Why out of state?!

[MtnMuley]

Because I flat-out love to hunt.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Swift - you sound very content and thats awesome, in a way I envy you. I love to hunt. I love everything about it. I started hunting out of state 4 years ago, and will continue to do so every year for as long as I can. In as many places as possible. I started out hunting and learned to hunt on washingtons wetside and my honey holes within the crk bottoms, clear cuts, deep forests, logging roads, as well as  the blacktails and roosevelts that call it home will always hold a special place in my heart as long as I hunt, hell as long as im alive. Its useless to compare all the different hunting experiences, cuz thats all that it is- different. Not better, not worse. I have had awesome hunts in state, hard hunts and ez hunts. Same with my out of state hunts. There are things I wish were done differently here managment wise, same out of state. The point isn't to find a BETTER hunting experience per se, because everybody has a different idea of what a great hunting experience is. The point is to have as MANY experiences as possible, as many adventures. Again, for some walking into the backyard will always be experince enough, learning intimatley and predicting with accuracy. Sometimes I wish I had that.  For me the backyard isn't even scratching the surface. Itchy feet for me, always looking over the next horizon. Throw me a curve ball, make it tough. Out of state? How bout out of country! 

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Swift - you sound very content and thats awesome, in a way I envy you. I love to hunt. I love everything about it. I started hunting out of state 4 years ago, and will continue to do so every year for as long as I can. In as many places as possible. I started out hunting and learned to hunt on washingtons wetside and my honey holes within the crk bottoms, clear cuts, deep forests, logging roads, as well as  the blacktails and roosevelts that call it home will always hold a special place in my heart as long as I hunt, hell as long as im alive. Its useless to compare all the different hunting experiences, cuz thats all that it is- different. Not better, not worse. I have had awesome hunts in state, hard hunts and ez hunts. Same with my out of state hunts. There are things I wish were done differently here managment wise, same out of state. The point isn't to find a BETTER hunting experience per se, because everybody has a different idea of what a great hunting experience is. The point is to have as MANY experiences as possible, as many adventures. Again, for some walking into the backyard will always be experince enough, learning intimatley and predicting with accuracy. Sometimes I wish I had that.  For me the backyard isn't even scratching the surface. Itchy feet for me, always looking over the next horizon. Throw me a curve ball, make it tough. Out of state? How bout out of country! 

[Swiftkid]

I think Miles knows where i'm coming from...i love hunting WA, i like hunting the areas i grew up hunting, i hope one day my son will learn to hunt the area i do. I like knowing what is around every bend and the challenge to find a buck that i want to shoot.

Your son wont be able to hunt the areas that you do if you keep shooting small bucks, and not let them mature and spread genes....of what could have been...

I don't shoot small bucks...i get bigger every year if that means not filling my tag then so be it. Deer #'s are great in my unit so i don't think i have anything to fear, more deer were killed 30 years ago then are now and were still sittin pretty.

[CountryslickR]

I think Baldo really hit the nail on the head with regards to state wildlife agencies trying to please both ends of the spectrum...from animal rights wackos to us hunters. 

When they took the word "GAME" out and replaced it with Dept of Fish & WILDLIFE that's when we lost WA.  Now game and those who care about it (HUNTERS) are just one of the many "user groups" they serve.  I liked Dave Workman's idea:  abolish WDFW, put wildlife management in DNR and DOE's hands and bring back the GAME DEPT!  This guy should run for Governor!

The GAME DEPT would be charged with GAME MANAGEMENT and nothing else...no frogs, no dicky birds, no wolf 'recovery' studies, no Seafair patrols, no marijuana task forces, etc!  I bet we could pay for a GAME Dept with licensing revenue if game was all they were in charge of.  The Game Dept Director's salary and bonus plan should be tied directly to the overall statewide deer hunter success rate.

Hunters would be allowed and encouraged to purchase hunt multiple weapon season tags and the limits would remain one deer/ one elk / year.  "Choose your weapon" only served to fracture and divide the state's hunting community and greatly reduced the overall amount hunters contributed to the rural economies by hunting multiple seasons.

I don't buy the "quality" hunt BS.  Back in the 80's and earlier there were twice as many hunters... we were spread out and and had modern firearm elk seasons that lasted two weeks and were in mid November...any bull on the Eastside. That was quality hunting.

Now we have 3pt buck and spike bull blanket regs....and now lots of meat standing on the hoof at the feeding stations, AKA "Watchable Wildlife Viewing Opportunities".  (Look at all these big bulls and bucks; see what a good job we're doing )I'm betting this year's winter kill will be horrendous.  Literally tons of meat (the 3pt bucks and 6pt bulls) are going to feed the yotes, wolves, and magpies this winter.  That meat should have gone to feeding people. 
 

                                  

[deerslyr]

Obviously you have never hunted out of state other wise you wouldnt be asking this question....and until you realize how many opportunities you are missing out on...you will still be asking yourself that question.

[CountryslickR]

Exactly...

[backcountry55]

i agree you asked the question why? if you did you would know! to some its not just i think im going deer hunting its an adiction, to hunt hike and make memories. each there own.to me the more time i spend in the woods the better if it means spending my money my time so be its my choice. its ovious you dont look at hunting like some of us do which is fine, im single and spend every extra minute and dollar in the woods. you probably have other hobbies i dont. and i dont ask you why have other hobbies!

[deerslyr]

Its really simple and boils down to around 5 reasons for most other western states compared to Washington
1. More land open to public to hunt
2. less hunters per amount of public land
3. MORE animals
4. MORE TROPHY POTENTIAL
5. Considerably better seasons

Dont get me wrong washington has SOME great hunting and I have opportunities at awesome bucks and bulls every year here but when you try and compare Washington to say Montana or Wyoming...well theres no comparison, when you look at it in these 5 aspects. And personally harvesting one buck a year just isnt good enough for me so I try and go to other states as much as I can afford...but then again im an addict 
Also experiencing another area with a different culture is awesome and sometimes hard to describe. The hospitality and friendliness of people in Idaho from what ive experienced is something ull rarely find in washington.

[gadwall]

part of it is the adventure Swift.   Different country etc. 

Gadwall

[muleyguy]

I don't shoot small bucks...

is the buck in your avatar your best one?

[alecvg]

I don't shoot small bucks...

is the buck in your avatar your best one?

Hey, its not the size of the buck, its the ones that got away that matter!     At least thats the explaination for not showing pictures      

[Swiftkid]

That picture is 3 years old....im 21 now started hunting when i was 9. Only didn't tag out 1 year and that was my very first year of hunting. I haven't shot any monsters but i also don't hunt a place that breeds tons of bruisers. I could show you pictures of deer all day...i don't see a need to

[CountryslickR]

I don't shoot small bucks...

is the buck in your avatar your best one?

Hey, its not the size of the buck, its the ones that got away that matter!     At least thats the explaination for not showing pictures      

[PolarBear]

No need to hunt out of state for deer or elk.  Other critter maybe.