Just Moved to Yakima

[wbhinton]

Just moved to Yakima, I am from Texas and have hunted all my life and have experience packing in for elk in Colorado.

Looking learn the ropes here in Washington. Interested in all of the hunting opportunities in the state.

Any advice for a WA rookie?

Thanks,

WB

[hhack]

Endless opportunities in Washington birds and big game. Can also choose what type of experience you want lot of different terrains through the state. Gonna take you a lot of time to figure out each type of animal and what type of hunts you like. Apply for special permits next year. Lot of decent early season duck hunting near you. Toponish A lot of elk mainly private land. Deer gotta put in work. Turkeys south of you.

[CAMPMEAT]

Welcome.

Be sure to lock your things up, including your vehicles.

[syoungs]

Welcome.

Be sure to lock your things up, including your vehicles.

Not sure how much you've looked into it, but pick a side of the state first.
Cant speak to the west side as I've never been, but your right in awesome elk hunting backyard there in yakima
I'd say hit the hills and find the animals, then count on a bunch of other people showing up opening morning.
People complain about quality, but a whole lot of elk still hit freezers in this state yearly.

[pianoman9701]

PlateauNDN may be able to give you some tips if you PM him.

[Hilltop123]

Just curious, from Texas to Yakima. How did that happen?

[pianoman9701]

Guessing here - got out of the military and is married to someone from the area or had a job opportunity here. 

[Cougartail]

Guessing here - got out of the military and is married to someone from the area or had a job opportunity here. 

I'm thinking someone has a gun to his head and is hiding him in the armpit of America.

[SteelheadDC]

Welcome to the site, and the Yakima valley.  The area is not as bad as a lot will make it out.  Tons of great elk hunting around here, especially with a special permit.  Deer hunting close hasn't been the same since the winter of 96.  I am the mayor of Zillah, if you are down in the lower valley stop by my office at Zillah Chiropractic, and we can talk hunting and hiking the area.  The last physical therapist we had here was from Texas, and he loved the area.

[Karl Blanchard]

Welcome to the site, and the Yakima valley.  The area is not as bad as a lot will make it out.  Tons of great elk hunting around here, especially with a special permit.  Deer hunting close hasn't been the same since the winter of 96.  I am the mayor of Zillah, if you are down in the lower valley stop by my office at Zillah Chiropractic, and we can talk hunting and hiking the area.  The last physical therapist we had here was from Texas, and he loved the area.

  small pockets of crappy areas just like any other city,  but unless you are looking for trouble you aren't gonna be in those spots.  Deer hunting really sucks but as others have stated there is amazing places to hike, fish, shoot birds,  and elk hunt.  Never a lack of things to do in the great outdoors here in the valley

[Cougartail]

  small pockets of crappy areas just like any other city,  but unless you are looking for trouble you aren't gonna be in those spots. 
[/quote]

Spoken like someone who hasn't been a victim of a burglary/car theft.. Yet!  lol

[Karl Blanchard]

  small pockets of crappy areas just like any other city,  but unless you are looking for trouble you aren't gonna be in those spots. 

Spoken like someone who hasn't been a victim of a burglary/car theft.. Yet!  lol
[/quote]   

lived here my entire 35 years with no issues and my job has me in the worst parts of town daily.  Only time my vehicle has ever been broken into was over on the westside

[Skyvalhunter]

Go buy a lottery ticket

[Jonathan_S]

I believe Spokane has a more significant vehicle crime rate than anywhere in Washington.

I've had 3 break-ins and/or stolen vehicle attempts in 8 years

[carpsniperg2]

  if I remember Spokane is 1 and Yakima is 2 on the list.

What part of Texas you from?

[jennabug]

Pssh. Yakima isn't nearly as bad as it used to be in the 90s. I grew up there. The weather is good and there's plenty to do. Like Karl said, just avoid the bad areas and you will be fine.

Welcome to Washington!

[PlateauNDN]

There was a 1st Sgt I spoke to years ago from Bravo Co and he was speaking to a couple young hard chargers that were reporting and he said, "this is a map of Yakima, this line here is the dividing line of Yakima, you can live anywhere you want west of it, but not east of it." The dividing line was 16th ave.

[wbhinton]

Thanks for all the info.

We moved here for my wife's work, I do consulting workand am pretty flexible on location.

I grew up in North East Texas near Tyler, but spent most of my time down around Houston.

I have been doing lots of research on Topo maps and Google earth, trying to find remote dead end roads as jump off points. My biggest unknown is the snow factor and how bad the roads will get and how soon.

Crowds don't bother me too much, I have been doing DIY public land elk hunts in Colorado for the past 5 years and it can get pretty busy down there.

Looking forward to the elk, kinda disappointing that deer seem so tough to hunt.

[Badhabit]

Plat that line moved west past 56th.

[PlateauNDN]

That sounds about right.  

[wbhinton]

We are west of 66th so we should be in decent shape.

[WI to WA]

Welcome to Yakima!  As someone who has relocated to this valley, I can say, it's actually not all that bad.  Great hunting here and in the valley to the North.  Sure, bad things can happen in Yakima but that isn't that different from a lot of places.  I'm not saying I'd want to live in every neighborhood; but overall, it's a great place to live.  The only issues I have had so far have been caused by folks who live in the "good" parts of town.