Hillbilly Wildlife survey

[Ridgeratt]

In the last week I have made numerous trips over Sherman and Boulder pass. It is amazing the absolute lack of any deer what so ever on the southwest slopes. It is also void of any game trials in the snow with the exception on an occasional set of tracks.  Even if I hadn't seen any deer there should be the trails down to the lowlands on both sides of the crest. I have not seen any deer around the town of Curlew or near Curlew lake. Going over Sherman Pass there are not any deer on the open hillsides either. The winter hasn't been that severe to attribute it to a snow winter kill. These are the historic winter grounds of the herds and there is nothing to see.   

[hunter399]

Deer herds are down across northeast washington,And rise in hunters from across the state coming to northeast,predators left unchecked to eat everything,this winter was not bad , but winter 2016 was really bad,and I'm not expecting herds to get any better anytime soon without big changes.

I went out shed hunting the other day,didn't find any.In some places not a trail or even so much as a deer track at all.

[Doublelunger]

The wolves aren't helping either

[Ridgeratt]

The wolves aren't helping either

I have to believe that its the entire predator population. Lack of realistic cougar quota's and no wolf management.

[quadrafire]

I was snowshoeing in the lower elevation of 113 last week and saw elk and deer  and tracks of all sorts except cat and wolves. Which I was looking hard for. Granted this was only one location in the unit.

[Ridgeratt]

Talked to a buddy who was snowmobiling last weekend on calispel peak made it to the lookout. He didn't get down to Tacoma creek. Said he never saw any animals or large game trails either. Did see a few snowshoe rattit tracks.

[eliandsky]

Saw 80-100 deer Saturday. Saw 80-100 Sunday. All East side. Been watching hundreds around Wenatchee all winter. A drive or two over a pass can’t tell you much. Especially during a winter with no snow. They’re already moving up n out. I’m no biologist but there seems to be a lot more then “non” around here. Herds are down. Not gone


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KFhunter]

Talked to a buddy who was snowmobiling last weekend on calispel peak made it to the lookout. He didn't get down to Tacoma creek. Said he never saw any animals or large game trails either. Did see a few snowshoe rattit tracks.

I haven't snowmobiled Calispel peak this year, but the last few years prior the trails choked with wolf crap, every few yards another pile of crap and full of moose hair. 
No calves, seen some adult moose but numbers were down by my perception.   Went to the calispel peak, one cow was clear up on top at the very edge of the alpine timber standing in the wind, hmmm why would she be doing that.ya.  went down tacoma creek same thing, trails almost looked muddy with wolf scat.

[Ridgeratt]

Saw 80-100 deer Saturday. Saw 80-100 Sunday. All East side. Been watching hundreds around Wenatchee all winter. A drive or two over a pass can’t tell you much. Especially during a winter with no snow. They’re already moving up n out. I’m no biologist but there seems to be a lot more then “non” around here. Herds are down. Not gone


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wenatchee is located in Region 2. It is described in the WDFW Pamphlet as North Central Washington. Depending on which side of the state you are from that isn't considered Eastern Washington.

[KFhunter]

Deer herds are down across northeast washington,And rise in hunters from across the state coming to northeast,predators left unchecked to eat everything,this winter was not bad , but winter 2016 was really bad,and I'm not expecting herds to get any better anytime soon without big changes.

I went out shed hunting the other day,didn't find any.In some places not a trail or even so much as a deer track at all.

You're a little off on two points, 2016 was a fairly mild winter even though we had decent snowfall over 3000' we didn't get the crust like we have now, that crusty hard snow is the deer/elk moose killer.  Predators cover a LOT more ground on it while the prey move a lot slower and have a hard time in it with their hooves punching through while paws stay on top.  The snow was so hard my bull was having a hard time in it.  This year is much worse than 2016. 

We have had less hunters from the west side than in past years say 5-10 years ago, a lot are staying home due to fires I think and before that gas prices kept them home, anyways I think the numbers of hunters is a dropping trend, not raising as you've stated. 


Rest is pretty accurate by my hillbilly standards.

[hunter399]

Deer herds are down across northeast washington,And rise in hunters from across the state coming to northeast,predators left unchecked to eat everything,this winter was not bad , but winter 2016 was really bad,and I'm not expecting herds to get any better anytime soon without big changes.

I went out shed hunting the other day,didn't find any.In some places not a trail or even so much as a deer track at all.

You're a little off on two points, 2016 was a fairly mild winter even though we had decent snowfall over 3000' we didn't get the crust like we have now, that crusty hard snow is the deer/elk moose killer.  Predators cover a LOT more ground on it while the prey move a lot slower and have a hard time in it with their hooves punching through while paws stay on top.  The snow was so hard my bull was having a hard time in it.  This year is much worse than 2016. 

We have had less hunters from the west side than in past years say 5-10 years ago, a lot are staying home due to fires I think and before that gas prices kept them home, anyways I think the numbers of hunters is a dropping trend, not raising as you've stated. 


Rest is pretty accurate by my hillbilly standards.

I'm gonna disagree with ya KF

I'm not sure if 2017 harvest reports are out,but in 2016 district 1 which is eastern wa has the highest number of deer harvest in the whole state,If pretty sure the 6,000 deer harvested in district one was not all by locals.Here's a link to the harvest report,So your telling me we don't have that many Hunters from all over the state coming to eastern wa , hard to believe when you look at the harvest reports from the whole state.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2016/reports/deer_gmu_all.php

Well winter goes high snow amounts always equals harder winter for deer and elk,They have better chance of making though the crusty snow if they can get to food and forage.High snow amounts make them easy target for predators due to weakness and starving.

High snow amounts =bad for deer and elk.
Low snow amounts with crusty snow =better for deer and elk.

Been that way since time began.

[KFhunter]

https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2016/snow1602.gif

2016 above ^ 

2018 is below.  See for yourself

https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2018/snow1802.gif



This year in February (Feb, March is the worst two months for deer survival) we're 129% of average (just hit 130%+ with recent snowfalls) AND it's crusty rock hard snow which is a double whammy.  Soft snow makes the predators work harder than the prey as long legs and hooves are great, shorter legs and paws are not so great. 
I found a coyote up higher and he was dragging his belly through the snow leaving a trench, that's not good for coyotes, deer were not leaving a belly trench = good for the deer. 

Now the snow is crusty, the coyote aren't even leaving tracks but the deer are punching through, it's hard on legs and drains a ton of energy = bad for deer


See the chart

[hunter399]

https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2016/snow1602.gif

2016 above ^ 

2018 is below.  See for yourself

https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2018/snow1802.gif



This year in February (Feb, March is the worst two months for deer survival) we're 129% of average (just hit 130%+ with recent snowfalls) AND it's crusty rock hard snow which is a double whammy.  Soft snow makes the predators work harder than the prey as long legs and hooves are great, shorter legs and paws are not so great. 
I found a coyote up higher and he was dragging his belly through the snow leaving a trench, that's not good for coyotes, deer were not leaving a belly trench = good for the deer. 

Now the snow is crusty, the coyote aren't even leaving tracks but the deer are punching through, it's hard on legs and drains a ton of energy = bad for deer


See the chart

I will agree that crusty snow is bad for deer and elk.
Your looking at winter in predator kills,
I'm looking at winter in available forage and food.
It's like Apple and oranges in a difference in opinions,out of respect to ya ,I will just agree.

[bowhunterforever]

The wolves aren't helping either

I have to believe that its the entire predator population. Lack of realistic cougar quota's and no wolf management.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Sad