Deer closer to home

[Debark]

Hello everyone,

I am contemplating hunting the wet side for deer this year. In the past I have hunted over on the east side in the Cle Elum/Ellensburg area. I may not be able to get time off of work this year for deer season and was looking to move closer. I am just looking for general areas to start scouting and get to know. I'm located in Auburn and would like to stay within an hour and a half if possible. I don't know what areas have good public access and decent hunting.  Any ideas?

Thank you,
Debark

[teanawayslayer]

Hello everyone,

I am contemplating hunting the wet side for deer this year. In the past I have hunted over on the east side in the Cle Elum/Ellensburg area. I may not be able to get time off of work this year for deer season and was looking to move closer. I am just looking for general areas to start scouting and get to know. I'm located in Auburn and would like to stay within an hour and a half if possible. I don't know what areas have good public access and decent hunting.  Any ideas?

Thank you,
Debark

cle elum is an hour and a half?

[Debark]

Hello everyone,

I am contemplating hunting the wet side for deer this year. In the past I have hunted over on the east side in the Cle Elum/Ellensburg area. I may not be able to get time off of work this year for deer season and was looking to move closer. I am just looking for general areas to start scouting and get to know. I'm located in Auburn and would like to stay within an hour and a half if possible. I don't know what areas have good public access and decent hunting.  Any ideas?

Thank you,
Debark

cle elum is an hour and a half?

I was thinking closer than that though, I would like to be able to make day trips if possible. To where I usually hunt it was around 2 hours, but I'm trying to say an hour and a half max, preferably I'd like to find somewhere within an hour

[Debark]

I also haven't had much luck for deer over in GMUs 336, 340, or 346, despite putting in time every year. Just looking to change it up.

[bobcat]

I don't think there's much within an hour, except you might look into a Hancock permit. I'm not sure if there's any left or not. The area they have up by North Bend would be fairly close to you. If you can do an hour and a half look into Weyerhaeuser's permits, either Aberdeen North or Aberdeen South. The South area only has 6 motorized permits left, the North area has a couple hundred. There's also Green Diamond, they have an access permit west of Shelton, so that's a bit closer. I just don't know if there's any left. That's about all I can recommend, as it's now to the point where you pretty much have to pay if you want to hunt blacktails.

[Alchase]

I also haven't had much luck for deer over in GMUs 336, 340, or 346, despite putting in time every year. Just looking to change it up.

There is a lot of land behind gates between Elbe and Morton that hold deer. Stick to the areas where the gates are closed, and hoof it.

Skate Creek Road, find closed gates and work your way in.

A little more than 1 1/2 hours, the Skokomish Valley up above where Camp Govey was or a little further to Browns Creek, find a ridge line and work your way up.

Most hunters in these areas do not move more then 1/4 mile from a road.

[chester]

I also haven't had much luck for deer over in GMUs 336, 340, or 346, despite putting in time every year. Just looking to change it up.

Because they are afraid a tweaker will bust into an unoccupied vehicle.
There is a lot of land behind gates between Elbe and Morton that hold deer. Stick to the areas where the gates are closed, and hoof it.

Skate Creek Road, find closed gates and work your way in.

A little more than 1 1/2 hours, the Skokomish Valley up above where Camp Govey was or a little further to Browns Creek, find a ridge line and work your way up.

Most hunters in these areas do not move more then 1/4 mile from a road.

[Debark]

I also haven't had much luck for deer over in GMUs 336, 340, or 346, despite putting in time every year. Just looking to change it up.

There is a lot of land behind gates between Elbe and Morton that hold deer. Stick to the areas where the gates are closed, and hoof it.

Skate Creek Road, find closed gates and work your way in.

A little more than 1 1/2 hours, the Skokomish Valley up above where Camp Govey was or a little further to Browns Creek, find a ridge line and work your way up.

Most hunters in these areas do not move more then 1/4 mile from a road.

Thank you for the tips, I have been looking in the Morton area, I used to go camping that way as a kid. It would be nice to go back and connect with some of those memories as well. 

[SteelheadTed]

Lots of National Forest off of 410 once you get past Muckleshoot land.  There are lots of blacktails in western Washington, all over the place.  They are very elusive but they are there!  It took me time to realize how many deer I was jumping as I walked around (it still amazes me how quiet they are when they bound away).  I got to know the sound of a spooked deer and started realizing I was spooking them in the same places a lot.  Getting a shot on them is the tough part but there are lots around.  It's just a matter of getting to know a spot and when the deer move and when you can ambush them.

[Debark]

Lots of National Forest off of 410 once you get past Muckleshoot land.  There are lots of blacktails in western Washington, all over the place.  They are very elusive but they are there!  It took me time to realize how many deer I was jumping as I walked around (it still amazes me how quiet they are when they bound away).  I got to know the sound of a spooked deer and started realizing I was spooking them in the same places a lot.  Getting a shot on them is the tough part but there are lots around.  It's just a matter of getting to know a spot and when the deer move and when you can ambush them.

I headed up that was today to go walk around, but it was way too busy. Also, my strut assembly decided to come out and I had to do some roadside repairs for an hour or so to get it home, but made it back safe. Will likely go out later in the year to scout up that way, for now I'm going to try different areas.

[2labs]

Get up an hour earlier!

[Alchase]

Lots of National Forest off of 410 once you get past Muckleshoot land.  There are lots of blacktails in western Washington, all over the place.  They are very elusive but they are there!  It took me time to realize how many deer I was jumping as I walked around (it still amazes me how quiet they are when they bound away).  I got to know the sound of a spooked deer and started realizing I was spooking them in the same places a lot.  Getting a shot on them is the tough part but there are lots around.  It's just a matter of getting to know a spot and when the deer move and when you can ambush them.

I headed up that was today to go walk around, but it was way too busy. Also, my strut assembly decided to come out and I had to do some roadside repairs for an hour or so to get it home, but made it back safe. Will likely go out later in the year to scout up that way, for now I'm going to try different areas.

Most of the people in that area are within 1/4 mile of a road or on an established trail. Find a finger to head up or go off trail a bit. You probably will not see anyone near you.

[NW SURVEYOR]

Like Alchase said, get off the road and work some ridges.
I live in the Claw and have shot twenty deer within an hour drive from my door.
The hour drive is one thing, the hour hike in is another.
Find some point of access to a remote basin, ridge or combo and you will see deer.
I mostly still hunt mature timber and shoot most deer at 75 yards or less.
Work slowly and keep your eyes peeled, bring a lunch and stay at it all day. Do not return to the truck till dark.
Good luck.
Rob.

[Debark]

Like Alchase said, get off the road and work some ridges.
I live in the Claw and have shot twenty deer within an hour drive from my door.
The hour drive is one thing, the hour hike in is another.
Find some point of access to a remote basin, ridge or combo and you will see deer.
I mostly still hunt mature timber and shoot most deer at 75 yards or less.
Work slowly and keep your eyes peeled, bring a lunch and stay at it all day. Do not return to the truck till dark.
Good luck.
Rob.

Sounds good, this is more so what i want to be doing. Should i stick to higher or lower elevations during hunting season? or is that dependent on the weather? Thank you guys by the way!

[Alchase]

I use to look for the little areas that get some sun, surrounded by forest.
Sit back a bit and glass every leaf that twitches. You will be surprised at how many times it will be a deer's ear.
Their ears twitch a lot, even when bedded.

[Eric M]

Capitol Forest maybe? Or a lot of people go up into Elbe Hills area but there are quite a few deer in there, and some elk also. Both places are pretty crowded but if you walk and do a little scouting you can get away from most people.

[Alchase]

Capitol Forest maybe? Or a lot of people go up into Elbe Hills area but there are quite a few deer in there, and some elk also. Both places are pretty crowded but if you walk and do a little scouting you can get away from most people.

The South District off 706 and east of hwy 7, has a ton of land that is hard to get to since they closed the driving access from Ashford.

You get two miles in, you will not see many hunters at all.

[Old Man Yager]

Like Alchase said, get off the road and work some ridges.
I live in the Claw and have shot twenty deer within an hour drive from my door.
The hour drive is one thing, the hour hike in is another.
Find some point of access to a remote basin, ridge or combo and you will see deer.
I mostly still hunt mature timber and shoot most deer at 75 yards or less.
Work slowly and keep your eyes peeled, bring a lunch and stay at it all day. Do not return to the truck till dark.
Good luck.
Rob.

Yes, like these guys said get off the road aways. I hunt Hancock right outside of Eatonville, and I hardly ever see any other hunters in the woods. It's amazing how lazy people are, just cruising roads and then getting pissed off when a buck doesn't jump out in front of them. With Blacktails, I will look at an area that I never see anybody looking at, usually because it's steep and deep, jump in there and hunt it. They will camp out close to roads too, but most hunters don't even get out and look. Good luck. Keep us posted on where you decide to hunt, I'm always up for helping a fellow Hunter out!!

[NW SURVEYOR]

Go up 410 past Greenwater, maybe Huckleberry Creek (Eleanor) drainage.
Also check out 28 mile creek and the Haller Pass area.
There are a ton of places, you just have to ferret them out and learn the lay of the land.
Get up abit, maybe 3000-4000 feet.
Look for 100 acres or better of MATURE timber on steeper ground with little understory.
FYI, 40 acres is 1/4 mile square, you want some room.
You want to be somewhat adjacent to reprod (FEED).
These deer will feed in the reprod and bed in the timber.

Work the timber all day moving slowly.
If your jumping all the deer, you're going to fast.
Stop and sit and always stop next to a tree to blend in and have a rest for shooting.
I try to work sidehill above the truck, but that does not always work out.
Use your binocular and be ready to shoot.
Also, keep your scope on low power for that 50 foot shot, they happen.

This is tough hunting, but it is very rewarding when things fall together.
You need to be in shape and have good boots and gear to stay out all day.
It's really rough on the ankles and knees.

Good Luck,
Rob.

[Debark]

Like Alchase said, get off the road and work some ridges.
I live in the Claw and have shot twenty deer within an hour drive from my door.
The hour drive is one thing, the hour hike in is another.
Find some point of access to a remote basin, ridge or combo and you will see deer.
I mostly still hunt mature timber and shoot most deer at 75 yards or less.
Work slowly and keep your eyes peeled, bring a lunch and stay at it all day. Do not return to the truck till dark.
Good luck.
Rob.

Yes, like these guys said get off the road aways. I hunt Hancock right outside of Eatonville, and I hardly ever see any other hunters in the woods. It's amazing how lazy people are, just cruising roads and then getting pissed off when a buck doesn't jump out in front of them. With Blacktails, I will look at an area that I never see anybody looking at, usually because it's steep and deep, jump in there and hunt it. They will camp out close to roads too, but most hunters don't even get out and look. Good luck. Keep us posted on where you decide to hunt, I'm always up for helping a fellow Hunter out!!

Thank you! Ill message you when i find out where I'm going to go! Just waiting for more time off to poke my nose around a little more!

[Debark]

Go up 410 past Greenwater, maybe Huckleberry Creek (Eleanor) drainage.
Also check out 28 mile creek and the Haller Pass area.
There are a ton of places, you just have to ferret them out and learn the lay of the land.
Get up abit, maybe 3000-4000 feet.
Look for 100 acres or better of MATURE timber on steeper ground with little understory.
FYI, 40 acres is 1/4 mile square, you want some room.
You want to be somewhat adjacent to reprod (FEED).
These deer will feed in the reprod and bed in the timber.

Work the timber all day moving slowly.
If your jumping all the deer, you're going to fast.
Stop and sit and always stop next to a tree to blend in and have a rest for shooting.
I try to work sidehill above the truck, but that does not always work out.
Use your binocular and be ready to shoot.
Also, keep your scope on low power for that 50 foot shot, they happen.

This is tough hunting, but it is very rewarding when things fall together.
You need to be in shape and have good boots and gear to stay out all day.
It's really rough on the ankles and knees.

Good Luck,
Rob.

Thanks for the advise Rob,
I am familiar with getting out and staying active, I currently am in school for natural resources and cruise timber for work this summer. I just need to get out more at this point and find some ground to start learning.

Thank you for the advise,
Debark