Methow Deer Forecast

[boneaddict]

If anyone cares to hear what Boneaddict has to say.......

I finally went shedding yesterday in one of my favorite areas.  I've been waiting for it to open up and also to give the deer a break.  I saw 152 deer in a basin I usually count 400-600.  I have been to this area for about 20 years running.  year before last I found 26 sheds, last year 16, this year 3.
HERES THE BAD PART
152 live deer, 87 dead deer.  Thats right, a HUGE winterkill.  About 20 of those were cogar kills, but there were dead bodies everywhere.  That was just in the normal path I take looking for sheds.  think of all those I did not see.  We are talking almost %50 mortality in just the area I was in.  The deer that I did see ranged from being in excellent shape to bare bones, counting ribs.  I would bet we will loose a few more before its said and done.  Not to mention the *censored* that was still working the area.  I saw 7 confirmed bucks, one of which would have been a trophy for sure.  He was a huge mountain buck.  DWARFED all the others.
     I honestly don't know if I want to be drawn this year.  The hunting in the Methow is going to be PITIFUL.  The NE corner didn't fair well either.  I hope the Entiat faired much better.  It sounds like it might have. 
 

[actionshooter]

Thats not good   

[bobcat]

Thanks for the report. No surprise, really. I won't plan on hunting mule deer this year, that's for sure.

[Red Dawg]

I went shed hunting up the road from your house bone and I did not even see a deer track. WE saw to dawgs though and about 300 elk. But it is pretty bad when you see more dogs that deer.

[boneaddict]

Basically Bobcat, I'd plan to camp and if you get a deer, be damn happy with yourself.  I obviusly won't skip the season, but will go into with a different attitude.  I sure don't want to waste my points this year though. 
Here is one that made it.  He should be a legal buck this year.

[bobcat]

Wha'd you do, get a shot of his pecker? 

Well, this year I think I will spend most of my time chasing blacktails and elk. I don't wanna go on a camping trip during hunting season. 

[boneaddict]

.

[Red Dawg]

what a shame. that is such a great area to hunt. But i guess that is the way it happens. Nothing we can do about it. I dont hunt that area but I'm sorry ahead of time for the guys who hunt there every year. But if you hunt hard I'm am sure you wont have a problem. I have a hard time shooting "legal" bucks ( I wont do it anymore). Hopefully it wont start raining and snowing on them now. I heard this type of weather in the spring is what is hardest on them.

[boneaddict]

nah Bobcat I'm not as perverted as longtat or Coasthunter.....

[WDFW-SUX]

The overall deer numbers are very concerning.............

I wonder if they cut back all of the extra opportunity in the Vally this year............I cant see a need for 300 antlerless permits + September archery doe tags and 100+ November tags...........

[SuperDave]

Thankyou for the update bone!  More informative than WDFW!  Hopefully the tag numbers are reflective of the situation at hand.  I will be saving my points as well!

[jae]

Very sad! thanks for the update.

[Skyvalhunter]

Going to be a sad state of affairs in the valley for sure!!! Might be a good year for points only.

[Branden]

I have never hunted the Methow but that sucks. Hopefully WDFW cuts tags way back.

[Wea300mag]

That blows!!! It's going to make selecting permit areas tough. The Desert sucks, big kill in Methow, leaves Entiat or points only as options.