Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille

[DoubleJ]

I just can't decide where to consentrate my efforts this year and deer species will help.  Will I see more Mule deer or Whitetails in

1.  Curlew area
2.  Methow valley
3.  Colville area and east of there
4.  Pend Oreille county, GMU 113


I'm sure they both live in these areas but, what is the percentages in each?  Anywhere I can go to find this info on my own?

Thanks a bunch again guys.

[Sneaky]

curlew is around 50/50

methow probably 65/35 muleys to whitetails atleast last time I hunted it

Colville 5/95 muleys to whitetails

Selkirk 10/90 muleys to whitetails


This has been my experience, anyway.

[DoubleJ]

Thanks man.  You have been such a help the last week or so. 

[Sneaky]

I want your kid to whack one  Remember to take good pictures and post em up.

[DoubleJ]

I sure will.  I was really looking hard at GMU 101.  There looks like a lot of spots up there I want to check out.  I really am leaning more towards whitetail country though, since the boy has that doe season from oct 21-24.

[boneaddict]

I think Sneakys numbers are accurate.  Few more Muleys in the Selkirk and maybe in Colville if you know where to target them, but overall, pretty good guess.

[boneaddict]

Two more things to consider....amount of private land versus public land also in each, and the type of terrain and or cover.  Climate may or may not be a factor(third thing).

[DoubleJ]

I'm waiting for Wayne1 to get back to me about his private property near Colville.  Other than that, I'm looking exclusively on national forest land and a small amount of DNR land.

[boneaddict]

PO is nasty thick and that time of year can be miserable wet.  Colville is better with some lower level pine stuff.    Be sure to check for timber company land.   It might be listed on your map as private but you can access most of it. 

[boneaddict]

Whitetails are different critters than Muledeer.  Even with more crowded hunting conditions, a monster can live in a patch the size of the average backyard.  THey don't blow out like a muledeer will to the next drainage.  Throw in the rut and all sorts of stuff can happen.   Its fun for new hunters as they can see a bunch, getting a shot is a different deal.  Hunting PO can be very frustrating as you might not see anything.  It is nasty thick....have I said that. 

[TeacherMan]

I would say this year in the Curlew area its seemed more 60/40 with the mule deer actually on top. I've been out a lot and I'm just not seeing the whitetail. Head down the valley toward Republic and even Malo and you find more Whitetail but the whitetail numbers around Curlew to the Canadian boarder are down. Just my opinion.

[DoubleJ]

Thank you for the tips.  We are hunting general season so, the rut is out for us this year.  I will be taking an 8 year old so, I don't want to have to deal with "thick nasty stuff" if I don't have to.  I like the way Google looks in GMU 101 but, I would like to find more whitetails since my 8 year old can shoot a doe oct 21-24.  We can try for a buck oct 16-20 and, if nothing, we can get him a doe the next 3 days, if we see them.  I'm conflicted.  

I'll start looking at the lower elevations of public land around Colville.  I just don't want to see hunter orange in every direction, something I've heard happens on public land around Colville.

Anything else would be super helpful.

Thank you so much.  This site is the best!!!  

[DoubleJ]

I would say this year in the Curlew area its seemed more 60/40 with the mule deer actually on top. I've been out a lot and I'm just not seeing the whitetail. Head down the valley toward Republic and even Malo and you find more Whitetail but the whitetail numbers around Curlew to the Canadian boarder are down. Just my opinion.

Below 2500 ft for whitetail you'd guess?  Still trying to wrangle this aspect of hunting.  Where I've hunted in the past has been plains where the elevation doesn't change but 100ft up or down over the course of miles.  This place is 2000ft to 6000ft. and everything in between.

[bearpaw]

Check WDFW, the numbers tell the story, 121 Huckleberry and 124 Mt Spokane have the most deer in the state, even with our deer numbers down, these units are probably still the best in the state. Wayne has a great opportunity for you to take advantage of, but if it falls through for some reason, let me know, I will help you out to make sure your boy gets a deer.

Kids are our future....

[DoubleJ]

Check WDFW, the numbers tell the story, 121 Huckleberry and 124 Mt Spokane have the most deer in the state, even with our deer numbers down, these units are probably still the best in the state. Wayne has a great opportunity for you to take advantage of, but if it falls through for some reason, let me know, I will help you out to make sure your boy gets a deer.

Kids are our future....

Wayne made the offer and I've PM'd him and would be willing to trade what I could for the opportunity.  I just don't think he's been online to work out the details with me yet.  I would LOVE to take him up on the opportunity he's offering.