Lost in Washington

[Docgcarr]

Guys,  moving to Washington from Mississippi.  Avid bowhunter over 20 years.  Leaving 7000 MS bottom land on Miss River that is Bowhunting only.  Painful!
Interested in hunting clubs or access to hunting land particularly for Elk and deer (whitetail, mule, and blacktail).  Missing my hunting buddies already and need some Bowhunting friends.  Will be living just outside Seattle.  Gary

[gaddy]

WOW, are you in for some culture shock. hope you enjoy washington.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

If you are a bow hunter,join one of the many archery clubs around seattle, and I am sure you will meet lots of new hunting buds.  Ton of land to hunt, start looking at the WDFW site, and read the regs!  Welcome to Washington! 

Clubs can be found at:

http://washingtonarchery.org/clubs-shops.html

[Button Nubbs]

There is a ton of land to hunt that is public. Where out side of seattle will you be located? From one bowhunter to another, WELCOME!

[Camp David]

Welcome Docgcarr. For White tail you need to Eastern WA. Black tail Wet side. Mulies Central to Far East. Kenmore rifle and bow range is in Bothel...North of Seattle. Great place to practice. Lots of other ranges scattered around the area. 3D shoots through the start of elk and early deer. What brings you to the West?  keep us up to date on progress.

[Docgcarr]

Thanks for the advise.  Actually I'm in Seattle - living on Mercer Island for now. Work brings me to Washington.  I've taken a job running a physician health program. 
Tough to leave my club on MS River.  In MS and LA season starts Oct 1 and goes through end of January.  We by license and archery add on and can bowhunt four months.  Can you bow hunt during rifle seasons in Washington?  Are their Bowhunting only clubs?
Much to learn.  Appreciate hearing from you guys.  Makes me feel a little more at home.  Is their a Washington Bowhunters Association? Appreciate you all.  Gary

[WA hunter14]

if you by a modern tag you can bow hunt in modern season but not archery

[BurleyDog]

welcome. I just moved to the dry side a couple months ago from Kentucky.

From what I have experienced so far Wa people are incredibly nice and open.
Your in for a culture shock sure but I think it will be a positive one.

I'm gonna bowhunt the muley season. It will be a blast learning all these new hunting rules/strategies/etc

welcome

[Docgcarr]

So... If you want to bow hunt whitetail, blacktail, mule deer and Elk... How much time can you hunt?  Assume it isn't the every weekend for four months I've been use to in the South..
Appreciate all the feedback.  Helpful.  Gary

[Skyvalhunter]

Yes there is a Washington Bow hunters Assoc.

[dreamunelk]

Docgcarr,
Recommend you pick up a set of regs and read over carefully. 
Next get out and meet the different areas of the state.  Rain forest to Desert we have it all.  Once you find the country that just tugs at your inner hunter you will know what species to go for. 
Me it is rain forest, rosies and B.T.s. the rest just don't tug as hard!

[bobcat]

So... If you want to bow hunt whitetail, blacktail, mule deer and Elk... How much time can you hunt?  Assume it isn't the every weekend for four months I've been use to in the South..
Appreciate all the feedback.  Helpful.  Gary

No, maybe not four months of deer and elk hunting, but you'll get lots of time to hunt with archery deer and elk tags. Figure the first 3 to 3 1/2 weeks of September, and then from the day before Thanksgiving to the end of December. So that's about nine weeks. You can also get in a month of bear hunting before archery deer season opens. (bear opens August 1st)

[Michelle_Nelson]

Docgcarr you are in for a culture/hunting shock.  Hunting in Washington is nothing like hunting down in the south.  I spent 5 years in Georgia. 

[bowhiker]

I moved here from Kentucky about 7 years ago and man was it different bowhunting here. No long deer seasons and you have to choose your weapon. For the most part, it a one deer limit unless you draw for the second in certain units. I must say though, gotta love the fact I can elk hunt in state. Did I mention there are Mountain Goats, Bighorn, Moose even if it's a once in a lifetime tag. There is however many raffle opportunities. Enjoy what the state has to offer because it's pretty diverse.

[WonkyWapiti]

If you need a place to shoot, come check out Cedar River Bowmen just outside of Black Diamond.  We've got 40 acres of walk thru courses, a flat range, a club house, etc.  www.cedarriverbowmen.net 

Also if you wanna check us out, this weekend is our biggest archery tournament of the year, Bownanza!!!!!!  Unfortunately, I have to miss it all since I'm stuck working.