Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 09:31:25 AM

Title: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 09:31:25 AM: I just can't decide where to consentrate my efforts this year and deer species will help. Will I see more Mule deer or Whitetails in

1. Curlew area
2. Methow valley
3. Colville area and east of there
4. Pend Oreille county, GMU 113

I'm sure they both live in these areas but, what is the percentages in each? Anywhere I can go to find this info on my own?

Thanks a bunch again guys.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: Sneaky on April 21, 2010, 09:51:40 AM: curlew is around 50/50

methow probably 65/35 muleys to whitetails atleast last time I hunted it

Colville 5/95 muleys to whitetails

Selkirk 10/90 muleys to whitetails

This has been my experience, anyway.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 10:01:22 AM: Thanks man. You have been such a help the last week or so.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: Sneaky on April 21, 2010, 10:08:10 AM: I want your kid to whack one ;) Remember to take good pictures and post em up.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 10:10:11 AM: I sure will. I was really looking hard at GMU 101. There looks like a lot of spots up there I want to check out. I really am leaning more towards whitetail country though, since the boy has that doe season from oct 21-24.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: boneaddict on April 21, 2010, 10:12:04 AM: I think Sneakys numbers are accurate. Few more Muleys in the Selkirk and maybe in Colville if you know where to target them, but overall, pretty good guess.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: boneaddict on April 21, 2010, 10:13:42 AM: Two more things to consider....amount of private land versus public land also in each, and the type of terrain and or cover. Climate may or may not be a factor(third thing).
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 10:28:40 AM: I'm waiting for Wayne1 to get back to me about his private property near Colville. Other than that, I'm looking exclusively on national forest land and a small amount of DNR land.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: boneaddict on April 21, 2010, 10:43:02 AM: PO is nasty thick and that time of year can be miserable wet. Colville is better with some lower level pine stuff. Be sure to check for timber company land. It might be listed on your map as private but you can access most of it.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: boneaddict on April 21, 2010, 10:45:42 AM: Whitetails are different critters than Muledeer. Even with more crowded hunting conditions, a monster can live in a patch the size of the average backyard. THey don't blow out like a muledeer will to the next drainage. Throw in the rut and all sorts of stuff can happen. Its fun for new hunters as they can see a bunch, getting a shot is a different deal. Hunting PO can be very frustrating as you might not see anything. It is nasty thick....have I said that. :)
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: TeacherMan on April 21, 2010, 11:17:43 AM: I would say this year in the Curlew area its seemed more 60/40 with the mule deer actually on top. I've been out a lot and I'm just not seeing the whitetail. Head down the valley toward Republic and even Malo and you find more Whitetail but the whitetail numbers around Curlew to the Canadian boarder are down. Just my opinion.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 11:20:47 AM: Thank you for the tips. We are hunting general season so, the rut is out for us this year. I will be taking an 8 year old so, I don't want to have to deal with "thick nasty stuff" if I don't have to. I like the way Google looks in GMU 101 but, I would like to find more whitetails since my 8 year old can shoot a doe oct 21-24. We can try for a buck oct 16-20 and, if nothing, we can get him a doe the next 3 days, if we see them. I'm conflicted.

I'll start looking at the lower elevations of public land around Colville. I just don't want to see hunter orange in every direction, something I've heard happens on public land around Colville.

Anything else would be super helpful.

Thank you so much. This site is the best!!! :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 11:22:55 AM: Quote from: TeacherMan on April 21, 2010, 11:17:43 AM
I would say this year in the Curlew area its seemed more 60/40 with the mule deer actually on top. I've been out a lot and I'm just not seeing the whitetail. Head down the valley toward Republic and even Malo and you find more Whitetail but the whitetail numbers around Curlew to the Canadian boarder are down. Just my opinion.

Below 2500 ft for whitetail you'd guess? Still trying to wrangle this aspect of hunting. Where I've hunted in the past has been plains where the elevation doesn't change but 100ft up or down over the course of miles. This place is 2000ft to 6000ft. and everything in between.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: bearpaw on April 21, 2010, 11:30:39 AM: Check WDFW, the numbers tell the story, 121 Huckleberry and 124 Mt Spokane have the most deer in the state, even with our deer numbers down, these units are probably still the best in the state. Wayne has a great opportunity for you to take advantage of, but if it falls through for some reason, let me know, I will help you out to make sure your boy gets a deer. :twocents:

Kids are our future....
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 11:39:04 AM: Quote from: bearpaw on April 21, 2010, 11:30:39 AM
Check WDFW, the numbers tell the story, 121 Huckleberry and 124 Mt Spokane have the most deer in the state, even with our deer numbers down, these units are probably still the best in the state. Wayne has a great opportunity for you to take advantage of, but if it falls through for some reason, let me know, I will help you out to make sure your boy gets a deer. :twocents:

Kids are our future....

Wayne made the offer and I've PM'd him and would be willing to trade what I could for the opportunity. I just don't think he's been online to work out the details with me yet. I would LOVE to take him up on the opportunity he's offering.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: elkaholic on April 21, 2010, 11:40:01 AM: I echo what Bearpaw saids.... I can also help with a whitey DOe for a youngster. Let me know when the season gets closer.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 11:44:05 AM: Thanks a lot you guys. He's really set his heart on his first deer being a buck but, I know if he doesn't see one, he'll take what he can. He wants to impress his brothers with a rack. Who wouldn't?

He's a smart boy. Enough so that he knows there are more does than bucks and that harvesting a doe wouldn't be bad for the population. He loves deer burgers too so, as long as we get some meat, I'm sure he'll be happy.

Again, I can't thank you guys enough for all of the offers of help. Now, can you guys help me fill my tag too? :P
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: boneaddict on April 21, 2010, 11:46:17 AM: Hunter orange doesn't start until November........meaning "most of the locals don't even think about hunting until the later season. Very low pressure during that time frame versus the late hunt. Most are in other places of the state. Very little westside pressure east of Curlew/ Republic.

As I know has been told to you, getting a young lad on a doe with private access is pretty easy.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: dlaw on April 21, 2010, 12:05:32 PM: I was just curious why he wouldn't be looking at Sherman Unit?
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 12:21:24 PM: I am looking at Sherman. I am looking everywhere. Going scouting in July.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: MtnMuley on April 21, 2010, 12:30:27 PM: I wouldn't recommend the Sherman Unit. From the scouting that I've seen there, the deer are on the downhill. Personally, I'd spend the time elsewhere. :twocents:
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: TeacherMan on April 21, 2010, 08:27:17 PM: Quote from: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 11:22:55 AM
Quote from: TeacherMan on April 21, 2010, 11:17:43 AM
I would say this year in the Curlew area its seemed more 60/40 with the mule deer actually on top. I've been out a lot and I'm just not seeing the whitetail. Head down the valley toward Republic and even Malo and you find more Whitetail but the whitetail numbers around Curlew to the Canadian boarder are down. Just my opinion.

Below 2500 ft for whitetail you'd guess? Still trying to wrangle this aspect of hunting. Where I've hunted in the past has been plains where the elevation doesn't change but 100ft up or down over the course of miles. This place is 2000ft to 6000ft. and everything in between.

I live at 1800' and it is all whitetail, but a mile down river from me (I live 4 miles north of Curlew) its mostly mule deer. I find the whitetail all the way to the top of boulder pass at 4600' The whitetail in my area that are down below 2,000' tend to be on private land, the large open blocks of land that you see on Google Earth tend to be better for Mule deer. Example the face area of Vulcan Mt. outside Curlew, you can glass over a mile and see deer all over the place but they are mule deer. Whitetail tend to be more abundant on the south side of the Kettle River when you are driving toward Job Corp. Or to the East of Danville when you are driving toward Canada outside Curlew. I'll say it again to, lots of private land in the valleys, but good hunting is still available, you just need to do your homework.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: TeacherMan on April 21, 2010, 08:32:31 PM: If you come out this way in July PM me and we can meet up and I will put you in some area that is public that he has a chance at a nice buck and would have no issue getting a doe. Just make sure he can shoot 200 yards with a rest and he will be good, that being said I get my deer whith a bow under 50 yards every year :chuckle: . Do you have a quad???
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 08:59:42 PM: No quad. 2x4 F150 only.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: TeacherMan on April 21, 2010, 09:26:48 PM: Quote from: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 08:59:42 PM
No quad. 2x4 F150 only.

We can work with that, I use my Subaru outback all the time, good gas millage. Just let me know when you are in the area and I will put you in the some drainages that hold lots of good deer.
Title: Re: Mule deer or white tail around Curlew, methow, Colville, and Pend Oreille
Post by: DoubleJ on April 21, 2010, 09:45:08 PM: Be there July 2-6 scouting spots. I have about 8 spots to look at so far. I need to thin that out to about 4 if I can. Thank you for the offer to guide us. I will let you know closer to the time we're going to be there.