New Deer Hunter

[augnmike]

Hi guys, I am from Southern California and an avid hunter.  My best friend who does not hunt has a 15 yr old daughter who wants to learn to hunt and is interested in deer hunting.  They live in Mead and I think are in Unit 124 as best as I can tell from online research.  I am more than willing to drive there to assist getting a youngster started and thought I would put in as well.  Here are my questions if anyone can help us. 

1.  Is there a non-resident draw in Washington State and do you specify a unit when applying?  (I hunt Montana every year and that is how they do it)

2.  Is Unit 124 a good one for deer and are there doe tags available there?

3.  Lastly if I want to do some coyote calling while there do I just need a small game license? 

Thanks a lot for any help, in any event even if I don't get a license I will be coming up to assist her in getting hooked on our sport, the more youngsters the better.

[huntnphool]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01496/wdfw01496.pdf

[augnmike]

Yeah I found that online but I could not find the non-resident procedures just the prices.  Can anyone help with specifics?

[hughjorgan]

You specify the unit by hunt choice number that corresponds for the weapon you are hunting with. You can find the special permit hunt choices in the regulations following the general season dates.

Washington is a choose your weapon state so once you pick modern firearm you will only be able to hunt modern firearm seasons and apply for modern firearm special permits.

Look up the harvest statistics for gmu 124 should give you the info you want concerning if it is a good unit to hunt. The NE part of the state generally has the biggest harvest of deer state wide.

All that is needed to shoot coyotes is a valid big game license or small game license.

[bobcat]

First thing to be aware of is there is absolutely no difference between residents and non residents when it comes to hunting in Washington. The only difference is the price of licenses and tags.

If you just want to hunt deer, there's no need to apply for any special permits. You have plenty of opportunity in the general season. 

To hunt coyotes you need a small game license OR a big game license. So if you're hunting deer or any other big game, you already will have the license needed to hunt coyotes. No need to spend more money on the small game license.

[augnmike]

That is exactly the info I needed. Thanks guys for the help.  I already called her dad and he is getting her into a hunt ed program so she can get her license.  I know us folks from California are not always welcomed but you guys have been very helpful.  Hope I am able to get her a deer this coming season. 

[huntnphool]

Washington is a choose your weapon state so once you pick modern firearm you will only be able to hunt modern firearm seasons and apply for modern firearm special permits.

Unless you get a "multi season" permit.

I'd say its more a "choose your season" state. Archer can hunt archery season, muzzy season or rifle season with their archery gear. Muzzleloader guys can hunt muzzy or rifle with their muzzy guns but as Hugh says you can only hunt rifle season with a rifle.

Without a multi season permit you do need to choose just one "season" though, and use the weapons as I described above.

[Roperfive88]

If you buy a deer tag then you don't need a small game licences to hunt coyotes. You can hunt them with smallgame or big game licences.

[augnmike]

PM returned, thanks to all for the advice.  Looking forward to watching another youngster start their journey into our sport.