Done messing around

[magnanimous_j]

It seems that every year I make grand plans to do more outdoors activities. Those are the first things to get cut out. Well not this year. I’m turning 30 in a month and have never shot a deer yet. I mean to change that.

I don’t have many friends who hunt, so getting location advice is really tough. I don’t want anyone’s honeyhole. I just want a place to start (I find the gohunt app extremely confusing). I live in Seattle and can drive a couple hours. I’ve got all summer to scout.

Any help will be appreciated.

[Woodchuck]

For elk...Colockum 

seriously though, define "a couple hours"

[coachcw]

Take up hiking and burn some boot leather just remember you need a plan to get animals out .

[WSU]

Do you care if it is a buck or just want a deer to break the ice?  What weapon?

[oldleclercrd]

Google earth free download. Use this imagery map to find the best looking spots and then when you go out scouting, your not wandering around aimlessly. You can also print the photos to make a custom map.

[blacktailcody]

If you go with a rifle good luck.

[snowpack]

what tag/weapon do you get?

[magnanimous_j]

Do you care if it is a buck or just want a deer to break the ice?  What weapon?

A break the ice deer, I like to eat em. I'm thinking 30-06 for rifle.

seriously though, define "a couple hours"

As close as possible and still have a decent chance. 100 miles from Seattle, but I'd go farther if I HAD to. I can scout on my motorcycle in the summer.

what tag/weapon do you get?

Modern rifle deer.

[bobcat]

I would apply for some of the doe permits in any of the Region 2 GMU's. Many of these are now in the "2nd deer tag" category, which is both good and bad.

 The bad is it will cost an additional $70 for that tag, if you are drawn for one of those hunts. The good is that it will provide you with more opportunity to hunt.

If I had yet to kill a deer that's what I would do to maximize my chances.

When I get more time I will send a PM with more specific suggestions.

[WSU]

If you are planning to rifle hunt I would pick somewhere relatively close to home.  You are pretty much limited to blacktails with that distance, and killing one of those boils down to time in the woods.  Also, if you are limited with the amount of time you want to spend in the woods, I would only hunt the last 4 or 5 days of general season and then hunt the late buck season. 

If you are able to muzzy hunt, everything around Olympia has plenty of deer, long seasons, and is open to killing any deer you see.

[BowForElk]

Get Google Earth for your computer. Its the best tool that I have used for scouting. It has many neat tools that help when scouting like the date imagery so you can go back to certain years and look at different pictures of the same area. So you know when the place was clear cutted and how old the cut is. You can then somewhat accurately guess how old the reprod is. there is also a Sun and moon button where you move the slider and it shows the shadows on the land at certain times of the day.

Its a must!

[h20hunter]

Have you considered bow last part of general season for a muley doe? Should be a drop in the bucket for that.

[magnanimous_j]

Have you considered bow last part of general season for a muley doe? Should be a drop in the bucket for that.

I broke my left elbow twice in the last couple years in the exact same place. I think drawing a bow would blow out my arm. I have to be really careful how I lift with it.

[h20hunter]

Yep....that would be tough. Good luck this coming season gettting it done. Lots of good ideas to help so far.

[WSU]

It is too bad you are limited to 100 miles.  Your chances of killing a deer go up dramatically if you are willing to travel.