I am at a loss, where to go

[removebe4flight]

I just moved here from Maryland and have no idea where to go to hunt here in Washington.  I am a bow hunter and hunting in Maryland I took for granted.  Plenty of public lands and easy to find information on. I live on Whidbey Island, which is region 4.  Anytime I ask anyone about public hunting land no ones where to go and just tells me that everywhere is private land.  So, can someone throw me a bone and tell where I can go to hunt.  I don't mind traveling a couple hours to get on some deer or elk.  Thanks

Chris

[gonehuntin68]

Get on I90 and head east for about 6 hours.

[removebe4flight]

Get on I90 and head east for about 6 hours.

sounds like a great plan

[cdriver]

Most of Whidbey is locked up, as you have found out. Look at where the national forests are, many areas on the Olympic Peninsula, a short ferry ride for you to get to.

[predatorG]

Kitsap would be the closest for you. That's where I live and hunt.

[removebe4flight]

Kitsap would be the closest for you. That's where I live and hunt.

Are there WMA's there

[fishnfur]

WDFW website:

http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/gohunt/app.html?theme=bigGame
.
On the Basemap tab in the upper right, pick public land.  I'd look across(west) towards/past Port Townsend.  DNR land is light orange, national forest - light green.  Ignore the other colors as you will have to do a lot of research to determine whether you can hunt there or not.    Zoom in to a spot, switch the basemap to aerial and topography to find the places you think look good.

[bobcat]

Lots of places to hunt.

If you don't want the hassle of private land, hit the National Forests- Olympic, Colville, Okanogan.

Those are the three I'd look at for the late archery season.

[Injun kid]

That's sad when westsiders can't even tell a fellow westsider where to hunt over there, you guys just send them east, plenty of national forest over there to hunt just funny how all the westsider people drive that far every season just to shoot a deer, I've just never gotten that I guess cause I don't drive 5 to 6 hours to go hunting kind of ridiculous if you ask anybody who live on the east side of the state lol

[2labs]

How those treaties treating ya kid?

[bobcat]

That's sad when westsiders can't even tell a fellow westsider where to hunt over there, you guys just send them east, plenty of national forest over there to hunt just funny how all the westsider people drive that far every season just to shoot a deer, I've just never gotten that I guess cause I don't drive 5 to 6 hours to go hunting kind of ridiculous if you ask anybody who live on the east side of the state lol

Three out of four posts suggested locations on the west side. What is your suggestion? Please don't post again unless you have something positive to say.

[Injun kid]

 

[highside74]

Whitetail? Head to the Northeast units...101 is a good bet, plenty of access in all the units over there in that corner.

Mule Deer? Follow the flow of traffic to unit 250. Pick a canyon rd and get after it. A 4x4 with chains on all 4 tires is pretty much required if it gets any kind of snowy weather.  Steep canyons, nasty roads plenty of people. 

Blacktail? That's a tough hunt for the late season because it starts so late. You are mainly looking for logged units with clearcuts through out. That pretty much is all of western washingtons hunting units. Timber companies own a lot of the prime areas. Some access is free, some costs. Check with Hancock recreation or Weyerhaeuser recreation to see if there still access passes available for any of their areas.

Don't forget a Discovery Pass if your going to hunt State land you will get a ticket without it.

[removebe4flight]

thanks for all the info.  Way more than I got asking people I work with.  Most of them are like yeah I hunt, just don't hunt here in Washington.  It is driving me crazy not being in the woods. 

[zike]

A good GPS (Garmin) with a WA state chip will give you ownership for most of the state.