Second Deer Lopez

[majolem]

Well I drew a Second Deer Lopez Island archery tag!  Has anyone on here hunted Lopez?  According to Onx there are a couple of small chunks of state land. 

[throwingsticks]

I have, access is hard, check out Lopez hill, but honestly you might do better closer to home if you are on Whidbey.

[majolem]

I have, access is hard, check out Lopez hill, but honestly you might do better closer to home if you are on Whidbey.

Thanks for the reply. my second deer tag is lopez specific.  I'll fill my main tag on whidbey..  I went and scouted lopez hill last weekend and found some promising spots, so crossing my fingers!

[James E]

Contact Bear Hunter on the forum. He knows the area well..

[RobinHoodlum]

I don't mean for this to sound the wrong way, but putting in for the 2nd deer tags in the San Juans without an "in" to private property is not the best idea. Deer populations are at carrying capacity and most of the deer are pretty socialized (i.e. easy to kill), but there is very little public land to hunt.

You're probably going to have to spend some time over there in person doorbelling to get permission to hunt private. Be prepared to be told no A LOT. The majority of people in the islands love the deer or tolerate them, but are anti-hunting.

Try to figure out which landowners are actually trying to make a living farming and contact them and also reach out to the local DFW conflict specialists to see if they have landowners with chronic damage issues.

Good luck!

[majolem]

I don't mean for this to sound the wrong way, but putting in for the 2nd deer tags in the San Juans without an "in" to private property is not the best idea. Deer populations are at carrying capacity and most of the deer are pretty socialized (i.e. easy to kill), but there is very little public land to hunt.

You're probably going to have to spend some time over there in person doorbelling to get permission to hunt private. Be prepared to be told no A LOT. The majority of people in the islands love the deer or tolerate them, but are anti-hunting.

Try to figure out which landowners are actually trying to make a living farming and contact them and also reach out to the local DFW conflict specialists to see if they have landowners with chronic damage issues.

Good luck!
[/quote

Thanks man, for the advice.  Since then I have been out to the island and found a very promising spot on public land..  Even got to put on a stalk within bow range of a big doe.  Also secured a plan B on some private land which should be ALMOST a guarantee as the deer are extremely social..  however, I like a challenge!

[Rodney107]

Sent u a pm

[Pac_NW]

Imo more then adequate public areas to harvest a deer on Lopez without going to private property. My experience is get to the public land early and be respectful to the hikers/non hunters that will come through. In addition to Lopez hill, there is BLM on iceberg point, but it's pretty popular for hikers, but again, plenty of deer.