Vashon Island access (long shot)

[ljsommer]

Anyone have any tips for accessing this area? I am a new deer hunter and looking to up my chances a bit by hunting an area with fewer predators and higher success rates.
I've been doing outreach already but I thought I'd toss out a line and see if anyone had any tips.

[dreadi]

Have you read the notices here? https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/trails/backcountry-trails/island-center-forest.aspx

[fishnfur]

I didn't read it this year, but I think that forest is closed in the late season.  Otherwise, you've got to ask permission from landowners.  Prob. too late to start now. 

Suggest you cross the Narrows and head west of Belfair - Tahuya State Forest & Manke Timberlands.  Gold Mt. area SW of Bremerton used to put out some good bucks too.

[Stein]

No offense, but heading to an island to up your chances on a deer may not be the most effective method.  If you have contacts, there are plenty of deer but if not, there is a very unfriendly climate.

If I were looking for the best odds, I would start with the harvest reports and go from there.

[ljsommer]

I have looked at the harvest reports and Vashon Island has fantastic numbers. I will never doubt the effectiveness of a warm, honest smile. People are always nicer than our doubts give them credit for.

As for upping my odds, hell, I am a new hunter trying to go after the hardest deer species to hunt in areas that are swarming with hunters.
I'll take whatever slight increase in odds I can get. My family is going to tell me to throw in the towel if I spend year after year failing in my pursuits.

[fishnfur]

You're not upping your odds a bit.  They grow astronomically by hunting on one of the islands, but bucks are still bucks and aware that there are hunters out there with bad intent.  I'd guess that many of those harvest numbers are posted by local hunters that just kill a passing deer when they see it, not by outsiders invading the island to hunt.

If you're facing insurmountable odds finding a spot to hunt on Vashon, re-read my original suggestion.  Take a look at the Kitsap Peninsula on a map.  Imagine digging a canal so that water connected the four mile stretch from Allyn to Belfair.  What is the result? 

Good luck!

[sagerat]

I have looked at the harvest reports and Vashon Island has fantastic numbers. I will never doubt the effectiveness of a warm, honest smile. People are always nicer than our doubts give them credit for.

As for upping my odds, hell, I am a new hunter trying to go after the hardest deer species to hunt in areas that are swarming with hunters.
I'll take whatever slight increase in odds I can get. My family is going to tell me to throw in the towel if I spend year after year failing in my pursuits.

Good luck! I’ve seen some good bucks on Vashon, never pursued hunting it yet...

[BLH69]

Also you should know that Kitsap and Mason hunter numbers have risen quite a bit since play-to-play has reared it's ugly head.

[studioandolina]

I hunt Vashon Is.
I am very lucky with a 50 acre plot to myself, there are people who will let you hunt I imagine.
Look for places without deer fences around their gardens, I usually see about 7 or more pretty good bucks per year and many does. Even then if the weather is bad (this year/last year) they are far and few between.....

My best in five years:

[elkrack]

Nice Blacktail right there.

[ThomMedic]

A couple of weeks ago buddy and I went to Vashon Island. We saw plenty of deer on private property both going in and leaving. In that park there were signs everywhere saying no hunting except for deer - well no deer, no tracks, no droppings, only a few game trails. Total waste of time for us.

On the road back to the ferry we stopped to glass some black tails 400 yards across a pasteur. A  woman stopped behind us and then in front of us trying to get close up pictures of us. She then drove past to the next driveway and watched us, After a while she drove past us again to another driveway and stayed there watching us till we drove off.

We guessed that Vashon has a deer problem, possibly eating up their organic, GMO free vegetables gardens. So they try to manage the issue by opening up that park for hunting but for deer only. 

[fishnfur]

Yup!