Where did all the whitetails go?

[yelp]

I hope there is a big one left in there for me!   

[wreckerman5357]

I think the weather combined with the moon was the problem. Our property up on Patit scouted good and we saw 10 or 12 WT does a day and some illegal bucks, but no shooters, they were all next door at Kelly Allen's place. The fact that he didn't hunt opening weekend hurt us to, last year he pressured them off his place and onto our place.

[Muskrat]

Hearing the same story from lots of different areas. We hunted the 101 where last year and previous years the whitetail deer were like fleas on a dogs back. Everywhere. Out of 9 days of hunting we saw 5 or 6 whitetail does in the woods (we took two of them). We saw inumerable
muley does, most of them in the private property in peoples front yards. No muley bucks at all.
The highways at night had a few whitetails trying to commit suicide by running in front of the truck.
We hunted last year in the Steptoe unit along the Palouse River. There were tons of whitetail deer both bucks and does. A friend who owns and ranches the area, says the deer population
this year was down at least 40 percent. He believes the many wolves they are seeing is taking a toll on the herds.
I just feel lucky to have had the whitetail doe I took in the 101, just walk out and stop 98 yards from me. Maybe next year the bucks will be around. Muskrat

[yelp]

My personal opinion is that this year was wetter/greener than in previous years meaning more habitat and it stayed greener longer.  In several areas its still green.  Some ponds/lakes also didn't dry up as fast like in years past.  Most of the whitetails are there but they don't need to go anywhere to find what they need.  I feel there was less of a need for deer to hit green winter wheat for example due to the amount of water and natural forage.   I also believe this was the case with some Mule deer populations.  They didn't have to migrate back as far to find what they needed from the winter range due to the greener than normal habitats.   

I haven't heard of any bluetongue.  Predators in the blues are alive and well.  Cougars definately take thier share.  Has anyone seen any winterkill? 

I am heading to the Tucannon/Dayton Area for late muzzy and I hope I can find a bruiser! 

[Alaska316]

I was hunting the Touchet area out of dayton and saw lots of deer. First day was 50 plus doe's White tail, and lots of Mulie's. Saw a few legal bucks. But the biggest was a 5x5 white tail standing on Private property. talked to a few home owners as well, and they had seen lots of deer also. The numbers are down from 5 years ago. But I still have my 2nd deer tag to fill over there. Come on Nov 9th.