There is a thread on this topic in the IDAHO area which has some additional comments regarding this topic.
I for one, base my observations relative to this year on the general areas I have hunted over the past 20 years. Arguably the number of hunters has increased as has the "access" by motorized ATV's etc. The fact is (in my case), I have hunted many openers on October 5th in 70+ degrees and have seen some good bucks. This year, with snow on the ground and conditions prime for spotting, I saw nothing I cared to even pursue, let alone shoot. I have hunted 3 "go to" spots at different elevations and in different units which all have different influences on their herds (predation, winter kill etc.). My observations this year have been the worst I have seen in the past 10 years---no doubt. I have seen more people going deeper and farther than ever before because they aren't finding deer either.
Perhaps the deer are "up high" or are in the "dark timber" and haven't moved yet. That could be valid, but generally towards the end of the season, at least a few of these bucks get INTERESTED in the does, and begin to move around, only to give the hunters a chance. I have not seen any mature bucks with does and out of our hunting group, only 1 of 6 has taken a deer of any size. This is extrememly abnormal in my opinion.
This is simply an observation from my point of view, but in 3 visits to the local checkstation, the largest deer 2 of the 3 weekends was a 24 inch 4 point. 2-3 of these came out opening weekend out of 700 hunters. Don't know about you, but success at 10% with a mature buck ratio of 3/700, Vegas has better odds.
I do hunt hard, generally atop the ridges well above the pressure at first light or I backpack in to hidey holes. I do the same thing I have done for years because it has normally worked well for me. This year, not so well. The part missing is the mature bucks.
I can't wait to see the season end statistics. I also, hope that anyone who is frustrated at this scenario (those of you who honestly believe there is a problem), attend their local Fish and Game meetings this winter to voice your opinions. In a year when there were articles in the newspaper by a local F&G Biologist stating that "HUNTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH CHOICES", we saw LONGER seasons in the RUT hunts in the OWYHEES and NOTHING to speak of which would have cut tags or opportunities for 99% of the hunters. It doesn't make sense to me, if the deer didn't winter that well. Maybe there should have been some additional restrictions.
If you have time and care to, please read the posts in the Idaho Forum on this topic. There are more hard hunting mule deer hunters out there who had an overly negative experience this year than those who saw "SH!TL0@d$" of 24+ inch 4 points this year.
I think the trend is apparrent, with the only potential explanation of "they're still out there" coming in the next few weeks as the deer begin to rut and move to their winter grounds.
I say "NOT", but that's my opinion.
Muleybucks
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