Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Ridgerunner on September 21, 2021, 06:05:00 PM

Title: Where are the bucks
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 21, 2021, 06:05:00 PM: Either the forum has declined in popularity, people are posting less pics, or the deer hunting has been slower than normal this year. Let's hear from the guys that have been in the field and what you are seeing(or not seeing).
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: NOCK NOCK on September 21, 2021, 06:22:56 PM: Just got back from a 3 1/2 day archery hunt(only had 4 days to get it done this year so shot a 2x3, saw lots of weekenders, saw 12 legal bucks....they are out there.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: predatorG on September 21, 2021, 07:23:05 PM: Noticed the same thing. Seems super super slow for the end of Sept. Normally people have got some nice bucks that they’ve been watching all summer by now. I would understand some slow mulie hunting after fire season but I’m not even seeing many Blackies or white tails.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: bigdub257 on September 21, 2021, 08:28:22 PM: Quote from: NOCK NOCK on September 21, 2021, 06:22:56 PM
Just got back from a 3 1/2 day archery hunt(only had 4 days to get it done this year so shot a 2x3, saw lots of weekenders, saw 12 legal bucks....they are out there.

Curious if this was public land or private? Congrats either way!
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: npaull on September 21, 2021, 08:50:57 PM: Bucks generally don’t exist in September. They are born and grow up entirely after archery season.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: 257wbymagkiller on September 22, 2021, 05:18:04 AM: Quote from: npaull on September 21, 2021, 08:50:57 PM
Bucks generally don’t exist in September. They are born and grow up entirely after archery season.

Seems to be true for the wet side. My cams are non existent of bucks
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: HUNT JR on September 22, 2021, 06:01:43 AM: I’ve been out 5ish days already and the only thing I’ve noticed so far is that I suck :bash:. I’ve had my chances, but for some reason or another they haven’t come together yet.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: boneaddict on September 22, 2021, 08:24:19 AM: All the above.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: OutHouse on September 22, 2021, 08:32:55 AM: I've hunted five days. Have seen tons of mule does but no mule bucks, well a spike. Have seen a few whitetail bucks but no shot opportunity. I agree its slow and normally would have had a shot opp by now.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: dvolmer on September 22, 2021, 08:35:33 AM: Get used to it Washington State. It just going to get worse.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: baldopepper on September 22, 2021, 08:36:56 AM: I think the anti's are sneaking around with saws and cutting off the antlers making all the 3 and 4 points into two points. 7 bucks in the yard yesterday, 1 small 4 point and six 2 points. Lots of does and fawns with several sets of twins which is nice to see.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: kselkhunter on September 22, 2021, 08:46:05 AM: "Neener neener neener, you can't get us."

So many bucks, and deer in general in the neighborhood this year. Lots of twin fawns, which is good for the herds.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: 7mmfan on September 22, 2021, 09:24:43 AM: I spent a day east of the mountains this last weekend. Covered about 10 miles off the road and saw about 30 deer, half a dozen bucks, 5 of them legal. The amount of sign I saw was impressive. Covered a lot of ground in the truck and saw a handful of deer, all does, but all those does had fawns. They're out there.
Title: Where are the bucks
Post by: eliandsky on September 22, 2021, 09:28:30 AM: On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter

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Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: BIGDOG253 on September 22, 2021, 09:40:33 AM: I hunted whitetail for 6 days and had 4 days of not seeing anything. I busted a bedded buck on my way into my spot but other than that, no other bucks came by. We had a ton of action of the cameras all summer and they were on camera multiple times a day up until 8/30. Not sure what happened but they seemed to have disappeared for a while. I only had a few does and fawns come in.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: OPtrah on September 22, 2021, 10:11:44 AM: My hunting partners buck. Olympic Mountains High Buck opening day 138 yards.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Platensek-po on September 22, 2021, 10:17:40 AM: Quote from: OPtrah on September 22, 2021, 10:11:44 AM
My hunting partners buck. Olympic Mountains High Buck opening day 138 yards.

Awesome velvet blackie! Love it!
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: NOCK NOCK on September 22, 2021, 06:26:46 PM: Quote from: eliandsky on September 22, 2021, 09:28:30 AM
On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter

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That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: hunter399 on September 22, 2021, 06:33:03 PM: Quote from: NOCK NOCK on September 22, 2021, 06:26:46 PM
Quote from: eliandsky on September 22, 2021, 09:28:30 AM
On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.
But WDFW says .....
We have perfect buck to Doe ratio,Deer population are stable and just perfect and peachy.
Maybe that's just WDFW checkbook talking.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Jpmiller on September 22, 2021, 06:34:25 PM: I've actually been into more bucks this year than I can ever remember. Trying to seal the deal with my 6 year old with me has upped the difficulty level a bit though. Best hunting problem I've ever had though. He's having a great time so far.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Twispriver on September 22, 2021, 06:59:34 PM: OPtrah that is an awesome picture :tup:
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Watimberghost on September 22, 2021, 07:13:25 PM: Quote from: Twispriver on September 22, 2021, 06:59:34 PM
OPtrah that is an awesome picture :tup:
:yeah: great country and great buck!
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 23, 2021, 05:26:59 AM: Quote from: hunter399 on September 22, 2021, 06:33:03 PM
Quote from: NOCK NOCK on September 22, 2021, 06:26:46 PM
Quote from: eliandsky on September 22, 2021, 09:28:30 AM
On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.
But WDFW says .....
We have perfect buck to Doe ratio,Deer population are stable and just perfect and peachy.
Maybe that's just WDFW checkbook talking.

Of coarse their ratio is perfect. When you have 100 deer total and 18 are bucks as opposed to thousands of does and hundreds of bucks. The WDFW can make a sh*$ shake look like a strawberry milkshake until you drink it.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: hunter399 on September 23, 2021, 08:08:06 AM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on September 23, 2021, 05:26:59 AM
Quote from: hunter399 on September 22, 2021, 06:33:03 PM
Quote from: NOCK NOCK on September 22, 2021, 06:26:46 PM
Quote from: eliandsky on September 22, 2021, 09:28:30 AM
On people’s walls. Think early snow recent years is leading to deer slaughter

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is some what true I believe. Last couple years in my local area has seen early snows. Combine that with all the open country from the last 10 years worth of fires = higher success rates.
But WDFW says .....
We have perfect buck to Doe ratio,Deer population are stable and just perfect and peachy.
Maybe that's just WDFW checkbook talking.

Of coarse their ratio is perfect. When you have 100 deer total and 18 are bucks as opposed to thousands of does and hundreds of bucks. The WDFW can make a sh*$ shake look like a strawberry milkshake until you drink it.
Or a $!#@ sundae ,with a rotten cherry on top as I like to call it.
Same smell
Spot on 👍
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Tball77 on September 25, 2021, 06:48:56 PM: Winthrop was absolute garbage. Seen 20 bucks in 6 days. 1 whitetail 4pt on legal land and a handful of spikes and 2pts. Only 5 legal mule deer bucks but all on private. Last year in 7 days chased 30 legal bucks legal land. Killed a 2x3.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Tball77 on September 25, 2021, 06:54:06 PM: I seen minimal does during the ladder part. Had opportunity to kill but decided against it based on the numbers. If you have an every year camp in the twisp, Mazama and Winthrop area be prepared to see very little. Not sure if the 2 fires did it but it’s not good.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 25, 2021, 08:41:12 PM: That area needs a break to see if it can come back some but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Title: Re: Where are the bucks
Post by: pd on September 25, 2021, 08:52:54 PM: OPtrah: That is very impressive. Congratulations to your partner.