New to state

[Camohunter20]

Hello Everyone,

I just moved up to Spokane area about 3 months ago from Nebraska. I am an avid bowhunter, duck/goose hunter, pheasant hunter, and by the nature of my surroundings I plan on being an elk hunter. I have talked with a few guys here and there about hunting and it seems to be a lot tighter on the laws/rules in the state of Washington compared to Nebraska. Is there anything anyone would like to pass along that I may need to know about making this transition into this sportsmans paradise up here? Also I have always and only hunted from a treestand, and 95% of everyone I talk to says they stalk animals around here. Is stand hunting good to do in this state or am I going to have to get used to stalking and chasing deer? Thanks for any input I appreciate it and look forward to indulging in what Washington has to offer

[pianoman9701]

Hello Everyone,

I just moved up to Spokane area about 3 months ago from Nebraska. I am an avid bowhunter, duck/goose hunter, pheasant hunter, and by the nature of my surroundings I plan on being an elk hunter. I have talked with a few guys here and there about hunting and it seems to be a lot tighter on the laws/rules in the state of Washington compared to Nebraska. Is there anything anyone would like to pass along that I may need to know about making this transition into this sportsmans paradise up here? Also I have always and only hunted from a treestand, and 95% of everyone I talk to says they stalk animals around here. Is stand hunting good to do in this state or am I going to have to get used to stalking and chasing deer? Thanks for any input I appreciate it and look forward to indulging in what Washington has to offer

Welcome to the site. You'll probably be uncomfortable with the reduced amount of corn you'll see here in WA.

It's generally accepted that you take your first elk with a knife in WA. I've done it. So have most of the guys on this site. Stalking is the preferred method. Watch out for their hooves. If one of the Indians in here is lurking (Indians lurk a lot), maybe they'll give you some tips on this method of cutting your teeth on an elk. Good luck!

[BULLBLASTER]

 

[h20hunter]

Yes.....Indians with feathers.....not Indianaians with Hoosier t-shirts and "Larry Bird for President" buttons.

[NRA4LIFE]

I'd use that term "Sportsman's Paradise" a little loosely also.

[pianoman9701]

I thought that was Louisiana, anyway.

[h20hunter]

PS.


Grab the regs and read read read. It is completely different than any midwest state. We got a season for everthing with seasons in between.

Like my previous post we'll mess with you a little bit but depending on where you chose to hunt you can do it all in this state. Many places you can hang a stand for whitetail then drive an hour or two and hunt the sage for muleys. We got bears and cougars, moose and elk, yotes and bunnies.

My best advice is to read read read. Grab the regs, put 'em next to the crapper and start thinking about next year. You will find a ton of good info on countless threads.

Also, there is always C-Post for beginners!

[pianoman9701]

If you have an IPhone, get the Sportsman BigGameRegs app. It costs $4 for the WA regs and once you upload those, it tells you what's legal, where and when with what shooting implement. It's a lot easier to figure out than the Big Game Regulations.

[Button Nubbs]

As far as the treestand subject goes, they are my preferred method.

[benhuntin]

Start puttin in for special draw tags, they are the ticket to the best hunts in the state Good luck and welcome to the state and site

[Mudman]

Welcome. Read regs!  Liberal state is nothing but laws rules and then some more fees and passes.

[Yeti]

It took me a bit to figure out the regs...I grew up in Michigan.  For archery they require to you pick your weapon ( bow, rifle, muzzleloader) then which side of the mts you hunt, east or west....obviously east side which for elk is mostly spike or cow unless you have a special tag.... so to hunt a branch bull you have to travel to the wet side... (yes it is wet and west) for general seasons.  Deer are a little different.  Most people hunting elk stalk and use the wind.   Good Luck!!

[DoubleJ]

No mechanical broadheads or illuminated nocks here either.

[worldsworsthunter]

Myself and everyone else I know that consistantly see or get game hunt from a tree stand. I live in Spokane as well and it is really all about getting a map and exploring. There are some decent areas to hunt around Spokane. I find that late season archery deer is better with a little preperation. If you want a few areas to check out send me a PM and I will give you a few areas to check out for archery and somewhere to start for waterfowl.

[300rum]

Move to Idaho and commute for 6 months (or whatever you have to, to become a resident).  Buy the Idaho lifetime hunting license as soon as you can and then feel free to move back to Washington.  After that, you will spend about the same, will find much better hunting, can get a wolf tag for just over $30 and can shoot more than one (buck) deer.

Hunt Idaho in Mid-October and then go about 8 hours due east and hunt that state too. 

[JLS]

Move to Idaho and commute for 6 months (or whatever you have to, to become a resident).  Buy the Idaho lifetime hunting license as soon as you can and then feel free to move back to Washington.  After that, you will spend about the same, will find much better hunting, can get a wolf tag for just over $30 and can shoot more than one (buck) deer.

Hunt Idaho in Mid-October and then go about 8 hours due east and hunt that state too.

I may be wrong, and I don't have the Idaho regs in front of me, but it's my understanding that the lifetime hunting license does not entitle you to resident pricing on the tags?  I'm pretty sure you still have to pay the NR fee on those.

[300rum]

Yep, that's right.  It still saves you $140 or so a year though.  The tags then are then $301 for Deer $416/Elk. 
 

Move to Idaho and commute for 6 months (or whatever you have to, to become a resident).  Buy the Idaho lifetime hunting license as soon as you can and then feel free to move back to Washington.  After that, you will spend about the same, will find much better hunting, can get a wolf tag for just over $30 and can shoot more than one (buck) deer.

Hunt Idaho in Mid-October and then go about 8 hours due east and hunt that state too.

I may be wrong, and I don't have the Idaho regs in front of me, but it's my understanding that the lifetime hunting license does not entitle you to resident pricing on the tags?  I'm pretty sure you still have to pay the NR fee on those.

[300rum]

Part 2:  You get a Cabela's Credit Card (as long as you pay it off every month).  Put everything on it and then on your way out of Washington, you buy your tags at Cabela's.  Idaho can be very reasonable. 

[pianoman9701]

Is this some kind of troll? He made three identical posts in different threads and has since not commented on the forum.

[elkslayer99]

Maybe he read our reg's and moved back.

[smartazz171]

Maybe he read our reg's and moved back.

if he wants help, living in Spokane I'd help, but not if he doesn't wanna be part of the forum!   

[h20hunter]

Saw that.....didn't want to point it out figuring he simply didn't know better.

[deleted BGS]

ya sorry to hear you have to live here in this deprived state. Like somebody else said commute to ID and get residency there.

[Camohunter20]

Sorry everyone have been busy as not only did I move to a new state etc., but Im preparing to take the marriage plunge. Thank you for all your input. I didnt really think I would get much hunting out of this year anyway, except maybe late season or a little bit of duck season. I have been reading the regs here and there and you are right there is so much to take in. Its crazy. But I thank you all again and look forward to hearing more as we speak.