Central Washington deer

[Naches Sportsman]

My neighbors and I have been seeing more deer than a couple of years ago. Have you guys seen the same thing? This might mean better deer numbers.

[rtspring]

not sure if they are going up or not. It seems with each year there is a down swing then up the next. I hunt the same general area each year. Not to far from Naches.  I have noticed the buck to doe ratio is getting better, but I know for a fact that alot of two points are shot each year in this area. There are some exceptional deer that have two points and end up getting shot by some idiot who won't take the time to make damn sure they have 3 points...

I have been chasing the same buck in this area for the last three years. I nicknamed him  BIG MOMBASA, when and if i get him everyone on HUNT WA will know.......

[denali]

We hunt GMU 340 and 336 and I feel that things are improving, although it has a long ways to go before it's back to the way it was in the early 90's, if it ever does?

[gasman]

I know I am seeing more deer in the area's i hunt around Little Naches.

[luvtohnt]

Personally I thiknk that the deer everyone is seeing has more to do with the abundant snow pack that is still in the mountaisn and keeping the deer low. One thing I have noticed in the last coupleof years is the Blacktail genetics are encroaching even more than previous years (south of I-90).

Brandon

[jackmaster]

there are less deer by far where i hunt, but i also hunt blacktail, the one thing that has been going on is alot more cats, bobies and cougs, i have never seen as much cat crap as i have been seeing up there, i know there is still some big bucks in there and thats the only reason i keep going back, its tough though when you go a week with only seeing a couple of deer

[Elkrunner]

Personally I thiknk that the deer everyone is seeing has more to do with the abundant snow pack that is still in the mountaisn and keeping the deer low. One thing I have noticed in the last coupleof years is the Blacktail genetics are encroaching even more than previous years (south of I-90).

Brandon

Good point. 

[adamR]

we have been seeing alot more bucks the last couple years but they all seem to be two points and spikes... where do they go before they become 3 points? 

[teanawayslayer]

What I have noticed is that the population has been pretty steady over the past 4 or five years.  At least in the area I scout and hunt.

[Elkrunner]

What I have noticed is that the population has been pretty steady over the past 4 or five years.  At least in the area I scout and hunt.

Just guessing but would that area be teannaway?

[bankwalker]

i have been spending alot of time this year in unit 336 scouting. and i have seen a vast inprovement on the deer especially legal bucks this year. also the elk numbers seem to be up really good too

i have seen a slight improvement on deer in unit 335 off i90 aswell

[colockumelk]

  I have noticed the buck to doe ratio is getting better, but I know for a fact that alot of two points are shot each year in this area. There are some exceptional deer that have two points and end up getting shot by some idiot who won't take the time to make damn sure they have 3 points...

I am a little torn on this issue.  While it is illegal to poach an animal and I don't agree with poaching in a legal sense....  On the other hand there are areas such as the LT Murray where it seems the only bucks that survive are the "two point forever" bucks.  I've seen some HUGE 2x2's in there.  So if these bucks are the ones doing alot of the breeding then they will pass on their "forever two point" genes and eventually that's about all we'll have are some giant two points. 

I personally think to solve this problem they need to issue out a bunch of Youth 2x2 special permits out to help weed out these genetic freeks.

[Kowsrule30]

The area I hunt during general Ml is slowly but steadily coming back up (368).... Was up there earlier this week and spotted 4 legal bucks a bunch of does with good fawn rate as well.... Nothing huge.... But I wouldn't mind putting my tag on the 24-26" wide 2x3 we Dad and glaseed for 3 days.....    And I know where I'll be sitting opening day for elk season now.... 17 spikes on one ridge!!!!!      Just might have to fight Dad over the spot!!!!   

[Jingles]

The deer general population is up. The quality of deer is down. The numbers of deer that aren't actually migrating is up.  Just stop by Winthrop and see all the damn town deer.