New to WA, Mt. Baker area Vs. Eastside for deer?

[WAnoob]

Greetings Everyone,

My name is Randy I've only posted on here a few times, mostly I am a lurker on the forums.  I recently moved to Bellingham in January of this year.  I was born and raised in Eagle River, Alaska which is a smaller town just outside of Anchorage.  I lived there for 25 years until I moved to Austin, TX to check out the city life, had 2 years of that until I found out I didn't care for it much.  Then I found myself in Washington where I really love this climate.  I've had pretty much all of the great hunting and fishing experience of Alaska, now I am looking to get back into my love of the outdoors since I didn't do much in Texas sadly.

I also must say I am very interested in taking up bow hunting, this will be something I hope to start on soon.  I am familiar with all sorts of different hunting methods found in Alaska such as river moose hunts all the way up to high elevation sheep hunts.  I've always dreamed of bow hunting elk when they are in rut since I know the rush you get from hunting moose in the rut.

I was curious to know if I would have better success for a deer this fall around my Mt. Baker area, or go east side for white tail?  I heard the eastside white tail are plentiful, but also the orange wave of hunters is large.  is there a chance of me going to the east side for the late modern rifle season and being able to get away from other hunters?  i am not looking for any honey holes, but may some advice on forest road service access.  But for the remainder of this year due to work I will be chasing deer.

I saw that I need a forest service pass that can be purchased online, but will the particular road I go on be gated, or have signs saying I cant park my car over night?  My main fear is being towed, I would rather walk or bike in than come back to my car being gone.

I just want to say again that I am not looking for any honey holes, just some jumping off points or access for either area, I noticed the east side GMU's for the most part have a lot of public land.

Any advice is appreciated, if anyone ever needs advice on hunting or fishing in Alaska, please feel free to PM me and I will gladly help out when I can.

Thanks!

[MP123]

If you're in Bellingham I'd check out the area around Mt. Baker or maybe Sumas Mt.  Lots of deer and much closer than E. WA.  On the westside the deer are all Blacktails.  On the eastside they are mostly Mule Deer with some Whitetails around too in some areas.  Keep that in mind when you read the regs, there's different dates for the two species in some areas.

You could also join the great orange pumpkin migration over to Eastern WA.  Highway 20 over into the Methow valley (Mazama, Winthrop, Twisp) is an easy drive from Bellingham and there's plenty of deer and public land there too.

You'll need a forest pass for Forest lands and/or a Discover pass depending on the spot you want to park.  Probably good to get both.  Most of the popular areas are clearly signed and getting towed isn't an issue assuming you don't do something dumb like park right in front of a gate.  Break-ins and theft can be a problem though in some areas.

Getting out and walking/biking up some forest roads will get you away from much of the crowd.  A lot of guys basically just cruise around road hunting so being on foot is an advantage.  Get yourself some good maps (Green trails, Washington Gazeteer).  There's also the GoHunt app on the WDFW website that can be useful.

Welcome to the site and good luck! 

If all else fails there's always the Sudden Valley golf course some dark night! 

[WAnoob]

If you're in Bellingham I'd check out the area around Mt. Baker or maybe Sumas Mt.  Lots of deer and much closer than E. WA.  On the westside the deer are all Blacktails.  On the eastside they are mostly Mule Deer with some Whitetails around too in some areas.  Keep that in mind when you read the regs, there's different dates for the two species in some areas.

You could also join the great orange pumpkin migration over to Eastern WA.  Highway 20 over into the Methow valley (Mazama, Winthrop, Twisp) is an easy drive from Bellingham and there's plenty of deer and public land there too.

You'll need a forest pass for Forest lands and/or a Discover pass depending on the spot you want to park.  Probably good to get both.  Most of the popular areas are clearly signed and getting towed isn't an issue assuming you don't do something dumb like park right in front of a gate.  Break-ins and theft can be a problem though in some areas.

Getting out and walking/biking up some forest roads will get you away from much of the crowd.  A lot of guys basically just cruise around road hunting so being on foot is an advantage.  Get yourself some good maps (Green trails, Washington Gazeteer).  There's also the GoHunt app on the WDFW website that can be useful.

Welcome to the site and good luck! 

If all else fails there's always the Sudden Valley golf course some dark night! 

I appreciate all the info, I'll definitely be doing a few scouting trips near Baker.  I have heard many rumors of the Sudden Valley size, I need to see this for myself 

[Special T]

If it were me, id read Boyd Iversons Blactail trophy tactics 2 for the deer and buy a predator call for the coyotes bobcats and cougars.

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[splitshot]

we on the eastside burned up.  no deer.   mike w

[Jester052]

I've never been to the Eastside for deer but have found some dandy sheds while turkey hunting. Good Luck.