Needed: hunting partner for SW Wash.

[Steef]

So I had a partner lined up who was going to introduce me to Washington hunting (I'm from Texas) and now apparently something's come up and he can't go.  I'm still pretty new to hunting and didn't really feel comfortable just walking off the road into the woods trying to shoot something (with all of Washington's rules/areas that it's ok to get one kind of deer and not another, etc).  Anyone willing to take on someone?  We were planning on hunting the Trout Lake area during modern firearm for deer.

A little about me:

37 year old teacher
Pretty new to hunting (I've done hog/turkey hunts in Texas)
Modern Firearm hoping for deer or maybe elk
Comfortable in the woods, but don't know a lot of areas outside of Battle Ground where I live.
Family of 3 kids (I'm hoping to get to the point where I can start bring my 12 year old daughter with me in the next few years and then pass on to my other 2 children)
Willing to drive a reasonable amount for a good hunting experience. 
Have several personal/sick days I can use to put together a 4-6 day hunt if need be.

Thanks to everyone for looking and especially to all of those hunters who pass things along, I promise to "pay it forward" (and back with some kind of thank you!)

S

[xd2005]

Pm sent

[cdriver]

You have a lot of great hunting spots down that way. This forum will help you get started. I will pm you, would be very happy to meet up for an area I have been looking at near Naselle.

[pianoman9701]

Welcome to the forum and the state. Bowhunter here and I'm probably going to have limited time to hunt the late season. Good luck. Join Washington for Wildlife and maybe we can chat at one of the meetings. See the link on the upper right side of the page and PM me with any questions. Good luck.
PMan

[washelkhunter]

Give me a holler. I have lots of time off during the week, wtf(ss). Cant make opening deer but late deer and rifle elk are open for now.

[cdriver]

How did you do this season? I have been too tied up to hunt much this fall, still want to show you some coyote hunting, scout some spots out by Naselle this winter. After the elk season has passed.

[Steef]

So far no luck.  I've seen a couple of does, but haven't spotted any bucks.  I've been lucky though to have a couple of guys willing to take me out.  I'll be going out the end of this week for late buck to give it one more go.  I was out this past weekend for some elk and deer scouting, again, saw a doe, plenty of elk/deer "sign" but that stuff makes pretty thin gravy.  Would love the opportunity to do some coyote hunting (one problem I've noticed with Washington is not having something to hunt all year, Texas has hogs, coyotes, turkeys, etc. etc.)

S

[longstevo]

How did your hunt end up going? 

Hunting deer in Washington isn't like hunting hogs in Texas, is it?   

[Steef]

Yup, nothing like Texas!  No luck in late buck, but I learned a lot of valuable lessons (from gear I "need" to gear I sure want, to setting up a position, patience, etc.)  There's no short cut to getting experience and experience is the best teacher, so if nothing else, I think I paid some time to that.  After all, the worst day hunting still beats the best day working, right?

S

[xd2005]

I hear you had a terrible partner...

[Steef]

Yeah, I brought the lucky socks, but he didn't bring his lucky shoes, so I blame him for not seeing in bucks!