Changes in my hunting area

MeatMissile · Jan 24, 2012

I hunt in a high mountain basin either archery or muzzleloader season. I find deer around 11,000-12,500 feet consistantly. A few years ago there were always some decent bucks there and some great bucks another mile past that (away from the trail). This year I would see 30-35 deer per day, but only does and a couple little dink bucks. The amount of weekenders on the trail has increased quite a bit the past 2 years.

Does anybody have experience with a situation similar to this? Do you think the mature bucks have left the area completely? Do you think I need to hunt those few extra miles in? I'm not sure what else could have happened to this area. I sure hope it's not ruined forever.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Deerlove · Jan 24, 2012

My first thought it is are they still alive? Are they winter killed?

GLEDEASY · Jan 24, 2012

I would be interested to know other possible thoughts as well. We had a spot that we would consistently see deer (not a ton, but enough) holding a few nice bucks. It wasn't necessarily hard to get to, but we never saw anyone else there. Surveyers started hitting the area hard and the place has never been the same since.

We always blamed it on the increased pressure.

YukonDall · Jan 24, 2012

THAT SAME DIMINISHING SITUATION IS TAKING PLACE ALL OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATES FOR SEVERAL REASONS. TALK TO THE UTAH,COLORADO, IDAHO, & MORE SO WITH THE WYOMING HUNTERS. MULE DEER ARE NOT THRIVING AT THE PRESENT TIME.....TOO MANY DOE TAGS, HIGH TECH EQUIP., LOSS OF HABITAT, PREDATORS, GROUP HUNTING POSSES, TOO MUCH ROAD KILL & POACHING.......WILL HAVE AN EFFECT..................YD.

El_Matador · Jan 24, 2012

Big bucks draw a lot of attention from people when they are spotted and they quickly learn to avoid areas where they get seen. Does and small bucks are more tolerant of being spotted because they don't get harassed as much. My bet is that the bucks are still there, they are just moving to spots where they are not visible from the main trail.

MeatMissile · Jan 24, 2012

My first thought was winter kill too. I have seen very few hunters in there in the 6 years that I have been there. Maybe 1 other hunter per year. They move out of the high country early, before rifle season and into private/non-huntable land. I'm thinking it's the increased tourist pressure on the trail. I'm hoping the next basin around is their new honey hole. I will be scouting it hard this year, because I know for a fact that nobody else goes back there. It's a beyotch to get to. That's where the moose and elk hang out, so I guess it's only natural to go where it's safe. We will see.

I was encouraged by the huge number of does and younger bucks this year though. I saw some great 2 year olds that should grow up very nicely if they have a chance. Even they were back further from the trails....so hopefully. It's sad to watch a place go down hill like that.

soutahhunter · Jan 24, 2012

You need to ask theox on the other post on here he has them all in his area, claims the rest of us do not get out and look. I told him everyone else has a story such as yours throughout the state but I guess he has an area where all the bucks have migrated to.

mmwb · Jan 24, 2012

There are no doubt several possibilities. There are less mature bucks? There are mature bucks there but they are learning to change their habits, or those that have traditional habits that have kept them alive are what are left, so that past methods of successfully finding them are no longer as effective?

Biologists (and the ones that spend years with the animals in their habitat do know a few things) indicate that mature bucks do not tend to congregate as much where there are concentrations of does, fawns, and younger bucks. I believe the theory is that less competition for the does and younger deer is an evolutionary plus.

More human traffic is going to decrease the visibility of mature bucks, either because they will move out or because they will make an increased effort to decrease their own visibility. If it is a traditional range and the habitat is still good, I expect that there are still a few good bucks using core areas that have suited big bucks in the past. Get in there preseason and look at the fringes of the tougher terrain and cover. They have to leave tracks if they are there.

I think that everyone agrees that our deer herds are on a steady and speedy decline, though I expect that there are still more bigger bucks then some would think. I am seeing decent bucks glassing, but am also seeing quite a few more bigger bucks in the heavy timber than I used to years ago. This includes during summer and early fall (pre-rifle hunts), so they are not just settling in there because of hunting pressure.

bonepicker · Jan 24, 2012

I've seen some changes over the years to different areas. One area had no people for many years and always had great bucks. About 5 years ago, somebody shot their mouth off and tons of people were hunting that area for a few years leaving nothing but dinks and does. People then started talking about how bad that area is. Lo and behold, the last 2 years there were good bucks again! But It's kind of cyclical it seems. Weather and human pressure are probably the biggest factors that I have seen change the animals in an area but the changes are not always permanent.