Friday afternoon and Saturday were a bust. I guess the hunting pressure put them back deep into the laurel. I really put some miles on still hunting though and went to some places I haven't been to since I was in my 30's. (the trees are a lot bigger there now!)
I think I know what may be causing the decline in the deer population though. In all my 51 years of hunting I have never, ever seen so much bear feces. I saw more of that than I did deer droppings! And it is a known fact that bear take a toll on newborn fawns.
Went to a restaurant Saturday evening up in North Bend and the waiter told me his friend's group shot 24 bear and could have shot over 40 if they had the tags.
I do believe though that I also saw some elk droppings which is quite possible as they have been spotted only a couple mountains over.