Does anybody hunt gmu 418?

[usmc_0311]

I'm new to Washington hunting. I figured i would say some stuff about myself since this is my first post. I was born and raised in Texas. Where hunting meant sitting in a stand 100 yards away from a feeder that has been slinging corn 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 a year. After high school I joined the marine corps. I did some time over seas and came home, got out and started a family. I'm living the American dream. Now back to hunting. I moved here at the end of the year last year due to my wife's job. I hit the ground running by basically driving all over washington and walking around the national Forrests. I have no experience what's so ever spotting and stalking. Since mount baker is semi close to my house I figure I would concentrate there. I ran into a guy today that told me gmu 418 is no good. He's never seen much out there except hikers. He isn't the first to tell me this. I'm not afraid to spend time in the woods scouting but am I wasting my time? in no way am I asking for anyone to tell me there good spots but I'm just looking for someone who has seen deer or taken some. I've never bear hunted and I don't really have a interest in elk. I just would like to have a tag soup free season this year. Any help would be appreciated. I always enjoy talking to and meeting fellow ethical hunters. Thanks for reading.

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[wayne224marine]

Hey man! I'd say welcome, but I am new myself. I have a similar story to yours... I hunted back home in Wisconsin, stand hunting. We aren't allowed to bait though. Recently I began bow hunting... Once I started to get the hang of it I move here. Everything is new and these mountains are extremely intimidating. Out of high school I joined the Marines. I have been out since 2011. I moved out here two months ago with my gf. I can't help you with the GMU 418 thing, but I would be willing to throw ideas and possible hunts around. I hear blacktail is more challenging that whitetail, and elk is a whole different league.

[DaveMonti]

Here are the 2014 numbers.  Note, the "District" numbers don't necessarily correlate to the Game Management Units.  For example, GMU 418 is under "District 14". 

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2014/reports/deer_gmu_all.php

It's a good place to start.

[usmc_0311]

Hey wayne, I'm always down to go hunting expecially with a fellow devil dog. I got out nov. 2008. I haven't ever bow hunted though. I've only used modern rifle.

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[usmc_0311]

Davemonti,
Thank you for that link. It looks like there wasn't much success in my area. To me means others aren't trying hard enough or there just isn't much in there.

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[Bucks2Ducks]

If you live in Bothell I wouldn't bother coming all the way up to Baker. I live by Baker and find myself heading south or east across the mountains more to hunt. Lot of info on this site if you search, and as someone stated in wdfw hunting stats. If you like seeing a lot of deer I would hunt E wa for Mule deer, and Whitetails. Black tails can be very frustrating to hunt on the W side, but addicting when you start getting successfull! Your missing out by not chasing bears, WA has quite a few of them, but your probably right for now to just focus on deer and learning some areas. Start scouting now and you should be good by Fall. The cool thing about the western states is there is no one way to hunt, find a strategy you like and perfect it!

[DaveMonti]

I'd take a look at everything there, the total number of deer taken, the total number of hunters, success rates, etc.  Compare them to other units nearby.  It may be that some units don't have much public land, so the number of hunters is lower, but the success rate (%) might be pretty good. 

If there is a lot of public land and not many deer taken, it might be that the public land is tough to hunt, or that there just aren't many deer there.  Lots of ways to slice and dice the info. 

One thing is for sure, you can be successful if you put the time in scouting.  If you're interested in blacktail, search the forum for books on BT hunting (there are several) and pick one up. 

I'm from PA, and although I did a lot of stand hunting, I also did a lot of still hunting.  Hunting BTs is quite different than the WTs I hunted in PA, and much different from hunting in Texas and many places in the south.

Dave

[usmc_0311]

I'd say 99% percent of what I've learned so far about hunting here has come from this forum. It's been my go to for almost every question. Just as Wayne pointed out these mountains out here really put a hurting on ya. I'm used to the flat pines of Southeast texas

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[wadu1]

usmc_0311 First things first, welcome to the site. Just ask questions, most will be correct but you wont find a honey hole. To learn about WA start with the Bigfoot thread and that will keep you going for a few months.    :fire.:And if the fellow Marine PlateauNDN offers you some home made peperoni be careful it has been known to launch small missiles from the heat.           
And thanks for your service 

[Jarhead Chase]

Indeed, welcome aboard.

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[DaveMonti]

usmc, some of us in the Everett area are getting together in a few weeks, just a social gathering of some folks in the area.  You're welcome to join, maybe find out a little more about hunting in the area.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,184140.0.html

[usmc_0311]

usmc_0311 First things first, welcome to the site. Just ask questions, most will be correct but you wont find a honey hole. To learn about WA start with the Bigfoot thread and that will keep you going for a few months.    :fire.:And if the fellow Marine PlateauNDN offers you some home made peperoni be careful it has been known to launch small missiles from the heat.           
And thanks for your service 

Yeah that big foot thread has had me laughing for a while

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[heronblu]

Plenty of deer (and bear) in 418. You just have to put in the time and learn their habits. A little extra effort will go a long way in getting away from the road hunters and into the deer. Learn your track and sign, start scouting now.

[Highmountaindan]

Plenty of deer (and bear) in 418. You just have to put in the time and learn their habits. A little extra effort will go a long way in getting away from the road hunters and into the deer. Learn your track and sign, start scouting now.

blu heron is correct. I live in Skagit county and spend my time in the Sauk unit. There are deer and bear, however you have to work for it. What I mean by work for it is , backpack in, spend spring and summer backpacking and getting proficient at backpacking so you are comfortable off trail. Last year I discovered a new honey hole while going into a new lake I have not been to before and was of trail. Also working for it means planning your trip out! with an animal on your back. If you want quality game in western wa you have to go where people don't and be prepared and in shape to do it. The bonus is, not many hunters are hunting in the back country, definitely not multiple day hunts that are 3-5 miles in, off trail and most times not easy hiking.Which is the beauty because it's easier to have you secret areas that can produce. With that being said, last year I busted 3 blacktail bucks in the high country unintentionally and seen one bear. The buck I shot last season was in a clear cut during the rut. So just because you do work for it and do your stuff rite, blacktails are difficult to find, the mature ones are smart and brush hides them well.   

[7.62Warbird]

I've hunted the 418 my whole life. It's not what you would call a target rich environment. Some years I never see a horn...I even had a year where I didn't see hair. That being said I'm only looking for that buck of a lifetime kinda buck. Most years I pass on a couple decent 3 points only to regret it. These days I go east for the opener and enjoy seeing animals and sometimes harvest if not then come home and head for the hills. For me the call of the high country is what keeps me going back not the amount of deer up there.