Deer areas, what are they?

[DoubleJ]

Looking at some maps, a couple of mainland deer areas look like places I'd like to check out.  When the WDFW designates an area a "Deer area", does this mean that deer populations in this area are more dense?  What exactly are these areas and are they good hunting?

[EDT]

I have had the same question.  It is not too clear in the regs.

[270Shooter]

I think they are more like a unit within a unit, if that makes any sense at all. This means they can make special permits for a "deer area" or elk area and not have to open up the entire unit.

[DoubleJ]

But is the hunting there better?  Some are listed as Any Deer.  Are they so loaded with deer that they need to thin the numbers or are there so few that any deer is a great find?  Is it worth the trip to these areas?

[270Shooter]

But is the hunting there better?  Some are listed as Any Deer.  Are they so loaded with deer that they need to thin the numbers or are there so few that any deer is a great find?  Is it worth the trip to these areas?

I think it depends on the area, some i know are a lot of private land, some arent. Im not really sure about the deer densitys because ive never been to them before.

[Forrestrover]

I think they are where they issue certain special permits. As an example, I got my second deer tag for the Deer area 4013,(Vashon/Maury).

I think they are more like a unit within a unit, if that makes any sense at all. This means they can make special permits for a "deer area" or elk area and not have to open up the entire unit.

- I think that is a good way to describe it. The deer area 4013 falls within GMU 454. Obviously, they have too many deer over there, thus the second tags. The problem is land access of course. I was invited to hunt a small piece of land. I don't know about any of the other deer areas.

[DoubleJ]

There's a chunk of land in 6020 that is public I was looking at.  Didn't know if it was worth the drive 2 hours for my son to get a shot at his first deer.

[400out]

There's a chunk of land in 6020 that is public I was looking at.  Didn't know if it was worth the drive 2 hours for my son to get a shot at his first deer.

Sure it was/is! It's your boy

[Bob33]

There is not necessarily any correlation to deer densities. In some deer areas there may be too many deer, in some they may be trying to eliminate a herd entirely, and some others may exist for some other reason.  The point is simply to manage different deer herds in different ways. 

I would not necessarily assume 6020 is a good hunting area.  It is nearly all private land.  I have seen elk near Sequim but few deer.  I'd suggest a call to the local game biologist first.

[BlackRidge]

Looking at some maps, a couple of mainland deer areas look like places I'd like to check out.  When the WDFW designates an area a "Deer area", does this mean that deer populations in this area are more dense?  What exactly are these areas and are they good hunting?

I always figured it was just where more got hit by cars