Central Washington Deer Population

[Rainier10]

Shed hunting my property today I came across a new kill. Buck fawn. This is the third fawn I have found this winter.

[Romulus1297]

25 deer wintered here and nothing bigger than a fork.

[actionshooter]

I know I haven't seen a deer on a cam for a couple months, but the snow is a little deeper than in the past and they possibly have been a little lower elevation (I Hope)

[Skyvalhunter]

We all know what drives deer down in the valley and closer to humans and it's not just snowfall. The ungulates seek some security near people from the ever growing number of predators.

[Cougeyes]

Fitkins deer count up in the Methow was absolutely pitiful.

Do they publish these anywhere?

I have an inside source that comes up with it so I dont have the answer to that.   I'm sure it is, I just don't know where.

Its usually published in the annual Game Status and Trend Reports and occassionally in their bi-weekly wildlife activity reports.

[MeepDog]

I don’t know if goldendale counts as central Washington, since it’s more south-central, but deer numbers are decent especially after 90% of the public access disappeared in one fell swoop.  We have a couple dozen deer that makes the rounds and lots of the fawns are still alive. The winter has been wet, but mild. Still had some bucks with antlers a couple weeks ago on cam.

[FWilliams]

We noticed a slight increase in the population  this year . the usual bigger bucks showed, I use the term "bigger"  loosely, but so did the predators .

[OutHouse]

It was not a positive experience to talk to a guy who showed me old pictures of herds of deer outside Naches and west of Tieton.   

[Mtnwalker]

Fawn numbers were looking great but neighborhood dogs are wreaking havoc around my place. One of the neighbors has put orange vests on their German sheppards so you don’t confuse them with coyotes.

Doesn't that make them easier targets?  I told our neighbor if his dogs were chasing deer on our place they wouldn't be leaving...  He got collars and fixed the problem... They still get into everyone else's trash but they haven't been chasing deer.

To answer the original question the deer around our place are healthy and stable but the numbers decline every year...

Had the same problem with dogs around my.place, so called wdfw.  Got a call back.from a very polite officer who, quite frustrated himself, told me there wasn't much he could about it
Said if we got them chasing deer on a camera they could go talk to the owner but had no authority to do much else. Local lack of leash laws allow people to allow their dogs to run free but if they come on your property you can call local leos.  He did warn that if you take matters into your own hands ( shooting them)you would be open to a law suit from the owners. Different matter if they sttack your livestock or people, but still a local Leo matter. Nice guy and said unfortunately a fairly common problem they can't do much about. 

 

https://www.carolinasportsman.com/field-reports/hunting-reports/deer/sumter-sc-man-loses-132000-judgement-for-killing-hunting-dog/

[Skyvalhunter]

Fitkins deer count up in the Methow was absolutely pitiful.

Do they publish these anywhere?

I have an inside source that comes up with it so I dont have the answer to that.   I'm sure it is, I just don't know where.

Its usually published in the annual Game Status and Trend Reports and occassionally in their bi-weekly wildlife activity reports.

,

This info is not published there it takes a public records request to get the helicopter survey info.

[Romulus1297]

It’s so sad I haven’t seen a legal buck all winter. I give up and will not give wdfw another dollar.

[Skyvalhunter]

How about $300?

[mountainman]

It was not a positive experience to talk to a guy who showed me old pictures of herds of deer outside Naches and west of Tieton.   

I’ll have to dig up some pics in the upper Methow in the 60’s and the 70’s. Jaw will drop!

[OutHouse]

It was not a positive experience to talk to a guy who showed me old pictures of herds of deer outside Naches and west of Tieton.   

I’ll have to dig up some pics in the upper Methow in the 60’s and the 70’s. Jaw will drop!

Please do! I have seen a picture of a herd of mule deer in mazama that was from the late 1970s I think.

[Romulus1297]

How about $300?

I guess I was happy to send them $321 for a sheep tag.