lack of deer

[Sitka_Blacktail]

It does seem like deer numbers have consistently gone down around here (638 and 642 to be specific).

Bigger problem in 642 is access to good hunting lands now that Rayonier has closed all their land and made it lease hunting only.  They seem to own the biggest chunk of 642. 638 has never been a great deer area. There are deer there and some dandies, but it is more of an elk unit.  648, now that's a different story.

[ouchfoss]

It does seem like deer numbers have consistently gone down around here (638 and 642 to be specific).

Bigger problem in 642 is access to good hunting lands now that Rayonier has closed all their land and made it lease hunting only.  They seem to own the biggest chunk of 642. 638 has never been a great deer area. There are deer there and some dandies, but it is more of an elk unit.  648, now that's a different story.

Its been a while since I looked at Rayoniers website but I wasnt aware that any of 642 was leased. Around here the only leases I can think of are the southern chunk of 638. ( I'll have to look at it here in a minute). I does suck that they decided to close that off to the public though. It use to be one of my most favorite and successful spots to deer hunt which is probably the reasoning they put it up for lease. The 7950 road use to be one of those areas where you looked forward to the first rainy day in September because you knew you could drive out there and the deer would be everywhere behind every tree and down every spur. I miss those days.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Yah, I miss those days too. Back in the late 80's the 5200 line was awesome hunting. (Near Failor Lake) It's all 25 year old reprod now. But over on the Copalis Crossing side there are good units for deer and they are all gated and have "lease hunting only" signs. There's one road north of Humptulips you can go in on, but it gets hit pretty hard by poachers from what I've heard. A friend of mine works on a logging road crew and he said he saw all the signs of that.

The Bernard Creek area is now gated, but you can walk or bike in. But I went in on my bike last year and what did I run into? A guy who obviously had a key and was driving all over in there. I guessed it was one of the loggers working in the area. And yes he was hunting. Had a gun and was wearing his orange vest.

But yah, go on the Rayonier website and you can see all the area that they closed off to public hunting.