San Juan Islands Blacktail -- New hunter looking for advice

[levihoward17]

Hello all, I am an 18 year old just trying to get into deer hunting. I have shot a few deer in Virginia where part of my family lives however I am yet to cut my teeth in Washington. I feel a little guilty about asking for help on my first post but I have to start somewhere. My family often sails over to the San Juans during the summer months and I couldn't help but notice the seemingly large population of deer.

Upon doing some basic research I see that the a large part of the challenge is finding a place to hunt. I see that there is some public access here and there including Lopez Hill and the majority of Cypress. I am have also read through some older forum posts regarding the San Juans and I see that there is possibly a WDFW program allowing hunters to gain some access. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no experience with where the deer are and how they behave outside of the months of July and August. I would love to start to process of reaching out for land access however I feel like I need to get a better understanding of where these deer are throughout the season. Living on the mainland somewhat hinders my ability to spend a lot of time scouting. I am wondering if anyone has any experience hunting these areas or would be willing to share any additional advice or information.

If there is anyone interested in letting me tag along on any of their hunts I would be thrilled. My main goal is to really just learn as much as I can. I honestly am not even interested in shooting anything this season, rather my focus is just to gain some knowledge. Unfortunately my time to hunt is constrained by school. I am a full-time student at UW so my hunting time is restricted to weekends or before the 20th of September.

Again I feel a little bit guilty asking people to share their hard earned knowledge. I am in no way asking you to send me to coordinates to your secret spot, just simply a push in the right direction. I think that part of the fun is figuring it out on your own, and I hope those of you reading this will help me along the way.

[overthefalls]

I have yet to hunt the San Juan, but will be doing so next season. Cypress has access, send me a PM and we can exchange info.

[RB]

Cypress is easy access, which equals a lot of hunters, but it has Deer on it. I have hunted it several times, but have not taken home a Deer. Found lots of sign and one little pygmy goat Deer that had baby carrots for horns sticking off it's head and that is it! IF you have time scout the island and see what is there. Best of luck it is a fun hunt!

[cm2cb4]

Years ago you could contact the Friday Harbor Water Treatment Company and depending on if you knew someone on the island, they may issue you a limited permit (certain days and specify weapon type [no centerfire though]). It’s a good ole boys system on that island. Other option hop on the ferry and drive around for a while, you’re bound to hit eventually

[Special T]

Contact Rob Wingaurd from the WDFW he is the private lands manger and manages the land access program.

[jamesfromseattle]

Contact Rob Wingaurd from the WDFW he is the private lands manger and manages the land access program.

It sounds like WDFW has been making an effort to secure more private land access up there and has some money to spend on it.  My recollection was that it was slow going to get properties enrolled, but it looks like there are a few reservation-only properties up there now.  I hope things go well and more folks enroll their property. 

For the properties I'm familiar with, at least (which is not all of them), I think they would hold deer if you could get a reservation at the start of the season. 

I used to try to hunt up there, but eventually just decided I'd rather spend time scouting in the mountains than dealing with private land.  Seems like it should be a gimme if you have access up there, but there're a lot of ways to have an unsuccessful hunt on small parcels like they have up in the islands.

Also done Cypress a couple times without success.  It doesn't have the feed (i.e. flower beds and gardens) that the other islands have--and also no logging--so it's more of a typical western WA blacktail density area than the other islands.  It's a fun logistical hunt if you're into that sort of thing, but I think a lot of people who hunt there end up disappointed that it is actually a low odds hunt.  The access points are also limited so I think you probably need to walk a ways and bust some brush to be consistently successful.

First time I hunted there was before there was anything on the internet about it and I thought I discovered some secret and easy hunt that nobody else had thought of.  Was wrong on both accounts.

[Bob33]

There are a few hunting by permission properties in the San Juans.

https://privatelands.wdfw.wa.gov/private_lands/type/56/

Reservations can be made two weeks in advance; you are allowed to reserve up to three properties at one time. The few spots available often get reserved quickly.

Good luck.

[hunterednate]

Contact Rob Wingaurd from the WDFW he is the private lands manger and manages the land access program.

This is good advice. I've been hunting the islands for deer for the last 3 years and enjoyed it. If you get the chance this summer, knocking on doors of island farms is not a bad tactic. You may get told "no" 19 times out of 20....but you might get on some good property, too. Don't neglect the small parcels, either. You don't need a huge expanse of land to kill a deer on the islands.

[Special T]

I put the sucess of the programs Fred with Rob. He is funny has broad shoulders and makes folks laugh. He credits his successful attitude  from his time being a bouncer in a mobile home converted to a bar in Montana.  I have seen him taken more b.s. from folks and he takes in stride. The WDFW would do well to hire more like him.

[luvmystang67]

I'm from up there and access is tough, even for me.  Keep in mind that its firearm restricted, and that many people up there aren't too fond of hunters.  You might have some luck wandering around pre-season and asking for archery permission, like was mentioned here, you never know.

The good ol boys club does have it pretty much on lockdown, so it is likely difficult to find a place.

Even being from there, I enjoy hunting blacktail on DNR and forest company property more than the island.  The animals are larger, the hunt is more challenging and you don't need to walk around asking for permission.

If you really want to eat deer, just drive around the island and pick one off the side of the road!

[fishnfur]

Hard to imagine that these islands that are overrun with deer can provide such poor hunting, but yet we hear that over and over again.  You might want to consider an archery tag and hunting the first week of September when the deer are still in Summer mode and at least a few of the bucks will still be in velvet and less invisible. 

[Special T]

I heard the rumor they were considering allowing  a 3rd deer option on the islands to try and increase harvest. Add to that some orgs that arn't so friendly to hunters are willing to let deer hunting happen on their property because the overgrazing has effected the butterfly population.

[h2ofowlr]

Cypress is easy access, which equals a lot of hunters, but it has Deer on it. I have hunted it several times, but have not taken home a Deer. Found lots of sign and one little pygmy goat Deer that had baby carrots for horns sticking off it's head and that is it! IF you have time scout the island and see what is there. Best of luck it is a fun hunt!

I hunted Cypress 4 times and never notched a tag.  Lots of walking and just didn't see the deer.  Think the deer were hanging more around the homes on the island vs. the north end.

[fishnfur]

Probably should have tried hiding and sitting still.   

[ducks4days]

The islands are full of hippies/yuppies who dont like the idea of hunting and dont want people to know that they let somebody hunt on their land; theyre also full of people who had to take a ferry to Anacortes to get body work done on their car after hitting deer. No joke, look for republican campaign signs the year before the hunt and come back in the summer to ask for permission. They will still tell you no, but the odds are better.

The deer are really small, even the ones who somehow manage to live to 3-4 before getting hit by a car.

Cypress is hard hunting. Most of the island is one of 2 hills, and you're only allowed to camp on the north end. Deer density is low and the areas they hang out are super dense, you need to spend time patterning them because there is little chance of sneaking up on one.