WA deer pay to play: what are the options?

[ljsommer]

Quick backstory: I started hunting 7 years ago. In that time I've hunted Weyerhauser once, and went on a week long guided whitetail hunt in Idaho. My only deer came from that Weyerhauser land (Idaho hunt was a total bust). I've never once (not one single time) seen a buck on public land in 7 years. I've seen plenty of does. I'd like to get my sons into hunting, but there's a snowball's chance in Hades they'd be interested in joining dad with the sort of experience I am able to provide them.

My question: Are there "deer lease" type options available in WA, particularly Western WA? Are there areas where I can trade money for success? Looking for any option at this point, as this season is shaping up exactly like all the rest.

Thanks all,

[highcountry_hunter]

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[highcountry_hunter]

Quick backstory: I started hunting 7 years ago. In that time I've hunted Weyerhauser once, and went on a week long guided whitetail hunt in Idaho. My only deer came from that Weyerhauser land (Idaho hunt was a total bust). I've never once (not one single time) seen a buck on public land in 7 years. I've seen plenty of does. I'd like to get my sons into hunting, but there's a snowball's chance in Hades they'd be interested in joining dad with the sort of experience I am able to provide them.

My question: Are there "deer lease" type options available in WA, particularly Western WA? Are there areas where I can trade money for success? Looking for any option at this point, as this season is shaping up exactly like all the rest.

Thanks all,

When you say “can I trade money for success”, yes you can. On deer farms or on guided hunts (even tho it sounds like that didn’t work well).

We are living in the greatest time in human history to learn how to do something, ESPECIALLY hunting. There are thousands of episodes of podcasts all dedicated to helping people learn and get better. Thousands of YouTube videos. Thousands of written articles.

If you’ve never seen a buck on public land there’s gotta be some problems. I’d try other spots for one. Are you scouting? If you’re on the westside then trail cameras would be your best friend since a lot of that country is too thick to glass. But you could always be glassing logged units and clear cuts in the summer months at first light.
Are you working hard enough at it? Sometimes you don’t necessarily have to go farther than other people to get away from the crowds and find deer. A steep steep mountain will keep 90% of the people away.
I don’t mean to call you out specifically, but your comment about trading money for success really rubs me the wrong way. To me that’s the beauty of hunting. A guy can go out in his 29$ wranglers and a flannel shirt and have great success if he puts in the work before season and uses every possible opportunity to learn.


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[MADMAX]

All my long time spots for local deer hunting are now pay to play
Pizzes me off but it is what is
Get Onyx
Find state and national forest land
Then start scouting the areas
First part of general season and lots of miles saw around 6 does
Finally had a legal buck on legal ground and dumped him
Went down with my buds elk hunting SW on state land
Of course deer is closed then
Saw 13 deer one day with 5 being legal bucks
Saw a total of 2 elk only one walked away
My buddies son got a dandy 6pt bull on one side with a spike and a club on the other
Done deal on state land
So they are there dont give up

[ljsommer]

Quick backstory: I started hunting 7 years ago. In that time I've hunted Weyerhauser once, and went on a week long guided whitetail hunt in Idaho. My only deer came from that Weyerhauser land (Idaho hunt was a total bust). I've never once (not one single time) seen a buck on public land in 7 years. I've seen plenty of does. I'd like to get my sons into hunting, but there's a snowball's chance in Hades they'd be interested in joining dad with the sort of experience I am able to provide them.

My question: Are there "deer lease" type options available in WA, particularly Western WA? Are there areas where I can trade money for success? Looking for any option at this point, as this season is shaping up exactly like all the rest.

Thanks all,

When you say “can I trade money for success”, yes you can. On deer farms or on guided hunts (even tho it sounds like that didn’t work well).

We are living in the greatest time in human history to learn how to do something, ESPECIALLY hunting. There are thousands of episodes of podcasts all dedicated to helping people learn and get better. Thousands of YouTube videos. Thousands of written articles.

If you’ve never seen a buck on public land there’s gotta be some problems. I’d try other spots for one. Are you scouting? If you’re on the westside then trail cameras would be your best friend since a lot of that country is too thick to glass. But you could always be glassing logged units and clear cuts in the summer months at first light.
Are you working hard enough at it? Sometimes you don’t necessarily have to go farther than other people to get away from the crowds and find deer. A steep steep mountain will keep 90% of the people away.
I don’t mean to call you out specifically, but your comment about trading money for success really rubs me the wrong way. To me that’s the beauty of hunting. A guy can go out in his 29$ wranglers and a flannel shirt and have great success if he puts in the work before season and uses every possible opportunity to learn.


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You make excellent points, thank for you taking the time.
I didn't mean to rub anyone the wrong way. I want to find somewhere to hunt that isn't significantly thinned out. I have a theory that despite hunter numbers being smaller than what they were at the country's peak, we have far less huntable land so far more people are crowding into far fewer spaces which is having a predictable effect of significantly diminishing the deer populations in those areas.
To paraphrase a local I met a couple years ago: "how the hell did you even find this place?" (my response) "I was just trying to find somewhere to hunt."

I just want to find somewhere that has some deer, and doesn't also have 50 hunters per day. If there are any options for deer leases, I'd be open to that.

[ljsommer]

So not to turn this thread into a bunch of folks annoyed at me for being a poor hunter but back to the original question: do 'deer leases' exist in WA? I know they're extremely common in the south and midwest, but I haven't heard much about them in WA.
Does anyone know if this is a thing? Being local is valuable to me as I work a lot and I have a young baby so day hunts are usually all I can manage. (the Idaho hunt was done with my wife when she was pregnant - boy, 1 degree temps with morning sickness....I married the right lady...she saw a buck on that hunt but passed on it hoping for something better. I saw a doe but passed for saw reason.)

[Sitka_Blacktail]

So not to turn this thread into a bunch of folks annoyed at me for being a poor hunter but back to the original question: do 'deer leases' exist in WA? I know they're extremely common in the south and midwest, but I haven't heard much about them in WA.
Does anyone know if this is a thing? Being local is valuable to me as I work a lot and I have a young baby so day hunts are usually all I can manage. (the Idaho hunt was done with my wife when she was pregnant - boy, 1 degree temps with morning sickness....I married the right lady...she saw a buck on that hunt but passed on it hoping for something better. I saw a doe but passed for saw reason.)

Rayonier has leases and I believe Weyerhauser has a few too.

[MADMAX]

GTS

https://huntinglocator.com/leases/state/washington

[ljsommer]

So not to turn this thread into a bunch of folks annoyed at me for being a poor hunter but back to the original question: do 'deer leases' exist in WA? I know they're extremely common in the south and midwest, but I haven't heard much about them in WA.
Does anyone know if this is a thing? Being local is valuable to me as I work a lot and I have a young baby so day hunts are usually all I can manage. (the Idaho hunt was done with my wife when she was pregnant - boy, 1 degree temps with morning sickness....I married the right lady...she saw a buck on that hunt but passed on it hoping for something better. I saw a doe but passed for saw reason.)

Rayonier has leases and I believe Weyerhauser has a few too.

I've had a Weyerhauser pass in the past and it paid off - I got my first (only) deer there. Unfortunately due to overwhelming demand, Weyerhauser now sells out within minutes for all drive in leases for all plots in WA. (side note: I used to work with the guy that managed their cloud hosting for their website and the number of people who try to get into their site to get a permit is overwhelming, both numerically and from a cloud architecture point of view).

[ljsommer]

GTS

https://huntinglocator.com/leases/state/washington

Whoa nice! I didn't know about that! Thanks!

[MADMAX]

GTS

https://huntinglocator.com/leases/state/washington

Whoa nice! I didn't know about that! Thanks!

Me neither
Good luck if your gun hunting deer
The next 3 days dawn to dusk is what Id be doing

[boneaddict]

Isn’t Buck run similiar to what you are looking for.  They used to run adds in the hunting pamphlets. 

[ljsommer]

GTS

https://huntinglocator.com/leases/state/washington

Whoa nice! I didn't know about that! Thanks!

Me neither
Good luck if your gun hunting deer
The next 3 days dawn to dusk is what Id be doing

Thank you! I was out all day today sun up to sundown. Saw a doe. I need to help my wife with something tomorrow but I’ll be out all day Saturday and Sunday. Thanks for the info!

[elkboy]

Ljsommer, if you can get your hands on a copy of Louis Terkla's book on blacktail hunting, I would recommend you look at his perspectives on hunting those wily creatures. If you're glossing clearcuts and other open areas at dusk and dawn, and not seeing bucks (but there's abundant deer sign), then hunt the dense cover slowly and carefully. Or sit and wait where deer trails converge, etc. A lot of hunters don't like to get far from roads, or into thick vegetation, or into steep terrain. All those factors can help you. Sorry if you've been doing these things, and still not seeing them! If that's the case, changing areas and looking for more sign will help.

Good luck to you. I know blacktail hunting is difficult- those deer have been referred to as North America's most difficult deer species to hunt.

[hunter399]

GTS

https://huntinglocator.com/leases/state/washington

Whoa nice! I didn't know about that! Thanks!

Me neither
Good luck if your gun hunting deer
The next 3 days dawn to dusk is what Id be doing

Thank you! I was out all day today sun up to sundown. Saw a doe. I need to help my wife with something tomorrow but I’ll be out all day Saturday and Sunday. Thanks for the info!

Keep an eye on those doe,see her looking back,or in the brush.
Might be something around.

[Buzzsaw461]

Do you hunt the late hunt? All the Blacktail Bucks I have taken have been during the late hunt.

[Bullkllr]

So not to turn this thread into a bunch of folks annoyed at me for being a poor hunter but back to the original question: do 'deer leases' exist in WA? I know they're extremely common in the south and midwest, but I haven't heard much about them in WA.
Does anyone know if this is a thing? Being local is valuable to me as I work a lot and I have a young baby so day hunts are usually all I can manage. (the Idaho hunt was done with my wife when she was pregnant - boy, 1 degree temps with morning sickness....I married the right lady...she saw a buck on that hunt but passed on it hoping for something better. I saw a doe but passed for saw reason.)

Rayonier has leases and I believe Weyerhauser has a few too.

I've had a Weyerhauser pass in the past and it paid off - I got my first (only) deer there. Unfortunately due to overwhelming demand, Weyerhauser now sells out within minutes for all drive in leases for all plots in WA. (side note: I used to work with the guy that managed their cloud hosting for their website and the number of people who try to get into their site to get a permit is overwhelming, both numerically and from a cloud architecture point of view).

You may already know this, but the Weyerhaueser 'lease' program is completely different from their 'permit' program. The leases are allocated on a bid system. Some are offered locally, just not what I'd call a lot.

[huntnfmly]

@ljaommer
Look into @Bearpaw (Dale) the owner of this site he has diy maps he sales that give excellent info on places to try
I got one from him a couple years ago and the first place he pointed out on the map we blew deer out of there the wind was wrong everyday.
He shows a few places on the map where they have had success show you were a good blind or bait spot would be and where to park very reasonably priced
If you have more specific questions pm me

[ljsommer]

So not to turn this thread into a bunch of folks annoyed at me for being a poor hunter but back to the original question: do 'deer leases' exist in WA? I know they're extremely common in the south and midwest, but I haven't heard much about them in WA.
Does anyone know if this is a thing? Being local is valuable to me as I work a lot and I have a young baby so day hunts are usually all I can manage. (the Idaho hunt was done with my wife when she was pregnant - boy, 1 degree temps with morning sickness....I married the right lady...she saw a buck on that hunt but passed on it hoping for something better. I saw a doe but passed for saw reason.)

Rayonier has leases and I believe Weyerhauser has a few too.

I've had a Weyerhauser pass in the past and it paid off - I got my first (only) deer there. Unfortunately due to overwhelming demand, Weyerhauser now sells out within minutes for all drive in leases for all plots in WA. (side note: I used to work with the guy that managed their cloud hosting for their website and the number of people who try to get into their site to get a permit is overwhelming, both numerically and from a cloud architecture point of view).

You may already know this, but the Weyerhaueser 'lease' program is completely different from their 'permit' program. The leases are allocated on a bid system. Some are offered locally, just not what I'd call a lot.

Ahh no actually I didn't know about those - I'll check it out! I did not know there was a difference. Thanks for the info!

[huntandjeep]

Isn’t Buck run similiar to what you are looking for.  They used to run adds in the hunting pamphlets.

No . Buckrun is a raffle type draw that gives you 1 day access to some private land .

[vandeman17]

Little late this year but I would highly consider spending a few days in late season over in NE Washington hunting whitetails. The last 3-4 days of the season, especially with a little weather, can get the bucks moving during the day as the rut kicks into gear

[Mtnwalker]

Isn’t Buck run similiar to what you are looking for.  They used to run adds in the hunting pamphlets.

No . Buckrun is a raffle type draw that gives you 1 day access to some private land .

You used to be able to buy their "management" hunts for a decent price but I haven't heard of anybody doing that for some time now

[ljsommer]

Little late this year but I would highly consider spending a few days in late season over in NE Washington hunting whitetails. The last 3-4 days of the season, especially with a little weather, can get the bucks moving during the day as the rut kicks into gear

Thank you! I drew a late buck tag a couple years back for whitetail in the Palouse but the hunt was rough as that unit is almost entirely private land. I did end up finding a "feel free to hunt" spot and then some logging land that allowed walk-in. We had a fun hunt and learned some lessons (a lot of lessons). I'd definitely like to return. That year the bluetongue had really hit the whitetails hard and so there wasn't a lot going on. Have things improved? I think I drew that tag in 2021.
I actually hold whitetail deer in very high regard, to me they're the classic romantic image of a majestic deer. I'd be delighted to harvest a beautiful whitetail.
I had very high hopes for my Idaho whitetail rut hunt but alas.

[hunter399]

Little late this year but I would highly consider spending a few days in late season over in NE Washington hunting whitetails. The last 3-4 days of the season, especially with a little weather, can get the bucks moving during the day as the rut kicks into gear

Thank you! I drew a late buck tag a couple years back for whitetail in the Palouse but the hunt was rough as that unit is almost entirely private land. I did end up finding a "feel free to hunt" spot and then some logging land that allowed walk-in. We had a fun hunt and learned some lessons (a lot of lessons). I'd definitely like to return. That year the bluetongue had really hit the whitetails hard and so there wasn't a lot going on. Have things improved? I think I drew that tag in 2021.
I actually hold whitetail deer in very high regard, to me they're the classic romantic image of a majestic deer. I'd be delighted to harvest a beautiful whitetail.
I had very high hopes for my Idaho whitetail rut hunt but alas.

Ya ,you might have better luck over here.
NE Washington.
I've passed on a few spikes, jumped a few other bucks.
In general if your hunting public land ,you gotta set yourself apart from everyone else. What I mean is,your gonna have to put some work in. Biggest problem is getting away from other hunters.
Then some chunks of land here ,have no doe.
You can't hunt the rut,if there are no doe.
Ya sure some lucky SOB road hunts some beast every year. That's all luck. It was most likely some guy like me beating the brush that pushed it out for him.
The point I'm trying to get at is......
It doesn't matter where you go,you gotta put some work in.
Lots of guys eat tag soup over here too.
Will say you come over here,put the work in. You'll see a horn,but a shot opportunity maybe a different story.

[vandeman17]

Little late this year but I would highly consider spending a few days in late season over in NE Washington hunting whitetails. The last 3-4 days of the season, especially with a little weather, can get the bucks moving during the day as the rut kicks into gear

Thank you! I drew a late buck tag a couple years back for whitetail in the Palouse but the hunt was rough as that unit is almost entirely private land. I did end up finding a "feel free to hunt" spot and then some logging land that allowed walk-in. We had a fun hunt and learned some lessons (a lot of lessons). I'd definitely like to return. That year the bluetongue had really hit the whitetails hard and so there wasn't a lot going on. Have things improved? I think I drew that tag in 2021.
I actually hold whitetail deer in very high regard, to me they're the classic romantic image of a majestic deer. I'd be delighted to harvest a beautiful whitetail.
I had very high hopes for my Idaho whitetail rut hunt but alas.

Head more North like hunter399 said. Tons of public ground and deer to be found. If you can go over there during the summer, it can be fun to just cruise around, take some hikes, do a little fishing and learn the area. Come hunting season, go back over and see what you can turn up based on some of the areas you liked during your summer adventures.

[IslandHunter]

I am sure there are hunting leases around. I have never seen one advertised but I am sure they exist.

I would focus on working on getting access to private property, something as close to home as possible, ideally in a any deer unit. Put out some trail cams and put out some apples or bait before the season starts and you should have no problem seeing deer.

Getting access is the hard part. OnX shows you the land owners name and address. A nice letter and an offer to pay cash will probably go a long ways. Only take 1 land owner to say yes.

[TommyH]

I am sure there are hunting leases around. I have never seen one advertised but I am sure they exist.

I would focus on working on getting access to private property, something as close to home as possible, ideally in a any deer unit. Put out some trail cams and put out some apples or bait before the season starts and you should have no problem seeing deer.

Getting access is the hard part. OnX shows you the land owners name and address. A nice letter and an offer to pay cash will probably go a long ways. Only take 1 land owner to say yes.

This is good advice, the north east deer numbers are horrible and the amount of cars at every gate is more than discouraging.. I would spend the $ for ONX then spend time connecting with land owners.
I couldn’t imagine traveling hours over here with the numbers the way they are..   

[hunter399]

I am sure there are hunting leases around. I have never seen one advertised but I am sure they exist.

I would focus on working on getting access to private property, something as close to home as possible, ideally in a any deer unit. Put out some trail cams and put out some apples or bait before the season starts and you should have no problem seeing deer.

Getting access is the hard part. OnX shows you the land owners name and address. A nice letter and an offer to pay cash will probably go a long ways. Only take 1 land owner to say yes.

This is good advice, the north east deer numbers are horrible and the amount of cars at every gate is more than discouraging.. I would spend the $ for ONX then spend time connecting with land owners.
I couldn’t imagine traveling hours over here with the numbers the way they are..   

Don't worry Tommy,I know a few spots that hold a few deer.
I think you know where.
It might be worth the trouble with a few spots I got in mind.
There might even be pumpkins and alfalfa there.
And more deer than they no what to do with.
I have many spots ,I don't need them all.