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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: jackknife on November 04, 2017, 10:37:04 PM


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Title: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jackknife on November 04, 2017, 10:37:04 PM
A little worried. Hunted first four days and saw 10 bucks. (8 )2pts. (1) crab claw 4 x 4 and (1) 4 x 2.  Headed home for some work.  Going back next weekend and staying to end. Hoping things are a little better when I return.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: MADMAX on November 05, 2017, 05:07:18 AM
keep at it
head north around 20 mile
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bear on November 05, 2017, 06:23:36 AM
It picks up later. Helped on this hunt a couple times. It's a blast
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 05, 2017, 07:22:41 AM
Hhhhmmmm
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: 7mmfan on November 05, 2017, 08:20:37 AM
 It'll begin to really pick up around the 10th. So don't worry, about the time you come back there will be fresh snow on the ground, more bucks around, and they'll  be starting to get pretty stupid at that point.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: 7mmfan on November 05, 2017, 08:21:18 AM
On a side note, glad to hear that you saw that many two points, it means good things for next year.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 05, 2017, 03:47:21 PM
Between units 218 and 224 I have helped in 11 of these hunts(none of my own because I don't put in for them) and am helping a fella this year in 224 and I helped a guy in 218 last year also. We are seeing about the same thing, not much, but as I and a few others said before the season, its bad in the Methow and will be for 3-8 years IMO. Ok, so during the general we seen a lot of cats, cat sign and cached cougar kills between Tiffany and 20 mile (just fyi), a guy killed a collared cat somewhere in the Boulder creek turf and a partner seen 2 cats in that turf also(once again fyi). The weather has been going on over there for 3 weeks(we were in a foot of snow in 218 for a few days during the regular season) so deer were starting to stage but the migration wasn't in full swing yet. Still numbers in a few of the staging areas we hit were horrible compared to other years, even with the weather. Not trying to be negative here but just telling it as a lot of us have seen it. If you are familiar with the unit hit the staging areas, routes etc. If you are not familiar then keep hitting those spots that your seeing deer so far, it will be a matter of time before something comes through that will get your heart pumping. It just may take a little more time and patience for the next few years, hang in there. :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 05, 2017, 06:06:20 PM
On a side note, glad to hear that you saw that many two points, it means good things for next year.

Not good if thats all thats doing the breeding. Hopefully a few of them have some "big boy" genes in them, ...just saying.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: timberfaller on November 05, 2017, 06:24:36 PM
Well just got back from a weekend in Mazama.  Whitetail are taking over from the looks of things.  One nice muley south of Twisp and a real nice 4x4 in brother-in-laws yard this morning :tup:   Biggest body deer seen were two whitetail does :yike:

Seen more Whitetail then muley's BUT that is usually what happens when your not hunting! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Ridgerunner50 on November 06, 2017, 08:21:49 PM
I am heading over to my place on Cub Creek Thursday night and will check out a couple of spots. If I see anything noteworthy I will let you know.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: buglebuster on November 06, 2017, 09:09:55 PM
On a side note, glad to hear that you saw that many two points, it means good things for next year.

Not good if thats all thats doing the breeding. Hopefully a few of them have some "big boy" genes in them, ...just saying.
I get tired of hearing that. Everyone is always saying we have a terrible 2pt gene in this state when in fact that's not the case. Id bet 90% of those deer are just young. To many people hunting them and every legal 3pt gets killed. If we'd let these deer get some age on them you'd realize those 2pts just need a few more years.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: mtn muley madness on November 06, 2017, 09:30:46 PM
On the 2pt note....Unless it is already a mature buck, which verrrrrrrrrry few Muley bucks are mature 2pts.....any one of those 2pt bucks could have the genes of a trophy. They might all be 4 pts next year. Every 200" buck was a spike once... I personally like see 2pts and hope to see a bunch where I hunt during the regular season because that tells me the future is bright!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: ELKBURGER on November 07, 2017, 05:10:41 AM
On the 2pt note....Unless it is already a mature buck, which verrrrrrrrrry few Muley bucks are mature 2pts.....any one of those 2pt bucks could have the genes of a trophy. They might all be 4 pts next year. Every 200" buck was a spike once... I personally like see 2pts and hope to see a bunch where I hunt during the regular season because that tells me the future is bright!
:yeah: :yeah:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: h2ofowlr on November 07, 2017, 06:56:44 AM
I have this tag as well.  Just haven't had time with work to make it over yet.  Now they scheduled me for a meeting down in Portland the Nov. 12-14.  Making it difficult to say the least.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: SkookumHntr on November 07, 2017, 08:04:48 AM
Its gonna start getting good from now on to the end I would imagine! Have fun!!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 07, 2017, 09:53:26 AM
On a side note, glad to hear that you saw that many two points, it means good things for next year.

Not good if thats all thats doing the breeding. Hopefully a few of them have some "big boy" genes in them, ...just saying.
I get tired of hearing that. Everyone is always saying we have a terrible 2pt gene in this state when in fact that's not the case. Id bet 90% of those deer are just young. To many people hunting them and every legal 3pt gets killed. If we'd let these deer get some age on them you'd realize those 2pts just need a few more years.

Total agree with you buglebuster, thats why I clarified my statement with "hopefully a few have some big boy genes", we seen quite a few big mature 2 points in the Methow this year on some of our higher elevation scouting trips(august-sept), some were in the 24-26 inch range, seems each year more and more have been being seen. I know our family usually comes across a carcass or two every year that was "someones mistake". Talked to a F and W guy who said it happens all the time over there, they hear"I could have swore I seen three points, how could a 2 point be that big".....once again, just saying :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Alchase on November 07, 2017, 10:09:10 AM
Upper Cub Creek was notorious for very tall two points.
It is not hard tell an immature two point from a buck that is three years or older and will never grow another fork. We saw a couple roman nose two points up there as well over the years.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 07, 2017, 10:30:10 AM
Upper Cub Creek was notorious for very tall two points.
It is not hard tell an immature two point from a buck that is three years or older and will never grow another fork. We saw a couple roman nose two points up there as well over the years.

Your absolutely right Alchase,  I have a pictures of a few two points close to what your describing, heck I shot a nice 5 by 4 three years ago that with the guts out weighed 248, it was traveling with 7 does and 3 other bucks, 2 of the other bucks were 2 points and both were bigger bodied deer than the one I shot and both had probably around 24 to 26 inch spreads!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 07, 2017, 10:33:55 AM
Anyways, good luck to you guys with these tags :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jackknife on November 07, 2017, 05:27:38 PM
All the two pts. We're all young deer.  Few of them even had their own  heriom of does.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Ridgerunner50 on November 08, 2017, 06:35:05 AM
I scouted up on Sweetgrass this year when they reopened the road and the only deer I saw was a big mature 2pt. Spent 3 days hunting Blues up there and crossed it off the list for deer hunting due to the lack of sign. Didn't see much for deer sign till Cub Pass. Last year on Thanksgiving day I hiked up 1st creek to the top of the ridge on the road and there were 2 really nice Bucks up there so keep that in mind as it gets later in the season.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jackknife on November 08, 2017, 06:49:52 AM
I drove up sweet grass last week. Saw one deer track in the snow and a bunch of wolf tracks.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: JohnVH on November 08, 2017, 07:57:18 AM
I drove up sweet grass last week. Saw one deer track in the snow and a bunch of wolf tracks.

Yep, couple years ago we saw a wolf up there, not good.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 08, 2017, 07:25:41 PM
Wolves are starting to take ahold up Cub, a partner of mine seen 2 huge cats up around sweetgrass 3 years ago. This year, a whole bunch of wolf tracks. A real shame :'(
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: no.cen.wa on November 08, 2017, 08:00:09 PM
I was talking to a hunter today that hunted Beaver Creek area, He and his buddy saw many wolf tracks, some newly scattered deer carcasses also. He talked to a "gamie" that told him the winter kill was 60%. The hunter said that was interesting as the winter was not that bad, the "gamie " said they count wolf and cougar kills as winter kills,,, I guess no matter what time of year it is, they will call it "winter kill"?
How bout that!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jackelope on November 08, 2017, 08:02:27 PM
Was the “gamie” a game warden or a biologist?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: no.cen.wa on November 09, 2017, 09:01:03 AM
Biologist
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 09, 2017, 12:21:12 PM
I was talking to a hunter today that hunted Beaver Creek area, He and his buddy saw many wolf tracks, some newly scattered deer carcasses also. He talked to a "gamie" that told him the winter kill was 60%. The hunter said that was interesting as the winter was not that bad, the "gamie " said they count wolf and cougar kills as winter kills,,, I guess no matter what time of year it is, they will call it "winter kill"?
How bout that!

I too had heard something along the same lines when going through the check station, that explains the large amount of "winter kill" that we came across this year in 218 and 224, around 20 total and Mother Nature apparently likes to cover/bury its "winter kill", winter must have lasted into July and August because a lot of the "winter kill" still had a lot of hair on them and one little 2 point she had covered up was still in the velvet. :bash: :bash:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Ridgerunner50 on November 11, 2017, 10:14:45 AM
Took a drive up Gunn Ranch Rd this morning, didn't see any deer at all. Did see a 3x4 crossing the West Chewuch by the power co.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bear on November 12, 2017, 07:14:53 PM
Took a drive up Gunn Ranch Rd this morning, didn't see any deer at all. Did see a 3x4 crossing the West Chewuch by the power co.

That's not good at all!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 12, 2017, 07:29:46 PM
Took a drive up Gunn Ranch Rd this morning, didn't see any deer at all. Did see a 3x4 crossing the West Chewuch by the power co.

Absolutely not good, a lot of deer used to hang around there(at least the lower part) ,not good that is all you seen.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: boneaddict on November 12, 2017, 08:14:34 PM
So far not a single calendar shot from there this year
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Cushman1 on November 13, 2017, 09:12:59 AM
New to this site and somewhat new to the Chewuch unit. I have the late permit and have not been seeing many deer at all. I see about 11 does a day on average and a few smaller bucks. I came over on opening weekend of the general season to get a feel for the unit as to where everyone was hunting. I'll be honest I have driving around more than beating the brush on foot. The light snow has hardly shown any deer tracks at all crossing the roads. The tracks I have been seeing are mainly coyote tracks and cougar tracks.
Is it lack of snow, not cold enough, to much winter kill and predators or being in the wrong spot. I have been up Cub creek, Rendezvous, Boulder Creek and etc.
Rigderunner50 said he went the Gunn Ranch Rd and saw nothing the same as me.
I need help in finding a good spot in where they are normally at in the late season. Thanks
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 13, 2017, 11:50:00 AM
All those spots your hitting are all good areas, with the weather thats been going on over the last 3 weeks you should be seeing hundreds of tracks crossing those roads you are on. Unfortunately all the cat and yote tracks you are seeing(not to mention wolves that are taking hold) have been one of the issues with this herd over the last 5 years especially, not the only issue, but a big one I,m afraid. You are in some good areas, areas that under the same conditions and time of year(that in the past) would be showing you 70-80 plus deer a day, a few legal size bucks, lots of small bucks and even a big boy or two. Like I told another fella, stick with it, hunt hard, they arnt all gone yet.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Cushman1 on November 13, 2017, 01:38:05 PM
Thanks bigmacc for the inspiration for sticking with it! I guess I was expecting to see more deer than I have seen. I have talked to three other hunters in the field in the last week with the same problem. They say they have seen more deer driving around than in the field on foot. They say there honey holes during the regular season have little to no track.
It seems all the deer tracks I have seen are associated with coyote prints also.
I drove up the 51 road last Wednesday up to Andrews Creek in virgin snow and not one deer track all the way up. Alongside the road for the last half mile was 3 sets of very large dog prints. I have never seen coyote prints that big ever before and they were fresh and must have been wolves.
One hunter I talked to said that he had seen a small cougar (kitten) laying in the bushes on a side road off of boulder creek. He not only seen it once but twice within 4 days in between. He said it was a cougar and not a bobcat. Either its mother was killed there and taken from that area or mother feeding nearby. ?
Bigmacc, I'm not to familiar with the boulder creek area, is there any good areas up there like the 900, 800 or 700 roads or further up the road? Some cattle were coming down the road and not one deer track was seen on Friday.
I'm going to hit hard the last five days of the season.
Thanks again!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: SkookumHntr on November 13, 2017, 02:03:06 PM
Keep covering ground!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: wamuledeer on November 13, 2017, 02:12:16 PM
sent you pm
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: wamuledeer on November 13, 2017, 02:26:08 PM
I also just read this from Scott Fitkin about the Methow deer hunting. He is clueless.

People with permits for the late season hunt, which runs Nov. 1 – 20, may benefit from the apparently lower general season success rate, and from the early season mountain snow that will bring deer down to their winter range, Fitkin said.

“The fact that the general season was kind of slow, and with heavy snow in the high country, the prospect for late season permit holders are going to be good. They will see some nice bucks on the winter range, ” he said.

http://methowvalleynews.com/2017/11/10/preliminary-surveys-show-deer-hunt-numbers-falling-short-of-2016-harvest/
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Cushman1 on November 13, 2017, 03:05:43 PM
Thanks wamuledeer! I don't know how higher than average mortality rate and poor hunter success rate translates to "the prospect for the late season permit holders are going to be good."
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 13, 2017, 03:31:29 PM
I also just read this from Scott Fitkin about the Methow deer hunting. He is clueless.

People with permits for the late season hunt, which runs Nov. 1 – 20, may benefit from the apparently lower general season success rate, and from the early season mountain snow that will bring deer down to their winter range, Fitkin said.

“The fact that the general season was kind of slow, and with heavy snow in the high country, the prospect for late season permit holders are going to be good. They will see some nice bucks on the winter range, ” he said.

http://methowvalleynews.com/2017/11/10/preliminary-surveys-show-deer-hunt-numbers-falling-short-of-2016-harvest/

And there-in lies the problem folks, or at least one of the heads of the multi headed snake. Along with a predator population that is out of control, a new predator that is taking a toll, fires, bad winters and throw in this from F and W along with them handing out doe tags and spreading mis information to sell tags is atrocious IMO. Anyone who has a history with this herd or in this valley knows the herd has been in a tailspin and numbers are not getting better, only worse. Some of us have said its going to take years, possibly decades and good sound management along with getting predator numbers in check to even have a chance for this herd to just increase enough to where at least its a shadow of what it once was. I will say it again, boy I miss the Washington Department Of Fish And GAME, when they were FISH and GAME these herds sure seemed like they were taken care of better......my  :twocents:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: no.cen.wa on November 13, 2017, 04:44:47 PM
I was in the"high country" Pasayten, Sinlahekin,northern Chewuch, guess all the deer where in Canada. We got skunked this year, saw a few at distance but very few. I think some will move down for sure but don't expect a land slide of them. Keep looking, it just has to get better.
The wolf problem is alot worse than the WDFW will let us know, people like Fitkin love the fact that they are there, for him the killing of game is the best thing that can happen, by the way, they don't call it predator kills, it's "winter kill". I read the writeup in the Methow Valley News and just shook my head, we tagged out in the high country in 2015 and missed the "no water thing"?
We heard wolves this year as well as last year but I don't see any listing for wolves where we hunt. The Loop Loop Pack is doing VERY well and don't believe they have any idea how many are in it, or just won't tell.
I'm telling you hunters, the wolf problem is tipping the scales on the Methow Mule Deer Herd, if the WDFW, and their bunny hugger wolf commission continues on it's present path there will be less mule deer till something changes.
Please, take the time to read about it, maybe we as a group can turn it the other way!
Take the time.
John G.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jackknife on November 13, 2017, 06:24:24 PM
Update: came back on Sunday morning saw 2 bucks and a good amount of sign. Monday seen 3 bucks no shooters and around 30 does. Hopefully a big boy shows him self.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Wingin it on November 13, 2017, 06:28:30 PM
I also just read this from Scott Fitkin about the Methow deer hunting. He is clueless.

People with permits for the late season hunt, which runs Nov. 1 – 20, may benefit from the apparently lower general season success rate, and from the early season mountain snow that will bring deer down to their winter range, Fitkin said.

“The fact that the general season was kind of slow, and with heavy snow in the high country, the prospect for late season permit holders are going to be good. They will see some nice bucks on the winter range, ” he said.

http://methowvalleynews.com/2017/11/10/preliminary-surveys-show-deer-hunt-numbers-falling-short-of-2016-harvest/

And there-in lies the problem folks, or at least one of the heads of the multi headed snake. Along with a predator population that is out of control, a new predator that is taking a toll, fires, bad winters and throw in this from F and W along with them handing out doe tags and spreading mis information to sell tags is atrocious IMO. Anyone who has a history with this herd or in this valley knows the herd has been in a tailspin and numbers are not getting better, only worse. Some of us have said its going to take years, possibly decades and good sound management along with getting predator numbers in check to even have a chance for this herd to just increase enough to where at least its a shadow of what it once was. I will say it again, boy I miss the Washington Department Of Fish And GAME, when they were FISH and GAME these herds sure seemed like they were taken care of better......my  :twocents:

This is spot on  :yeah:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Cushman1 on November 13, 2017, 06:40:57 PM
Wamuledeer, Replied to your PM with PM
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Cushman1 on November 13, 2017, 06:45:32 PM
Glad to read that things are picking up Jackknife. Is the snow going away? It was in the high forties in Winthrop I saw today. I'll be back tomorrow.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: spin05 on November 14, 2017, 03:23:39 AM
Keep at it. A *censored* ton of snow is coming this week
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: long-shot on November 14, 2017, 12:03:03 PM
any of u guys run across any cow tracks  up there ley me know please im short a couple of bulls from that area
as far as wolk tracks or sign we havnt seen any thing up in that part of the counrty  not saying that they dont wonder through every once in a while  but we havnt see them  as for the deer we rode started garthing before season started and we would ride all day from sweetgrass to 8 mile or to groatcreek and if u were lucky u might see a deer  i never saw a legel buck this year all the miles i put in
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 14, 2017, 01:10:02 PM
That's really encouraging
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 14, 2017, 01:19:38 PM
any of u guys run across any cow tracks  up there ley me know please im short a couple of bulls from that area
as far as wolk tracks or sign we havnt seen any thing up in that part of the counrty  not saying that they dont wonder through every once in a while  but we havnt see them  as for the deer we rode started garthing before season started and we would ride all day from sweetgrass to 8 mile or to groatcreek and if u were lucky u might see a deer  i never saw a legel buck this year all the miles i put in

Any more doubters about how bad of shape the Methow herd is in? That question is a sarcastic one, pointed directly at the Fish and WILDLIFE dept...The area long-shot is talking about used to hold tons of deer(summer, spring, fall and winter) and during November would hold some big boys that a lot of people only seen in magazines or in their dreams, true story :bash: :bash:.....long-shot, hope your bulls turn up safe and sound  :tup: and you guys with tags, hunt hard and good luck :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: woodswalker on November 15, 2017, 01:50:44 PM
YEAH, that didn't go so well this year...All I saw were grey-muzzled heavy 2 pointers and young spikes...doesn't give me any hope for a once Highly productive unit.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: boneaddict on November 15, 2017, 01:56:05 PM
“Oh but with the low general season harvest and early snows, the unit will be crawling with big bucks for the permit guys”  Snarky smiley face here!
Just blows me away.
I guess when the wolves have eatin all the deer your cows are next on the menu.  I wonder when they will turn to two legged meals.   Washington For Wolves Dept. has done a fine job
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 15, 2017, 04:31:41 PM
“Oh but with the low general season harvest and early snows, the unit will be crawling with big bucks for the permit guys”  Snarky smiley face here!
Just blows me away.
I guess when the wolves have eatin all the deer your cows are next on the menu.  I wonder when they will turn to two legged meals.   Washington For Wolves Dept. has done a fine job

I could not agree more bone, as we both have said, a real shame :'(
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: long-shot on November 15, 2017, 05:01:52 PM
has anybody been out on the end of lamb butte above the river thats a great spot for an big old buck to cross or buck lake and the horse pasture a good spot,  the head of 2 second creek out on the ridge tops
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: h2ofowlr on November 15, 2017, 06:44:07 PM
We saw a bunch of decent buck starting the 9th.  It seemed the does started getting hot.  I ended up shooting my buck the evening of the 9th.  I spoke with a few guys that saw 12 bucks, but were still holding out for a high country one.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jrebel on November 15, 2017, 06:47:52 PM
Bucks are still rutting hard.  I was in a unit south of the Chewuck and saw 100 or more deer today with upwards of 20 bucks....a few decent but no huge. 
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 15, 2017, 07:09:30 PM
Bucks are still rutting hard.  I was in a unit south of the Chewuck and saw 100 or more deer today with upwards of 20 bucks....a few decent but no huge.

How far south, Utah :dunno: :chuckle:...100 deer in the Methow, in one day!(in this day and time) good for you :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jrebel on November 15, 2017, 07:10:47 PM
Not the methow.....south.   :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: bigmacc on November 15, 2017, 07:11:23 PM
Not the methow.....south.   :tup:

 :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: wolfbait on November 16, 2017, 04:29:12 AM
“Oh but with the low general season harvest and early snows, the unit will be crawling with big bucks for the permit guys”  Snarky smiley face here!
Just blows me away.
I guess when the wolves have eatin all the deer your cows are next on the menu.  I wonder when they will turn to two legged meals.   Washington For Wolves Dept. has done a fine job

Driving around the Valley, where we use to see 150+ deer in the fields, now most are empty. We did see three head in Stokes field yesterday and felt fortunate.  A few years ago when we were complaining about the lack of deer and multiple wolves, a good size herd equaled 10 head, now that's unheard of most of the time.

I talk to a friend of mine who was up high this week, he said there isn't much and what little sign they did see was scattered. They did see plenty of wolf sign. This was on the Okanogan side.

 When the wolves start killing off the town deer, I would imagine the environment side of the Methow will get a fresh look at the pleasures of having wolves in their backyard, and as you mentioned Bone, cows, dogs etc. will be on the menu soon. Can't wait to hear fitkins letter to the editor.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: timberfaller on November 16, 2017, 07:01:31 AM
The demise of the Methow Valley herd's didn't just start to happen with the wolf re-introduction, the "winter kills" or the cat population increase.

I remember when the "doe hunts"(late 70's) were introduced and knew then it would be the end of the Herd's.  It was another one of their "3 year plans" then it turned into 6 years and to this day Continues! :yike:

Wolfbait, you and I know and remember those "Herds"!  You could count a hundred head just in one field on the Big Valley Ranch every evening.  You could take a drive through the Gun Ranch when logging kept the road open and count hundreds just across from the house sunning themselves!!! Then there "was" the mid-nite migrations up in the Black Pine basin into Goat creek that were a site to see if you were lucky enough to be there when it took place.  Sad to see the "glory days" gone! 

Gone are the days when falling timber in the fall and having to chase the deer outa your strip after lunch break!!  But that's another government story!! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

What really turned things BAD for wildlife is when they combined the agency's! Fish people took over :bash: I remember as a Hunter Ed instructor having to battle them! :bash:  ITS past time to split the agency up!!  BUT we all know YOU can't fight the "intelligence" of Olympia!!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: wolfbait on November 16, 2017, 08:14:59 AM
The demise of the Methow Valley herd's didn't just start to happen with the wolf re-introduction, the "winter kills" or the cat population increase.

I remember when the "doe hunts"(late 70's) were introduced and knew then it would be the end of the Herd's.  It was another one of their "3 year plans" then it turned into 6 years and to this day Continues! :yike:

Wolfbait, you and I know and remember those "Herds"!  You could count a hundred head just in one field on the Big Valley Ranch every evening.  You could take a drive through the Gun Ranch when logging kept the road open and count hundreds just across from the house sunning themselves!!! Then there "was" the mid-nite migrations up in the Black Pine basin into Goat creek that were a site to see if you were lucky enough to be there when it took place.  Sad to see the "glory days" gone! 

Gone are the days when falling timber in the fall and having to chase the deer outa your strip after lunch break!!  But that's another government story!! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

What really turned things BAD for wildlife is when they combined the agency's! Fish people took over :bash: I remember as a Hunter Ed instructor having to battle them! :bash:  ITS past time to split the agency up!!  BUT we all know YOU can't fight the "intelligence" of Olympia!!

Yep, it's a sad ending, to something that was purely beautiful, I guess they call it progress?
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: thurman on November 16, 2017, 07:43:45 PM
Anyone still hunting over there? Hunted last week the 4th-11th didn't see much, passed on some small bucks headed back to hunt Saturday and Sunday to try to get my dad a deer.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: wolfbait on November 17, 2017, 09:39:25 PM
“Oh but with the low general season harvest and early snows, the unit will be crawling with big bucks for the permit guys”  Snarky smiley face here!
Just blows me away.
I guess when the wolves have eatin all the deer your cows are next on the menu.  I wonder when they will turn to two legged meals.   Washington For Wolves Dept. has done a fine job

Driving around the Valley, where we use to see 150+ deer in the fields, now most are empty. We did see three head in Stokes field yesterday and felt fortunate.  A few years ago when we were complaining about the lack of deer and multiple wolves, a good size herd equaled 10 head, now that's unheard of most of the time.

I talk to a friend of mine who was up high this week, he said there isn't much and what little sign they did see was scattered. They did see plenty of wolf sign. This was on the Okanogan side.

 When the wolves start killing off the town deer, I would imagine the environment side of the Methow will get a fresh look at the pleasures of having wolves in their backyard, and as you mentioned Bone, cows, dogs etc. will be on the menu soon. Can't wait to hear fitkins letter to the editor.


http://www.methowvalley.com/bb/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=62849
Title: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jackknife on November 19, 2017, 03:31:52 PM
Filled tag.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171120/b07035cc42c7fcf10f24394a56720d57.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171120/efd9d006d4ca0dca92d81e2df85e5d64.jpg)
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: jackelope on November 19, 2017, 05:29:04 PM
Congrats man! Way to stick with it. You got a really nice buck.


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Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Katmai Guy on November 19, 2017, 06:14:06 PM
Good lookin buck, congratulations.  Tough year over there, many going to be having tag soup.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: muleyslayer on November 19, 2017, 06:22:54 PM
Congratulations great looking buck
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Ridgerunner50 on November 19, 2017, 06:37:45 PM
Great looking Buck!  Congrats
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: h2ofowlr on November 19, 2017, 06:48:33 PM
Congrats.  Looks like you tagged out between business meetings.   :chuckle:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 19, 2017, 06:54:16 PM
Nice Buck. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: X-Force on November 19, 2017, 07:03:40 PM
Congrats. Good looking buck
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 19, 2017, 07:53:53 PM
Good looking buck way to hold out


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Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: SkookumHntr on November 20, 2017, 12:09:16 PM
Nice Buck!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: wsmnut on November 20, 2017, 01:01:31 PM
Nice!
Love the dark coloring of his antlers.
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: C-Money on November 20, 2017, 04:59:24 PM
Congrats on your buck!! :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: MADMAX on November 22, 2017, 11:00:25 AM
Nice buck
Good job
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: GOING2HUNT on November 22, 2017, 12:10:24 PM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: full choke on November 22, 2017, 12:21:04 PM
Right on! :tup:
Love the horn color!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: 724wd on November 22, 2017, 12:46:47 PM
Pretty buck!  love the dark antlers!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: GoldenRing270 on November 22, 2017, 01:47:30 PM
+1 awesome antler color!
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: Brushbuster on November 22, 2017, 02:07:00 PM
x2 on the choc antlers!! Cool time to be in the woods!  :tup:
Title: Re: Chewuch quality tag
Post by: steen on November 22, 2017, 06:50:21 PM
Very nice buck! Congratulations!
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