Confused on the hunting regs...

[mjustice79]

I am moving to Washington around the Dec/Jan time frame. I was reading the regulations up there and I am kinda confused. If I get an archery tag, how I understand it to be is that I can only hunt during the archery season in September and that's it. I grew up hunting in Tennessee and Georgia where the seasons go from mid-September to mid-January. Am I interpreting this correctly? Thanks in advance!!

[deaner]

there are also late archery seasons

[Widgeondeke]

welcome to WA. On average you only get 9 days to hunt deer in the Evergreen State.     

[deaner]

welcome to WA. On average you only get 9 days to hunt deer in the Evergreen State.     

youre crazy.  unit i hunt in... archery deer is sept 1-27th, then nov 25 - dec15th..  so archery total is 48 days, much better than 9
                                             muzzle loader deer is sep 28th - oct 6th  so muzzle total is 9 days, right on there
                                             modern is oct 12-25th and nov 9-19th so 25 days total for modern.

i really dont think 9 days is average, its just what the muzzle loaders get.  they do get shafted.

[h2ofowlr]

welcome to WA. On average you only get 9 days to hunt deer in the Evergreen State.     

youre crazy.  unit i hunt in... archery deer is sept 1-27th, then nov 25 - dec15th..  so archery total is 48 days, much better than 9
                                             muzzle loader deer is sep 28th - oct 6th  so muzzle total is 9 days, right on there
                                             modern is oct 12-25th and nov 9-19th so 25 days total for modern.

i really dont think 9 days is average, its just what the muzzle loaders get.  they do get shafted.

The muzzy guys also get a late season depending on where you hunt.  I think it goes Nov. 28 - Dec.15

[mjustice79]

I appreciate the assistance. Never hunted elk, only whitetail. I am looking forward to getting up there and getting after it! what do yall recommend: spot and stalk, tree stand or getting a guide my first season?

[RB]

I appreciate the assistance. Never hunted elk, only whitetail. I am looking forward to getting up there and getting after it! what do yall recommend: spot and stalk, tree stand or getting a guide my first season?

Whitetail are only on the Eastern portion of Washington if that is what you are used to hunting I would presume similar tactics from Georgia and Tennessee would work here. Get maps and look for National forest that will be open to public hunting. If you really don't have the time to scout and can afford it hiring a guide would be a good option as well. Bearpaw on here would be a good place to start if you are looking for a Washington guide 

Best of luck and Welcome

[mjustice79]

good deal! thanks RB!

[Jburke]

A lot also will depend on the part of the state you are considering hunting.  Hunting elk in the NE corner is different than hunting on the coast.   
What part of the state are you planning to move to?

[mjustice79]

I will be moving around Olympia and hunting on the western side of the state.

[billythekidrock]

Their is decent elk & bear hunting within an hour of Olympia and you will find blacktail deer everywhere... maybe even in your backyard in Oly.

[Screaminreelz]

Oly area or wetside as some call it on here MF runs Oct 12-31 and late season Nov 14-17. Get out and away from the city in nearly any direction and you'll have some form of opportunity.

[bullcanyon]

Um..... He is asking about elk not deer. 

You can hunt both the early and late season with an archery tag.

[snowpack]

He can also buy the muzzleloader tag and hunt with his archery equipment, or if lucky draw a multi elk permit and hunt all three seasons (east and westside)with bow and arrow.

[jackmaster]

yeah depending on what your lookn for buck wise, blacktail bucks can be seriously discouraging, they dont act anything like a witetail and man oh man, if you havent been in serious brush before then you are in for quite a TREAT  and if you have never seen a elk in the wild then your also in for one helluva treat, and moose and sheep and goats and blacktails and more blacktails and did i mention blacktails? oh and some muleys and some whitetails and cougars and bears. well i can just tell ya, you will dig it alot more than the south  welcome to WASHINGTON, you got on a real good site, so your headed in the right direction, its alot better than shootn blind i can tell ya that