Two simple questions

[akashasdaddy]

Hey all,
I am still pretty new to the amazing sport of hunting with last season being my first time out. i am still learning the tricks but I feel i am catching on quite well. With a lot of help from everyone on this site. Last season many of you may remember reading about the deer that was stolen from me. Well this season i am trying to eliminate that from happening so I can have a full freezer. I just want to hunt for food, i am not after a trophy I dont have the money to have one properly mounted anyway. I have been told and have read in the regs that there are many gmu's where I can hunt archery for any deer. So I was wondering, Is it possible to purchase an archery tag for deer and modern firearm for bear and elk?
Also, Where can I find/buy maps of the gmu's I plan to hunt? I think I read on here that I may be able to pick maps up at the fish and wild life office in Olympia but I am not sure if that is true or if it was just here say.

[Button Nubbs]

yes on the tags, you can buy bear(any weapon) deer(archery) and elk(mf) with no problem.

as far as maps check out lc sport maps

i dont know if your new to archery but please understand it takes alot of practice and preperation to take an animal with a bow. archery hunting can be very difficult

[akashasdaddy]

I am new to archery, and it may not be something i do this season. I was just curious if that was an option. I am in the market for a good archery set up But that may be a year or two out. If I am able to get set up, I have a lot of time to practice since i am a college student and out for summer. After a LOT of practice I feel comfortable enough I may go out for archery this year however, I don't foresee that happening. I do try to be an ethical hunter, I wont take a shot I am not comfortable with and I would NEVER use a weapon if I weren't 100% sure I could use it properly. I watched a video that someone had posted on here that showed a couple of good ol' boys out archery hunting. They took the shot missed the lungs by a mile hit the animal in the spine and then let him suffer for who knows how long. They never went up to the animal to take a clean shot and put the creature out of its misery. That made me very very sick. I could NEVER do something like that. My 6 year old daughter likes to hunt with me and I wouldn't want to turn her off from the sport by taking a bone headed shot forcing an animal to suffer.
Sorry for the long reply and thanks for the info.
 

[Button Nubbs]

not trying to get on ya, just something to think about. Looks like you already have!

[sirmissalot]

I'd help you kill a doe, some of the units I hunt are any deer and they are easy to come by in September. I'm in shelton once you get set up shoot me a message we'll have to hook up and shoot together sometime

[akashasdaddy]

Sirmissalot,

That sounds like a plan but I don't think I will be getting set up with archery this year. At this point the only way I could buy a bow and all the essentials to go along with it would be to sell my rifle and that just isn't gonna happen. I hate getting rid of my fire arms, however, this next weekend I am going to the gun show in Chehalis in hopes of turning my .410 and/or 9mm into a pump action 12 gauge. Along with deer, bear, and elk I plan to try my hand at turkey and maybe water fowl although I do not have a dog or a boat so I'm not sure how that one will work out.

[sirmissalot]

Thats a good idea, a guys gotta have a shotgun and a rifle. I would imagine you could find a used pump 12 gauge for fairly cheap.

[akashasdaddy]

I woke up this morning to a pretty big surprise, I was given a $300 gift card to cabelas by my girlfriend as a late fathers day gift. I found this "Diamond Archery Razor Edge Package – Mossy Oak® Treestand®" on the cabelas website so I am headed that way to see if they have one in stock. This bow may not be the best bow but I think it will be a decent beginner package for me and when my daughter gets old enough she can use it. If I am able to pick this up I will shoot you a pm simissalot so  may take you up on your offer.

[BULLBLASTER]

Great offer sirmiisalot! I hope to see pics of akashasdaddy and a fat deer this fall! 

[sebek556]

  sounds like it is coming together for yah. best of luck

[snowshoes22]

Finding a hunting partner with a dog or boat for waterfowl shouldn't be too hard.  Its one of those hunts that is more fun with a couple guns in the blind. I have the dogs and boat in our hunting party and i only ask for my buddies to help launch and pick up decoys.   

[pianoman9701]

A bow is a bow is a bow,...

The worst new bow doesn't shoot a whole lot worse than the best. Technology has come so far and you're going to be able to shoot 3" groups at 30 yards with anything if your bow and broadheads are tuned correctly. You can spend $2K on a bow and still not get a shot. Or, you can spend $300 on a cheaper package and knock down the bull of a lifetime. It has more to do with scouting and shooting preparation than with money spent. Congratulations on the new bow and the nice girlfriend!

[akashasdaddy]

Well its official, thanks to my awesome girl I am the proud owner of what seems to be a better than decent archery set up. What I have my not be the top of the line but through the research I have done and the people i have talked to at both wholesale sports and Cabelas the set up seems to be well respected. Everyone who owns one seems very happy with its capabilities and i know that with a lot of work, practice and a little luck i will be able to put some meat in the freezer this fall. I am stoked and even more excited for the season to start which thanks to archery season starting sooner and lasting longer than modern will come a lot fast this year.