Young Bucks Will Be Plentiful But Don’T Count On Too Many Older Ones

Thu., Sept. 21, 2000

Rich Landers Outdoors Editor

Hunters should have little trouble finding a buck in Eastern Washington this fall, but count your blessings if you tag one with more than three points.

A combination of factors is encouraging for hunters seeking venison for the freezer. After a killer winter in 1996-97, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department shortened most mule deer hunts to nine days and set three-point minimum restrictions for mule deer bucks.

Combined with three consecutive mild winters, the three-point minimum has resulted in a noticeable increase in young bucks, most of which are not eligible to be harvested.

Meanwhile, the three-point minimum has directed all the pressure onto older bucks, which appear to be declining in many units open to general hunting.

The three-point minimum, however, does not apply to whitetails in most units. Excellent numbers of young whitetail bucks should be available this fall, as well as good numbers of older bucks, especially in southeastern areas along the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

Ferry, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens Counties should have a bounty of young whitetails, making this fall one of the great seasons for hunters on either end of the age spectrum.

The fruits of great fawn production in the past two years will be plucked mostly by youths and seniors, who can hunt antlerless deer without a special permit in designated northeastern Washington hunting units.

However, don’t overlook the potential for big bucks to be hiding expertly in the thick brush of the Chewelah-Colville area. Few big bucks were taken there last year, but some residents say they saw quite a few bigger bucks just before the opening of the archery season.

Most hunters seeking trophy mule deer will have to put their hopes in drawings for controlled hunts, such as those in the arid country of Units 290, 329, 342, and 371.

The Almota unit in south Whitman County will be a good place to hunt for mule deer bucks, biologists say.

The best mule and white-tailed deer hunting south of the Almota unit is likely to be along the Snake River breaks and adjoining foothills. Nearly all of the property is privately owned and hunters need to get permission to hunt.

This sidebar appeared with story: HUNTING SEASONS Deer

Eastern Washington

Buck: Oct. 14 through 22 or 27

Late buck: Nov.6 or 11 through 19

Antlerless: Varies

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