Need to find Public land for Late modern or muzzleloader.

[andr3wxmma]

I just moved to Washington (JBLM) back in June. I planned on scouting out areas and purchased all my gear when I got here. Luckily I hadn't decided on a tag yet (either modern or muzzleloader).  Shortly after getting to my unit I found out I was going to another country for a few months. I'd still like to get some value out of my tags at least get some time in the woods. I'll be back in Washington tomorrow (Nov 4th) and plan on getting in the woods and scouting around. The problem is I don't know anywhere I can park to get into the woods. I prefer a walk in area in 667 for deer and I've been down 12E and looked around and from what I can tell most of it was private land that sells access permits so idk where to go for elk. Any advice is welcomed.

[HazMat]

Might be worth checking on post. Some nice deer come out of there.

[andr3wxmma]

Yeah, i still have to get everything registered on post and hope they keep the land open. Its deffinetly an option for deer season.

[PolarBear]

BBLM area 21 (between Rainier and Yelm) has some monsters on it

[JDHasty]

JBLM has a lot of deer.  It is frustrating dealing with the range allocations that make scouting difficult.  NO TRAIL CAMERAS!!!!! 

That being said, it is possible to do quite well on the post. 

[andr3wxmma]

I'll be getting the paperwork done this week to hunt on base. I really never planned on registering any gun I own but I guess 1 Rifle and Muzzleloader won't hurt. I drove all the way down to Gilford Pinot national forest today to try some elk hunting and didn't see any deer sign mixed in with the elk. Do deer and elk avoid sharing habitat?

[brew]

I'll be getting the paperwork done this week to hunt on base. I really never planned on registering any gun I own but I guess 1 Rifle and Muzzleloader won't hurt. I drove all the way down to Gilford Pinot national forest today to try some elk hunting and didn't see any deer sign mixed in with the elk. Do deer and elk avoid sharing habitat?

thanks for your service...on the wet side (western washington)i've found that deer and elk share the same habitat--the thicker the better especially during this part of the season when the animals have been ran around pretty hard.  JBLM as stated above has both deer/elk around the Rainier/Yelm area.  If you want to venture outside of that area find some public land that backs up to large blocks of private land and stake those areas out.  Elk will tend to bed in the thicker stuff and venture into the more open private areas to feed.  Deer can and do eat about anything but the larger elk need more of a sustainable food source. Deer tend to be a little more spread out in the habitat but with the rut going on if you find an area that has some does a buck will not be far

[JDHasty]

I'll be getting the paperwork done this week to hunt on base. I really never planned on registering any gun I own but I guess 1 Rifle and Muzzleloader won't hurt. I drove all the way down to Gilford Pinot national forest today to try some elk hunting and didn't see any deer sign mixed in with the elk. Do deer and elk avoid sharing habitat?

Not necessarily, but when elk are present.... 

JBLM is as good as any blacktail habitat anywhere on most Training Areas.  JBLM administrated under Norman Schwarzkopf was a sportsman's dream.  It will be again, on and off.  But you have to treat the "property owner" with respect and when the winds blow unfavorably, just take what they have to offer.   And do so graciously, because it is still they who are accommodating you.

Are there TAs that are not open that are better?  Yes usually.  But there is not a TA that doesn't have a masher buck on it as well as a huntable number of other legal deer. 

I could go on for a "War and Peace" about the frustrations that come with hunting JBLM, but the reservation is absolutely going to always offer the average individual an opportunity to score on a decent blacktail more often that any other access they have available does.       

[andr3wxmma]

I'll be getting the paperwork done this week to hunt on base. I really never planned on registering any gun I own but I guess 1 Rifle and Muzzleloader won't hurt. I drove all the way down to Gilford Pinot national forest today to try some elk hunting and didn't see any deer sign mixed in with the elk. Do deer and elk avoid sharing habitat?

thanks for your service...on the wet side (western washington)i've found that deer and elk share the same habitat--the thicker the better especially during this part of the season when the animals have been ran around pretty hard.  JBLM as stated above has both deer/elk around the Rainier/Yelm area.  If you want to venture outside of that area find some public land that backs up to large blocks of private land and stake those areas out.  Elk will tend to bed in the thicker stuff and venture into the more open private areas to feed.  Deer can and do eat about anything but the larger elk need more of a sustainable food source. Deer tend to be a little more spread out in the habitat but with the rut going on if you find an area that has some does a buck will not be far

Yeah learning how to hunt elk / black tail in thick cover is going to be my next challenge. I've still hunted my whole life but back home you would normally be able to pick a quiet route and see the animal 50 yards away. Most of the terrain I was in today was loud and you couldn't see far at all. I'm assuming you have to just try and find a highly traveled route from food to bedding and wait it out?

[andr3wxmma]

I'll be getting the paperwork done this week to hunt on base. I really never planned on registering any gun I own but I guess 1 Rifle and Muzzleloader won't hurt. I drove all the way down to Gilford Pinot national forest today to try some elk hunting and didn't see any deer sign mixed in with the elk. Do deer and elk avoid sharing habitat?

Not necessarily, but when elk are present.... 

JBLM is as good as any blacktail habitat anywhere on most Training Areas.  JBLM administrated under Norman Schwarzkopf was a sportsman's dream.  It will be again, on and off.  But you have to treat the "property owner" with respect and when the winds blow unfavorably, just take what they have to offer.   And do so graciously, because it is still they who are accommodating you.

Are there TAs that are not open that are better?  Yes usually.  But there is not a TA that doesn't have a masher buck on it as well as a huntable number of other legal deer. 

I could go on for a "War and Peace" about the frustrations that come with hunting JBLM, but the reservation is absolutely going to always offer the average individual an opportunity to score on a decent blacktail more often that any other access they have available does.     

I'll Definitely give it a shot. Thanks for the advice. Not having to drive 3 hrs every day before hunting makes up for some of the headache too.