A wild Noob has appeared!

[Saiidin]

Hello.

So. I did the Hunter's Ed class last year. Was all set to go hunting for the first time with a coworker, but his kids got sick at the last second, and he has changed jobs and moved away in the time since, so that's not gonna happen this year. I bought a muzzle loader for that and everything. More fun to shoot at the range, anyway, so I don't regret that. More options!

I figure, a first timer'd have to be kinda dumb to go wandering around the woods alone with no real hands-on experience in wilderness navigation or game cleaning, etc. So I'd rather tag along with someone else the first time or two.

Nobody else I know hunts. The hunters in my family are passed or way out of state.  I've been keeping an eye out all summer, but haven't met anyone new who hunts, either.

So now hunting season is almost here, and I'm looking for someone willing to let a suburb-slicker (hey, I can't stand downtown, that has to count for something, right?) tag along before I go pony up for my first license and do something stupid alone.


I'd like to stick to deer for now. I've seen how big elk get—that can't be fun to haul out! I'd also prefer to stick to SW Washington. I live in the Vancouver area, and I'd like to learn the local stuff before I go exploring the rest of the state. Plenty of years ahead for that!

Barring that, any advice on good places in Clark County for a first timer that are a little tougher to get lost in would be much appreciated. I have a few GMU maps sitting here on my computer desktop for Washougal, Battle Ground, and even Toutle, and I've driven a lot of the outlying forest-ey roads for work (if you've had problems with satellite tv in the last few years, I might be the guy that finally fixed it!) but most of where I've been is rather residential.


I also have one question. I know it is illegal to shoot from, across, or along a road. How far off the road does one have to go to no longer be "along" the road? 100 feet? 500? If I'm going to go out alone and stupid, I'd at least like to stick to legal.

[jennyfell55]

You seem to have your head on your shoulders, and didn't fall into the trap of "I don't want to scout, tell me where to go". People here are usually pretty good about giving general locations, especially when you're just looking for somewhere that's easier to not get lost in. Bravo for not asking for honey holes and being prepared to do some footwork on your own!  Unfortunately, I can't really be of any help, as I've never hunted that area. Best of luck to you though!!

[Coastie_Compton]

Washougal river road i think it was.  Head up to the land a ways up the road i saw plenty of deer and an elk herd there last year.

[Bill W]

the "road" is defined as the maintained area alongside the road.  If you are past the fence or mowed portion you should be good to go.

[lokidog]

"I also have one question. I know it is illegal to shoot from, across, or along a road. How far off the road does one have to go to no longer be "along" the road? 100 feet? 500?"

There have been a lot of discussions regarding what is the "edge" of a road, I couldn't easily find any though.  It is definitely less than 100'.  I figure if I am off of the maintained part of the road, I am off of the road, but legal definitions may differ. I seem to recall part of the law included the term negligently shooting as well.

Good luck.

[Special T]

If your gona hunt deer read Byod Iversons "Blacktail trophy tactics 2". Consider your first year a scouting year with a gun. There is some public land out by the prison. Just dont get too close Lol! Get out and explore!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk

[Saiidin]

I've actually been up past the prison a couple times for work this summer. I seem to recall the whole road being lined with "No Hunting" signs every 20 feet or so...but I didn't go up any of the side roads pointing away from it.

[Special T]

Might have changed since i hunted it.. but look up the land ownership on the assesors web page to find huntable land.

[TechSupportHunter]

PM sent

[Saiidin]

I'll find a place. The suggestions are appreciated!


I'd like to reiterate my main motivation for posting here, though: I'd really like to not go out alone my first time.

Aside from a 2nd person being a good safety precaution, having someone around who has actually field dressed something like a deer before would make that part a lot less likely to go horribly wrong. I strongly suspect that the 2D line drawings of what to do in the hunters ed class don't exactly do the reality justice.

[Eli346]

 I won't be around for deer as I have other commitments or I'd help out in a heartbeat. Hopefully somebody on this site down in your area will take you under their wing. As far as taking care of the animal after it's down there's a ton of stuff on Youtube that you can look up. It can be rather intimidating the first time but back when I learned we didn't have Youtube to look at or it would have been much easier. You can also do some searches on this site for specific info on certain areas you may be interested in using keywords in the search. Welcome to the site and I hope you can pointed in the right direction. Keep us posted on your efforts. Take care and safe hunting.

[Saiidin]

Not having much luck finding someone who'll let me tag along and learn.


Guess it's trial and error time.


+1 modern season tag. Will I win the wilderness lotto? Probably not. Ah well.

[Boss .300 winmag]

The best advice anyone can give you on the hunting regulations is read them one time thru careful, and then do it again. I read them every year front to back as things do change every year. Plus the LEO's don't always know what they are talking about when you encounter them, so if you know the the regulations you can at least talk about them with knowledge. 

Hope you can find a hunter partner. 

[Mark251]

The best advice anyone can give you on the hunting regulations is read them one time thru careful, and then do it again. I read them every year front to back as things do change every year. Plus the LEO's don't always know what they are talking about when you encounter them, so if you know the the regulations you can at least talk about them with knowledge. 

 

[Becky]

Welcome to the forum Saiidin, I know we have a lot of knowledgeable members you can learn a lot from! Hope you stick around.



A wild noob appeared!

Smossy's Girl used confusion!

It was super effective!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

How far are you willing to travel? And how flexible is your schedule?

[Jarhead Chase]

If you were closer I'd be more than happy to help you clean and dress any deer you got. I will agree with the previous post, YouTube has some great videos. It may seem intimidating, but just keep a couple of things in mind:

1) Don't take a shot you're not sure of. You don't want your first time hunting to involve an exhaustive tracking job that may or may not result in you recovering your deer. You also don't want your first time dressing your animal involving the smells associated with a gut shot animal.
2) get a knife with a decent gut hook so you don't knick the rumen or intestines (not something you want to smell).
3) Know that everyone has trouble when they start out. I started hunting as an adult. I gut shot a doe with an arrow, and ended up not recovering her after trying to track for 2 days. That is not how I wanted to remember my first deer. I went 3 years without getting another shot at a deer, but I learned more in those three years than I thought possible by putting in as much woods time as possible, and am a better hunter for it.
4) Either invest in a GPS or some maps and a compass and practice practice practice with them in an area that you can find your way out of easily. Once you are using either of those, go farther than 30 yards off of the road. You'll see a lot more animals that way.
5) You will make mistakes. Learn from them. Heck, I've gutted a few now, and I still knicked the intestine this year with my archery deer. Things happen. Don't let the little things or a little discomfort ruin your day. Some of my best stories are about times when I was beyond miserable.

Hopefully this doesn't come across as some altruistic high horse bull crap. It's just good to get another hunter in the woods.

[Saiidin]

Well, I see lots of does...when i'm driving in or out of the forest before sunrise/after sunset when it's pitch black out and they're hopping across the road!

otherwise, I can't seem to find deer for the life of me.

The past 4 days I've seen more trails and squashed areas where they slept and droppings than I can coun,  and not one buck. Definitely heard one grunting, but he would not come out of the deeper trees so I could see him.

I did see a couple bone piles by the road...somebody got one.

Could use a bit of help finding these beasties...

[pd]

Well, I see lots of does...when i'm driving in or out of the forest before sunrise/after sunset when it's pitch black out and they're hopping across the road!

otherwise, I can't seem to find deer for the life of me.

The past 4 days I've seen more trails and squashed areas where they slept and droppings than I can coun,  and not one buck. Definitely heard one grunting, but he would not come out of the deeper trees so I could see him.

Could use a bit of help finding these beasties...

Don't panic: What you are experiencing is normal.  The rut for blacktail is just about to start, and until it does you will not see many (if any) bucks during daytime hours.  I predict (because I don't live close to your area) that you will see many bucks in the open during the next 2 weeks or so.  The problem is the season, which closes this Saturday.  Get out and stay out, and you will find the buck by Halloween.

[Saiidin]

Looks like I'll have to take time off for the late season.


Anyone need a second set of hands? :p

[pianoman9701]

I just saw this post. Welcome to the forum, neighbor. I hunt archery, so wouldn't be much help. By the way, there is no measurement of how far off the road you must be. The actual law is that you can't negligently shoot from, across, or from the maintained portion of any public road. Maintained portion being the part that's mowed back, trimmed, seeded and cut, etc. The key word is negligently. According to state law, if it's not negligent, you can do it. According to the regs, they leave out the word "negligently". That doesn't mean they get to rewrite state law, however. They don't.

[elkboy]

I would definitely get off of the shoulder of the road- that horizontal portion that is contiguous with the actual traveled surface.  If there is a lot of traffic on that road, I would want to get at least 40-50 yards into the timber before seriously hunting or shooting!  That's just me, though! 

Wish I could help you get started, but I am on the wrong side of the state to be of much assistance!  I grew up in a non-hunting family, too, and had to 'hunt for opportunities to hunt'.  Stick with it, and you will find someone willing to help.  If you knock on the right farm door politely asking for permission (and explaining your newness to hunting), you might even find an old-timer willing to help you get started.