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Author Topic: Done in the 272  (Read 4663 times)

Offline mossyhead

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Done in the 272
« on: October 28, 2020, 09:22:48 PM »
We are pulling the plug after 20 years hunting in unit 272. Over the past 6 years there has been a steady decline in the deer population. 4 years in a row now I have found large dead head 4 and 5 point whitetail bucks all within a mile of each other. We very rarely seen any whitetail let alone large bucks. I am not sure if the cougars are the issue or not because there is never any cat sign to be found on this particular property. This year I felt guilty even looking for a legal buck in the area so back to the mountains it is.

Offline Bango skank

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2020, 09:26:53 PM »
No, you found those in idaho

Offline jrebel

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2020, 09:38:44 PM »
Never seen a whitetail in 272.....never.  It is a huge unit and I'm sure they are there but most ALL the deer we see are mulies.  I do agree the numbers are way down and the hunters are way up.  Lots of private ground so I suppose if you have access it can still be great hunting.   

Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2020, 05:50:05 AM »
Mossyhead I don't think your the only one that feels guilty about looking for a legal buck. There are a lot of units now where people should feel guilty about shooting a barely legal buck. But some don't look at it that way.
The only man who never makes a mistake, is the man who never does anything!!
The further one goes into the wilderness, the greater the attraction of its lonely freedom.

Offline hawks33

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2020, 06:05:58 AM »
We pulled the plug in that area after opening day this year. The amount of hunters, the burns, and the overall decrease in mulies in the last 20 years...it just didnt feel right hunting it this year. We were over in st Andrew's, but same general area. We did see animals, but nothing like we did in the 90s.

Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2020, 07:40:05 AM »
So whats the plan for next year?
The only man who never makes a mistake, is the man who never does anything!!
The further one goes into the wilderness, the greater the attraction of its lonely freedom.

Offline MerriamMagician

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2020, 02:21:44 PM »
I live in the unit, but don't really hunt it much anymore. Did lots of hunting in there from about 2000-2012. Went back in and hunted it this year for the first time in several years. Wow. Opening day on a big piece of public land featured hunter numbers like I've never seen. I got back in 2 miles in the dark and planned to keep hunting further in from there. Normally this approach would get you away from about 70% of the other hunters. At first light from a good glassing position it was a sea of orange. I think I counted about 70 other guys in the field that morning. I didn't see a legal buck anywhere, but there was no shortage of bullets flying around. In less than an hours time I had bullets whiz by my head at crap your pants close distance. In my entire life I've never worried about getting shot in the field, but after that I cut my hunt short and got out of there. On the drive out I counted 42 trucks along a 2 mile section of road. In the past there would probably be 2-4 rigs out there tops, even on the weekends.

I hunted a lot of other spots over the course of the week with similar results. Meanwhile it was not till Thursday that I saw the first legal buck, a barely legal 2x3. The surrounding gmus had similar scenarios. I also witnessed some of the most ridiculous hunter actions I've ever seen, like people running in front of other hunters shooting at deer to cut them off and shoot at the deer themselves! Seen people cut fences and drive into private fields to push deer towards public land, hunters shooting at deer out the windows of their rigs from public roads, and all kinds of other tomfoolery.

Needless to say, I can't really blame you on pulling the plug on this area. I'll be doing the same and getting into the high country.
Gobblers only, all jakes must walk

Offline snowshoes22

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2020, 02:42:25 PM »
The small pockets of whitetail were all killed the couple of years we had blue tongue. Not many in 272 but they were here in small numbers.  I haven't spotted one in 2 years. 
"I'd rather have a slow hit than a fast miss"

Offline buckcanyonlodge

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2020, 05:30:08 AM »
"I also witnessed some of the most ridiculous hunter actions I've ever seen, like people running in front of other hunters shooting at deer to cut them off and shoot at the deer themselves! Seen people cut fences and drive into private fields to push deer towards public land, hunters shooting at deer out the windows of their rigs from public roads, and all kinds of other tomfoolery. "

Sounds like Bissell Road here in Stevens County
Thanks for all for your past support...We officially pulled the plug and have retired from the Biz. Still dabble a little in real estate.
Call Westergard Real Estate  for your REAL ESTATE needs in the Tri-County area. Hunting/Recreational or retirement properties. Tri County Area 509-722-3949

Offline crabcreekhunter

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2020, 06:09:24 AM »
On my families land just North of Moses never had any Whities in the past.  In the winter now, there always seems to be 2-3 running in the herd.  Figured they'd do quite well in the russian olives and cattails in Gloyd seeps area and surrounding ag fields. Sorry about your experience in 272, private seems to be holding fair amount of animals as it has in the past.
"Courage is simply fear that has said its prayers"

Online brocka

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2020, 07:02:29 AM »
I live in the unit, but don't really hunt it much anymore. Did lots of hunting in there from about 2000-2012. Went back in and hunted it this year for the first time in several years. Wow. Opening day on a big piece of public land featured hunter numbers like I've never seen. I got back in 2 miles in the dark and planned to keep hunting further in from there. Normally this approach would get you away from about 70% of the other hunters. At first light from a good glassing position it was a sea of orange. I think I counted about 70 other guys in the field that morning. I didn't see a legal buck anywhere, but there was no shortage of bullets flying around. In less than an hours time I had bullets whiz by my head at crap your pants close distance. In my entire life I've never worried about getting shot in the field, but after that I cut my hunt short and got out of there. On the drive out I counted 42 trucks along a 2 mile section of road. In the past there would probably be 2-4 rigs out there tops, even on the weekends.

I hunted a lot of other spots over the course of the week with similar results. Meanwhile it was not till Thursday that I saw the first legal buck, a barely legal 2x3. The surrounding gmus had similar scenarios. I also witnessed some of the most ridiculous hunter actions I've ever seen, like people running in front of other hunters shooting at deer to cut them off and shoot at the deer themselves! Seen people cut fences and drive into private fields to push deer towards public land, hunters shooting at deer out the windows of their rigs from public roads, and all kinds of other tomfoolery.

Needless to say, I can't really blame you on pulling the plug on this area. I'll be doing the same and getting into the high country.

The high country is no better...

I upland bird hunted the area opening weekend. My god, I have never in my life seen so many people in orange.

Offline Sandberm

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2020, 08:40:08 AM »
So it sounds like...if Thanksgiving is canceled for a lot of folks, highschool sports is canceled, extra curricular activities for the kids is canceled, church activities are canceled...etc etc..

I should just plan on there being a crap ton of people out for the late archery season Nov 20-Dec 8?

Offline Sutherland

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #12 on: October 30, 2020, 09:12:50 AM »
Count me in lol. Got to get some meat in the freezer still.

Offline Dirty Mike

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2020, 09:33:11 AM »
I hunt it during the muzzy season and you can definitely see the decline.

Offline Sutherland

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Re: Done in the 272
« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2020, 09:37:03 AM »
Maybe I should plan on heading elsewhere for the late season. I'm just after a doe. Was just liking that location as it's close to Wenatchee.

 


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