Beginner Hunter Looking For Guidance

[Brotems360]

Hello hunters,

To make a long story short, my out-of-state friend and I are looking to take a hunting trip this coming open deer season(modern firearms). I've jumped through all the hoops on getting my hunters safety course and reduced fees(disabled veteran), but was wondering what else we need to know before we venture off into the wild and land ourselves a fine. I'm sure theres a beginners guide around here somehwere but I was not able to locate it.

The https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/wildlife-areas website doesnt really clarify all that much as it conflicts with information on other .gov websites. Where can we hunt deer on public land? I was looking at Baker Lake area but I've found some information that leads me to believe that its small game only in that area.

Will the WDFW accept a hunters safety course from someone out of state, or how does that work?

Where do I go to get my permit and what do I need to bring with me? What does my out-of-state friend need to bring with him?

Any information is greatly appreciated and thank you for stopping in to see if you can help.

V/R,
Brotems

[Eric M]

This isnt a hunting website, but it may help with knowing what passes you'll probably need
https://www.wta.org/go-outside/passes
I recommend spending some time reading through the hunting regs. Some of your questions will be answered there, and may help you understand the game management units a little better (GMU's).

[Stein]

You can take your hunter's ed certificate into any license dealer and they will sell you whatever you want, check the regulations pamphlet available at the same place to see what license you want to buy.  Most sporting goods stores sell them including Fred Meyer, Cabelas, etc.

The pamphlet also lays out what you can shoot where.  Skip the part about the draw tags, you will only be eligible for the general season this year.

[Bob33]

Will the WDFW accept a hunters safety course from someone out of state, or how does that work?

Yes; states have reciprocal agreements with the other states. If you have evidence that you passed hunter education in any state it would be accepted in Washington. You need to take evidence that you have passed hunter education to a license dealer in Washington, and you can then purchase hunting licenses.

[Brotems360]

knowing what passes you'll probably need

How far do you think this will get me?

[Dysfunctional Vet]

I use that pass anywhere the discovery pass is needed. Since you have that one you should qualify for the national parks pass, it works for national forests.

[Eric M]

knowing what passes you'll probably need

How far do you think this will get me?

Not sure if it works for the NW forest Pass.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev2_027010

[Russ McDonald]

The green card for the state is fir disabled veterans.  If your a dusabled vet and you have your paper work bring into any FS district office and get your NW Pass for free.  As far as I knew the green state card does not substitute for a discover pass unless I am missing something.

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[Russ McDonald]

Off DNR site
State Parks pass (disabled veterans, people with disabilities, and qualified limited-income senior citizens). The Washington State Legislature created pass programs for certain visitors to Washington state parks. (You will still need a Discover Pass to access lands managed by WDFW or DNR.)



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[Brotems360]

Thank you everyone for the information so far, I'm moving in the right direction for sure.

Anyone know where I can get information on how GMU's work? If I buy a permit can I hunt anywhere or am I isolated to a specific area?

[Russ McDonald]

Deer is going to be a over the counter tag and you can hunt anywhere in the state that is open to deer hunting.  I would download the regs because there is 3 species of deer in the state and each GMU has different regs for those species.  Any deer west of the cascade crest is ckassified as a black tail deer.  Any deer east of thr crest is a mule deer but there is also white tail deer on the east side of the state to.  Here is an example of different regs per GMU.  Some have any deer, some have buck only, some have 3 point or better fir mule deer and 4 point or better for white tail deer and it is the same GMU.

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[JakeLand]

 Couple?
What are you planning on hunting? Blacktail ( local ) or east side muley’s Or whitetail?
Disabled as can’t hike far or restricted to a vehicle? 
If you’re planning on hunting local I can help you with a few areas

[Brotems360]

Walking/climbing/running/treking is all fine. My disability is service connected so it's a little different, classification wise, than a regular disability. I live in Snohomish county and we have very little interest in going east over the mountains, so we're looking for blacktail.

Any help on good areas that you can also pitch a tent in would be greatly appreciated.

[fishnfur]

If your friend has hunting experience, I defer to his judgement as to what species to hunt.  An Eastside hunt might be preferable to trying to figure out Westside Blacktail hunting with only a few months to learn the in's and outs.  Many Westside hunters find that making the trip east often results in more game sightings and shot opportunities.

You can call WDFW with any questions you have along the way regarding regs and state lands.  They used to have a good mapping feature for identifying state lands and private lands open to the public on their website called "Go Hunt", but I'll be darned if I can find it since they re-worked their web pages.  They may be able to help you out.  I'd also ask them if the Discover Pass can be replaced by the pass you have. 

BTW - there is no great source for beginners here, or anywhere else.  Google, the read, read, read.....

[JakeLand]

Pm sent

[Brotems360]

Still looking for some tips and areas to hunt blacktail for this years open deer in northwest Washington, preferably somewhere we can camp and fish as well.

Thanks.

[fishnfur]

 

Good luck.  Let us know how it turns out. 

[Skyvalhunter]

 

[The Marquis]

Still looking for some tips and areas to hunt blacktail for this years open deer in northwest Washington, preferably somewhere we can camp and fish as well.

Thanks.

All west side public land is probably a decent bet for Blacktail so long as the regs don't prohibit.  Nobody is going to give up a "spot" on this forum, you can bank on that.  Blacktail are fairly abundant all over the west side, but they are hard to find because of the nature of their habitat.  It's not that brand of hunting where you post up and watch for a deer to come by... if you do that, you'll have 20 orange clad folks doing the same thing in the same clear cut and largely without much success. 

[kselkhunter]

Study the harvest stats in the GMUs:  https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/game-harvest#2018-harvest

Based on success rate % for modern firearm and # bucks harvested, for west side these are the top units.  Pick one and start scouting.  You'll see areas to camp while you're out there.  Just verify which units have public land vs. private, and what passes are needed where before heading out. 
667
651
602
648
658
672
660
407
501
505
530
550
564

[Brotems360]

What can I expect when I go in to buy my permit/tags? I have my hunters safety course card and my parks passes. I'm ready to start investing time in scouting the grounds I've been researching but i want to know more about how the actual buying process goes down. Do I only get to hunt in the GMU I choose or is the permit good state wide?

Appreciate any responses.



Brotems

[fishnfur]

What to expect?:  Expect to pay too much money for hunting an animal that the state doesn't manage.  The fee is a usage tax and does not contribute to improving the herd, nor their habitat.  (IMHO)  I digress.....

Go to Walmart or any sporting goods store.  Tell them you want a Modern Firearm (MF) Deer Tag.  Show your hunter education card if necessary, which may not be necessary.  Once it is on file in the computer system, you're good for the rest of your life, so if the Hunter Ed. people registered you with the state, then you're in the database.  All that is left to do is pay the fee which covers you for the entire state.  Once you figure out where in the state you want to hunt, check the regs for the dates that you can hunt during the MF season for the GMU you chose.  On the Westside, the dates for Blacktail Deer are generally all the same, with a couple minor exceptions.  Carry the transport tag with you whenever you hunt, and attach it to a kill as you take possession of it, prior to dragging it out or field dressing the animal.

[BeerBugler]

Just out of curiosity, which state is your “out of state friend” from?

[Brotems360]

Thank you @fishnfur, that information was very helpful.

Just out of curiosity, which state is your “out of state friend” from?

Florida