Traditional bow hunt areas?

[longbow]

Hi all. I'm new to forum. I am getting pretty good with my Montana longbow and am planning on going deer hunting next open season.

I am having a hard time getting information where I can hunt. online I seem to get sent from resource dept to the next one without info.

I live on camano and would like to find areas to hunt around Stanwood, Arlington, Mt Vernon etc for quick half day hunts on a Saturday morning etc.

I have 4 young boys so I need spots with fairly easy access as time may be limited. and I may bring the oldest with me if he can be quiet.

Thanks for the help.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

No "Traditional bow hunt" areas, just hunt Archery areas.  Any open unit, get permission from landowner and hunt. Or hunt public access areas.
Long Island is the only "Archery Only" unit, but a long drive from Camano.

[scotsman]

Your best chance for a local area to bowhunt would be to research 'firearm restriction zones'. These are legal hunting locations in semi populated areas where it's unsafe to hunt with firearms. I betcha there are several areas like that on Camano Island,Arlington, etc.

Check the WA regs for a listing of firearm restriction zones. For example, live in Gig Harbor - the 20 mile stretch between the narrows bridge and port orchard is a huge restriction zone and there are LOTs of deer here.

[washelkhunter]

You forgot to mention he cant hunt muzzleloader season (the worst), and modern rifle as well with a bow.

[longbow]

Your best chance for a local area to bowhunt would be to research 'firearm restriction zones'. These are legal hunting locations in semi populated areas where it's unsafe to hunt with firearms. I betcha there are several areas like that on Camano Island,Arlington, etc.

Check the WA regs for a listing of firearm restriction zones. For example, live in Gig Harbor - the 20 mile stretch between the narrows bridge and port orchard is a huge restriction zone and there are LOTs of deer here.

Ok thanks, those types of areas would be perfect. But where do I find this information. I contacted WA Dept of fish and wildlife about deer hunting certain areas and they offered no information. They Told me to contact Dept of natural resources.

So the no fire zones that would be okay to bowhunt during season, are they owned by a certain state dept?

Thanks again

[dreamunelk]

As previously said any area open to archery is a go.  I hunt with a longbow myself and have no problem hunting along side compound bow hunters.  You have a lot of good area near you.  Start by using Google earth to locate likely hunting areas near you.  Then use county web site to determine ownership.  Next go make friends with the landowner.

[elk247]

You should have good luck with blacktail in the late archery season. All the areas you've mentioned have some very respectable bucks. If you stick with the archery tag you will have more days in the woods. 

[bobcat]

Firearm restriction zones are in general mostly private property. So, while it may be legal to hunt with a bow in those areas, you still to determine who owns the land you want to hunt, and you need to get permission. To find public land in those areas use DNR Public Land maps, or the county assessor maps online.

[longbow]

Thanks guys

[huntnnw]

Use your county accessor site..find out who owns what or buy a chip for your gps to see that info

[scotsman]

There are quite a few large areas in No Fierearms locales that are owne by timber or tree farm companies. Weyerhaeuser type companies... Get the county assessor map for an area you are interested in, look for timberland owners, then contact them to find out if the land is open for hunting. Most are open for walk in but a few may want you to pay an access fee.

[bowtechian]

Check out hunting GPS maps & hunt the island it's overrun with deer knock on some doors & ask permission 

[HankC]

I'm in the Stanwood area too and researching for my 1st archery season. I'm thinking Tiger Mountain, Walker ORV, Lopez Hill to start off.. anyone have thoughts on those spots?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I would put a flier up at your local nursery, plenty of real nice bucks in the area that like to eat peoples expensive lanscaping.
When I was doing deliveries in the area I was amazed at some of the deer I saw in peoples yards, especialy on the island.