it over for several hours and never located him again.  It was still super dry, the worst I have seen it in a long time.

How was the pass?

[Hockey21]

The pass was fine. Came home yesterday and there was only a small dusting of snow on the trees.

[cjc23]

I just got back from up there yesterday, I would say your best bet is to start knocking on doors for private access. Saw a few shooter bucks but all on private land down low. Lots of closed forest service land, more hunters than you could imagine and not a lot of deer compared to the pass.

[bigmacc]

Worst year I have ever experienced in the Methow as far as deer numbers. We hunted spots from the valley bottom to 7500 feet, from the south valley to the darn near the Canadian border. 9 of us spread everywhere, killed 4 bears, 3 yotes and one little white tail buck. Heard wolves in most spots, seen a total of 7 bears between all of us. All our game cameras had cougars on them, 2 big ones with collars. A local rancher I know said his family has killed 4 cats on their property over the last 6 months. A fella I know said bears exploded in the valley over the last few years and this last spring they hammered the fawn crop, I believe him, we found more little fawn carcasses/bones than we could count. He flat said “don’t look for the deer situation to get any better”. The fawns are getting slaughtered by bears and the adults are getting clobbered by cats and wolves.

[h2ofowlr]

Went back this weekend and decided to go way back in and hunted high.  Burned the legs out, but did see a wide bodied 3x3 at 900 yards moving up and over the ridge.  Billy goated over to where he crossed the ridge and I figure he beded up on the North side of the ridge in the timber.  I looked it over for several hours and never located him again.  It was still super dry, the worst I have seen it in a long time.

How was the pass?

It was snowing pretty good on us, on the way over.  When we came back Sunday afternoon it was in good shape.  Probably received more snow today.

[Hockey21]

We saw more bears and bear sign in the valley than ever before. They were everywhere. Had to step around their "sign" to keep from stepping in it! Should've bought a tag!! Didn't see any cats though. Lots of small deer and fawn bones also. We hunted from the valley floor on up to around 5000'.

[boneaddict]

One of the most magical places in the world if you are an outdoorsman.  Was anyways.