Looking for a hunting partner on the west side - preferably female

[Lindsay V]

Hey there,

I just moved to University Place over the summer and am looking to get into hunting here in WA.

A bit about me - I'm 31, been married to a wonderful husband for 10+ years. Sadly, he's not interested in hunting. I'm also a freelance writer working from home, so my opportunities to find other hunting friends is pretty limited.

I grew up hunting at my uncle's deer camp in Michigan's UP a few miles from Escanaba (strangely, I didn't see the movie Escanaba in Da Moonlight till many years later, lol!). I've also been a dogsled racer, and that's what took me to AK when I was 18. Tried to learn to run the Iditarod and realized it's more of a super expensive hobby than a real job, so then I focused on going to school instead.

I got my bachelor's and master's degree in wildlife biology and conservation at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where I studied caribou and forage quality on the north slope. I used to go hunting with friends there a lot, and I even got my first (and only, so far) big game animal - a caribou - from the same herd along the Haul Rd that I later ended up studying for my master's thesis.

I haven't been big-game hunting in about 7 years and I'd like to get back into it. It seems more challenging here in WA. In AK, you just had to throw a dart at a map and go there to go hunting since there was so much public land. Not so much here it seems. I'm interested in deer, elk, and even spring turkeys (even though they're not big-game), mostly to help fil the freezer. Trophies are cool but you can't eat them. 

I have a .270, a 12 gauge, and I'm IBEP-certified with my bow. I'd like to get back into archery hunting (actually, I never really did go, all I did was practice shooting in my backyard to pass the test), but I also need to get back into practice. Same thing with my .270 - it's been knocking around in my truck from all the moves I've done in recent years and needs to be resighted, but I'm not too sure where to go. I can't practice with my bow where I live either since I live in an apartment complex for now...ugh... So if anyone knows of any (non-busy!) places to go to practice archery/shooting within driving distance of University Place, I'm all ears!

I'm looking for either 1) someone who's OK with me tagging along to learn the ropes of hunting in WA so I can do it on my own, or 2) someone who's looking for a partner to figure this out together or just wants a friend in the field. I'm happy leaving politics out of discussions or not, but should just say that my own political views are liberal. Preferably looking for another female, but am open to like-minded dudes as well.

Thanks!

[Widgeondeke]

Welcome to the forum.

Good luck with your search

[CedarPants]

Great introduction and welcome to the forum!!

[jb101]

I know what you mean about figuring out the Washington versus Alaska. Spent 8 years in Anchorage while I was in the AF, and the options were overwhelming, depending on budget and willingness to drive.  Here in WA on the wet side I found it hard to find productive land that didn't get closed down or turned into pay-to-play by the timber companies.  Frustrating to spend time figuring out an area just to get shut out. Unless I get drawn for a special permit, I'm focusing my attention on Idaho; getting more crowded by the day, but more chance for success IMO.  Best of luck in your endeavors!  P.S.,  mentioning the Iditarod brought back memories!  We lived in Eagle River and used to watch the ceremonial start each year down by the VFW.

[Lindsay V]

Thanks everyone!

Yup @jb101 - seems that way. I'm hoping I can hone in my archery skills again and go a bit earlier, that maybe that'll alleviate some of the crowds.

The ceremonial start was so fun! I was actually on ESPN briefly the year I helped train a team for it. I was riding the second sled outta the ceremonial chute. For some reason they gave me a split-sled (the handlebar was cut down the middle, so the sled folded down more and cornered better) and I wasn't used to it. Lo and behold, when the gun went off, I grabbed right for that missing piece and nearly biffed it on national TV going right out of the starting chute! At least it wasn't as bad as the time I actually did tip the sled leaving the chute back when I was a high schooler in northern Michigan...but that's a story for another time

[TVHunts]

Welcome!

I hope you find a partner or group that fits you and your request.  Seems like there is a fair amount of gals on here and one of them will likely step up. 

Best of luck to you 

[The100Road]

Nice intro! @hershey comes to mind as an awesome mentor.

[Special T]

The Knock Point in Mount lake Terrac off 220th and I5 is the closest indoor range. Kenmore gun range has an archery course and flat range near you but I'm unaware of the membership fee.

I'm biased but for $40a year you can belong to the best range/club in the state. Silver Arrow Bowmen in mount Vernon just of exit 224 it's about an hour drive but we have a covered lit outdoor flat range, a 20 yard indoor range/clubhouse  and a 50 target walk through course on a 3 mile trail with lots of real world up and down shots.

We are on Facebook, have a web site and a dedicated thread on here where I share our clubs activities and shoots in the organizations/charity discussions.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Reconyxbot]

Hey there I’m down in Olympia, born and raised here so know the area pretty well, just haven’t done much hunting this is my first year, haven’t had time for general deer so I’ll be hitting up late deer this year but also hoping to get at least some elk scouting down this year and going to be doing a lot of duck hunting, pm me if you are interested