Animals around the Basin: Deer

There are a bunch of deer in the Columbia Basin these days. This wasn’t always so. During my growing up years in Moses Lake few deer were spotted.

A doe was spotted at the intersection of Highway 17 and Broadway Extended the winter of my senior year of high school. A photo of the animal ended up in the Columbia Basin Herald, because seeing a deer was such an unusual event in this area.

Deer seem to have drifted into the Basin over the years. The Buckrun operation, north of Wilson Creek, has allowed many deer to call the Basin home.

There are hunters who don’t care for this operation, but most would agree Buckrun has been beneficial to those hunting off the Buckrun property as well. The deer circulate on and off the property making them available to others.

There is a little deer herd inside and outside the city limits of Moses Lake. They sometimes present a safety problem as they cross the streets, but they have been pleasant to see and watch as they raised their young.

A few years ago, when leaving Samaritan Hospital and approaching Wheeler Road, a full-sized doe was spotted. The animal was leaning to the left in the middle of Wheeler Road.

It had been hit by a car, but it was a soft hit. The deer did a complete roll, from standing to rolling over its back and then to standing again. The animal walked off the road without as much as a limp.

A family wanting to see mule deer could drive north on Stratford Road to the Town of Stratford and take a right turn on Highway 28.

There will be alfalfa fields on the left and right, just before the left turn to Wilson Creek. The field on the left often contain mule deer. Of course, there may be deer alongside the road, either side, at any point. Be careful, as the deer may head into the road and cause damage to your vehicle when hit.

Another place where mule deer can often be found and observed is in Moses Coulee. Travel toward Wenatchee and turn right on Palisades Road. This road will take you partway through Moses Coulee. There will eventually be a right turn which takes you back to Ephrata. Of course, you can go from Ephrata to Moses Coulee, but to learn the route, it is easier to head for the south end of Moses Coulee and turn north.

There are farm fields along the road and this is where the deer are spotted.

Tomorrow: Animals around the Basin: Deer continued.