New to WA. Looking to join a group lease on West side.

[Soup]

I just moved here from Oklahoma.  I've been in the AF for 20 yrs. I'm looking for a group lease to join. I'm an avid Bow-hunter, and water fowler. Please contact me with any info. Thanks

[Pigfuz]

Well I have lived on the Westside all of my life and have never even heard of a lease around here.  There is tons of public land available to hunt and the other option is to just ask property owners for permission.  Hunting here is a completely different ball game then hunting Oklahoma.  Good luck and happy hunting 

[Soup]

Thanks for the reply, where can I get a map of the public land?  Even if there aren't leases, I'm looking for an established hunting group, or maybe just a few ole buddies that are familiar with the regs and area here in Western WA to join.  Either way, I'm just trying to meet some people that hunt ducks and geese and wouldn't mind adding another guy.  If nobody wants to do that, I could use any help getting myself ready to go solo on public land. 

[Ned]

Join your local WWA chapter. Meetings held at Tacoma sportsmans club and you will find what you are looking for.


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[Widgeondeke]

JBLM has some good waterfowl hunting. Go to the Adventure Center, they have maps & info. For public land you can start with a visit to a Ranger station in the area.

Good luck.

[Widgeondeke]

I know you mentioned bow hunting, but there is a great offer to join a member at his camp for modern deer opening weekend.

Look at hunt swaps.

[Curly]

Ned had a great idea.  Here is a link:  http://www.waduck.org/members.htm

Down in my neck of the woods, most places are leased up by hunting clubs.  Lincoln Creek hunting club had most of the land leased up in the Lincoln Creek valley and a lot of areas in the Chehalis River area near his place.  He has passed away, but I believe his sons or wife might run the operation now?    

Then farther downstream from where most of Corky's leases were, is Cedarville hunting club.........they have a lot of the available places leased. 

There is another long-time club in Nisqually called Medicine Creek hunting club (or something like that). It may not be around anymore?  I don't know.  Last time I heard anything about them was 20 years ago (maybe they are gone now) and the waiting list was very, very long.

Anyway, I think Cedarville would be your best bet or join the WWA and talk to some of those guys at the meeting, they may know about some lease opportunities.

[cliffordingles]

I looked into joining Lincoln Creek last year... IMO its a waste of ALOT of moey just to hunt 3 days a week...

Soup - check out the WDFW site for public land, there are some good places. Also, I just got out of the Army from JBLM. There are some decent places on base too. You should look into that.

[Ned]

Ned had a great idea.  Here is a link:  http://www.waduck.org/members.htm

Down in my neck of the woods, most places are leased up by hunting clubs.  Lincoln Creek hunting club had most of the land leased up in the Lincoln Creek valley and a lot of areas in the Chehalis River area near his place.  He has passed away, but I believe his sons or wife might run the operation now?    

Then farther downstream from where most of Corky's leases were, is Cedarville hunting club.........they have a lot of the available places leased. 

There is another long-time club in Nisqually called Medicine Creek hunting club (or something like that). It may not be around anymore?  I don't know.  Last time I heard anything about them was 20 years ago (maybe they are gone now) and the waiting list was very, very long.

Anyway, I think Cedarville would be your best bet or join the WWA and talk to some of those guys at the meeting, they may know about some lease opportunities.

Cedarville now holds the lease on the old medacine creek club, have for about 10-12 years.
They are an awesome club but are sold out for the season and have a waiting list to join.

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[cryfowl]

Go to the wdfw page and look under waterfowl.  There's a whole list of state owned land with maps on their site.  Lot of those only get wet toward the end of November or mid December depending on weather but you will be in the light paths.

[jgoetz]

There are a bunch of options available.  Between Bellingham and Seattle there is not a whole lot in the way of leases happening.  There are a few hunt clubs that you could join if you don't mind giving your left nut.  Like others have said there is tons of public land in WA.

Go to the WDFW website and look for the "GO HUNT" program.  There is also the Waterfowl Quality hunt program.  Take a look at Google Earth as well.  There are a lot of options.  Stick around here and keep an eye on the open seat thread. 

Best of luck to ya!

[h2ofowlr]

Well I have lived on the Westside all of my life and have never even heard of a lease around here.  There is tons of public land available to hunt and the other option is to just ask property owners for permission.  Hunting here is a completely different ball game then hunting Oklahoma.  Good luck and happy hunting 

Lots of leases available, most have waiting lists.  Their are a bunch in SW Washington as well, you just have to look for them.  Sauvie's Island is mainly clubs besides the refuge.