Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:07:17 PM

Title: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:07:17 PM: I've been scouting the Potato Creek area of Entiat (yes, I realize there are no mulies there and I should look elsewhere :)) and have a question regarding dead fall. Some of the hillsides in there are dang near impassable for humans with all the deadfall and some hillsides have a moderate amount while other have very little.

An ol' timer I spoke to up there said the deer completely avoid those areas with the really heavy deadfall. Just curious what y'alls experience has been with this. Also looking for any advice in general for hunting this unit. I'm slowly working my way across the entire unit and hope to know it well by the time I get drawn for the November hunt. In years past I've primarily hunted Mud Creek and Crow Creek areas.

thanks!
tim
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: 2MANY on September 28, 2015, 12:37:15 PM: Do you have a brother named Tom?
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: zwickeyman on September 28, 2015, 12:37:36 PM: They don't completely avoid it but if has a lot of it you wont see as many deer or as much sign as you will at the fringes of it. Bear don't seam to mind it though
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:51:43 PM: Quote from: 2MANY on September 28, 2015, 12:37:15 PM
Do you have a brother named Tom?

Yeah, he's a few years younger than me and not near as smart. We fought like the devil growing up, he cheated at everything we ever played.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: link on September 28, 2015, 12:59:45 PM: Its funny how just because guys are old timers, who have been there and done that, a lot of people seem to think that they always know what they're talking about. ( im not saying you are one of these believers ) You ever think that the young dip*censored*, know it alls, grow old and become some of these "ol timers"? Now, don't get me wrong, there are A LOT of ol timers who do know what they're talking about and have a ton of experience and information to pass down, just realize that not all of them do! Think of someone you know, who is young and full of *censored*. Now you know that guy is going to be old and full of *censored* some day and be passing out his "knowledge" to some young whippersnapper! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 01:06:04 PM: Quote from: link on September 28, 2015, 12:59:45 PM
Its funny how just because guys are old timers, who have been there and done that, a lot of people seem to think that they always know what they're talking about. ( im not saying you are one of these believers ) You ever think that the young dip*censored*, know it alls, grow old and become some of these "ol timers"? Now, don't get me wrong, there are A LOT of ol timers who do know what they're talking about and have a ton of experience and information to pass down, just realize that not all of them do! Think of someone you know, who is young and full of *censored*. Now you know that guy is going to be old and full of *censored* some day and be passing out his "knowledge" to some young whippersnapper! :chuckle:

Yeah, that's the problem! I don't know if the guy I spoke to is full of it or not which is I why I decided to ask here. Because I know everyone on this forum knows what they are talking about! :)
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: muleracks on September 28, 2015, 01:08:56 PM: Deer don't like the downed timber much better than we do. If you ever shot a deer in the deadfall, getting it out is a real bear; you will wish you hadn't. I would stick to the more open county and do a lot of glassing. The deer are in there if you can spot them. Be prepared to stalk within a comfortable shooting range.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: James on September 28, 2015, 01:11:02 PM: One of my main deer hunting areas is an older burn. I have noticed in areas where the deadfall is heavy I see less deer.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: westsidehntr on September 28, 2015, 01:12:32 PM: Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:51:43 PM
Quote from: 2MANY on September 28, 2015, 12:37:15 PM
Do you have a brother named Tom?

Yeah, he's a few years younger than me and not near as smart. We fought like the devil growing up, he cheated at everything we ever played.

You sound jealous... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 01:29:07 PM: Quote from: westsidehntr on September 28, 2015, 01:12:32 PM
Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:51:43 PM
Quote from: 2MANY on September 28, 2015, 12:37:15 PM
Do you have a brother named Tom?

Yeah, he's a few years younger than me and not near as smart. We fought like the devil growing up, he cheated at everything we ever played.

You sound jealous... :chuckle:

It comes and goes... I could have had the same career (which comes with a lot of perks!) but when I found out I would have to miss hunting season every year I said the heck with it. Although, here I am stuck hunting public land and he could own half of Montana if he wanted to.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: westsidehntr on September 28, 2015, 03:11:05 PM: Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 01:29:07 PM
Quote from: westsidehntr on September 28, 2015, 01:12:32 PM
Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:51:43 PM
Quote from: 2MANY on September 28, 2015, 12:37:15 PM
Do you have a brother named Tom?

Yeah, he's a few years younger than me and not near as smart. We fought like the devil growing up, he cheated at everything we ever played.

You sound jealous... :chuckle:

It comes and goes... I could have had the same career (which comes with a lot of perks!) but when I found out I would have to miss hunting season every year I said the heck with it. Although, here I am stuck hunting public land and he could own half of Montana if he wanted to.

Good call!
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: go4steelhd on September 28, 2015, 05:17:53 PM: Some of the biggest bucks I located In Washington are in dead fall that is near impossible to walk thru or hunt. :twocents: I get them on trail cam. I have yet to kill one of these big boys in it :
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: HntnFsh on September 28, 2015, 09:00:49 PM: Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 01:29:07 PM
Quote from: westsidehntr on September 28, 2015, 01:12:32 PM
Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:51:43 PM
Quote from: 2MANY on September 28, 2015, 12:37:15 PM
Do you have a brother named Tom?

Yeah, he's a few years younger than me and not near as smart. We fought like the devil growing up, he cheated at everything we ever played.

Y
Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 01:29:07 PM
Quote from: westsidehntr on September 28, 2015, 01:12:32 PM
Quote from: tbrady on September 28, 2015, 12:51:43 PM
Quote from: 2MANY on September 28, 2015, 12:37:15 PM
Do you have a brother named Tom?

Yeah, he's a few years younger than me and not near as smart. We fought like the devil growing up, he cheated at everything we ever played.

You sound jealous... :chuckle:

It comes and goes... I could have had the same career (which comes with a lot of perks!) but when I found out I would have to miss hunting season every year I said the heck with it. Although, here I am stuck hunting public land and he could own half of Montana if he wanted to.
You sound jealous... :chuckle:

It comes and goes... I could have had the same career (which comes with a lot of perks!) but when I found out I would have to miss hunting season every year I said the heck with it. Although, here I am stuck hunting public land and he could own half of Montana if he wanted to.

Your killing me man! Funny stuff. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: UBA on September 28, 2015, 11:00:34 PM: There isn't a hillside up potatoe creek that doesn't hold deer even with the down trees. Go look into the head of first creek and that still holds deer
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: Eli346 on September 29, 2015, 07:10:44 AM: You probably won't see a deer in deadfall if you're trying to get through it but it's possible but not easy to spot a deer if you're across canyon from it. If there is one in there it's usually for a reason; he's big and doesn't want to be found.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: tbrady on September 29, 2015, 07:36:32 AM: Thanks for all the replies guys... think I'll look for some good vantage points to get a spotting scope on some of these spots.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 29, 2015, 10:55:34 AM: I have an area I'm going to spend a day in this year that fits the bill, I know there's deer on all sides of it just not what spends time in it.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 29, 2015, 11:47:07 AM: Bucks like deadfall feeding and bedding areas with multiple escape routes. That is what I would call moderate deadfall. You will see deer trails in and out of deadfall areas used by deer, no sign means its probably too dense.
Title: Re: Mule Deer and Deadfall
Post by: Miles on October 01, 2015, 04:28:23 PM: Occasionally you can walk right up on them in places with average deadfall. I really think they are curious as to what the heck is plowing through and making all the racket. You had better be quick though once you see a buck.