Let’s see your best Washington buck

[blackdog]

My biggest.

[abhold87]

Haven't got him scored yet still since he's still at the taxidermist but I believe this is my current biggest.

[abhold87]

My prior biggest by a inch on net score from 2012. Net was 156" and my other was 155" from 2015 not pictured. 

[greenhead_killer]

2023 archery deer. Went 123 5/8.

[greenhead_killer]

2022 rifle permit I decided to use my muzzy on

[meathunter 4x4]

2015 muzzleloader buck. Amazing day for me. Trying to get bigger bucks since has probably screwed me over on some dandies that I let walk. Great bucks from everyone this state really amazes me sometimes

[Mtnwalker]

2015 muzzleloader buck. Amazing day for me. Trying to get bigger bucks since has probably screwed me over on some dandies that I let walk. Great bucks from everyone this state really amazes me sometimes

Dandy buck, they don’t make em much prettier than that

[chukardogs]

Because the group on this thread have obviously hunted a wide range of area and seen a lot of bucks throughout the state. I have a question that I've wondered about for years because of my own experiences. I've hunted deer, bear, birds throughout the northern portion of the state. I've spent a little time west of Yakima bow hunting deer and elk over the years. Never spent much time hunting the south east corner or the east central area south of Spokane. When it comes to Mule deer, east of the Pacific Crest trail, where does the Blacktail influence on the Mule deer run out? Or is this even the correct way to look at it? Per the regulations, anything east of the PC trail is a Mule deer. I killed a three point buck years ago, east of the Chiwawa river that looked like a deer you'd see on the islands or out on the peninsula except he field dressed 192 lbs. Just an absolute tank! I've seen deer that were taken from the Pasayten Wilderness that had 20+ inch wide racks but had ears that may have been 14/15 inches wide tip to tip, which made the rack look huge but still had the look of a Blacktail. Dark, short, stout body, short ears....etc..etc. I've been hunting for years now East of the Okanogan valley and every Mule deer I've seen and killed has been grayish, light brown, long body, big wide ears tip to tip. I'm colorblind but can still see that the deer in that region are considerably lighter in shade than what you would see above lake Wenatchee or up near the end of lake Chelan. Every buck we've killed has had ears 18/19+ tip to tip with a few of the bigger ones near 20 inches. My last buck was an older 4 point that looked to be regressing with 19ish wide ears, an ashy gray body and only 18 inch wide horns. I've read in the past that the consensus amongst biologist is, as far as DNA is concerned, Mule deer and Blacktail are the same basic animal and the noticeable differences are just environmental.
 Just a thought. Any opinions?

[Ironhead]

Because the group on this thread have obviously hunted a wide range of area and seen a lot of bucks throughout the state. I have a question that I've wondered about for years because of my own experiences. I've hunted deer, bear, birds throughout the northern portion of the state. I've spent a little time west of Yakima bow hunting deer and elk over the years. Never spent much time hunting the south east corner or the east central area south of Spokane. When it comes to Mule deer, east of the Pacific Crest trail, where does the Blacktail influence on the Mule deer run out? Or is this even the correct way to look at it? Per the regulations, anything east of the PC trail is a Mule deer. I killed a three point buck years ago, east of the Chiwawa river that looked like a deer you'd see on the islands or out on the peninsula except he field dressed 192 lbs. Just an absolute tank! I've seen deer that were taken from the Pasayten Wilderness that had 20+ inch wide racks but had ears that may have been 14/15 inches wide tip to tip, which made the rack look huge but still had the look of a Blacktail. Dark, short, stout body, short ears....etc..etc. I've been hunting for years now East of the Okanogan valley and every Mule deer I've seen and killed has been grayish, light brown, long body, big wide ears tip to tip. I'm colorblind but can still see that the deer in that region are considerably lighter in shade than what you would see above lake Wenatchee or up near the end of lake Chelan. Every buck we've killed has had ears 18/19+ tip to tip with a few of the bigger ones near 20 inches. My last buck was an older 4 point that looked to be regressing with 19ish wide ears, an ashy gray body and only 18 inch wide horns. I've read in the past that the consensus amongst biologist is, as far as DNA is concerned, Mule deer and Blacktail are the same basic animal and the noticeable differences are just environmental.
 Just a thought. Any opinions?

I believe the Blacktail influence peters out once you cross the Columbia River.
It is very prevalent in Chelan County.

[actionshooter]

   Some pretty awesome bucks on this thread... I have a couple decent muleys... but I like to think my best buck hasn't been tagged yet... 

[boneaddict]

Quite a bit of it in the Yakima, especially west of 82.   There have been a few in the Methow my whole life, but few enough that many have never seen it. Not sure where they phase out down in the south, maybe tri cities

[boneaddict]

   Some pretty awesome bucks on this thread... I have a couple decent muleys... but I like to think my best buck hasn't been tagged yet... 

Me too, lol. I’ve filmed bigger than I have shot and I have seen bigger than I have filmed, and I have imagined or dreamed of bigger than I have seen.

[Ridgerunner]

Blacktail influence from what I have seen is heavier in the southern cascades and does decrease the further north you go, Yakima county seems to have the heaviest, but I've seen it in Kittitas and Chelan counties but in those two counties I see many more pure mule deer than in Yakima county.

[bowman]

Probably a dumb question, but do whitetail and mule deer ever cross breed? I’m familiar with the mule deer/blacktail but don’t hear anything with whitetail/muledeer.

[actionshooter]

Probably a dumb question, but do whitetail and mule deer ever cross breed? I’m familiar with the mule deer/blacktail but don’t hear anything with whitetail/muledeer.

I could be wrong but have always been told a whitetail buck will breed a mule deer doe but a whitetail doe won't let a mule deer buck breed her.... I'm sure others know more than me...