Klickitat Deer..

[Mark B]

i havent hunted in ten years and recently made a trip back to my stomping grounds along the klickitat river.. I HAVE NEVER seen the "Klick" so green.. But one thing did catch my mind, when I used to hunt there if we didnt see less than forty deer a day we were having as terrible day.. On this trip I saw seven.. one up close.. other just bodies as they ran aways from me and my friend, and 2 at over four hundered yards away.. i know theres NO pressure where Im at due to land usage permits and lack of foot traffice due to the severe "HILL" that I have to climb up.. Where have all the deer gone?? do they stay up on the flatland east of the river until summer ends and then come down?? Anything helps there guys and Gals.. Or maybe the "klick" just isnt what it used to be... I mean last year opening day there were atleast five bucks taken from the area.. WHAT GIVES?? am i scouting too early??

[ELKBURGER]

Klickitat isnt what it used to be. Cougars are taking their share and I've notice a major increase in hunting pressure in the last 5 years. I'm sure the fish and game dept will blame lack of funds or something. Maybe they'll make it a 4 point minimum next year, that'll fix it!!!

[Mark B]

I always knew there were alot of cats in the canyon, my buddy told me they (WDFW) went on a "cat killing spree" a few years back and cleared the canyon of some 20-25 cats... I wish i could post up some pics of what i saw up there, But there too dam big, ran into a rattlesnake on the way down and I might say I almost ran like a little school girl...

[RUTNBULL1]

Don't bother even hunting in the canyon anymore, no more deer to speak of, trust me been hunting it for 30 years. Rid the area of cats, and poachers and maybe it will turn around.

[carpsniperg2]

  truth. to man dam cat in our neck of the woods

[Magnum_Willys]

Hunted Klickitat every year up to two years ago.  Typically saw at least 100 deer opening weekend ( or twice that).  Have pics of 7 of us tagging out on opening day.  My buddy went last year and saw two deer the whole weekend !  The cats and lice and poachers have wiped them all out.  Crying shame. 

[bobcat]

We didn't see many bucks but I got this buck in 2008, just east of the Klickitat River:

[tonymoe]

I used to float the klick every year from lidle bridge down to the slide out. I never seen 40 deer in a day, but, I did see more bucks then does though. I only ran into a couple people once we got closer to town, but both sides of the canyon (on top) was loaded with orange vest, and parked pickups. I think it will take a while for the numbers to get back up there. Those animals were slaughtered when it was 2pt min.
I know one this, grab a drift boat/raft, gun, fishing rod with a blue fox #4 and hit the klick during rifle deer......thats a fun trip right there 

[hoyt5199]

I hunted the klickitat this year for turkey and we couldn't walk without seeing fresh sign, there are a lot of deer. You just need to know where to look.

[aer212]

Cougars are way overpopulated. I live here, I know there are not what they used to be.

[klickman]

I used to float the klick every year from lidle bridge down to the slide out. I never seen 40 deer in a day, but, I did see more bucks then does though. I only ran into a couple people once we got closer to town, but both sides of the canyon (on top) was loaded with orange vest, and parked pickups. I think it will take a while for the numbers to get back up there. Those animals were slaughtered when it was 2pt min.
I know one this, grab a drift boat/raft, gun, fishing rod with a blue fox #4 and hit the klick during rifle deer......thats a fun trip right there 

The two pt min was great compared to what it was when you could shoot any buck.  THat was when the slaughter happened.  There are gonna be a lot of big 2pts not getting shot and then doing the breeding in the goldendale area, since they won't get any bigger than that.  3pt min. may not be the solution.  I hope it is, but blacktails are different than mulies.

KLICKMAN

[tonymoe]

I hunted the klickitat this year for turkey and we couldn't walk without seeing fresh sign, there are a lot of deer. You just need to know where to look.

you seen alot of sign in the spring? Wow! You must be good? Head that way in October. I think most would agree that you see alot of deer in the spring. But, I'll work on knowing where to look. Thanks for the advice

[RUTNBULL1]

I hunted the klickitat this year for turkey and we couldn't walk without seeing fresh sign, there are a lot of deer. You just need to know where to look.

Damn those new Primos scented deer droppings I picked up for 10 cents a pound worked well and fooled you! All those deer you saw, you will be lucky to see 1 out of ten by October, most of those deer are concentrated down here for the wintering grounds, and will be headed back up and spread out over 100,000 of acres soon, Local deer population is non existent compared to 10, 20, 30 years ago!!!!

[carpsniperg2]

 

[bowhiker]

Boys you just saved me a scouting trip. haven't hunted there yet, but wanted to see what it was like, but sounds pretty disappointing. So how much farther east do I head to run into deer?