Deer Numbers Down - Methow?

[cougfan79]

Hunted four days up Gold Creek Rd.  Three of us in the group.  One of us saw 9 doe, one zero, and I saw one deer, a small 4x4, but was still happy to be putting my tag on him.  Overall deer numbers definately down from past years.

[buckhorn2]

When on Kelly hill over by kettle falls we saw a deer running really fast. When we stopped to see there were 2 coyotes chasing a yearling one of them got the deer stopped and went around and around it so fast with it;s tail switching around and around. They were only 50 yards from us but on private property but just when we thought they had it the doe charged in and ran the coyote off. Never saw anything like that before and just wondered if the coyotes were trying to kill the deer or were playing with it they were right on it.

[Co]

I heard cougar count is going thru the roof...   Coug can get 52 deer a yr, we cant even get one, hardly... hmmmm

[boneaddict]

They were trying to kill it.    I have watched the game play out many times, and about the time it seemed lost for the deer, a helping hand in the form of an 87 grain Speer comes to the aid.   I've got two stories I'll have to tell on here one of these days. 

[vfilbert]

so bizzar, during archery season, i was tripping over deer like crazy 20+ a day with 2 pts and 1 solid 3, taged a doe, and had several other chances at deer. dont know what to say.

[mulehunter]

Not enough Trapper for coyotes.     Way too many Coyotes.  There some numbers of bucks.

Mulehunter

[CavemantheHunter]

Went back up there for the weekend. My dad and his hunting partner hadn't been seeing much all week. Went high, went low, and the same story all over. Not even seeing as many deer in the fields at night. Then the rain came Saturday and Saturday night. Tried one more time Sunday morning, and my dad was able to drop a nice 3x3, I'll put pics and a story up once he has them uploaded. Overall, it was a successful trip, but the deer numbers are definitely down and the predator numbers are definitely up.

[huntnphool]

 Congrats to your dad on his buck.

 I was seeing 40+ deer a day with little problem and very few of the doe were without fawns. The deer were spread out all over the place so you had to do a lot of glassing. Its amazing how much forage there is, its very green and abundant. I think this is part of the reason the deer are not localized in certain areas like most are used to. They don't have to be feeding in the typical areas with the amount of forage spread out over such a large area.

 I'll be back over in a couple weeks helping a couple friends with late tags and taking pictures, should be a banner year for late hunt tag holders.

[boneaddict]

Thats good to hear Rob.  I agree, there was way more food than usual.   Providing its not a bad ice year, there should be abundant range for them this winter.  I hope we bump into each other this fall.  It would be good to see you.

[boneaddict]

Looking forward to the pics caveman.

[BGhunter]

I've been bow hunting that area for about fifteen years and its been pritty good hunting. Well atleast until they started the doe season. With the amount of does that I see getting taken out of there every bow season, its a wonder people are seeing as many as they are. In the last five years I have seen a steady decline in the deer population and I don't think it is just wolves, cougars and yotes that are affecting the deer population, although they are becoming a big a big prob. Are biggest problem is the hunting season and regulations. They tie are hand behind are when it comes to preditor hunting and then lets us hinder the population by taking out the does that help the recovery. But what do I know, fish and game says the population is not in a decline and it is just the same as it was years ago.   

[boneaddict]

But what do I know, fish and game says the population is not in a decline and it is just the same as it was years ago.   

 

Thats why I made a crack at Fitkin.  Essentially his article in the Methow Valley news last year.  It was nothing but PROPAGANDA.   It was so full of crap I had to flush the paper, it wasn't worth whiping for the second time.  His population announcements were total BS.   Lost ALL credibility with me.  Someone obviously isn't spending much time out from behind the desk.   Maybe put the cellphone down for a second and take a gander on the hill.   Its not rocket science folks. 

[CavemantheHunter]

I also saw a monster on Sunday, but was unable to get an ethical shot. One of the top two biggest bucks I have ever seen.

Question for anyone that has an answer (Bone or Huntnphool maybe): I was hunting French Creek and heard several wolves howling down in the canyon several different days. Is somebody raising hybrids down there or is this an actual pack? They were most definitely wolf howls and not dog or coyote, but I was surprised at how close the howls were in reference to the residences there in French Creek...

[huntnphool]

I also saw a monster on Sunday, but was unable to get an ethical shot. One of the top two biggest bucks I have ever seen.

Question for anyone that has an answer (Bone or Huntnphool maybe): I was hunting French Creek and heard several wolves howling down in the canyon several different days. Is somebody raising hybrids down there or is this an actual pack? They were most definitely wolf howls and not dog or coyote, but I was surprised at how close the howls were in reference to the residences there in French Creek...

Silly man, there is only one pack in the Methow and that's the "lookout pack", and that pack is without a breeding female.

The "two" that are left were sure singing up a storm each morning at about 7:00 am though

[mkcj]

I shot a nice buck last sunday and my son shot a really nice Cinnamon bear yesterday. Didn't see a lot of deer though. I'll put the pic's and story up when I get home.