Ring Hill Forest?

[smithkl42]

First-time hunter this year (going to be trying my luck with my bow), this is my first post.

Like everyone else in my position, I'm trying to figure out where to start. I spent some time over the weekend scouting around up the Lake Kechellus area - saw some sign, but more hunters out scouting than deer hiding from 'em.

I'm also wondering about places closer in (in my case, that's Woodinville). It sounds like the area around Tiger Mountain, and maybe some of the other similar forests are an option, at least if you get off the roads and trails.

But as I was poking around, I noticed a place called Ring Hill Forest, which I'd never heard of, and is just a few miles from my house:

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/ring-hill-forest

It looks to be King County land, and I recall reading somewhere that King County Forests are off-limits to hunting, even bow hunting.  Is that accurate? I can't find anything definitive about it on-line - any idea how to track that down?

[fishnfur]

Welcome. 

Try the search function on the top of the page.  I typed in Tiger Mountain and got a lot of hits.  I remember a good discussion here about that area last year, so a little research on your part might yield good results.   

Also, at least one King County park has had a limited hunting season in recent years:  https://vashonparks.org/island-center-forest

[smithkl42]

Just to close the loop on this - I'm sure other folks know this, but worth noting all the same:

- According to http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/legislation/kc_code/10_Title_7.aspx, it's illegal to hunt in any King County park: "Except for fishing and shellfishing in authorized areas and subject to rules promulgated by the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission, it is unlawful in any park in any manner to attempt to capture, tease, annoy, disturb, or strike any animal, with any stick, weapon or other device or throw or otherwise propel any missile or other object at or in the vicinity of any such animal."

- According to http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/parks-and-natural-lands/natural-lands/forest-stewardship/ring-hill-forest.aspx, Ring Hill and most of the other wild areas near Woodinville are managed by the King County Parks division.

In other words, it's illegal to hunt there.

Took me a while to track down - Google was of less help than you'd imagine.

[fishnfur]

This is probably the only park in the state that has a hunting season:  http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/newsroom/newsreleases/2016/September/09-ICF-deer-hunt.aspx