Central Washington Deer Population

[jstone]

How is the deer looking in the Central Washington area? Seeing good healthy numbers?

[vandeman17]

There are tons of deer around Wenatchee and they all are very healthy looking. I go to the gym at 3:20 every morning and I will usually see anywhere from 10-20 does and yearlings each trip. There are about a dozen that come through our neighborhood each night and I watch a couple dozen out my window on the hill by my house a couple days per week. Winter didn't have a ton of snow or super cold so hopeful this is a year they can make up some ground.

This pic is standing in my garage a few days ago

[boneaddict]

Fitkins deer count up in the Methow was absolutely pitiful.

[Rainier10]

Fawn numbers were looking great but neighborhood dogs are wreaking havoc around my place. One of the neighbors has put orange vests on their German sheppards so you don’t confuse them with coyotes.

[crabcreekhunter]

Been on the winter range a few times and numbers aren’t good.  Wolf tracks and kills everywhere I’ve ventured.  Another 20 years of easy winters won’t help our herds rebound without some major changes.

[Mtnwalker]

Fitkins deer count up in the Methow was absolutely pitiful.

Do they publish these anywhere?

[boneaddict]

Fitkins deer count up in the Methow was absolutely pitiful.

Do they publish these anywhere?

I have an inside source that comes up with it so I dont have the answer to that.   I'm sure it is, I just don't know where.

[bearhunter99]

Fawn numbers were looking great but neighborhood dogs are wreaking havoc around my place. One of the neighbors has put orange vests on their German sheppards so you don’t confuse them with coyotes.

Doesn't that make them easier targets?  I told our neighbor if his dogs were chasing deer on our place they wouldn't be leaving...  He got collars and fixed the problem... They still get into everyone else's trash but they haven't been chasing deer.

To answer the original question the deer around our place are healthy and stable but the numbers decline every year...

[baldopepper]

Fawn numbers were looking great but neighborhood dogs are wreaking havoc around my place. One of the neighbors has put orange vests on their German sheppards so you don’t confuse them with coyotes.

Doesn't that make them easier targets?  I told our neighbor if his dogs were chasing deer on our place they wouldn't be leaving...  He got collars and fixed the problem... They still get into everyone else's trash but they haven't been chasing deer.

To answer the original question the deer around our place are healthy and stable but the numbers decline every year...

Had the same problem with dogs around my.place, so called wdfw.  Got a call back.from a very polite officer who, quite frustrated himself, told me there wasn't much he could about it
Said if we got them chasing deer on a camera they could go talk to the owner but had no authority to do much else. Local lack of leash laws allow people to allow their dogs to run free but if they come on your property you can call local leos.  He did warn that if you take matters into your own hands ( shooting them)you would be open to a law suit from the owners. Different matter if they sttack your livestock or people, but still a local Leo matter. Nice guy and said unfortunately a fairly common problem they can't do much about. 

 

[Jonathan_S]

Fawn numbers were looking great but neighborhood dogs are wreaking havoc around my place. One of the neighbors has put orange vests on their German sheppards so you don’t confuse them with coyotes.

If an orange vest is the only thing distinguishing a dog from a coyote, the owner is assuming some things.

[C-Money]

My generation may have been the last to see the tail end of "the good old days". Glad my wife & kids were able to tag a few nice mule deer. Lots to still be had. Praying for intelligent predator management.

[HillHound]

We have been seeing some good numbers when they were down low this winter. Sucks you have neighbors knowingly let their dogs trespass and treat the local wildlife as a food source. If a dog is out killing chickens, harassing livestock, chasing deer and killing fawns, killing geese, ducks , pheasants, etc off their nests and eating their eggs, oh yeah and on private property I would expect someone to shoot it, even if it was my dog. Irresponsible dog owners piss me off. The dogs always pay for it even though it’s the owners fault. You have lots of cougars out your way and I’m sure the occasional wolf that wanders through. I can’t believe they think their dogs will be back at night if that is the norm

[boneaddict]

Fawn numbers were looking great but neighborhood dogs are wreaking havoc around my place. One of the neighbors has put orange vests on their German sheppards so you don’t confuse them with coyotes.

I used to shed  hunt that corridor.   It would be nothing to scoop 50 in a season there and see 300 to 500 deer in that basin this time of year. 

[ghosthunter]

Fitkins deer count up in the Methow was absolutely pitiful.

Fitkins, that guy needs to retire. His numbers are from fantasy land.

The only thing right I ever heard him do ,was shut down Wildlife areas thru the winter months. And he should have done that years ago.

[String Bender]

The herd is definitely not what it was. Despite the deep snow, the wolves and the cougar I have seen this winter, they look pretty good. Another good thing is I have seen a lot of 2 points.