Lots of deer out there!

I have been hunting a few areas close to home this week with my ML.

Had a nice shot on a 2-point at 35 yards, aimed for what I thought was the hair of his chest, pulled the trigger, only to see wood fly and the deer trot off while I reloaded. After getting another charge down, I went to where I had hit, only to find that there was an 8 inch thick log, "deer hair" brown in color, with a .54 cal hole in the front and chunk missing off of the side.

I checked for signs of blood in the direction of where the deer went, following in his footsteps. No blood for over 100 yards, then I see him stotting away, very strong, about 75 yards away, and he just kept on going into the heavy timber.

My first miss at a deer in 15 years. Go figure.

Anyway, since Sunday I saw 5 deer last night, and 7 tonight, hunting in the units between work and home. I have skipped lunch to get out a bit earlier, and I have had no issue finding deer. That "magic hour" really is true.

I saw one fawn tonight from about 40 yards, actually just his eye and an ear. I walked at an angle, not looking at him, towards him, but not directly to him. I got about 5 yards away, with a small hemlock between us. Too close for him. He jumped up, and then the deer just came out of the woodwork. Three does and 4 fawns bounded away, all from an area within 20 yards of this little guy I saw. What fun!

You won't get me back to Seattle to live ever. What a hole. I wonder how many folks get off work there, and can hunt or fish on the way home. Last year I shot an elk on my way home, two years before a deer. Sorry you all live there, just don't move here.

Looks like I'll have no issue getting a deer in the late hunt when it is "any deer".

Good luck to you all, hope you get one down.

you ever hunt up the wynoochee valley or the capital peak area ?, i hit them area`s every year and have taken a few deer and also up behind that ford dealership.

Wynoochee isn't open for me now, but Capitol Peak, Minot, and Lincoln are. I have hunted them all this year. I have seen a few deer in the Wynoochee area this year, but no bucks.

Any Mechanical Engineering jobs out your way Andy??

Out here in Maple Valley/Covington, I used to be able to hunt on my way home all the time. Have taken 3 bears, and elk and a deer this way, but now it is so over built, I am lucky if I can get to good hunting within an hour!

Send us your address so we can move into the neighborhood!

I live smack in the middle of West Seattle and you are right....very limited hunting opportunities although I saw a deer along I5 (West side of Beacon Hill) not 2 minutes from downtown last fall.

During the summer months we have a few good fishing opportunities out in the Bay. I nailed several nice kings in the wee hours of the morning last summer and still managed to put in a full day in at the office.

Ahhhh yes.......it is good to be on the coast! I muzzleload blacktails too. You are correct in that there is no shortage of deer this year. One of my indicators is roadkill. Gruesome, yes. But it is a loose indicator of population trends........more roadkill, more animals present.

As to the question about the wynoochee unit, I've seen ample numbers this summer/fall while steelhead fishing up there but as Dogfish pointed out, it's not an option for muzzleloaders (I wish it was) No matter though, there are plenty of units nearby that will fill the need.

I do like the fact that WDFW gave us a few more unit options on our season this year. I'll get serious during the late season.......perfect time; end of salmon fishing, winter steelhead isn't in full swing yet. It's a great window of opportunity without losing quality fishing time.