Post by: bearpaw on September 16, 2009, 05:28:35 AM
According to my buddy Al, we shouldn't be getting these hard winters. :chuckle:
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 16, 2009, 05:33:09 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 16, 2009, 05:40:51 AM
According to my buddy Al, we shouldn't be getting these hard winters. :chuckle:
:nono:
Remember, any weather trend, either cooling, warming, anything.....it is all mancaused....all global warming. :DOH:
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 16, 2009, 05:48:12 AM
Post by: Jeffrey on September 16, 2009, 07:21:27 AM
No, no...It is now called "climate change"! :rolleyes:According to my buddy Al, we shouldn't be getting these hard winters. :chuckle:
:nono:
Remember, any weather trend, either cooling, warming, anything.....it is all mancaused....all global warming. :DOH:
Post by: denali on September 16, 2009, 10:44:08 AM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on September 16, 2009, 11:02:12 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 16, 2009, 11:31:01 AM
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 16, 2009, 10:04:37 PM
Post by: PWN Kurt on September 16, 2009, 10:56:07 PM
And speaking of weather change...am I the only guy that remembers 'the next ice age is coming' scare of the 80's? It wasn't too long after people were walking around with 'Sky Lab' helmets.
Kurt
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 16, 2009, 10:59:57 PM
Post by: elkrack on September 16, 2009, 11:13:33 PM
Post by: bearpaw on September 17, 2009, 06:48:44 AM
Post by: coachcw on September 17, 2009, 06:55:55 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 17, 2009, 07:08:50 AM
I would like to say that I thanked the WDFW Commision for reducing doe permits and reducing 2nd deer tags this year. They also need to hear the positive comments from sportsfolks.
I think that wolfbait, mulehunter, or some others probably know units 340-342.
mulehunters spends a lot of time in the Okanogan areas and wolfbait winters deer on his property, I think they say deer numbers are way down due to wolves in the Okanogan areas. Boneaddict probably also has a feel for the Okanogan.....
Post by: halflife65 on September 17, 2009, 07:56:00 AM
I've been hunting on the North side of Ellensburg, although I shot a deer this year in Manastash...still, I didn't see many deer the one day that I was down there but I'm glad that coach has been seeing a few more.
The north side of the freeway is still pretty poor. I ALWAYS see a couple of legal bucks when I'm elk hunting and haven't seen anything but a few does this year. However, the majority of the does had fawns and a lot of them had twins, so that's probably a good sign - also a sign that the population is depressed.
Post by: colockumelk on September 17, 2009, 07:57:38 AM
if the game dept. could just get out of the way and let the people who actually care about the future of hunting take over and I bet private citizens could build a better population than what wdfw has produced. If it wasn't for our revenue we produce this bunch of liberal whackjobs would have tried to shut us down along time ago. :bdid:
:yeah:
And we'd also be able to balance our budget unlike the WDFW. How awsome would that be. Keep the game bios and the game wardens and then make up committees for each region or two committees per region. And then each year those committees could meet a few times to hammer out changes in the game regulations. I bet you our state would be awsome for hunting.
Oh well you know what the WDFW says? If it aint broke make sure it is. Or if it's already broke keep breaking it until you can't recognize it.
Websters says: INSANITY: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.
Post by: Machias on September 17, 2009, 08:01:06 AM
Post by: wolfbait on September 17, 2009, 08:11:33 AM
One thing I have really noticed is how few of deer are out in the mountains this year in NE WA. The last couple winters have really hammered our deer population. Hopefully we have some milder winters coming up.
According to my buddy Al, we shouldn't be getting these hard winters. :chuckle:
Easy winters won't matter once you have wolves in your neck of the woods. It don't take to long to notice that your deer keep getting fewer and fewer each year. The okanogan hasn't been very good hunting for more than a few years now.
Post by: boneaddict on September 17, 2009, 08:20:16 AM
Post by: 270Shooter on September 17, 2009, 08:48:01 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 17, 2009, 09:24:14 AM
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on September 17, 2009, 09:28:17 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 17, 2009, 10:54:43 AM
Post by: boneaddict on September 17, 2009, 11:01:02 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 17, 2009, 12:58:48 PM
The WDFW has greatly reduced antlerless tags which will help for a couple years. I do agree with Machias, 0 doe tags for a couple years might be even better. Our deer go in cycles here, every 5-10 years we get a hard winter that takes 30% to 80% of our deer, but in 3 to 5 years the numbers rebound pretty good. Perhaps we could assist that rebound.
wolfbait has made a good point, if we get wolves multiplying here, especially while deer numbers are down, our deer herds could really suffer.
I also agree with boneaddict our elk are increasing, the winters have not been so tough as to hurt the elk so bad, they can take a harder winter.
Some of the guys I know who work for the WDFW have told me that quite a few moose perished the last couple years, but their numbers still seem to be strong.
The wild card here in NE WA is the wolves, hopefully it will not be another Idaho, but I am worried about that as you all can tell by my many wolf posts.
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 17, 2009, 09:54:03 PM
Post by: bearpaw on September 17, 2009, 09:58:45 PM
Whats even scarier with the wolf population expanding here in NE WA is the moose! this little corner of WA has turned into world class moose hunting if lucky enough to draw a tag.The elk have also began to explode up here in the last 10 yrs, all of this may be in jeoparody with a increasing wolf population, wrong word saying "maybe" it will!
Re: maybe
I was trying to be politically correct so I didn't get blasted too bad.... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
If you check out my wolf page you will know exactly what I think.... ;)
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 17, 2009, 10:01:48 PM
I have looked at it several times ;)
Post by: goosegetter79 on September 17, 2009, 10:04:02 PM
Post by: bearpaw on September 17, 2009, 10:05:48 PM
The sole purpose of that site is to expose all the info about wolves that the media will not show us so that people will hopefully ask for a balanced wolf plan.....
Post by: boneaddict on September 18, 2009, 05:51:51 AM
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 18, 2009, 06:01:50 AM
Post by: Palmer on September 18, 2009, 06:09:40 AM
Here is my report for last year. The population did seem lower but the winter kill seemed to affect the younger deer that are easier to hunt.
After hunting North Idaho and 113 I noticed the deer population was down. So there were more hunters because many had not gotten their deer yet. I heard less shooting and out of the shots I heard, they sounded like misses and several shots at a time (usually means they sort a missed or wounded). We ( 3 of us) personally saw over a 6 day period:
6+ does, anterless Whitetail
1 buck 1 yo 2x3 point WT
2 bucks 2 yo 4 point and 5 point WT
3 bucks app. 5 yo 4 pt, and 5 pt WT
1 buck app. 8 yo 3 pt WT
Last year we saw 25+ does, anterless and 2 that were a year and a half old as well as 3 mature bucks 4 - 5 years old.
So we saw half as many deer last year. Furthermore out of the 25+ anterless some could have been male fawns. Last year we saw fewer fawns or yearlings. The older bigger deer tend to make it through the winter but they are wily and will hold in the cover if they know they are being hunted. Sit still and be patient if you know where they are hiding out.
Post by: boneaddict on September 18, 2009, 06:18:34 AM
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 18, 2009, 06:29:23 AM
Post by: boneaddict on September 18, 2009, 08:08:27 AM
Post by: batsquatch on September 18, 2009, 08:22:21 AM
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on September 18, 2009, 08:58:38 AM
strange thing is if it is winter, kill where are all the bones? I do alot of hiking around where there used to be tons of deer and no bones.The deer population in NE washington has taken a hard hit the last two years. We are currently at (estimated..not sure how accurately?) 40% of what we were in fall 2007. I found lots of evidence of winter kill while I was hiking this winter and spring. The coyotes also had a field day with the deer. We found far more coyote kills than lion kills.
Post by: boneaddict on September 18, 2009, 09:05:20 AM
Post by: Hornseeker on September 18, 2009, 11:28:57 AM
Does anyone remember the deer numbers back in 93-96? Man...that was Unreal... I wish I was more serious of a whitetail hunter back then!!
Post by: bearpaw on September 18, 2009, 12:01:36 PM
strange thing is if it is winter, kill where are all the bones? I do alot of hiking around where there used to be tons of deer and no bones.The deer population in NE washington has taken a hard hit the last two years. We are currently at (estimated..not sure how accurately?) 40% of what we were in fall 2007. I found lots of evidence of winter kill while I was hiking this winter and spring. The coyotes also had a field day with the deer. We found far more coyote kills than lion kills.
:yeah:
I would say that is a fairly good average for the overall area. However, most whitetail counts are done by driving farmland areas. Those areas have fared better than the mountain areas the last two winters with cattle feeding operations helping out the deer. Some of our leases appear to be at 50% to 60% but I think some of the mountain areas may be at only 20% to 30% after hunting them the last two weeks.
There are still deer to kill, but you will not have it as easy as usual.
Post by: bearpaw on September 18, 2009, 12:25:31 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on September 18, 2009, 03:52:41 PM
Post by: NWBREW on September 18, 2009, 04:13:16 PM
OH and the 6x6 elk was on the canadian side of the border :'(
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 18, 2009, 04:34:28 PM
Post by: PolarBear on September 18, 2009, 05:00:58 PM
Post by: kopfjaeger on September 18, 2009, 08:49:49 PM
I'm surprised no one has voiced any concern over the Caribou up Salmo. Seems to me the feds are trading one endangered specie for another. :bdid:
Post by: NWBREW on September 18, 2009, 09:03:19 PM
I'm surprised no one has voiced any concern over the Caribou up Salmo. Seems to me the feds are trading one endangered specie for another. :bdid:
[/quote]
Caribou? :dunno: Is there really caribou up there? :dunno: i've hunted N.E. corner for about 20 years....I aint never seen no caribou :dunno:
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 18, 2009, 09:50:00 PM
Post by: boneaddict on September 19, 2009, 06:39:23 AM
Quote
Caribou in the form of moose chit!I think you meant wolf *censored*. The fact they took down all the caribou flyers/posters and put up wolf ones pretty much sums it up.
Post by: bearpaw on September 19, 2009, 04:41:01 PM
Post by: Big10gauge on September 21, 2009, 07:51:27 AM
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,14120.msg159423.html#msg159423
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on September 21, 2009, 08:16:15 AM
boneaddict....I posted some data from the wolf plan concerning special species here: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,34103.msg405312/topicseen.html#new (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,34103.msg405312/topicseen.html#new)Interesting post and some quality info there. My guess (WAG?) is that a single lion that becomes a specialist would cause more trouble for the caribou than the wolves will. Who knows though.
The biggest problem is not predation but habitat loss. Read an old survey record for Pend Oreille County. The surveyors would record when they encountered a tree on a section line. They might hit 15-20 trees per mile. Those trees included 3-5' dia white pine, yellow pine, larch,doug fir.... Try to walk 10 feet without hitting a tree nowadays.
They used to drive wagons and teams through these forests...imagine that... now I can't ride a single horse through.
Post by: halflife65 on September 21, 2009, 08:43:50 AM
boneaddict....I posted some data from the wolf plan concerning special species here: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,34103.msg405312/topicseen.html#new (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,34103.msg405312/topicseen.html#new)Interesting post and some quality info there. My guess (WAG?) is that a single lion that becomes a specialist would cause more trouble for the caribou than the wolves will. Who knows though.
The biggest problem is not predation but habitat loss. Read an old survey record for Pend Oreille County. The surveyors would record when they encountered a tree on a section line. They might hit 15-20 trees per mile. Those trees included 3-5' dia white pine, yellow pine, larch,doug fir.... Try to walk 10 feet without hitting a tree nowadays.
They used to drive wagons and teams through these forests...imagine that... now I can't ride a single horse through.
I haven't spent much time in that area - is it thick because of reprod/second growth after clearcutting? Just curious...
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on September 21, 2009, 08:54:43 AM
Post by: Gobble on September 21, 2009, 09:03:55 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 21, 2009, 02:28:14 PM
Post by: bearpaw on September 21, 2009, 02:36:41 PM
Numbers are definitely lower in most areas, but whitetails rebound fast so some mild winters will have numbers rebounding fast (fingers crossed). :twocents:
Post by: halflife65 on September 21, 2009, 02:37:59 PM
Anyway, it was more of a curiousity question on my part - I spent a little time in Huckleberry (drew a moose tag) but otherwise only hunted one other time near Metaline Falls something like 17 years ago. It was the November rifle hunt, snowed unbelievably hard the whole time, I had done absolutely no research about where to go and spent almost the entire time looking for my hunting partner - an inexperienced guy that was a friend of mine from college who, as it turned out, could get lost in the middle of the road - and saw a few whitetail does. Kind of a dumb trip that was all my fault for not preparing properly...
Post by: johnsc6 on September 22, 2009, 08:50:28 AM
Post by: jagermiester on September 22, 2009, 11:41:50 AM
Quote
If deer are dying due to winter kill we may as well be able to harvest them dont you think?
Post by: bearpaw on September 22, 2009, 08:48:12 PM
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 23, 2009, 12:21:07 AM
Post by: Palmer on September 28, 2009, 05:58:25 AM
I've seen about 30 deer in the nearby field back in 03 so I know there must be perhaps 100 deer in the near vicinity.
In 07 before the first big winter hit, a landowner set up feeders with timers out in front of a tree house that they hunted out of. We must have heard approx. 5 - 6 shots a day from that area. They were probably hosting friends over there.
This past year of 08, however, I didn't hear many shots. We harvested three bucks. Only one was a year and a half. The others were 5 - 7 years old according to the taxidermist. I guess many of the young ones didn't survive the winter.
We scouted the area this past labor day weekend and I saw alota sign. So I'm satisfied.
We did see a wolf a few years back.
I suspect that the successful harvest of the nearby landowners probably helped the population through these last two winters, especially if they were feeding them through December. The 07 winter let up after the late fall snows and cold temp.