Post by: BAR C3 on November 16, 2009, 07:27:00 PM
I bow hunted 101 this last weekend and saw 2 does in an area that was loaded with deer two years ago. I called the WDFW today and they said the last 2 winters have pretty much done a number on the deer. Lets hope for a mild winter!
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 16, 2009, 07:40:23 PM
Post by: BRUSS on November 16, 2009, 07:52:37 PM
Post by: Palmer on November 16, 2009, 09:53:51 PM
Washington Bead Lake area: 3 does
There is a guide with feeders nearby. I didn't here many shots from their tree house but he was shooting a few deer. We hunted the area for 5 days and the three of us saw three does. The fresh scrapes were untouched by any bucks for those 5 days even after an overnight rain. I did rattle in something that came in from behind and then left. I never got a look - a thicket behind me.
Idaho, Priest Lake area: 5 bucks, and 31 does.
We hunted this area for five days. The bucks were big and wise. One of the bigger ones gave me a head shot at 160 yards but I couldn't see the body. I waited for him to clear the brush but I lost him in the cover.
I did get a 1 year old buck on veterans day that weighed 134# at the butcher - 134/60% = 223#s. Not bad
I had to return to work today but my Dad and cousin were hunting today and each got a buck. One was huge. I expect to have pictures soon.
They saw a doe, a button buck and three bucks today - 41 deer in Idaho in 6 days. I'd say the winter kill wasn't that bad. The strong survived and the herd is stronger. :)
I'd say that Man's influence through hunting pressure has far more influence then the winter kill. Three deer hunting in Washington (5 days) near a guide who uses feeders with timers vs. 41 deer hunting Idaho (6 days) where baiting is illegal. :twocents:
Perhaps baiting should only be allowed for archery.
Post by: Buckblaster on November 17, 2009, 07:29:36 AM
Post by: croix on November 17, 2009, 07:54:43 AM
We saw much more elk this year than previous years, so it should be interesting to see how competition for browse affects the deer population in years to come.
Also talked to a rancher out there and he says that they are starting to see the first indications of the affect of wolves. His normally tame and docile cattle have become wild and fight with his dogs (which they've never done before). Roundup has taken a lot more time and effort and his calf population is lower than normal. We did not see any sign of wolves this year but I have seen a wolf there about 3 years ago.
Despite the "possible" wolf impact and the competition from elk, I think the deer population is on the rebound. I agree that the mature bucks have faired the best and hopefully that will help the herd.
Just my :twocents:
Post by: Palmer on November 18, 2009, 06:19:46 AM
Post by: Gobble on November 18, 2009, 06:32:05 AM
PS-I shot a small 4x4 and a Decent 5x5 the past 2 seasons on public ground but no WT this year
Post by: Gobble on November 18, 2009, 06:39:58 AM
You guys that say you see more animals must be hunting on private property where they may be less impacted.
Yeah, I heard that the private property didn't have much of a winter last year.
: :sas:
Post by: Palmer on November 18, 2009, 05:11:44 PM
Post by: high country on November 18, 2009, 05:26:27 PM
Post by: dlaw on November 18, 2009, 05:32:55 PM
Normally just hunting the weekends we would easily see 30 deer over a course of two days.
I had a feeling that it was going to be like this considering the WDFW only gave out 150 extra doe tags instead of the normal 500. In my book it seems they made 1 correct call this year. just my :twocents:
Post by: Cruiser on November 18, 2009, 06:41:45 PM
Post by: BAR C3 on November 18, 2009, 06:58:21 PM
I can say this. I hunt private property and it is doing extremely well. When farmland is involved, the survival is better.You guys that say you see more animals must be hunting on private property where they may be less impacted.
Yeah, I heard that the private property didn't have much of a winter last year.
I know folks that own half of Kelly Hill and it is the worse season in a long time. Alot of the family shots real nice bucks. They got one nice buck and the rest may be eating there tags.
I have to admit I'm taking the what the game department says to be true. I'm not a big fan of our state fish and game!
I hunt my butt of and to see two deer, there is definately a problem. I also own land in the 130 and the deer pretty much disappeared. Some are coming in with the rut, but still not the usual. I usually have a rubline in my yard. Not this year.
Post by: TrkyBob53 on November 18, 2009, 07:21:29 PM
Post by: buckreaper on November 18, 2009, 08:38:03 PM
Post by: Mossy on November 18, 2009, 10:55:45 PM
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 19, 2009, 09:19:04 AM
seen tracks here and there but none would show their pretty face for me to shoot.
No bucks on the road in or out from stevens pass all the way to colville.
None on the way back either.Seen two huge Mulie does lying down for the night in a city park right downtown near freeland or one of then little towns on 25.
Next year i will be more prepared and have a better gameplan.
Hunting again for the first time in 20 years I really didnt expect to bag anything anyhow.
Could have stayed another day or two, but we beat feet out of the east to avoid the heavy 10 day snowstorm that was slowly moving in.
Post by: runningboard on November 19, 2009, 09:55:50 AM
Post by: benbo30 on November 19, 2009, 06:53:07 PM
Post by: Special T on November 19, 2009, 07:10:21 PM
Post by: hunt4 on November 19, 2009, 09:37:33 PM
Out of all the does seen on forest service land a total of ONE fawn. Private land down in the fields a few more but still was way out of whack.
Not sure if the does aborted or the predators are smacking them up. Did see allot of yote tracks and it seemed every deer track had a yote track in it.
Post by: Kent Hunter on November 19, 2009, 11:22:35 PM
Post by: fishseeker on November 20, 2009, 06:16:32 AM
Just got back from a 6 day hunt in 101. The thing that i found shocking was the lack of fawns or the non existence :yike:Perdators did a number this spring! Rancher I talked to said plenty of fawns this year, but none now. Yotes, bears and wolves did a number on them!
Out of all the does seen on forest service land a total of ONE fawn. Private land down in the fields a few more but still was way out of whack.
Not sure if the does aborted or the predators are smacking them up. Did see allot of yote tracks and it seemed every deer track had a yote track in it.
Post by: Gobble on November 20, 2009, 06:21:17 AM
Just got back from a 6 day hunt in 101. The thing that i found shocking was the lack of fawns or the non existence :yike:
Out of all the does seen on forest service land a total of ONE fawn. Private land down in the fields a few more but still was way out of whack.
Not sure if the does aborted or the predators are smacking them up. Did see allot of yote tracks and it seemed every deer track had a yote track in it.
We went last weekend on a 4 day hunt but was cut short due to my buddy breaking his temp crown and I can tell you we saw LOTS of Coyote sign chasing and following deer. We were just south of Collvile
Post by: boneaddict on November 20, 2009, 06:26:02 AM
Post by: Big10gauge on November 20, 2009, 06:32:18 AM
Coyotes are having a huge impact on them. They seem to be exploding and need some serious thinning.
BullElk and I will be up there for a week or so and we'll probably take a break from archery hunting to call in a few coyotes. I have to agree that there seems more up there than the last few years as they are pooping in my yard now. :chuckle:
Post by: bearpaw on November 20, 2009, 07:02:07 AM
Fawns
I think there are two problems affectng the fawn crops. First, these harsh winters cause a higher percentage of doe deer to not bear fawns in the spring. Their bodies simply do not have enough nutrition during a hard winter to support a growing fetus.
Second, the coyote population is the highest I have ever seen it in this area. The coyotes get a large number of the fawns. We have watched numerous coyotes working groups of deer this spring, summer, and fall. Come winter, when we get a deep crusty snow, there is a slaughter on the deer, the coyotes can kill as many deer of any age as they want.
I just had a conversation yesterday with a rancher about the coyote situation. He wants me to organize a hunt to get some of them killed and says he can get other landowners to allow access for coyote hunting.
If I can get something organized, I will post it on Hunting-Washington... ;)
Post by: boneaddict on November 20, 2009, 07:03:23 AM
Quote
as they are pooping in my yard now.
Don't you hate that. One pooped on my porch last year just to make a statement I think. I killed one about 3 days later off from the porch so I hope I made a statement too.
Post by: benbo30 on November 20, 2009, 07:13:53 AM
I live near Colville and know the whole NE corner of the state extremely well. Years ago I used to take my guided hunters on public land but would never do that now as the deer numbers are so low. Even on the private properties that we lease, the numbers are about half what they were two years ago. Fortunately there are still quite a few deer on the leases, but each of the last two winters has had a detrimental effect and especially on the herds which winter in higher ground or more remote areas on public land.
Fawns
I think there are two problems affectng the fawn crops. First, these harsh winters cause a higher percentage of doe deer to not bear fawns in the spring. Their bodies simply do not have enough nutrition during a hard winter to support a growing fetus.
Second, the coyote population is the highest I have ever seen it in this area. The coyotes get a large number of the fawns. We have watched numerous coyotes working groups of deer this spring, summer, and fall. Come winter, when we get a deep crusty snow, there is a slaughter on the deer, the coyotes can kill as many deer of any age as they want.
I just had a conversation yesterday with a rancher about the coyote situation. He wants me to organize a hunt to get some of them killed and says he can get other landowners to allow access for coyote hunting.
If I can get something organized, I will post it on Hunting-Washington... ;)
let me know on the coyote thing i would love to get out for some predator hunting
Post by: bearpaw on November 20, 2009, 07:36:02 AM
This year I do not plan on even trying to work with the Chamber, that will keep it much simpler to organize.
I am busy with hunters until the end of January, then I will try to get it organized in late winter. That's an excellent time to hunt them.
Post by: Special T on November 20, 2009, 07:40:42 AM
Post by: NWBREW on November 20, 2009, 07:49:55 AM
Did see lots of road hunters driving back and forth on the PAVED COUNTY ROAD in front of my place >:( as well as two rigs driving in my gate...past the sign...and down my driveway thinking it looked like a good place to hunt. >:( >:( To bad the winterkill doesn't have an affect on the road hunters as it does on deer. :chuckle:
I also have a nieghbor over there who says he saw 2 wolves cut through his field back in oct. Do I beileve him...sure he knows what he's looking at. Is it true.. :dunno: I don't know if the wolves have penetrated up in there yet. Extreme northern stevens county.
Post by: croix on November 20, 2009, 08:33:34 AM
The coyotes were singing every night, but that's not unusual. I did see more coyote tracks than usual but didn't see any dogs like I normally do.
The possibility exists that we saw more deer this year simply because of timing and weather. Last year the deer seemed more nocturnal. This year they were nocturnal right up until the snow hit and cloud cover hung on through the night. It coincided with the rut hitting its stride and WHAM - deer everywhere.
We still aren't seeing the numbers that we saw 4-5 years ago, but we did see deer. I was only there 9 days and the group in general was there for just the late modern season, so we really only got a snapshot of the actual population up there. I would absolutely defer to the guys that spend more time there (esp. bearpaw), but wanted to share our "less than bleak" experience.
Post by: bearpaw on November 20, 2009, 08:47:14 AM
If we could reduce coyote numbers that would help and if we don't get too many wolves that will help. There are wolves here, not high numbers, but there are a few here in most GMU's. Adults with pups have been seen this summer by several different people in 105, WDFW has confirmed the pack in 113, wolves have also been seen by many different people in 121 and 117, and 111. As of yet wolves are not a serious problem here, but I am afraid over time we will end up like the Methow, or worse yet, like Idaho.
Post by: Palmer on November 21, 2009, 12:45:18 PM
The possibility exists that we saw more deer this year simply because of timing and weather. Last year the deer seemed more nocturnal. This year they were nocturnal right up until the snow hit and cloud cover hung on through the night. It coincided with the rut hitting its stride and WHAM - deer everywhere.
I'm agreeing with you, We saw sess then 10 deer until the snow hit on the 12th. Then whamo!, the deer were out everyday.
Post by: chukarchaser on November 21, 2009, 04:45:15 PM