Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Jekemi on July 15, 2020, 07:20:17 AM

Title: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: Jekemi on July 15, 2020, 07:20:17 AM: Does anyone have projections for deer population in Eastern WA for the upcoming October - November 2020 season? Several factors may have increased deer population in Washington
1. less road traffic equals substantially less road kill
2. mild winter in 2019 - 2020 leads to higher populations
3. As a result of the pandemic the deer season was late. This has resulted in less deer taken
I know its hard to determine just how much these factors have impacted the overall deer population in Washington State but there must be some advance numbers. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: Sutherland on July 15, 2020, 07:25:30 AM: It's going to be a good year over here. Seeing lots of animals each time I've been out scouting so far. I'm getting excited.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: Rainier10 on July 15, 2020, 07:39:27 AM: I am seeing a higher number of bucks than I did this same time last year. I am seeing about the same number of deer as I did this time last year.

Of course right now is when you would see the highest number of deer. There is a fresh crop of deer every spring and from there they decline with death from sickness, predators, vehicle impacts and finally hunting season.

I feel like poaching may be a bigger thing this year with all that is going on.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: bobcat on July 15, 2020, 08:57:37 AM: I don't understand your number three. Can you explain?

Quote
3. As a result of the pandemic the deer season was late. This has resulted in less deer taken.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: hunter399 on July 15, 2020, 09:09:36 AM: Quote from: bobcat on July 15, 2020, 08:57:37 AM
I don't understand your number three. Can you explain?

Quote
3. As a result of the pandemic the deer season was late. This has resulted in less deer taken.
Ya I don't understand that part too.
Seasons went as normal last year. :dunno:

But to add :twocents:
With the pandemic hunting this year will be packed with other hunters.Price of meat,everybody wants freezer full with these uncertain Times.
I'm not seeing any more deer than last year.
Alot of young bucks and does.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: Colville on July 15, 2020, 09:13:46 AM: Saying E-WA is too broad. Not all areas will have the same fate. The predator (wolf/cat) problem in the NE isn't what you will see in Goldendale. That said, I saw better deer sign and actual deer in a recent trip to some of the ground we hunt. It was promising. We see almost exclusively whitetails. Last year was a bad, meaning good, weather year. It was warm and sunny and I think it made it a tough late hunt.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: nwwanderer on July 15, 2020, 09:15:12 AM: Might be thinking turkeys and bear with the late season comment.
With deer numbers at a near 30 year low in the far east, car kills a down, not so much less traffic. Seeing a decent number of immature bucks and a decent fawn crop. Not a big deal for this fall. Positive for later years.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: dvolmer on July 15, 2020, 01:10:14 PM: Antler growth should be very good!
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: huntnnw on July 15, 2020, 10:01:38 PM: I have more bears than whitetails on camera in my areas.. not a good ratio
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: Bango skank on July 15, 2020, 10:05:42 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on July 15, 2020, 10:01:38 PM
I have more bears than whitetails on camera in my areas.. not a good ratio

Pretty standard unfortunately
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: huntnnw on July 15, 2020, 11:08:29 PM: up to 10 bears on 4 cams. 10 years ago i woulda had 12-15 bucks of all age classes and 20 does or so. Not anymore.

I had places around clayton that it was the norm to have 20-40 bucks in alfalfa fields every summer.Those days are are gone
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: Skyvalhunter on July 16, 2020, 06:47:32 AM: It's the damn Virus
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: Jekemi on July 16, 2020, 08:42:31 AM: Scrap # 3. I was under the mistaken impression that the Deer season of 2019 was altered in some way, my bad.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: dilleytech on July 18, 2020, 11:23:02 AM: The last TWO winters have been very mild so 18/19 winter should be showing more young bucks For us this year. Personally I haven’t noticed more deer. I have more bears on cams then deer. On the plus side bear hunting should be great yet again.. if only we had some spring seasons around here..
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: nwwanderer on July 18, 2020, 11:27:39 AM: Common to see more bears than deer in the blues too. Not just a small local issue.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: mburrows on July 18, 2020, 03:47:39 PM: Have 6 legal mule deer bucks on one of my cameras along with a couple 2 point and spike bucks. I dont hunt the area much but im overall encouraged with how things look in that spot. Lots of doe with fawns and a couple sets of twins.

Small sample size but good to see them doing well at least in that neck of the woods.
Title: Re: Deer projections for 2020
Post by: jrebel on July 18, 2020, 04:25:46 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on July 15, 2020, 10:01:38 PM
I have more bears than whitetails on camera in my areas.. not a good ratio

:yeah:

I have at least three different sows with twins on one camera in a two week period. :yike: :yike: I also have seen more cats this spring on my cameras this year.

I have noticed a lot more small bucks this year than the past two years. I bet there is 8-12 spikes / two points in one of my areas that in past years only had a couple. The overall doe population appears to be stable but the spotted fawn this year are down compared to last.

Bear season is right around the corner so with any luck we can solve some of our bear problems.