Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: yakimanoob on October 12, 2016, 10:19:37 PM

Title: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: yakimanoob on October 12, 2016, 10:19:37 PM: Hey folks! I did a very half-assed scouting trip today in GMU 356 looking for good spots to hunt deer this weekend, and I found what should be a decent area; the thing is, it's covered up in elk. I saw more tracks than I could count in the 1.5 miles I covered, heard some cows and had a bull bugle at me from about 50 yds away.

I didn't see much deer sign but I also didn't make it to the meadows I was going to scout (I got distracted by trying to find the bugling bull). So my question is, should I keep pressing further upstream on this watershed to the meadows looking for deer, or just keep this spot logged away for elk later in the month?

Note my username. I have no idea how deer and elk get along in the same area this time of year. I saw other places online that they'll share green hillsides, etc., but don't know if the elk rut makes any difference in that equation.

Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: bobcat on October 12, 2016, 10:44:27 PM: Personally, if it was me, I'd look somewhere else. I'd have a hard time going deer hunting where I hadn't seen any deer and no sign. That unit also isn't known for high numbers of deer. Look at the harvest report and you'll see a very low success rate.
Title: Re: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: Cylvertip on October 12, 2016, 11:07:40 PM: From my experience, in all the areas that I have hunted elk, where there are good numbers of elk, the deer are few and far between. The bucks I have seen in those areas have been good ones, though rare. :twocents:
Title: Re: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: yakimanoob on October 13, 2016, 10:23:10 AM: Thanks for the tips!

FWIW, I've been to the area in the spring and summer and seen plenty of deer sign in the watershed, but didn't happen to see any in the first 1.5 miles I covered yesterday.

Sounds like I'll focus on other for deer areas and save the spot for the 29th :).
Title: Re: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: nwwanderer on October 13, 2016, 10:58:55 AM: They pretty much ignore each other, often see whitetail with elk, mule deer not so much
Title: Re: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: Squidward on October 13, 2016, 11:04:38 AM: i have used cow calls while hunting in the brush for deer in elk areas, if I'm making noise, a cow call can stop a deer, however he will be watching for an elk, so be ready to shoot. Good luck!
Title: Re: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: rtspring on October 13, 2016, 11:20:54 AM: They choose not to hang around eachother, but Ive killed many bucks in the same vicinity Ive killed many elk.

I dont think deer feel comfortable around elk, elk are noisy and that bothers the deer. But in general they hang out close by.
Title: Re: Deer hunting in Elk territory?
Post by: splitshot on October 13, 2016, 12:41:03 PM: nope the elk wont let the deer in. they sent them emails and texts. mike w