What are some must do and must haves for hunting SE WA?

[Pete112288]

I have the points and am hoping to get drawn for a quality tag this year in the SE region of the state. I am born and bread western WA, thick brush and timber, soaking wet, sub 100 yard shot, any buck or any deer as a norm. It will be a few years till I get the time and money to spend much time on the east side pre season so the hunts I was going to put in for are 4-O ranch and ZMI ranch, that way I know the land I can hunt and have someone to point me in the right direction at least. I am not overly concerned with getting a MASSIVE buck, just a respectable 3 point+. My deffinition of "trophy buck" for myself is a bit lower than most haha. My question is if I were to be drawn for one of these hunts, what are the things that are must haves or must do before going? I have a spotting scope, good binos, rangefinder, and my 30-06. Anything else besides the basics?

[Bob33]

Strong legs and shooting practice. You have the rest.

[AlpineMuley]

How many points do you have?  Is this for whitetail or mule deer.

[bobcat]

Sun glasses, Chapstick, and boots with good ankle support. A bipod on the rifle might help, a good rangefinder, and a GPS.

[bare.hunter]

hunting license and the rut.

[Pete112288]

How many points do you have?  Is this for whitetail or mule deer.

I will have 5 or 6 points this year. Figured I would put the ZMI ranch as my first choice and thats any 3 pt mule or whitetail. If I did the 4-O I would probably put in for the whitetail hunt.

I have a GPS too, forgot about that one. Boots are something I need before this fall anyway, mine finally gave out this last year.

[pd]

Pete, I second all of the posts above me (yeah, you will need your license...).  This might just be true for me, but western WA and the Blues are quite different in another respect: Temperature swings.  I don't see huge daily swings on the westside, but the Blues can be really cold in the morning, and blazing hot the same day in the afternoon.  I suffer badly from the cold, so I wear a lot of clothes.  But strangely, I also overheat, too, so I need to shed clothes.  Thus, I would add 1 item to your list: A backpack (you have to carry those clothes somehow).

[bobcat]

You also need to realize that your odds of drawing any of those permits is very low. Five or six points doesn't help much. You're looking at odds of 1 in 100, or at best 1 in 25, depending on the permit. The ZMI would be your best odds because it has 2 permits, instead of only one like the others.

[Pete112288]

All the tips and info are much appreciated 

[jackelope]

Personally I wouldn't use my quality deer points again for mule  deer in the southeast corner of the state. Very few mule deer. Your odds of drawing either of those permits is very slim either way. I'd do the whitetail "buck deer" permits all day every day, but not mule deer quality permits.

[mtman]

You should just go even if you dont draw. Plenty of deer get shot during the general seasons over there. you will need some good lightwieght boots and a strong heart to keep the blood pumping to those legs. Couple days of hard hunting over there can make a guy tired.

[JODakota]

Personally I wouldn't use my quality deer points again for mule  deer in the southeast corner of the state. Very few mule deer. Your odds of drawing either of those permits is very slim either way. I'd do the whitetail "buck deer" permits all day every day, but not mule deer quality permits.

Very few mule deer?! Ha right.

[jackelope]

Maybe I should say very few quality bucks. You can't argue that one, JODakota.

[JODakota]

Maybe I should say very few quality bucks. You can't argue that one, JODakota.

We'll, depends on if it's public vs. private. Definitely some pigs taken off of private this year. Public, your 100% correct.

[jackelope]

;-)

[Ridgerunner]

I think those two hunts would meet what the original poster wanted out if a mule deer.

[bobdog86]

1. Top of the line boots, best you can afford, well broken in
2. Best optics you can afford. I paid more for my swarovski's than on my gun/scope.
3. Best Backpack you can afford. I have an Eberlestock X2, which may not be the best, but has an aluminum frame, which is useful when tying stuff on a quarter if needed.

May be different if your hunting the stubble, but if you drop in some of the nasty spots i'd start with those. Also, one thing that i haven't seen is a good set of binocular-type holders, like the bino buddy system. Keeps some of the pressure off the back of your neck and keeps em from swinging everywhere, like when you stumble, or fall against the hillside because your on the edge of 40' bluff  slipping on pea gravel ball bearing crap. Enjoy, but please remember, there are no deer in SE Washington.

[Fish4Fun]

I would agree with all of the equipment mentioned already. My suggestion would be to be comfortable at shooting out in the open. A good Bi-Pod and range finder will make a huge difference. Open grass lands and stubble fields, where shots can be 100 - 400 yards. Practice practice practice at the longer shots so as not to wound a nice buck. Know your gun and your loads, the rest is just deer hunting.

[Pete112288]

New boots were already a must for an early summer purchase this year. I dont have the best when it comes to optics and pack but I do have ones that will have to do since my budget is near non-existnant for this year. I do have the Sportsmans Warehouse made Bino-system type harness and love it haha, I probably wouldnt end up taking them out of the truck if I didnt have this thing. I know thats bad that I would leave them behind like that but the harness is where its at as far as I am concerned. I think I am pretty set as far as gear goes at the moment judging off of what everyone suggested and what I already have. The HUGE part is getting out and getting some practice on the range. Last time I shot more than 100 yards was a few years ago, was pretty confident out to 300 at the time but since 99% of my shots average 30-60 yards, I have fallen out of practice with longer distances. So looks like the only big purchase I need besides boots is more ammo and gas to get me to the range. Thanks everyone for the input. Yea the smaller of the two bucks in that picture is one that I would shoot without question as long as I could put a 3rd point on it. I know for most any mulie hunters out there they would shake their head at me using quality deer points for that but I am young, I have time to build up points again haha, just want my first mule deer or whitetail.

[jackelope]

New boots were already a must for an early summer purchase this year. I dont have the best when it comes to optics and pack but I do have ones that will have to do since my budget is near non-existnant for this year. I do have the Sportsmans Warehouse made Bino-system type harness and love it haha, I probably wouldnt end up taking them out of the truck if I didnt have this thing. I know thats bad that I would leave them behind like that but the harness is where its at as far as I am concerned. I think I am pretty set as far as gear goes at the moment judging off of what everyone suggested and what I already have. The HUGE part is getting out and getting some practice on the range. Last time I shot more than 100 yards was a few years ago, was pretty confident out to 300 at the time but since 99% of my shots average 30-60 yards, I have fallen out of practice with longer distances. So looks like the only big purchase I need besides boots is more ammo and gas to get me to the range. Thanks everyone for the input. Yea the smaller of the two bucks in that picture is one that I would shoot without question as long as I could put a 3rd point on it. I know for most any mulie hunters out there they would shake their head at me using quality deer points for that but I am young, I have time to build up points again haha, just want my first mule deer or whitetail.

Honestly, if you just want to shoot a 3 point, I'd just go over there hunting the general season. There's decent opportunity for deer hunting over there, better for other parts of the state and you wouldn't have to burn your points. Do what makes you happy though. That's what's the most important thing.
Again, just my .02.

[Pete112288]

When it comes down to it. The main thing I was thinking is that I wouldnt have to ask for a handout for finding a hunting place and since there would only be a few other hunters with tags in the areas I was putting in for that it may be better odds without having to stumble around in the dark to figure things out. The other thing is that even if someone showed me around I dont have much to offer in return. That being said, if someone really thinks its that big of a shame for me to use my points like this and could help me out, I would do my best to make up for it. I have the first week of early modern season approved for vacation.
All in all I do appreciate everyone's input.

[bobdog86]

Just remember, there's only the general season for modern in SE WA. No late hunts (w/out special draw). But if your personal goal is to shoot any 3 point, you have a pretty decent chance at accomplishing your goal. There are some pretty decent state owned/control areas, that should provide you with a quality experience. Get out and shoot, exercise and have fun.

[T-Dozzer]

Good boots, good glass sticks or bi-pod and practice shooting further distance

[elkh8me]

Went on an elk hunt there last year.  Strong Legs and a strong back.  Awesome STEEP country

[MarkyMark]

I saw these fellas last year in that neck of the woods.

[MarkyMark]

I would say bring Motrin and lots of ice for your knees.

[splitshot]

      if you get drawn pm me cuz I know some farmers down there who would let you on.   there are some spots you can hunt without a permit just a deer tag.    mike w

[Pete112288]

I appreciate that. I put in for the ZMI ranch hunt as my first pick. I duno if I can pull off coming over there for general season this year but I sure hope I can start doing it in another year or two.

[Bofire]

  good info here, I would add that alot of the gear is very personal, "I hate what you love!!"
kind of deal. Scope covers.
for me, I hate bipods, love shooting sticks; and hate Bino holders as a matter of fact I made my own Bino strap about 6 feet long and love it. As you try stuff you'll figure it out.
Carl

[Odell]

I would learn the ballistics on your rifle and practice at longer ranges. Then pick a maximum distance that is good for your skills and equipment and then stick to it. Personally I won't shoot a bow past 50 yards or my rifle past 300. Personal choice, best for my skills and limitations. Yes you pass on some shots. Once you get over it it's actually fun. Make yourself get closer, get better. You don't have to shoot at everything and passing legal animals grows on you IMO.

[BigGoonTuna]

some folks here would say you need a voter card for the county you want to hunt down that way

i hunted lick creek/peola back in 2011, as luck would have it rained every night(my dad hunted that area since the mid '70s and said he'd never seen it rain during rifle season) and was so foggy by daybreak that you couldn't see 50 yards.  nobody in our camp saw a legal buck in 5 days.  however someone shot one 50 yards from our camp site while we were out on an afternoon hunt one day.