Best western GMU for deer

[legrange98]

Hi Whats is the best GMU on the western side for deer hunting. I will hunt white or blacktail no preference. This will be my first hunt and my uncle from nevada will come up and go with me.

[Huntbear]

No huntable whitetails on the wetside.  Blacktail only... 

Every unit has its advantages and disadvantages..  Do you want high country hunts?  Hunt the brush?  Hunt the clearcuts?  etc. and so on...

Do some research on the WDFW website, look at success rates, etc.... 

[legrange98]

Im looking to hunt clear cuts. This will be my first hunt so i would like one with a high success rate.

[buckfvr]

You're getting a late start.......better start scouting in all your free time.  Thats a big part of success.

[Buckmark]

Vail tree farm...

[legrange98]

How many hunters hunt that tree farm?

[bobcat]

How many hunters hunt that tree farm?

Approximately 47,000.

[fair-chase]

Quit lowballing the kid Bobcat, we all know there are way more than that. 



Hey Legrange, what happened to going east for mule deer?

[legrange98]

Ya know keeping all my options open

[buckfvr]

How many hunters hunt that tree farm?

Approximately 47,000.

On the week days.......weekends are much worse.   

[mrmoskillz]

Vail has a lot of spikes but Bobcat forgot 2 zeros he meant 4,700,000...I think gates are locked weekdays but could be wrong...what weapon type?

[legrange98]

So what would you guys recommend for an easy first hunt

[Buckmark]

So what would you guys recommend for an easy first hunt

I will say it again, Vail tree farm
Easy access, lots of roads, lots of clear cuts, some deer although mostly spikes and forkies, lots of people to move the deer around, lots of people road hunt it so getting out and walking, still hunting or getting to a good vantage point by foot should be productive...Classic old school blacktail hunting in logging areas..
I will admit i have never been there though...

[legrange98]

Alright some where is it exactly

[Buckmark]

http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/pdfs/businesses/recreationalaccess/Vail%20-%20Weyerhaeuser%20Recreational%20Access%20Guidelines.pdf
*
There is also capital forest near you.
http://capitolforest.com/

[sirmissalot]

I dont mind helping people out especially on a forum like this, we're all here to learn but I feel like you're asking everyone to help and aren't willing to put in much if any research on your own... Do yourself a favor and get familiar with the search button, wdfw harvest reports, google and google earth. If you have specific questions feel free to PM me but asking where an easy spot to go kill a deer seems like too much to me.

I agree Vail is a great place to tag out on a deer.

[legrange98]

thanks i appreciate the info

[legrange98]

i have actually done allot of researching on my own and yes i am asking people for help...... that's why i started using this forum and i was only asking for recommendations from people who done allot of hunting.

[WA hunter14]

not much research, you didnt know mule deer live on the east side, you didnt know you cant hunt what few whitetail live on the west side. have you even done hunters education?

[legrange98]

going to gang up on me now?

[WA hunter14]

no, just trying to say its easy for people to tell you havent done much research. you could learn alot from just reading the regs if you havent done that id start there. its hard for you to get the information your looking for because people had to work for what they know and want someone to have to do the same atleast mostly. have you taken hunters ed?

[legrange98]

yes i have taken hunters ed and i am not trying to steal anyone's information i just want to go out and hunt so i can build up my own

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

There is good deer hunting all over the west side it just takes time and effort to find these areas.  We are willing to help out but I think a lot of us almost think your being too pushy and demanding on the information we have. Spent a lot of time and money finding.

[WA hunter14]

almost any gmu can have just as good of areas as any gmu. c post has alot of good spots id start there

[legrange98]

im sorry if im being pushy but i have no way to find this...... i am 14 and both of my parents don't hunt. when i turn 16 and get a car i will be out there finding my own spots but right now i just need help from people who know it.

[Woodchuck]

Hang in there, you will get a foot in the door somewhere and you will be able to run from there, just don't give up.

[legrange98]

Thanks woodchuck

[Woodchuck]

 

[legrange98]

I think this season i will go out to capitol forest and check that out....... Thanks for all the info guys and i am sorry for being to pushy

[Buckmark]

Calm down guys, no one has given out any super secret information, he says he is 14 and i believe he his telling the truth.
I am sure you all knew everything about hunting and everything else at 14, i know my boys all thought they did..
Hang in there legrange98...

[Woodchuck]

Con your parents into taking a weekend and come over here before season on a camping trip. I will show you guys around to some spots I know.

[WA hunter14]

im 15 my dad used to take me huntingwhen i was like 10 but he was the old school i learned it on my own why cant you kind of guy so i didnt shoot any deer for a long time. and the last few years he has been to busy to o hunting so i have my mom drop me off for a few days at a time and i learn alot everytime i go. id suggest starting now. learn your basic survival skills pay attention to where you are at all times no one likes to get lost. find a gmu near you get someone to drop you off for the day and try to get within shooting distance of a legal deer. you will wuickly realize how few animals are actually out in the woods. but you will find trails and beds and spook animals
(hear them sprinting threw the brush) and you will have fun and get dirty and learn alot the first few times. stick with the basics like keeping the wind in your face and walk where the deer live(where the beds, scat, and tracks are) and you will see deer after awhile and you wont shoot anything this season most likely but if you keep trying and learning its just a matter of time. you can learn so much from this forum its not funny i would definately keep coming on here sorry if it seemed like i was trying to push you off of here

[legrange98]

thanks woodchuck ill try

[WA hunter14]

mny posts might be worthless but hopefully something i say will help with something

[Woodchuck]

thanks woodchuck ill try

Let me know, you can have your dad call me or whatever, glad to help where I can.

[Woodchuck]

mny posts might be worthless but hopefully something i say will help with something

You are okay man. All situations are different and I just try to put myself in those shoes. Your post above is actually a good one IMO,
Try to keep this in mind with all hunters, the more we are and the more united we are makes us all stronger as a group that is trying to protect the passtime we love so much. 

[legrange98]

Thanks guys

[jackmaster]

Vail tree farm...

it will be your best bet for a first time hunter, plenty of places for you to get out and walk through little bands of timber and tons of clearcuts, success isnt what it use to be but for this late of a start it will be your best bet.... good luck to ya kid.

[akirkland]

I live at a vail tree farm gate. I archery hunt. Let me know if you need anything. I have no problem helping you out. It would be nice to pass on some of my knowledge.

[MADMAX]

I live at a vail tree farm gate. I archery hunt. Let me know if you need anything. I have no problem helping you out. It would be nice to pass on some of my knowledge.

And Andy's a stand up guy

Good luck this year bud !

[akirkland]

Hey, thanks MADMAX! Good luck to you as well.

[Stick em]

Are you hunting Archery? If so, private property is the place for an easy successful hunt. I know a few places in 621 & 624 that are very successful every year. You'll see 30 deer in 2 hours but most of them will be Doe's.

[copasj]

Veil is generally chock full of people, that is true.  There is some access on the road between Rainier/Tenino.  I live close so I spend more time there than anywhere else. 

I just started hunting again 2 years ago, and we have seen legal deer both years in Veil.  Also Ft. Lewis has some nice spots, not sure if a minor can hunt alone though. 

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

[TG509hunter]

(legrange98) I don’t know much about hunting the westside being I only hunt the eastside, so I can’t help you out there.  Also, I very rarely post comments on this forum, but this time I am going to share a few pointers with you that have nothing to do with where to shoot a deer.  First, I am well aware of hunters who “keep all their options open.”  In my book we call those hunters “users”.  I have experienced some situations with other hunters which did not sit well with me, and that is all I am going to say about that.  So …… I am telling you this because as you mature and learn more about hunting you will quickly learn it is not about killing an animal.  Hunting is truly about comradely with you true friends/family and respect for the outdoors.  It IS NOT about killing an animal.  Right now, your situation is different being you are trying to harvest your first deer.  Although, as you mature into hunting I will highly stress not to “leave your options open”, because that will burn more bridges than anything.  As many forum members have mentioned, we all work hard spending a lot of time and money establishing these hunting locations and relationships with landowners.  You need to be sensitive about that and be aware that most hunters are not just going to freely take another hunter hunting who they don’t know, only because that hunter will most likely tell another hunter and then it is a domino effect from there, which equals ….. Good-bye hunting spot.  If my numbers are correct you’ve started 2 threads within 2 days asking other hunters for good mule deer, whitetail and blacktail hunting.  Personally that does not sit well in my book.  I see there have been a few good members who have very kindly offered you some good options, which it appears you have yet to take advantage of.  Before those offers go away and you start burning bridges, you need to accept one of those good offers and move forward with it and STOP looking for something better.  I truly hope you fill your deer tag this year and enjoy your experience hunting, because hunting is a passion I will never give up.  Also keep in mind that not everyone harvests a deer their first year, so if you don’t fill your tag this year just hang in there and keep at it.  Furthermore, read the regs and know that laws.  A true hunter is an ethical hunter.  In my opinion harvesting an animal while playing by the rules is the only way to experience true success.  That’s my two-sense, do what you want with it.  Lastly, make some good friends, hunt with those friends, enjoy the outdoors, HAVE FUN and shoot straight.  Good Luck Bud!!!!      

[legrange98]

thanks everyone for all the help. Outdoors men are always the nicest people

[MAVsled]

I agree Vail is a great place to tag out on a deer.

Vail Tree Farm, lots of deer, lots of hunters.
Hunted myself, many times over the years for modern late blacktail buck season.

but get this....this is the only place in WA State that I've had bullets go bees-zingin' over my head or hit the ground below me; 3x the last 4 years in late season.
Watched a group of 3 yahoos last year fire 9 shots at a buck that eventually made its way over to my side of the clear cut. I passed on the little spike as it came by at 50 yards and disappeared into the reprod. Some "hunters" have no idea of ideal range or calculating distance for effective shooting, Instead of just blasting away.

[legrange98]

well any place with a ton of deer you will get those irresponsible people

[Kowsrule30]

Mashel.... Skookumchuck.... Mason..... Kitsap... South Rainer... My top 5..... Not in any order...