Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: YukonMud on October 12, 2008, 06:04:45 PM

Title: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: YukonMud on October 12, 2008, 06:04:45 PM: I don't really know where to start....
Last year I went hunting for deer during the modern firearm general season (my first time) and we saw many deer and heard lots of shooting over opening weekend...there were many lucky hunters. This year I head out the same same spot, along with around 30 of my friends (other hunters) to find nothing. I think I heard two shots from a couple miles or so away and every hunter I spoke to had not seen anything either. Not a doe, not a foot print, not a sign; nothing.

Does anyone know what could cause this?
Thanks,
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: stumprat on October 12, 2008, 06:10:00 PM: Horrible hunting weather. :'( Both my sons tagged out this morning but we had to crash through the brush & kick em outta bed :bash:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Ghost1941 on October 12, 2008, 06:16:05 PM: We're in the same boat. A friend of mine and I hunted area 19 on Fort Lewis yesterday, we saw 8 vehicles in there and they were all gone by lunch. Talked to 6 different guys and none of them had seen anything. Today we went to area 18 and the same thing. Everybody we came across hadn't seen a thing.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: bow4elk on October 12, 2008, 06:22:14 PM: Pray for rain or do some drives.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: demontang on October 12, 2008, 06:28:27 PM: I have heared the deer numbers are down this year. :dunno:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: YukonMud on October 12, 2008, 06:37:00 PM: Quote from: bow4elk on October 12, 2008, 06:22:14 PM
Pray for rain or do some drives.
Drives? ???
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: MichaelJ on October 12, 2008, 06:38:39 PM: Quote from: YukonMud on October 12, 2008, 06:37:00 PM
Quote from: bow4elk on October 12, 2008, 06:22:14 PM
Pray for rain or do some drives.
Drives? ???

Deer drives... IE post shooters on escape routes and have people push the draws and canyons DRIVING the deer to the shooters....

I also struck out this weekend but we got a bunny and a chipmunk with the truck!!! haha :IBCOOL:

Michael
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Ghost1941 on October 12, 2008, 06:42:44 PM: Quote from: MichaelJ on October 12, 2008, 06:38:39 PM
Quote from: YukonMud on October 12, 2008, 06:37:00 PM
Quote from: bow4elk on October 12, 2008, 06:22:14 PM
Pray for rain or do some drives.
Drives? ???

Deer drives... IE post shooters on escape routes and have people push the draws and canyons DRIVING the deer to the shooters....

I also struck out this weekend but we got a bunny and a chipmunk with the truck!!! haha :IBCOOL:

Michael

Stepped on a mole walking up a hill :) My boot got my 1st washington kill heh.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: YukonMud on October 12, 2008, 06:51:25 PM: Quote from: Ghost1941 on October 12, 2008, 06:42:44 PM
Quote from: MichaelJ on October 12, 2008, 06:38:39 PM
I also struck out this weekend but we got a bunny and a chipmunk with the truck!!! haha :IBCOOL:
Stepped on a mole walking up a hill :) My boot got my 1st washington kill heh.
Wish I could say I killed something, I didn't even see anything with fur :'(
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Ghost1941 on October 12, 2008, 06:57:34 PM: I feel for ya bro, tough putting all that time in to not even SEE ANYTHING. I was telling my buddy that even if we weren't seeing bucks, a few doe here and there would be nice.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Ray on October 12, 2008, 07:00:19 PM: They certainly didn't go in my freezer...
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: georgia redneck on October 12, 2008, 07:09:08 PM: All I have seen are does bro in law saw a forked horn head in the grass but never saw body and did the right thing and did not shoot at bushes where the body should be. Hunted the winston elk deer area where it is any buck.[520A]
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: fremont on October 12, 2008, 07:10:31 PM: I'm going later this week. Am taking a scoped gun for the sagebrush and a lever action gun for the pine stands & brush. Expect to be in the stickerbushes by 10am each morning! :hunter:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Clumber on October 12, 2008, 07:24:29 PM: This is my first year ever trying for deer. I even saw one on Saturday morning! Except it was a doe... and it was smeared across the highway... A waste. Nothing all weekend aside from a couple Ruffed Grouse taunting me b/c somehow they knew I didn't have an appropriate firearm for them... and my dogs were home. I saw a couple cool woodpeckers also, and millions of chipmunks... Wonder how many chipmunks it takes to fill a freezer... I could probably have done that this weekend.

So I suspect that if it starts raining hard during the week, there will be a sudden race at work for who can suddenly get "sick" and need to go home.

Tracy, who feels just a bit of a cough in the back of my throat... heh heh....
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Armadillo on October 12, 2008, 09:11:56 PM: saw a good many mulies yesterday while out scoutin for the end of the week.. biggest was a 2 pt,, go figure lol.. cant say where though
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Jamieb on October 12, 2008, 09:33:34 PM: Nice weather and clear skies at night suck for hunting.
A area I hunt is red dotted this year so I figured I'd hike in, without any rigs running the roads I should see some deer, NOT. 4 miles uphill to be on a clear cut before first light and a lot of miles on my boots today and I didn't see a single deer. I had the whole area to myself and had a fun hunt but dam, no deer.
Hears a pic. of the first spot I glassed from this morning.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv376%2Felkhunter%2FIMG_0196.jpg&hash=c49e547f8bbf707c588248378678f1b140328c9c)
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: bobcat on October 12, 2008, 10:33:10 PM: My uncle and I hunted hard yesterday and today, got into some good areas with no other hunters, between the two of us we saw just two deer yesterday, and nothing today. One was a doe, the other unknown. Just a view of the tail going away with only 10 minutes of shooting light left in the day. We were in Thurston and Grays Harbor county. Hopefully things will improve with wetter weather.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: 75johndeere on October 13, 2008, 12:01:10 AM: we got skunked :'( to we did see alot of doe. only one buck and he was on the wrong side of a no hunting fence but seeing around 50 does is a good sign will find them Friday night :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: swanny on October 13, 2008, 08:46:20 AM: I saw a TON of does and a TON of two points in Lincoln county. Heard quite a few shots Saturday morning, but didn't see any deer in trucks or hanging in camps...

As we started hiking up hill Saturday morning, a truck on the road below us fired off three shots at about 6:50 then just drove off up the road. Not really sure what that was all about.

I did see two nice looking 4 points in the back of a couple trucks on my way back to Seattle though.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: jollyskwala on October 13, 2008, 08:56:00 AM: Same experience for me....Hunted in Huckleberry Unit. I was in my spot by 5:45 a.m..............waited and waited for 3 hours and did not see one deer. Then went and poked around in the thickets for awhile.....nothing. I also did not hear one shot or see one deer in any camp or in any trucks driving home. I have to agree that the numbers seem to be down but at least we have a few more weeks to get after them.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: MuleySniper on October 13, 2008, 09:18:47 AM: We never even heard a shot fired in the Teanaway. My dad and I hiked a ways in the night before and bivy'd out. We sat from our advantage point in a hidden canyon way away from any trails. Never saw a single deer. When we hiked out, we managed to see a gazillion cars and hikers lined up everywhere, so the area had pressure, just not many deer I guess. :dunno:
MS
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: PA BEN on October 13, 2008, 11:49:25 AM: The deer are still there, it's the full moon. :bash: Deer are moving all night. It will change soon :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: rougheye on October 13, 2008, 12:45:17 PM: Quote from: PA BEN on October 13, 2008, 11:49:25 AM
The deer are still there, it's the full moon. :bash: Deer are moving all night. It will change soon :rolleyes:
There are still a few around but numbers are way down . not hearing of to many gettin shot around here .
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: demontang on October 13, 2008, 08:06:10 PM: I have seen more deer this year then last. I saw 2 shooters in the first hour of light on the opener and got mine, I took my friend out today and saw 5 does and 2 bucks but they where to far away to see how many points they had.
I have been hammering the coyotes in the area since the beginning of the year. :dunno:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Ghost1941 on October 13, 2008, 08:10:59 PM: Quote from: demontang on October 13, 2008, 08:06:10 PM
I have seen more deer this year then last. I saw 2 shooters in the first hour of light on the opener and got mine, I took my friend out today and saw 5 does and 2 bucks but they where to far away to see how many points they had.
I have been hammering the coyotes in the area since the beginning of the year. :dunno:

Nice... dang wish I could see some deer. I'm getting a little depressed over this crap. First year hunting out here and haven't seen a hair. How far were they away that you couldn't even see the horns....?
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: 12Gauge on October 13, 2008, 08:14:42 PM: Went to Vail, WA, all I saw was a doe that was on Fort Lewis land on the way to vail and nothing after that. Our group also mentioned that the shooting was really slow. Going again Tuesday and Thursday at Capitol Forest. 60% chance of rain on Thursday.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Broken Arrow on October 13, 2008, 08:21:18 PM: Took my son on his first rifle ( first hunt ever). Got there opening evening and saw 1 3x3 and 12 does...all being pushed and heading for the next county. Next day saw about 30 does and put him on a real nice heavy and wide 3x4 (25 inch) with in 100 yards. By the time I put the shooting sticks down, got him in position....the buck got out of his bed and was gone. ( not sure with my son's hyperventilating...he could of even took the shot...actually kind of funny to see a first timers buck fever)...we came home empty handed, but had a blast. Sorry I can't compare to last year, but i can tell you it was exactly like it was during bow and muzzy season.....JUST WAY MORE HUNTERS!
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: nw_bowhunter on October 13, 2008, 08:35:49 PM: Been a challenge this season. Weather has played a huge role in the animal’s hiding out. Just have fun and keep at") It could be worse like going to work...")
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: demontang on October 13, 2008, 08:40:00 PM: Quote from: Ghost1941 on October 13, 2008, 08:10:59 PM
Nice... dang wish I could see some deer. I'm getting a little depressed over this crap. First year hunting out here and haven't seen a hair. How far were they away that you couldn't even see the horns....?

I didn't have my spotting scope out to look at one of them in time to get a good look. I would say one was 1 1/2 miles away and the other 2miles. They where both in some very heavy cover and only offered a short look before disappearing in to the sage :dunno:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Ghost1941 on October 13, 2008, 08:50:00 PM: Oooh I take it you're in the east? I'm hunting in this thick *censored*
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: 300rum on October 13, 2008, 08:54:00 PM: I live by a butcher. Last year I went by on Saturday of opening weekend and there were at least 3 trucks there at 2-3p.m. On Sunday of last year at 11am there was at least 5 trucks there. I went by 3 times on Saturday and saw no trucks. Went by 3 times on Sunday and only saw one rig, looked like a Nissan Moreno or something like that. The butcher was sawing the head off a small buck in the back. How would you like to explain that to your wife? My point being that there were a lot less rigs than last year.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: BENCHLEG on October 13, 2008, 08:58:38 PM: if your unit allows it waite until oct31 that is the day that deer will give it up. and most people will be trick or treating, has always treated me well. bucks start to get stinky, has always treated me well. happy halloween. J
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: klikboom on October 14, 2008, 12:42:47 PM: Ya i had a disappointing 3 days straight of hunting, but it is good to know the season will probably get better. I shot mine last year right before Halloween, so hopefully the same comes. I know last season i hadn't even seen a doe until i saw the buck. This weekend I saw plenty of does and lots of sign.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: MAVsled on October 14, 2008, 04:01:01 PM: spent opening weekend closer to home in the Teanaway-Jack Creek area, hunting up high on the ridgelines. 3 of us spotted a few does and 3 bucks of which only one was a legal 3 point and too far at that for any shot.
Wish I could have got the time for a few days to go to my Favorite Gardner GMU.
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: fishseeker on October 14, 2008, 04:47:54 PM: Hunted the Salmon Meadows area out of Conconnully, Herd some shooting around early mornings so someone was seeing some deer. Saw 4 hanging. Left about 2pm yeasterday,saw 8 whitetail does and 1 spike on the way down the mountain. Daughter saw the spike but had loaded the rifle in the trailer and did not have it in the rig on the way out. Lesson learned for her! Our group saw a few does but thats about all. On a side note, didn,t hunt that area last year but have for about 10 years. They opened the area to ATV,s, Had 1 drive between our 2 trailers opening morning to go up the dug out road we hunt. I was really pissed, No roads or trails close to them. Time for some suplus armor pircing round for atv controll!! No just going to hunt somewhere else! Will be scouting out new deercamping spots till next year that don't alow those darned things. I hate them and I'm not able to hike much :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:
Title: Re: Where did all the deer go?
Post by: Dadsbirddog on October 14, 2008, 11:44:06 PM: I missed opening weekend. WORK :bash: :bash:Graveyard shift monday and tuesday night so I got out for the morning hunt on monday. NO DEER. >:(I did see a wild horse and step in a fresh pile of bear crap