My first hunt

[gfaherty3]

Hello, I have been lurking here for a bit, reading and learning and have enjoyed it quite a bit.  I am new-ish to Washington State and brand new to hunting.  I have been doing research on line, reading posts, watching videos but for me, I have to get out and just try it.  Which is what I did this morning.  My goal was really just to get out there, do some scouting and start to get to know some of the areas near me.  I litterally drove to an area, picked out a spot that looked promising (steep hillside, thick woods) and walked in.  It was great, enjoyed myself thoroughly and it was great to just get into the woods and try it.  My plan was to move around on foot, look for trails and sign (tracks, rubs, droppings) to see if I could find a spot that might have deer.  I definitely found some tracks- I think at least one set was deer- the were small and the length of the stride was pretty far but I also saw some tracks that might have been cat or even small bear.  I took some pictures of the tracks but unfortunately most are really blurry but there is one that is sort of close up. 

I also saw what might be rubs?  Something definitely scrapped the bark off these branches/trees but maybe it wasn't a deer.




Regardless of my success finding some sort of deer sign, I spent the morning and early afternoon in the woods and enjoyed it.  I can't wait to get back out there to scout and learn some more.

[SteelheadTed]

Cool man!  Getting out is the best way to learn.  Reading is a distant second but still important.  If it is a good deer area you'll see lots of sign, lots of droppings, rubs, beds, etc.  If you don't see quite a bit of that, move on until you do.  Timbered areas near clearcuts are good, walk the perimeter and you might bump a few.  Listen real close and walk real slow, after that you start figuring out what they sound like when they are bumped (they are very quiet when they move, sometimes only a slight swishing sound of a leaf is all you hear).

[PastorJoel]

Congrats on a fun first hunt!!  Where do you live?  A great way to learn is to go a time or two (or more) with some experienced hunters.  Perhaps one of us here could go with you. 

[JakeLand]

Good job and keep at it ! Spend as much time in the woods year round where you hunt
That's the best way to figure your area out
Just so you know those aren't rubs

[fishnfur]

Glad to hear you got out and tried.  Keep your nose into the wind, or at least sideways, move silly slow and keep your head on a swivel.  Look at everything before proceeding on.  Stand still more than move.

Search this forum for rubs.  You should find some pics.  The internet is better for finding deer tracks images.  Go have fun.  Four great days of hunting ahead.

[gfaherty3]

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement.  Very excited just to be out there.  Being a city guy most of my life, at first I was a little intimidated and unsure but after about an hour I was just focused on moving slowly and looking for signs.

Pastor Joel, I live in Seattle and would love to get out there with anyone who is willing to have me.  I get the sense that most of the people on these boards are from outside seattle.

JakeLand- thanks for confirming that those weren't rubs.  I didn't really think so but thought I would snap some pictures anyway.

What do beds look like?  I saw a few areas, depressions behind trees or cut into the slope that seemed like they would be good places to bed down but didn't see anything that suggested that animals were lying down there.  do the bed areas have more undergrowth or leaves or anything to make them more soft? 

Question on clearcuts.  Why is it that deer tend to bed down on the perimeter? Is it due to things growing in the clear cuts that are food sources for them? 

Thanks again to everyone on here for the encouragement but also I have learned a lot just by reading other's posts and questions.

[fishnfur]

Night beds are obvious depressions, often in grass or other foliage where the deer rest/hide in between feeding sprees - often in flat areas.  Once the night ends, they head into better hiding areas up on slopes or in the woods, anywhere from 50 - 400 yards or so. 

Bucks typically will bed where they can see a long ways down below them and have prevailing winds coming over the top of the hill washing any predator scent from behind them down to their bed.  Often, it may be right where the uphill thermals and the prevailing winds coming over the hill mix - approx. 2/3rds of the way up the hill.  Think deep sword fern, where they can sit unseen and peek out, or put their head down and be completely invisible, or under brush such as vine maple etc., or on a flat spot above a good sized tree.  This just takes time in the woods to understand completely.  Getting above them and approaching from side hill of the winds may be the best approach in the early season.  Hunting bucks in their beds is pretty tough.  They'll often hear you and get up and move well before you're close enough to see them disappear.  They may just put their head down and let you pass by.

Does typically bed farther down the slope, and this time of year, finding does is the next best thing to finding bucks, 'cause the bucks will come by sooner or later (if they're not there already).  This time of year, sitting hidden above intersecting trails (or a rub line) in the woods, above or to any side a cut is a good approach when nothing else is working.

[gfaherty3]

Thanks FishnFur, great stuff.

[slowhand]

Tag

[screedler]

Also been on my first hunt this week out in Satsop GMU 651, green diamond resource company land out by matlock. Saw a doe yesterday morning, I walked halfway out to the clearcut I've been hunting and took a minute to look around,  turned behind me and a doe or very small spike (so dark and far I couldn't tell) was standing in the road where I had passed. Managed to snap a pic through my binos, should have attached to this.

Gotta look for the deer trails better the next 3 days and maybe just post up on that road instead of the cut... I haven't been gettin out there early enough,  I have a huge newfound respect for the hunters getting into stands at 4am.

I've been having fun hiking around searching for signs though.  And I've seen a lot of scat on that road and in the clearcut I've been hunting so who knows! Gonna try some scent the next few days and see if that ups my odds... In 2018 I must scout more!

[Blacktail Sniper]

Welcome gfaherty3 & screedler!

As has been said, nothing beats boots on the ground for learning, get out and have fun, time in the woods will be a great teacher.

Here are some pics to give you an idea of what a deer rub looks like and a couple to hopefully help illustrate how good these critters are at just not being seen!!

Most new hunters make the mistake of looking for or expecting to see an entire deer.  Does happen, but around our part of the country, you may miss a dozen or more before you see that one whole deer. 

Look for things like an antler, straight lines such as a back or legs, flip of an ear or tail, small little parts and pieces that once you learn what they look like, will show you a bunch more critters that you may have never seen...

[elkchaser54]

Hey guys, I live in Seattle and have hunted my whole life in the Midwest and move out here 5 years ago and have adjusted to Archery Elk on the Eastside due to being in school haven't had any free time but starting next fall that's gonna change and I would definitely be interested in deer hunting with you guys.  Newbs gotta stick together .  You should definitely pm me and hopefully next year you can pass on some wisdom to me and I can share my own experiences.  I definitely need a wet side of the mountains hunting buddy.

[gfaherty3]

Screedler, glad you also made it out on your first hunt.

Blacktail sniper, thanks for the photos, helps with identifying rubs.   Also the hidden deer photos.  The first one, i think I see the deer but definitely see him in the second. 

elkchaser54, I will pm you.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Screedler, glad you also made it out on your first hunt.

Blacktail sniper, thanks for the photos, helps with identifying rubs.   Also the hidden deer photos.  The first one, i think I see the deer but definitely see him in the second. 

elkchaser54, I will pm you.

   You are welcome.

Also, same deer in both pictures, just a close-up of him in the second.