South Central Deer Numbers

[wazzu99]

Did some driving on the winter range here around Yakima to see what was down chasing the ladies and was really discouraged by the lack of deer we were seeing.  Normally we see numerous nice bucks and plenty of does but that wasn't the case yesterday.  Spent the entire day glassing the area and only found 2 decent bucks and 12 does!  The bucks were not anything to brag about or something you want to shoot after waiting 8 to 10 years to draw a tag.  Not sure if its the hair loss issue, cougars, or poachers??  We did see a far amount of elk including a nice whole 6 point bull coming out in the back of a newer F-350 shot by some natives, a nice bull shot in the middle of the road that was quartered and antlers sawed off, a cow that appeared to be shot by a .22 several times, and one deer gut pile.  Very little to no snow on the 2 elk carcasses so it makes me wonder if they were shot at night as it had been snowing that night.  We were up there pretty early in the AM and saw nobody come out and nobody else in there all day.

Anyways, not a good situation for our deer around Yakima.

Wazzu

[ribka]

The natives have been slaughtering the deer and elk in the area the past 2 weeks. On private land too as usual. I mean really taking large numbers.  One guy shot 5 deer and an elk on Saturday. 

Need to close gates on Lt and Clockum after modern firearms. Have been writing the local Bio for years requesting this be done and am told that the LT and Clockum not good deer areas and locking gates in off season ( Nov-May) is not a good idea.

Meantime the law abiding sportman is getting screwed waiting for a big bull or special permit.

Shame because unit was coming back after 96 winter and recent hair loss.  That is hunting in Washington for you.

[C-Money]

  frustrating.

[wazzu99]

I think the area gets hit hard from the natives as well as the poachers.  Lots of late night trucks going up the roads in the area.

What blows me away is they still have a special permit in this area for Late buck even with the deer numbers extremely low.  Last thing this herd needs is to shot the last few remaining decent bucks.  It was normal to see 30 to 40 deer with 8 to 10 good bucks in the area just 3 years ago.

Wazzu