Advice for First Time Hunter

[Fischer R.]

Hey everybody! I'm a first time hunter without anybody I personally know that is a Hunter themselves. I did a bunch of research and settled on the Buckhorn Wilderness in GMU 621. I want to Spot and Stalk with my Bow along the Silver Lakes Trail. Although, I wouldn't be hunting this year, I'm planning on going up just to camp and hike to get the feel of the land and to spot some deer, note their patterns if I see any, ect.. I'm hoping to get advice about whether this sounds like a good plan, if I should stick to the trail or if I should venture off of it every once and a while, if im likely to see any deer at all, any advice or tips at all is helpful really.

[OutHouse]

Not a westside hunter but if you'll be there during hunting season, buy your license/tag and bring the bow along. You don't even have to plan to use it but what if you see something and have a chance to perform your first stalk? You will wish you had that bow. And with spot and stalk or still hunting there will be a lot of blown stalks so best to start practicing now. Best of luck to you!

[Stein]

I agree, get your license and hunt.

Regarding trails, deer and other big game generally don't like people.

[MADMAX]

If your looking to see game and have a quality hunt experience
Sorry to say, It’s been on the downhill slide
My
Head East
Don’t stop for at least 400 miles

[Bango skank]

Ive said it recently to a new hunter, and was basically told to pound sand, but ill say it again.  If youre new to hunting, id go with a rifle for a while, build sone knowledge through experience and get a few kills under your belt before you go making things any harder than they have to be by using archery tackle.  Just my 2 cents, take it or leave it.

[TheStovePipeKid]

Here's my one cent, because I don't count enough for the full two. Go where the game is, not where you want them to be. Year one will be fun because it's new and you can chalk everything up to experience. By year five it stops being fun if you never get to stalk anything. Getting some success will most likely take extra miles and lots of post here on the forum but it isn't impossible. I've been hunting NE turkey for ten years. The drive back sucks but having meat in the cooler takes the sting out of it.

[Platensek-po]

Not a westside hunter but if you'll be there during hunting season, buy your license/tag and bring the bow along. You don't even have to plan to use it but what if you see something and have a chance to perform your first stalk? You will wish you had that bow. And with spot and stalk or still hunting there will be a lot of blown stalks so best to start practicing now. Best of luck to you!

this times a million. Nothing worse than going out in season without a weapon and having a perfect opportunity present itself.

[Fischer R.]

sounds like the suggestion is to venture off trails and head east. I'm not looking for anyone's honeyhole because that's gonna take away from the experience, but is there a suggestion for a GMU or place eastside for deer?

[opdinkslayer]

Have you been up to silver lake before? There are a lot of people using that trail & camping near the lake. If your set on that area, definitely get off the trail or get above the lake & hunt the ridge & basin to the East. Good luck

[buckfvr]

WDFW harvest reports tell you best odds.

Hunt timing is most important.  Hunt when deer are most active.  If youre still in camp at daylight, you just shot yourself in the foot.  If youre back at camp before dark, you just shot your other foot.

[Angry Perch]

I'm not a fan of the 'head east" mentality, especially for a new hunter.  I think your time would be better spent learning your (somewhat) local area. If hunting involves hours of driving each way, it really limits the amount of time you'll spend in the field learning.

[Russ McDonald]

I think you pick whatever weapon you want to hunt with and stick with it.  I hunted once and only once with a rifle in this state and that was my first season here.  I never hunted rifle again.  Black tail are tricky critters to hunt if you stick to the west side. They like to be in the thick stuff.  Early morning and evening hunts are your friend for sure.  Harvest reports are your friend for sure to find a good GMU.  Good luck.

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[Jpmiller]

I've got a buddy who lives not too far from the buckhorn wilderness and he went up for the first time last year and is planning on going again as he shot his deer there. Haven't checked in with him in a few weeks but I believe he was headed up for bear there this year as well. I wouldn't write it completely off but all my knowledge is second hand.

[ThurstonCokid]

Ive said it recently to a new hunter, and was basically told to pound sand, but ill say it again.  If youre new to hunting, id go with a rifle for a while, build sone knowledge through experience and get a few kills under your belt before you go making things any harder than they have to be by using archery tackle.  Just my 2 cents, take it or leave it.

I agree with Bango on this. But if i had a bow and was dead set i dont think anyone could change my mind. I think working out some kinks and having the forgiveness a rifle can give you is good for first time hunters. Once you see the process of everything and want to take the next step to archery great. With that i think the buckhorn wilderness is a great area for opportunity. I’d 100% buy your deer tag because why not. If you get an opportunity don’t pass it up. I wouldnt be dead set on the area unless you want the wilderness experience only. Lots of great area around there. Good luck


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[Buckjunkie]

Research research research. Scout as much as you can based on research. You can start with harvest stats to find units that have decent success. As others have said it’s easier to scout close to home. Practice shooting when you aren’t scouting.

It’s tough to be consistently successful on Wa general tags. Guys that are have put their time in. Apply for special permits. Don’t get discouraged. It may take a while before you find success.

[Fischer R.]

Did some research on the east side and came across East Okanagen and Mount Spokane GMU's. On this side, I saw that North Sound had twice as many harvest reports than Olympic unit, not sure how I missed that. A little bit further drive but still in my area and worth the look.
I'm gonna have to stick with Archery hunting for now though, but thanks for the suggestions.

I didn't expect to much from this thread but it had a lot of info, thanks guys

[rainshadow1]

Silver Lakes area in the buckhorn is a great place, but as has been mentioned, the trails are heavily used. Get familiar enough with the area where you're very comfortable going off trail and over ridges and thru draws. (Google earth study time, and print paper maps, or bring a good mapped gps. Both, actually... batteries die, no cell service. That can make you comfortable the first run.) Beautiful area for high buck or archery.

Can get very rugged when you're trekking off on your own, so be aware.

Good initial plan since you live close by, but like was also mentioned, why not doing during season (also) with your tags and gear?!?!

[huntnfmly]

#1 advice have fun enjoy the time outdoors and the learning.
Do not measure your success on harvesting an animal.
Good luck and have a great season in the woods

[Boss .300 winmag]

#1 advice have fun enjoy the time outdoors and the learning.
Do not measure your success on harvesting an animal.
Good luck and have a great season in the woods

 

[idaho guy]

I would hunt reasonably close to home where you can put boots on the ground. Definitely BUY a tag. Google earth and all that’s great I guess but I have had way more success just being in the woods. There’s sign like rubs and poop etc you can’t see on a computer and the woods look a lot different in person vs a computer to me. Some of my best deer,elk, bear and lions have come from 1 area in a unit with low success and harvest rates. It’s overcrowded during hunting season but I like it there and have found little pockets that hold game and people haven’t found yet in person or on the computer. Just spend lots of time in the woods hunting but also horn hunting picking mushrooms and huckleberries etc. get off trail as far as you can. If I lived in Washington I would spend a lot of time Hunting predators especially bears when it’s not deer or elk season Pick an area that’s not too far away and spend a lot of time there OFF any established trails. Good luck and have fun.

[BassHunter]

Have fun exploring! 

I always recommend bringing a GPS.  Many phones have great GPS offline apps.  This will give you the confidence to try new spots and possibly find that honey hole. I'm sure you have one, but a good range finder and binoculars are a game changer.

Have fun!

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[DOUBLELUNG]

WDFW harvest reports tell you best odds.

Hunt timing is most important.  Hunt when deer are most active.  If youre still in camp at daylight, you just shot yourself in the foot.  If youre back at camp before dark, you just shot your other foot.

Super advice right here!  When in the backcountry, I carry two headlamps + spare batteries, a gps unit and a compass.