Kitsap Quality

[Jayfire83]

Hopefully this hunt provides some great experience during the rut. Anyone else ever have any good experience? Scouting starts tomorrow!!!

[DoubleJ]

Kitsap, like Mason, is an area that has the potential for you to see some big blacktail but you also have the potential to see only spikes and forks.  More than a few Kitsap guys on here.  Hopefully you can get pointed in the right direction

[kball4]

The biggest blacktail I ever saw was across the road from the gold creek trail entrance to green mountain.  Its timber land that's walk in only.  Lots of clear cuts, but you gotta walk up hill to get there.

[Jayfire83]

I have had a couple people tell me about Green Mt. I would love to find a spot where i can get in deep. I have also herd of Shelby's Guide service that takes clients on trophy Blacktail hunts out there so hopefully i cant track down some good genetics.

[Jayfire83]

Anyone have any experiences on this hunt?

[MADMAX]

Live here, but dont hunt here.
private land I am sure holds some big bucks, try wildcat lake area and maybe green Mt
Maybe also some Pope land on the North end
I think there's firearms restrictions also so check that
lack of access and leaving a vehicle where the local methheads can vandalize it make me look elsewhere for my blacktail hunting
sorry

[justyhntr]

I had that tag a couple of years ago. Hunted off the Bears Creek /Dewato Rd. up towards Green Mt. I did not fill the tag but I had a blast . I saw bucks every day for the first week and a couple where quite nice . I stocked a couple close but could not get it done . For me the quality was that I never saw another hunter .  I was hoping my wife would draw it this year , if she had we would have taken 2 weeks vacation just for that hunt . But it looks like you got her tag so maybe next year . Good kuck 

[moocher97]

I live in kingston and do quite a bit of hunting in the north end. My advice would be going south just because there is way more public land to hunt. Not to say there isnt public land but its very small parcels and low deer densitys. Another option would be a private land hunt, now there is where ive seen BIG blacktail, usally in some old ladies garden but it really depends on the landowner if you can hunt these gems because half the time the old lady has named them. (True story)

[fishnfur]

I keep thinking that extreme north or extreme south in the unit are your best bets.  South is almost all (possibly all) private.  Memory (which ain't what it used to be) makes me think there's some public land around Bremerton and north of there.  I'd use the Go Hunt mapping on WDFW website to find all public land in the unit.  Then I'd go to county assessor websites and do a random parcel search, then switch to the map options which generally lets you scope out all big tracts of land, public and private.  If you're not local to the area, write a few letters asking permission of the owners of those properties you wanted to hunt.  If you are local, go knock on some doors.  That's how I do it.

As mentioned previously, Shellby's Guide Service works out of the Bremerton area.  If you've got a few thousand bucks that may be an option.  I think he does some of his hunts over bait though.......

[Jayfire83]

Thanks guys! Lots of homework ahead.

[Dbax129]

Pm sent.

[Hilltop123]

The biggest Blacktail bucks I have ever seen, are in or just on the Bremerton city limits. Limited access for sure, but some real bruisers cruise the city limits.  I think most residents of Bremerton, would be shocked to see whats in the flower beds and hitting there apple tree's, at night. But the only time I ever seen these big boys was during the rut, the rest of the year they just vanished.

[Jayfire83]

I definitely want to use this tag to its full potential,private land would be nice. I have a busy work schedule and 4 youngsters at home so getting the time to scout for the request of private land may be a challenge. I will definitely have many miles in on the public land by Nov.1 but if anyone wants to point me in the direction of someone with private access i wouldn't be opposed, Just NO back yard hunts!!

[floatinghat]

If you are in Eatonville that is a haul for getting access to the "nuggety" private property.  I will echo, there are some great deer in Kitsap as in a lot of WW.  The challenge is getting access and locating animals before it's dark.  The biggest bucks won't be out unless it's dark or a non shooting/restricted area. Best of luck with your season.

[JimmyHoffa]

Lots of really big blacktails on the navy base over there.  So the terrain/forage/genetics do support some big animals.

[PBR]

Theres a beauty 6 point on Bangor lower base. Just ask permission to hunt, im sure they'll more than accommodating.

[fishnfur]

That hunt is a archery hunt, correct?

[fishngamereaper]

The rut in Kitsap starts around the 25th-26th of Oct. That tag, if you have the Nov one, will not give you a huge advantage.  Most of the public land is in Holly and Dewatto. Green/Gold Mnt hold deer but also a ton of recreational people, hiking, mnt biking, etc. Your options for land are Pope/ Port Blakley and DNR. Most of the public land in Dewatto will be closed all summer for access because of the dry weather. Scouting will be worthless besides road knowledge. The big bucks hold tight till the rut and you generally never see them during the summer. I run cams all over in Dewatto and most of the big bucks I get are in deep/ deep dark stuff.  Don't use Shelby's guide service........

If I spot a bruser or two I will point you in the right direction come Fall

Couple Dewatto deer from the last few years.

[fishnfur]

Those bucks look like brothers. 

Looks like Dewatto might be a good starting point.   

[Jayfire83]

Thanks guys, and yes it is the Archery Nov1-18 tag.

[fishnfur]

I keep thinking that the Dewatto area mentioned is not in the Kitsap Quality hunt area, but just south of the Kitsap/Mason co. border, and thus is not an area you can hunt in early November.  Correct??

[Dbax129]

I think you are right. Not sure what defines dewatto, but in my book it lies right around the border of 633. Probably could call some of the area on the kitsap side dewatto though. The river certainly starts in kitsap.

[fishngamereaper]

Dewatto is a large area, but I guess to be more specific when I talk dewatto Im talking about areas along Dewatto Rd. Everything from Holly down to the Mason Co line and east of Dewatto Rd is open.  A lot of country from Dewatto Rd to the Old Lost Hwy and up to the end of Lewis Rd. 

[fishnfur]

I can live with that.  Should be a good area.  Hard to get into some of those spots too.

PM sent.

[huntingbaldguy]

That's a good tag, but i will give you a piece of advice from a rifle hunter turned archery.  In my experience, private land bucks in Kitsap are nocturnal as all get out, even when baited.  In the high population density areas they are used to being bedded before people start getting up and moving around.  I've watched it.  So imo, choose an area that is away from a lot of noisy hustle and bustle of every day commuter life.  Those bucks are early or not at all, and trust me i have some massive bucks on camera spread across about 6 private pieces of land, and i haven't been able to seal the deal on any of them because of shooting light and the fact my cams tell me they are there about midnight in October/November.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I have had a couple people tell me about Green Mt. I would love to find a spot where i can get in deep. I have also herd of Shelby's Guide service that takes clients on trophy Blacktail hunts out there so hopefully i cant track down some good genetics.

Bad idea!!!

[squires14]

Deeper you get towards mason county the better, I  live there and shot some studs  on the old pheasant release sites, on our close to elfindale pass. Green mt dose hold some monster up on the hill but until there full in the rut the mt has grown up thick and like you said lots of hikers and bikers up the main trail head theres one access that a lot of guys don't know about to geyt you up on top pm and ill tell you how to get to it and were you can go if you want to go for a little bike ride up the hil our a long walk.... there is a lower gate closer to lake Symington that has a few newer cuts and takes you up top the horse camp that's a few miles up the rd. I have help a few guys with that tag in the past once they hit rut dude if you want to rd hunt main drags youll get a decent buck. Out bird hunting i'll see them running the yellow lines nose down looking for does. Not huge numbers but you have the chance to see a monster at any time. FYI shelbys guide service has had some questionable hunting areas in the passed. like taking you in on private land with out access permisiion form land owners. our rd hunting neighborhood's . new a few guys who grew up with them and theirs some if stories live heard. good luck

[Jayfire83]

So I was out hunting the gates off lost hwy the last two days and this morning was run off by a psychopath in a white S10 who was going to thrash my vehicle. Sad thing is that the locals that run the fuel station at the bottom of Tiger Mission Rd were very talkative but then got quiet real quickly when I brought up the truck and where I was hunting. It's a long story in full but basically almost had to pull my side arm. I guess I was I someone's public land honey hole. Absolute BS

[pd]

So I was out hunting the gates off lost hwy the last two days and this morning was run off by a psychopath in a white S10 who was going to thrash my vehicle. Sad thing is that the locals that run the fuel station at the bottom of Tiger Mission Rd were very talkative but then got quiet real quickly when I brought up the truck and where I was hunting. It's a long story in full but basically almost had to pull my side arm. I guess I was I someone's public land honey hole. Absolute BS

Wow.  It really sounds like you found a gold mine.  I would call a deputy or a warden (especially the warden), tell them you have the special tag and are being harassed on public land.  BS is right, do something about it!

[fishnfur]

Hexed and vexed - man you got no luck!  The locals have chased you out of two spots now - you must be a mainlander.   Hang in there dude.  Don't give up yet.

[The scout]

jayfire do you mean bear creek store? I can put you on some good spots. my property borders all that pope land. but down where I'm at theres no hunting pressure.i will try and get in contact with you tomorow

[predatorG]

jayfire do you mean bear creek store? I can put you on some good spots. my property borders all that pope land. but down where I'm at theres no hunting pressure.i will try and get in contact with you tomorow

Well whoever owns the tag sure lucked out this time!

[Jayfire83]

Hexed and vexed - man you got no luck!  The locals have chased you out of two spots now - you must be a mainlander.   Hang in there dude.  Don't give up yet.

Yeah I just can't catch a break! This has been a tumultuous Time for me not only with the hunting season, but personally as well. It's tough when you can't even go out into the woods and enjoy your number one release.