Whidbey Island

[gunrinwa]

My dad who's 68 and retired will be moving to Oak Harbor WA in June. Basically to escape the Kings County property taxes, traffic etc. Plus he likes to fish on Lone and Pass Lakes and the sound. Are the gun/sportsman clubs any good up there. What about deer hunting access? Are people open to asking permission etc. I always see a ton of deer either on the side of the road or dead on the side of the road.  As he gets older I don't see him hiking up the hills as much as we do now in Eastern WA. He's open to any type of hunting. I don't know much about hunting on Whidbey.

[MattySuto]

i have lived on whidbey fo rthe last 10 years( navy boy) and unless you know somebody that has a little bit of land to hunt on your not going to be very successful.  They love the deer up ... as they say they are their "PETS" and i have had more doors slammed in my face before i could get any words out to ask then i can even remember.   As for sportsman clubs there are a few up here you can google them as i dont rememeber the names something along the Line is of North Whidbey sportsman club.... i am very fortunate to know people that own some land and that allow me to take the deer cause they are sick of them eating flowers or scrapping trees plus i bow hunt so they like that... any other question PM me.

Matt

[irishevox]

Matty you ready to kill some deer this year!

[MattySuto]

Sure am man... excited to hunt the rut finally.. not $138 excited but it will be worth it...

[Boss .300 winmag]

Sure am man... excited to hunt the rut finally.. not $138 excited but it will be worth it...

Martty would be excited to have a fawn in his sites! 

[beastmodebowhunter]

Shot a doe out there once..... Was about the size of a dog... Lol

[hillbilli]

I think the last 3 adult does on the island I have taken were 80, 90, and 100 lbs dressed weight. the further south you go the deer seems to be bigger. yes almost all the land is private. I bowhunt, and I'm not afraid to knock on doors asking permission. (and knew no one when I got here) I hunt some little "5 acres behind the house" size plots.. but if you are persistent you can get permission, and there is no shortage of deer. and Norht whidbey sportsmans is where I go to shoot, and i'm happy with it.

[MattySuto]

i have shot some small does but i have a few brusier bucks on the land i hunt in coupeville....

[huntingaddiction]

Does your dad want to buy a house?  I'm selling one.

[irishevox]

Matty PM me

[kodiak 907]

I lived near Dugualla Bay for about 12 Years (Navy Days), and could not get any of my neighbors to let me hunt their land.  After I saw some of the bucks that would wonder thru my yard and onto their property I was helping cut firewood,painting, and a bunch of other chores. Never got to hunt. I had to move off of the island.  There are a ton of deer out that way and some nice bucks. Good luck

[Kittman]

My experience in general with Whidbey= Too much effort to secure access, not enough "Reward".  Virtually little or no public hunting ground to be had.  Lots of anti's.

[kodiak 907]

Well said Monte! How is it goin for you.

[Kittman]

Rob, all is well on the Island.  The wife was walking the dogs the other day, she took this photo of a doe up the street, If the OP's father moves here, this is what he can expect to see:

[kodiak 907]

The speckled deer.  There are quite a few of them out there.  That one looks like you could fit it in your pocket.