New to all of this

[moshkid213]

I am stationed here (Fort Lewis) and have never hunted before in my life. My dad is taking me this fall down in Oregon, but I want to be able to hunt deer up here in Washington as well. I'm looking at unit 654 near Puyallup because it's close to where I live.

I have a few questions, I don't understand how all of the licensing works. So I just go buy a hunting license and tell them I want to hunt deer, and thats that? I can hunt deer in all of Washington? They don't really make it clear to a true beginner Whats with all these special permits and tags that you have to apply for? Also my dad said that we have to apply for elk tags to go in Oregon, do I have to apply to hunt deer? Or just buy a license with deer on it?

Also if I do go out near my house, do I just park and walk in? Who owns the land? I don't have to tell anyone I'm out there?

Like I said I'm truly a beginner, but really want to get out there. I'll be hunting with my dads old 30-06 that he handed down to me.

Thanks in advance for any help! Sorry I'm such a newbie!

*Edit* Also, I am just waiting on my education course, I did the online portion and passed the test, and I'm exempt from the field test because I'm military. Just waiting on it in the mail right now.

[724wd]

I am stationed here (Fort Lewis) and have never hunted before in my life. My dad is taking me this fall down in Oregon, but I want to be able to hunt deer up here in Washington as well. I'm looking at unit 654 near Puyallup because it's close to where I live.

I have a few questions, I don't understand how all of the licensing works. So I just go buy a hunting license and tell them I want to hunt deer, and thats that? I can hunt deer in all of Washington? They don't really make it clear to a true beginner Whats with all these special permits and tags that you have to apply for? Also my dad said that we have to apply for elk tags to go in Oregon, do I have to apply to hunt deer? Or just buy a license with deer on it?

For deer, yes, you can hunt the whole state during the season.  Check the regulations for specific dates and restrictions for different areas.  For elk, you must specify East or West.  You don't have to apply for special tags if you just want to hunt general season.  You must also specify what weapon you're using and hunt that season (Rifle, Archery, Muzzleloader).

For Oregon, i don't know.  I think most everything is draw.

Also if I do go out near my house, do I just park and walk in? Who owns the land? I don't have to tell anyone I'm out there?

Best to find out who owns what before you head out.  ask around, get maps, search out state/federal land and have appropriate passes/permission.  Start now!   

Like I said I'm truly a beginner, but really want to get out there. I'll be hunting with my dads old 30-06 that he handed down to me.

Thanks in advance for any help! Sorry I'm such a newbie!

*Edit* Also, I am just waiting on my education course, I did the online portion and passed the test, and I'm exempt from the field test because I'm military. Just waiting on it in the mail right now.

[huntnphool]

Welcome to the site.

The system here can be confusing for someone starting out and difficult to learn by reading the regs or people's suggestions on a forum.

If I were you I would ask around your buddies there at the base and see if one of them will walk you through it personally. Once you have the license portion squared away then researching maps and locations will be a lot easier on here.

[cvandervort]

I agree with huntnphool...once you get the first year's worth of regs/licenses out of the way, it becomes A LOT easier to navigate. There are some great people on this site from all over the state: I'm sure you could beg and plead and get SOMEONE to sit down with you and go over it...
Google Earth and WDFW's GoHunt are good places to start looking from home.

[shredder4286]

I don't understand how all of the licensing works

I feel you, brother. I was stationed at Ft Carson, CO when I started hunting again. The Regs out west are pretty overwhelming to a beginner. I just moved here to WA, and after finally understanding CO's hunting set up, I've gotta start all over.

P.S. Sometimes the 'ol guy at your local outdoor sports shop or wal-mart sporting goods employee can fill you in on things pretty good. Best of luck to you. After studying ARs and FMs, this will be no prob. 

[birdstew]

Send me a PM. Will link up with you

[huntnphool]

Very cool birdstew

[Dbax129]

hey moshkid, welcome! I'm fairly new to this too, but I've ended up figuring most of it out.  Folks on this site are incredibly helpful.  Feel free to ask all the dumbest questions you can think of.  I did, and was always treated with respect and always got great answers from several people.
The new regulation book will be out later this month, and if you want to apply for 2nd deer or if you are hunting elk and want to apply for a cow tag you will need to figure that out by the middle of may.  For hunting the general season though, just decide what weapon you want to use, buy a tag for that weapon.  For elk, you just have to make the additional choice of east side or west side.  You arent far from some good elk units on the west side.
As far as places go, you can check out http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/gohunt/
There is a lot of private owned timber land in south west washington.  All over really.  Knowing what company owns the land is key. They all have rules for when you can hunt and what kind of access they allow that you can usually find on their websites.  Weyerhouser for example has either a green, yellow, or red dot on a sign by most of their gates that tells you what kind of access they allow.  Hancock requires you to buy a permit to access most of their land.  You could pick an area you like, and look for what your options for access will be around that area.  Good luck!

[bearpaw]

To get started hunting deer is easy, go to any license dealer and tell them you want a state deer license. That will be good in most units except special draw units. Maybe someone can verify but I think the unit you asked about should be OK with the statewide deer tag. Then research where you want to hunt and find out if the land is open to hunt.

There is a recreation director somewhere at Fort Lewis who hunts, if you ask around I bet someone will know who it is and I bet he'll help you out.

[Hawgdawg]

"P.S. Sometimes the 'ol guy at your local outdoor sports shop or wal-mart sporting goods employee can fill you in on things pretty good. Best of luck to you. After studying ARs and FMs, this will be no prob."

Don't relay or shop at walmart for advice. There is enough good people here to help you out. Good luck and thanks for you service. Peace, Hawgdawg 

[moshkid213]

Wow thank you all for the help, I will be combing through these taking all advice I can get. Look forward to being out there this fall, and if anyone would want to link up with me to go out there, that'd be great. Like I said I'm in the Puyallup area.

[Dbax129]

What weapon will you be hunting with? Archery, muzzle loader, or modern rifle?  I was looking in that area for some elk, but I don't think I'm going to hunt there anymore.  I would be willing to show you what I found on my one scouting trip.  And there is a place near by that we could go see a heard, almost guaranteed to find them any given day, but its an archery only unit. Enjoy

[moshkid213]

I wouldn't mind archery hunting, unfortunately I don't have the funds to purchase a bow at the moment. I'll be hunting with my dads old 30-06. (Modern Rifle of course)

[Smossy]

Welcome to the site.

The system here can be confusing for someone starting out and difficult to learn by reading the regs or people's suggestions on a forum.

If I were you I would ask around your buddies there at the base and see if one of them will walk you through it personally. Once you have the license portion squared away then researching maps and locations will be a lot easier on here.

The systems still confusing and Ive been doing nothing but reading and researching since November lol.

[724wd]

The systems still confusing and Ive been doing nothing but reading and researching since November lol.

spend more time studying than necking with smossys-girl and it'll go a lot faster!