Assigned to Fort Lewis for 2015

[razzanof]

Hello all!  I am being reassigned to Fort Lewis late this summer.  Beyond finding my family a nice place to live, my primary focus is deer hunting, since I will not have much time to scout.  For those familiar with the area, what are my options?  Is Lewis decent?  (I hunted on Fort Bragg, NC for several years but was never impressed with the management.)  I don't mind paying for a lease; just want to make sure I am paying for a viable area.  That being said I would much rather find decent public land.  I am in good shape so walking far distances isn't a concern.

Sorry for the abundance of questions but thanks in advance!

[Rainier10]

Welcome to the site, thanks for your service and I am sure you will be getting some information coming your way.  What will be your weapon of choice, modern firearm, muzzy or archery?  I have never hunted the base but if you are not opposed to leasing you could by a permit for one of the tree farms and have access to some good hunting close by.

Good luck I am sure you will get way more information with some of the guys that are more familiar with westside deer hunting.

[razzanof]

Thanks for the reply.  I haven't archery hunted in several years but plan to reengage this year.  My primary weapon of choice, though, is rifle.

[Woodchuck]

Sadly you have to choose a weapon and hunt with the rules and seasons of that weapon only. Unless you put in for and draw a "multi-season" permit (odds are very good for deer). The muti-season option will cost you an extra 140ish dollars.

[Rainier10]

The multiseason is a great option.  With that in hand, access to hunting on the base and permit for one of the tree farms he could get a lot of opportunity in the woods to learn the areas.  All of September with a bow, three weeks of rifle in October and then a month in the late season with the bow again.

[bobcat]

I would definitely consider heading east for mule deer if your main concern is hunting public land. On the west side of the mountains, any public land that has good numbers of deer will be very crowded during modern firearm season. Public land east of the mountains will get plenty of hunting pressure as well, but there's more opportunity to get away from the roads, and once you're 2 to 3 miles from the roads, you'll be away from 90% of the other hunters.

[Taco280AI]

Lucky. I've been trying to get Lewis, or Carson, and looks like I'll get denied again. My next assignment isn't final yet, can still hope.

[labsetters]

pm sent.