Getting Stationed at Lewis and have questions

[Tjkride]

Hello every one,
 Im getting stationed at Fort Lewis at the end of July. I have never hunted the North west or Washington and had some questions about preferred equipment. Does everyone prefer brush rifles or flatter shooting bolt guns? Common calibers up there for ammo availibility or preferred calibers. How does the terrain differ? I hunt most everything, deer, bear, upland birds, small game, and waterfowl, but have only done so on the easterly side of the country. Thank you in advance, and I apologize if I posted in the wrong area of the site.

[fatslinger]

Welcome to Washington. I don't have any hunting advice but if you are interested in fur trapping, keep an eye on the trapping thread for classes and events. It's a lot of fun and highly addictive.

[Tjkride]

I trapped alot as youngin in north carilina, Tennessee, and Georgia, but got out of it as I started moving around. I lost the time to dedicate trap lines. I do miss it though

[Taco280AI]

I'd go stainless bolt action, caliber depends on game. If deer and elk, plain ole 30-06 is a great all around.

[pianoman9701]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service to our great country. If you're planning on hunting the west side of the Cascades (the Wetside), a large percentage of your encounters will be at under 100yds and many under 50. East side, lots of open country and opportunities at longer shots. I've never hunted JBLM but know there's lots of wildlife in there. Get your hunter education requirements sorted out right away. If you don't physically have a hunter ed card from your home state, you'll need to get a copy before you get a license (unless there's some kind of waiver for active duty).

[Fl0und3rz]

Yes, thank you for your service.

I'd go stainless bolt action, caliber depends on game. If deer and elk, plain ole 30-06 is a great all around.

That's a great choice for all around, whether you are busting brush or sitting over an open view.  You'll want decent rain gear, too.

Terrain varies from high mountainous backcountry, deep, steep, and brush choked, reproduction and clearcuts, to rolling prairy in the east, to coastal rain forest.

[Bofire]

Welcome, this is a varied terrain state, any guns you are comfortable with will be fine.
Carl

[Tjkride]

One of my 308s should do just fine. I have roughly 60 firearms so somthing better work haha. I do handgun hunt alot, I saw the 4 inch barrel minimum and .24 cal centerfire cartridge or larger is required so that seems pretty lenient. I probly wont travel more than a few hours from Lewis so that should be more open country?

[Fl0und3rz]

Open, brushy, rolling, coastal, mountainous.  All within a few hours of JBLM.  All, you should have rain gear.

[Tjkride]

Kiui for rain gear?

[fish vacuum]

Flat shooting bolts will shoot flat regardless of the terrain. Put a 2-7 or 3-9 scope on it and get after it.

[ELKBURGER]

Welcome to Washington and Thanks for your service! As others have said, there is just about every climate and terrain available within 3 hours of JBLM. Washington has just about every big game specie the lower 48 has to offer.... 3 types of turkey, 4 types of deer (3 huntable), 2 types of bear (1 huntable), 2 species of elk, shiras moose, mountain goat and bighorn sheep. We also have wolves but they are protected. Lots of coyotes (open year round). We also have a few antelop but not huntable populations yet. With the vast variety of wildlife comes the different environment they live in. Rain forrests, high desert, mountains, coastal and hundreds of square miles of wheat country. Coyotes seem to thrive in all of it. I'm sure you will find something that appeals to you. Make friends with someone who can help you through the hunting refs and our special permit process, it would help if he has a law degree

[Tjkride]

Yeah, y'alls regulations are crazy, I thought it was rough in fort drum, NY but nothing compared to WA. New york had the best grouse hunting i have ever seen though.

[wadu1]

First "Thanks for your service", as an old Army SGT I will tell you to start at the Adventure Center on North Fort. The have all the on base hunting info you need to hunt. Then go out to the Skeet/Trap range and talk to Dave P, he has a lot of good info and may be able to point you to a hot area.

[JDHasty]

Thank you for your service.

Plenty right on JBLM, but I bet you do travel more than a couple hours.  There is just so much available once you get started you will meet someone who wants to take a road trip to central WA.

JBLM regs can be a PITA, but it has excellent blacktail & black bear habitat.  Sometimes elk too, but don't count on them being there when/where you can hunt them.