lack of deer

[akirkland]

I have hunted every day except one to since the opener of late archery. From Ft. Lewis to the Winston to the Toutle (I have a any bull archery tag...and that's another story) and all over Lewis County. I have seen elk but not one single friggin deer! WTH?!?!? Am I the only one?

[Humptulips]

Nope, I hunted hard every day of modern elk in North Grays Harbor. I saw one deer and this is in the middle of the rut. Deer hunted the Wynoochee unit mostly and saw very few deer, in fact the fewest deer ever. Every hunter I talked to told me a similar story. I saw loads of cougar sign though and killed one cougar.
It goes down hill every year since they stopped hound hunting. Not sure what I will do next year.

[jwroberts]

i am right there with ya

[SI Eagle]

If you are looking for deer those are the wrong units. There haven't been many deer in there for years. 

[OEFvet1986]

I hunted 653 for a week with my buddy and we only saw 2 dead does (poached). We hunted all week there and did not see one deer, I saw 3 rabbits and that was all. It was very depressing. Also i would like to add we heard a cougar one night we were camping up high. Pretty creepy when your taking a piss in the dark and hear one for the first time in your life.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I have been seeing a ton of deer...and even a handful of P&Y class animals...just not the ones I want.

[buck man]

I have been seeing a ton of deer...and even a handful of P&Y class animals...just not the ones I want.

[bearpaw]

I hunted 653 for a week with my buddy and we only saw 2 dead does (poached). We hunted all week there and did not see one deer, I saw 3 rabbits and that was all. It was very depressing. Also i would like to add we heard a cougar one night we were camping up high. Pretty creepy when your taking a piss in the dark and hear one for the first time in your life.

Did it scare the Piss out of you... 

[kglacken]

havent seen many deer either but we watched a dandy buck bed down tonight on a piece of property I hunt. Going back at first light to find him. Chances are slim but hey, you wont know if they are there unless you look 

[Houndhunter]

Most areas I think have taken a big hit, just not as many deer. I know a few places that are heavy logging areas that I can find quite a few deer, but my remote spots are dead . Ever since they stopped logging national forest and hound,baiting, and trapping were outlawed the have just disappeared. The only reason I still hunt national forest is that I know the genetics are there

[DBHAWTHORNE]

"stopped logging national forest" I see logging happening all over the national forest. I believe they actually have an annual requirement of board feet they have to sell.

[elklover]

Same here with me............

[akirkland]

If you are looking for deer those are the wrong units. There haven't been many deer in there for years.

        I was elk hunting in the Winston and Toutle. Not expecting to trip over dear but when you spend as much time in those units as I have, you kind of expect to see at least a doe. Now Lewis county and Ft Lewis?!?! I don't understand 

[singleshot12]

I hunted 653 for a week with my buddy and we only saw 2 dead does (poached).

Lots of poaching sign in all the westside units I've tried hunting the last couple years, so bad to where i'm done with deer hunting 

[bullcanyon]

That hair slip has hit them as well. There has been enough logging around mineral to keep the deer happy if there were any.  Cougars and poaching haven't helped. I couldnt be more disappointed in our deer numbers. And from the lack of changes the wdfw don't care and probably won't until they see a drop in sales of licenses.  We need apr and no doe hunts for a few years. Maybe even no late hunts for a few years. But nope. We are going to increase the multi tags so we can add pressure to a depleted herd. common sense can't be taught...........