Northeast Washington Winter Kill

[BAR C3]

I would like to hear everyone sound off who hunted in the Northeast this year. Was there a big difference in deer numbers? 
I bow hunted 101 this last weekend and saw 2 does in an area that was loaded with deer two years ago. I called the WDFW today and they said the last 2 winters have pretty much done a number on the deer. Lets hope for a mild winter!

[carpsniperg2]

i don't think its just the north east. in the south areas i hunt i have heard the same thing and seen it first hand that the last 2 winters have been hard on the deer that is true but is also a lot to do with high preditor populations

[BRUSS]

I thought the same this year as well.  I usually see several whitetail and this year saw none.  My dad and brother jumped a couple.  A buddy of mine hunts the same area as I do and they saw several bucks every day.  Other friends in the same area saw very few deer, so?  I saw 1 and it will be hanging on the wall soon.    For our camp I thought numbers were down.  I have a friend who lives there and will see what his impression has been later in the year.  He needs a camera like Boneaddict has for the big boys that come out when the snow hits.

[Palmer]

They've had two harsh winters.  The bucks we saw 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:

Washington 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

I had to return to work today but my Dad and cousin were hunting today and each got a buck.  One was huge.  I expect to have pictures soon.  
They saw a doe, a button buck and three bucks today - 41 deer in Idaho in 6 days. I'd say the winter kill wasn't that bad.  The strong survived and the herd is stronger.

I'd say that Man's influence through hunting pressure has far more influence then the winter kill.  Three deer hunting in Washington (5 days) near a guide who uses feeders with timers vs. 41 deer hunting Idaho (6 days) where baiting is illegal.

Perhaps baiting should only be allowed for archery.

[Buckblaster]

I live in Kettle Falls and work in the woods in the deer wintering grounds every year. I haven't seen a killer winter in at least 6 years in NE WA. Deer numbers are real good now. Change in conditions each year can have an effect on where you will find them. I've seen alot of real nice bucks on the picture boards in Colville the last couple of weeks. I however didn't hunt deer here this season since I have a freezer full of elk and a Utah deer that I got this year but I see whitetail bucks around here while driving all the time.

[croix]

I spent 9 days in the Alladin unit and numbers looked about the same or better than last year. It's not the numbers we saw 3 or 4 years ago, but I don't think they took as bad a hit last year as some might suggest. The deer were very nocturnal for most of the 9 days but when the snow hit and the rut started we saw a lot more deer including 4 bucks in 2 days (one of which was a big body fork horn that ended up on the meat pole). The number of deer in camps around us was lower than last year, but I think it had more to do with the deer being nocturnal and the weather kept some of the "less dedicated" hunters out of the woods. Crunchy snow also made it difficult to still hunt but those of us that were patient saw plenty of deer.

We saw much more elk this year than previous years, so it should be interesting to see how competition for browse affects the deer population in years to come.

Also talked to a rancher out there and he says that they are starting to see the first indications of the affect of wolves. His normally tame and docile cattle have become wild and fight with his dogs (which they've never done before). Roundup has taken a lot more time and effort and his calf population is lower than normal. We did not see any sign of wolves this year but I have seen a wolf there about 3 years ago.

Despite the "possible" wolf impact and the competition from elk, I think the deer population is on the rebound. I agree that the mature bucks have faired the best and hopefully that will help the herd.

Just my 

[Palmer]

In a nutshell we saw more deer this year than ever before after the snowfall last Thursday.  Deer were heavier this year or so the butcher told me so.

[Gobble]

We saw alot less game this year than years past. The past 2 years have shown consistant with what the game dept say's was a pretty bad winterkill. You guys that say you see more animals must be hunting on private property where they may be less impacted. All I know is we hit the public areas pretty hard and we have seen a big reduction in the past 2 years for WT. People who live in the area can tell you stories of the WT last year that were forced to walk in 4-5 ft deep trails in town to stay alive in their search for food. If you shot one this year good for you but I know alot of people who have seen the same results as us.

PS-I shot a small 4x4 and a Decent 5x5 the past 2 seasons on public ground but no WT this year  

[Gobble]

You guys that say you see more animals must be hunting on private property where they may be less impacted. 

Yeah, I heard that the private property didn't have much of a winter last year.

 :

[Palmer]

We saw more deer because we hunted 9 days instead of 5 or 6 and the weather.  Does were closed this year in Idaho.  I think the herd is at the population it should be.  The winterkill made them healthier and less competition for food.

[high country]

101 recieved less severe winter then did eastern wa and the n idaho areas. our early snow last year was about 3' at 3500' around spokane, but was so dry that most critters could walk in it quite well. the year started with a bang, but actually was pretty average for snowfall......now the year before.....it dumped up high. most of the whiteys are not affected by the snow as they live relatively low. the mulies are pretty hardy and migrate out when the snows get bad bad....which did not happen last year. 1997/98 was the winter that wiped a bunch of critters out in the north counties.

[dlaw]

We hunted unit 124 for late buck whiteys.  We camped this year for 5 days instead of only doing the weekends.  I would say we saw considerably less deer than in years before.  I think I probably only saw 30 deer total with only 1 buck during the day.  The other two bucks I saw were at night and they were good sized. 
Normally just hunting the weekends we would easily see 30 deer over a course of two days. 
I had a feeling that it was going to be like this considering the WDFW only gave out 150 extra doe tags instead of the normal 500.  In my book it seems they made 1 correct call this year.  just my 

[Cruiser]

I have hunted the Kelly Hill area for a number of years.  I think this year was about the same as last year.  In the area's I hunt the number of deer that I have seen in the last 2 years is definitley down compared to about 2002 - 2007.  However overall I think there is still a healthy whitetail population, just not the numbers of previous years.

[BAR C3]

You guys that say you see more animals must be hunting on private property where they may be less impacted. 

Yeah, I heard that the private property didn't have much of a winter last year.

I can say this. I hunt private property and it is doing extremely well. When farmland is involved, the survival is better.
I know folks that own half of Kelly Hill and it is the worse season in a long time. Alot of the family shots real nice bucks. They got one nice buck and the rest may be eating there tags.
I have to admit I'm taking the what the game department says to be true. I'm not a big fan of our state fish and game!
I hunt my butt of and to see two deer, there is definately a problem. I also own land in the 130 and the deer pretty much disappeared. Some are coming in with the rut, but still not the usual. I usually have a rubline in my yard. Not this year.

[TrkyBob53]

hunted in aladin first week of late whitetail.  took 3 days for the three of us to see a deer.  I think the elk hunters had the deer all stirred up.  true to what has been said, they started moving after the first snow we got on the 7th.  after that it was really slow.  we did eventually see 2 bucks. both made the great escape.  we did see a lot of moose, and one was a  real dandy bull.