So i went to vail bad idea

[zach1234]

So i went up there today walked around did not see any deer. Lots of tracks and droppings throw. On my way way out the game check said that 15 deer came out today so not to bad. But i did not have a map so that was a bad idea didn't want to get lost. I saw so many cars trucks SUVS people it was like a zoo. Next year I'm going to have to take some time off work and do more scouting. I'm hoping to get out a few more times this year but still not sure were to go.

[bankwalker]

19 deer when i came out, at 4:30ish. horrible numbers for vail. the last 3 years have been horrible, use to be 60-100 deer a day.

i could have shot a little button buck today but just couldnt bring myself to pull the trigger. there were some nice deer taken out today though. one really big 2x3 with eye guards

[Antlershed]

I went up there this afternoon. Got up there around 3pm and glassed until dark. Saw 12 does, but no horns

[Dustin07]

thats pretty incredible numbers to me, I have spent the last few days up here in the forest and I haven't seen a single blacktail. a couple other guys reported seeing some does. I've been trying to work both ends of the days, morning and evening, and the rain as well.

[wapiti hunter2]

I live on the edge of Vail and it has been real quite this year. I haven't seen a buck all fall.  Two little button bucks were shot a mile or so from my house but it is really slow.

[Jeremy S]

I took my five year old down there yesterday for a day hunt. It was a circus as usual but we did our best to get away from the people. We saw four deer between first light and 9:00 am. A doe with fawns, the last unidentifiable. We drove a little, hiked a little, and sat on some cuts and ate lunch. We had planned to stay all day but he got tired and wanted to go home so we left. I'm ok with that though, because he's been talking all day about how he wants to go again. Even though we didn't get a buck, I had a great time with my boy in the woods.

[smitty8202]

I took my five year old down there yesterday for a day hunt. It was a circus as usual but we did our best to get away from the people. We saw four deer between first light and 9:00 am. A doe with fawns, the last unidentifiable. We drove a little, hiked a little, and sat on some cuts and ate lunch. We had planned to stay all day but he got tired and wanted to go home so we left. I'm ok with that though, because he's been talking all day about how he wants to go again. Even though we didn't get a buck, I had a great time with my boy in the woods.

thats what its all about there quality time with ur boy. atleast he wants to go again. cant wait to tak my boy out in a few years. hes 2 now so at 5 im taking him into the woods.

[PolarBear]

I heard that yesterday's total was 23 deer and most of those were permit does and spikes.  23 deer out of several thousand hunters is pretty sad.  The numbers are getting worse every year.  They need to shut it completely down for 5 years and then issue limited permits.  They won't do it because it is a huge money maker for the state.

[Jeremy S]

I heard that yesterday's total was 23 deer and most of those were permit does and spikes.  23 deer out of several thousand hunters is pretty sad.  The numbers are getting worse every year.  They need to shut it completely down for 5 years and then issue limited permits.  They won't do it because it is a huge money maker for the state.

I'd like to see it go 3pt or better..... and its unrealistic but if they gated a few of the roads on the inside it'd be nice.....

[Wanttohuntmore]

One of the reason's they run it like that, is that Weyco does not want all the deer eating the new trees.  So both state and Weyco are happy.  Vail isn't meant to be a trophy unit, so is not managed as such.

[grousetracker]

went there today and passed 3 spikes and a two pt. saw 13deer total. i didnt even go there until around two this afternoon. saw all of them on the fringes of clearcuts. i didnt even go in there to hunt, my family has buriel plot up there.

[deerslyr]

What they need to do is start taking more cougars! That is the major issue in my opinion

[PolarBear]

The WDFW releases trapped. nousiance cougars and bears up at Vail.  Or so I have heard.

[workstohunt]

Spend some time glassing guys!
Saw over 40 deer Saturday 5 bucks
Took my 75 yr old Dad and 6 yr old grandson out today both had bucks down by 9:00am
Grandsons 1st buck. He was excited.
Yes we saw alot of people. Not many spend the time to glass or get out of the rig.
Keep trying and good luck

[PolarBear]

A friend of mine just got back from up there.  He hunted and area that he logged years ago and has taken deer out of for years.  They saw plenty of deer but nothing worth wasting a tag on, several spikes and a couple of tiny forkies.  He did say that the deer were moving more today than they have been.

[GooNiEs]

wow ... i would love to see some pics of these seen deer... hhaha i crawled all over vail from top... to bottom.... nothing .. nada... glassed cuts for quite some time... walked alot of ridges...

[Snookmonster]

Got this one sunday about 9:30.

[smitty8202]

very nice deer got some mass to it as well.

[Yelm hunter]

There should be plenty of bucks up that area... I have hunted it for several years. I got a nice 6x4 out of there 2 years ago on the 1000 line just off Sorenson Road as you go up the big hill. He was crossing the road. He was a nice buck... Scored 141 3/8. If you stop and look at the pictures under the white tent on Saturday and Sundays at the game check my picture is on there.
Have been up there on the weekends since opening day and seen 60 plus doe a nice 2 point that my dad shot at running through a clear cut and last saturday while I was at work my dad got out to use the bathroom walked up to the ridge without his gun and was looking at it for close to 5 mins and didn't see anything. He turned to walk back to the truck and there were 3 deer in the same area that ran and a big 4x4 that was there to just looking at him.... He learned his lesson and will always take his gun to look over the log jam ridges...

[bankwalker]

i good set of bino's are your friend in vail thats forsure. its amazing what people miss when they just drive by. ill sit and glass clear cuts from 1000+yards away spot deer then drive to the clear cuts and put a stalk on the deer. it hasnt paid off yet, i usually blow it by making to much noise

[Yelm hunter]

Same with us... We sit there on a stump and glass clear cuts for hours at a time. We do alot!! We have 3 sets of $300 binos and they are awesome... We find deer far away and go to that road.