Washington High Buck

[shootnrun]

Old flip phone days. But this buck was shot almost on the PCT.

 

[shootnrun]

This buck was a mile west of the PCT. Would go in the book as a BT.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some nice bucks for sure. The deer definitely dont care about the PCT as a boundary thats for sure. Seen quite a few muleys west of it and quite a few blacktails east of it.

 

[dreamingbig]

This season needs to be ended if WA state really cares about their mule deer.

The population can't support it.


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[Jason277]

This season needs to be ended if WA state really cares about their mule deer.

The population can't support it.


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I agree, the fact is Washington state doesn't seem to care about much in regards to healthy populations of anything including humans.

 

[Jason277]

I agree, the fact is Washington state doesn't seem to care about much in regards to healthy populations of anything including humans.

Even make it a draw so the animals get a break and hunters have a higher success without combat hunting.

 

[stv117]

Who’s been successful on the Washington high buck hunt? Specifically for blacktails? I’m going for the first time this year and want to see some big old blacktails killed up high

break a leg !!

 

[Harvey_NW]

This season needs to be ended if WA state really cares about their mule deer.

The population can't support it.

The success rate is like 1%..

*Edit* So I actually went and checked the statistics, per 2023 reports the success rates range from 2-8% for Glacier Peaks, Alpine Lakes, and Pasayten Wilderness areas. Those encompass units that are open for both the high buck hunt, and general season. 7 bucks total were reported taken by modern firearm out of the entire Pasayten Wilderness. 7.

There are 1,000 other ways I could think of to help support or improve deer populations, than to end this hunt.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

The success rate is like 1%..

Where is the success rate percentage posted? When I killed on opening day a few years ago my buddy said it was 4% but not sure where he pulled it from.

Being OTC and having been in areas that just get flooded with hunters I could see an argument to make it more selective to reduce pressure on summer range. But with the way WDFW is reducing opportunity elsewhere I won’t be pushing for it.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Where is the success rate percentage posted? When I killed on opening day a few years ago my buddy said it was 4% but not sure where he pulled it from.

Being OTC and having been in areas that just get flooded with hunters I could see an argument to make it more selective to reduce pressure on summer range. But with the way WDFW is reducing opportunity elsewhere I won’t be pushing for it.

2023 Deer general season game harvest reports

wdfw.wa.gov

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

2023 Deer general season game harvest reports

wdfw.wa.gov

That includes modern rifle in Oct though, correct?

 

[Harvey_NW]

That includes modern rifle in Oct though, correct?

Correct. I can't find any published statistics for the high hunt individually, but it's only 2% in a couple units for modern firearm as a general season, so we know it's equal or less for the high hunt.

 

[dreamingbig]

The success rate is like 1%..

*Edit* So I actually went and checked the statistics, per 2023 reports the success rates range from 2-8% for Glacier Peaks, Alpine Lakes, and Pasayten Wilderness areas. Those encompass units that are open for both the high buck hunt, and general season. 7 bucks total were reported taken by modern firearm out of the entire Pasayten Wilderness. 7.

There are 1,000 other ways I could think of to help support or improve deer populations, than to end this hunt.

Disagree but you do you. Shooting bucks during September and again in November with rifles is a big part of why our mule deer are where they are.


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[Jason277]

Keep the season but make it a draw . Better for mule deer and hunters.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I used to think limiting the HH would be a good idea. Now with declining opportunities not only in WA but across the west it should stay the same.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Keep the season but make it a draw . Better for mule deer and hunters.

I’d make general rifle a draw/unit specific OTC before high buck.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Disagree but you do you. Shooting bucks during September and again in November with rifles is a big part of why our mule deer are where they are.

Dude, 7 bucks getting killed by hunters in roadless 500K acre areas is not what's hurting the mule deer populations. That's almost an anti-hunting argument.

 

[landis07]

Disagree but you do you. Shooting bucks during September and again in November with rifles is a big part of why our mule deer are where they are.


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I disagree it’s not hunters as it’s more of a lion problem, I not only hunt but I probably run the longest high mountain trapline in Washington from December to March and the number of lions throughout the entire elevation range is absolutely crazy and the amount of lion kills I find every winter is crazy
I’m not going to preach but if this state doesn’t get the predator’s from coyotes and bobcats to lions wolves and bear in control it will just get worse and worse and now you include Fisher and they hammer fawns with the best of them ,

 

[The Ri Guy]

I disagree it’s not hunters as it’s more of a lion problem, I not only hunt but I probably run the longest high mountain trapline in Washington from December to March and the number of lions throughout the entire elevation range is absolutely crazy and the amount of lion kills I find every winter is crazy
I’m not going to preach but if this state doesn’t get the predator’s from coyotes and bobcats to lions wolves and bear in control it will just get worse and worse and now you include Fisher and they hammer fawns with the best of them ,

I heard the Lion density down your way was getting bad, but haven't tooled around at elevation in the winter time to see the impacts first hand. Seen an unbelievable amount of coyote pups this year though, and an abnormal number of bobcats at lower elevation. Not good for sure...you knocking cats down regularly?

In other news, here's a couple WA bucks at ~6500', and then an after pic of the left buck. That old swayback was a badass buck, double split eye guards and splits on both G4's making him a 7x7. Never did see him again, but man what I wouldn't give to have seen him in his prime...

 

[dreamingbig]

I disagree it’s not hunters as it’s more of a lion problem, I not only hunt but I probably run the longest high mountain trapline in Washington from December to March and the number of lions throughout the entire elevation range is absolutely crazy and the amount of lion kills I find every winter is crazy
I’m not going to preach but if this state doesn’t get the predator’s from coyotes and bobcats to lions wolves and bear in control it will just get worse and worse and now you include Fisher and they hammer fawns with the best of them ,

I agree that is the problem that got us here but also why the season can't be sustained. You are NOT going to get support from this commission or King County to ever manage predators effectively.


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