Deer numbers

[35 whelen]

Deer numbers in your areas don't need to know the wmu's just wondering if guys are seeing more or less does and Fawns and Bucks this year compared to other years.

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[Dick284]

Both of my haunts have seen good increases over the last couple years.
Lots of twin recruitment for fawns.

[greywolf]

Definitely more this year. Almost recovered to the levels prior to the 2013/14 winter die off.

[ROA]

Up a bit from 2 years ago!

[260 Rem]

This past week when the rut was in full bloom almost needed a defense gun to avoid getting run over by mulies ... one morning buddy had bucks chasing does on all four sides.
Definitely more WT’s than last five years. Each of us saw 2 - 6 shooters every day but passed...holding out for mr big ... who never appeared. A bit of regret passing on one but it was -20C. About five minutes after he left my crosshairs I decided to take another look but couldn’t find him.

[Fwee6]

WT numbers definitely getting better in our hunting areas. Hoping that continues in a few spots we have walked away from in the last couple years because numbers had dropped so quickly.

[ResidentSpokesman]

Whitetail numbers are awesome in my area this year. I’ve rattled in A LOT of shooter bucks this week. Best Whitetail season in a long time 👍

[Bushrat]

Yup more whitetails, muleys are starting to come back also.

[fish_e_o]

Best in years. This has been confirmed by my taxidermist whi says it's the best in years for number and size of whitetails

[last minute]

Yes numbers are good in my area that i like to hunt lots of does with twins whitetails that is.small spikers good to see

[Ariu]

Numbers are indeed increasing

[bear crossing]

Steady decline ,F and W have to pull back on suplimental tags.

[Hunter4ever12]

Saw lots of deer this summer,many twins and triplets which had me thinking our population was on a steady incline upwards finally. Fall arrives and the deer disappear,all my cams had maybe a few deer and that’s it. Not sure what to think about that,is what it is I suppose.

[yoteblaster]

Numbers up from the last 3 or 4 years but nowhere near the early 2000s. I spend a ton of time in the field so have a pretty good handle on their numbers I think in my area

[35 whelen]

That's pretty well about the same in my area

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[last minute]

Originally Posted by bear crossing

Steady decline ,F and W have to pull back on suplimental tags.

Really good thing I don't hunt on your area .

[Dick284]

Guys keep equating the mid 2000's deer population to the norm.

It was actually an over population situation back then.

I'd estimate that my 2 haunts are currently at a population level slightly above what would be deemed the norm.

[Positrac]

I’d say about the same south of Fort McMurray in my usual haunts. Lots of wolf sign. I hike a lot of old cut blocks that have a little sign but seeing 3-4 deer a day is a good day. I’ve done a bunch of rattling and have yet to have a buck come in the last 3 years in this area. Had two come in down Athabasca way in an hour so I don’t think it’s me...

[deerhunter]

Best of the last 10 years . This year I'm seeing 20 to 24 every evening,this month.this is on a half quarter.Other years would see maybe 3 to 4 maximum. What I've noticed this year is that all the does I see are paired with twins. I've got 3 small bucks running around one 3x3 and a gooder probably a 5x5 .never had this many in the past. Couldn't get a good shot at him tonight. Only problem this year is that I have a doe and 2 fawns that come to the truck and lick the road salt. They are fairly tame and I can get to about 15 yards from them before they get edgy.Even with the wolves present the deer came through a good winter last year 2016/2017. Once the season is over on Nov 30 I'm going after the wolves!

[Smokinyotes]

In the area i hunt deer numbers are definitely improving but still not seeing the mature bucks like we used to. I see probably 30-40 whitetail daily. The majority of the bucks are spikes, forkhorn or small 5 pointers. I have only had my eyes on 1 whitetail this year that i would consider a shooter and he was moving significantly quicker than me.

[alacringa]

I folded my tag on one of a pair of does I found in 316 today. Normally don't like to take does but it's late in the season and from the number of tracks there are a lot in the area. Had to get a mile back from the road to find them, though - which meant a bit of work getting her out.

[Dark Wing]

Zones surrounding the caribou zones in North West are a joke. The bios. are still supplying the two doe tags which you can't even get in the CWD zones. I think it was said they wanted to cut back WT. numbers to improve the MD population. I haven't seen a mulie doe since October. Makes you wonder how many mulie does are shot to fill supplemental tags. It doesn't help when they supply 500 plus moose tags plus in some of those zones and also have a general Mule deer tag. Factor in the high cougar,wolves and grizzly numbers and were lucky to have an ungulate population at all.

[35 whelen]

Yes I definitely think they should get rid of the supplementary tags in my areas

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[Norwest Alta]

I’ve been seeing quite a few deer this year. Only one what I would call a decent buck but probably gonna figure close to as many bucks as I’ve seen does. I’m not sure what next year will bring because we’ve got about 2’ of snow during the first half of November that has melted and dropped about 6-8” and developed a slight frozen crust. Got another 6-8” of snow last night. Could be a rough winter for the deer.

Hoping the elk will come thru and bust up the snow for the deer.

[PAB270]

Been out in 406 every weekend since September 24, sometimes twice. Saw one WT buck, Maybe 20 does (Mostly WT).

[hillbillyreefer]

I’d say improving in my area, lots of young deer in the herd, both WT and Mule.

[Wisebuck]

Numbers up in northeast are good. Lotsa sign n does with fawns. Many young bucks. Happy to see plenty of moose sign too.

[ResidentSpokesman]

Originally Posted by last minute

Really good thing I don't hunt on your area .

Often it’s not the area so much....

In the past week or so I’ve talked to a handful of other guys hunting the same general areas as I am and several of them have yet to see anything beyond spikes and forks etc.

There is no substitute for hard work and good scouting time. Even in poor years (like last year) a guy can always find what you’re looking for by scouting early and getting the hell out of the truck.

Not-so-coincidentally....every guy I’ve spoken to that’s seeing nothing (or next to nothing) was seated comfortably in a truck lol.

[terry b]

Numbers seem down to me this year! I put more miles on my boots this year then ever before! I don't think I saw a buck over 150 this year hunting or driving! The road I take to work the last month 7 years ago you would need to dodge deer every day, in a month I think I have seen 10 deer! And I live in the bow zone don't think I have seen 40 deer all year around my place!
Good to hear lots of guys are saying numbers are up!!!

[JDK71]

lots of deer in my area and seen mule bucks have not seen one in a few years