How's the population this year?
They've had two harsh winters. The bucks were big, 225#s and up. The locals believe that the small and young deer died in the winter kill leaving more feed to bulk up this year. Here's what the three of us saw:
Bead Lake area: 3 does
There is a guide with feeders nearby. I didn't here many shots from their tree house but he was shooting a few deer. We hunted the area for 5 days and the three of us saw three does. The fresh scrapes were untouched by any bucks for those 5 days even after an overnight rain. I did rattle in something that came in from behind and then left. I never got a look - a thicket behind me.
Idaho, Priest Lake area: 5 bucks, and 31 does.
We hunted this area for five days. The bucks were big and wise. One of the bigger ones gave me a head shot at 160 yards but I couldn't see the body. I waited for him to clear the brush but I lost him in the cover.
I did get a 1 year old buck on veterans day that weighed 134# at the butcher - 134/60% = 223#s. Not bad
