Hunting Areas (generic topic huh?)

[GCRocketman]

Greetings y'all

I'm a Texan now living up here in Washington (Pierce County, Puyallup area) and have some ... general questions I was hopin' y'all might be kind enough to answer as best ya can

In Texas ... for hunting areas we have (generally) public land, private land, leases and wildlife management areas.  I've hunted (both successfully and unsuccessfully) on public land and WMA's (through hunt draws like here) in Texas, as well as a guest on a friends hunting lease (never having the spare cash myself to get into one).  A few of my days on public lands I saw other hunters, but generally, unless it was opening weekend, I was alone (except for the one day I decided to take off from work and ran into my pastor up at our favorite spot LOL)

What's the situation up here in the great PNW?  I have found the public land area maps (I think?) but don't know how the hunting actually is on public land up here.  Are there hunting leases?  How are farmers/ranchers to allow hunting on their land? 

Any help/knowledge/areas that anyone can dispense is greatly appreciated!

(Posting in the deer forum, but I am looking forward to being able to hunt elk this year for the first time since I was knee-high to a grasshopper - my grandpa (God rest his soul) spent his final 20+ years in Sequim)

Thanks!

[ICEMAN]

GC, I am going to say that the majority of hunting opportunity in this state is not by lease. State and National forest is generally open to all. Privately held timberlands are generally open to atleast foot traffic, and sometimes vehicular entry. We are seeing more private timberlands beginning to charge hunters for entry, and some leases available as well. We also now have a general entry pass for some state lands.
 
The hunting quality varies of course. We have alot of hunters crammed into areas, yet some find great animals off the beaten path.
 
Good luck, welcome to the state.

[GCRocketman]

Thanks!  Appreciate the info, a lot!

[woowoo]

I gotta ask, how does a guy get the go ahead to hunt private timberland? Do you find a piece and try to track down the company that owns it?

[firefighter4607]

First off welcome GC to Washington and Hunting-Washingtion .
Washington has many areas that are free to hunt just depends on where you want to go. As Iceman said you wouldn't find many leases here in Washington. I know of many places you can pay to hunt, but not sure if that is your style. You will find many people on this site will be very happy to assist you when you find out where in Washington you want to hunt.

I would suggest going on to the General Discussion Board and introduce yourself, and tell everyone about yourself. Some people here don't take kindly to new people asking where to hunt without introducting themselfs.

What is your choice of weapon(rifle, bow, muzzy). Do you want to stay close to Graham? Eastern Washington has lots of open country with whitetails, blacktails, and some areas of muley. Also Eastern Washington has good areas to hunt elk, upland birds and some great fishing. I don't know much about the "wet side" of the state. Because I don't hunt there. If you want information on some of Eastern Washington I would be happy to help you out. You just have to figure out where/what you want to hunt.

[Bean Counter]

+1. Welcome to Washington. Hunting in Texas is much different than here in Washington. Here you wont find hunt able exotic game ranches. Nor do you necessarily need to to plan on the standard fee for access to some deer habitat.

I like many others on here have gone around knocking (BEFORE THE SEASON) and been told "no" many times. I've also been told "yes" several times. Works great if you have a little four year old you can knock on the farmers door with  Nobody ever asked for money or even was interested in chores, sharing of my meat, etc.  Please don't be 'that guy' and abuse such generosity. Leave gates as you find them and keep the beer cans in your truck. Pick up your dammed shotgun shells. Sorry for the rant but lots of access has been lost by ALL of us due to the slobiness of a few miscreant d-bags.

If you're not comfortable asking for permission you wont need to study the maps and harvest reports too long to find out that the majority of massive public land access, distance from population centers, and greatest game populations is in the northeast corner of the state. Just look around in the trail cameras forum. OTOH if killing an elk is priority #1 you may consider the expansive Mt. St. Helens herd of 10,000 elk--of which most units may be hunted OTC, and yes, lots of free public access.

I would suggest going on to the General Discussion Board and introduce yourself, and tell everyone about yourself. Some people here don't take kindly to new people asking where to hunt without introducting themselfs.

I'm one of those 'meanies' I suppose. However, GC did tell us a little about himself--and he isn't exactly asking "where can I kill me a 5 point mulley?"

[GCRocketman]

I'm one of those 'meanies' I suppose. However, GC did tell us a little about himself--and he isn't exactly asking "where can I kill me a 5 point mulley?"

Thanks y'all for the responses!

Yeah ... its always a twist when you come to a board and post ... where's the right place to introduce yourself?  LOL.  Now I know!  I will make that post post-haste.  (Done.  General Discussions --> Introductions)

Actually ... I would NEVER ask such a question.  It would be like someone asking me (in Texas) "So, where exactly did you bag that 6 point buck last season?"  I always appreciated the more general questions "What areas around here are good for huntin' deer?" is always a better approach than "Can I get directions to where you go huntin'?"  LOL.

I do appreciate the responses ... I've been doin' a wee bit of scoutin' the last week or so (late to the game, yes I know) and I understand that the Eatonville area has a good elk record ... but I can't seem to find anywhere to get off the road and up into the hills ... thats a tad bit frustrating!  Not that I want/need specific directions, but general areas?  Fire/Timber access roads in any area's?  A lot of the "driveways" that I saw on Alder Cutoff were gated/blocked - is it a park and hike thing from these?  Is that legal? (BTW - if any of y'all ever get the chance to hunt Southeast Texas (Houston area) the Sam Houston and Davy Crockett Forest areas have some great hunting for public land ... and I've a feelin' that deer season is Texas is quite a bit warmer than deer season here will be!)

I've not been to the East side much (not since I was a little kid other than Leavenworth last October, and my drive through it last September on my way up here) - any area's better than any others?  Any area's closer to the West than driving to Spokane or Yakima?

[firefighter4607]

I'm one of those 'meanies' I suppose. However, GC did tell us a little about himself--and he isn't exactly asking "where can I kill me a 5 point mulley?"

Bean Counter :brew:I not calling you a meanie, I have just seen a very small group of people sometimes jump on people for asking pretty simple questions about where to hunt so I was just watching out for GC.  I don't mean to .

GC I found some links that might help you out.
This is a general information website it has harvest reports, tips, Unit Descriptions, and some maps. http://www.huntwashingtonstate.com/index.htm

Here is a DNR link that you can buy maps or if you go to Tumwater they says that some maps are free. DNR is Department of Natural Resouces, they are in charge of many public lands that are free to hunt. The links on the page that might help you are under Maps.
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RECREATIONEDUCATION/TOPICS/Pages/Home.aspx
State Trust land is usually open to hunt by the public. Some of the access is walk in only others you can drive into. I would check with the local DNR offices just to make sure. Here is a PDF link to State Trust Land.http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_trustlands_map_nu2.pdf

I have hunted around Mt Adams, and it seems to have a decent elk herd. Have you looked at US Forest Service website. They also have road maps and access trails to where you might want to hunt. Around Steamboat Rock and off the Pacific Crest trail around Troute Lake is where we used to hunt when I was younger. I hope this helps you out a little bit more. Rasbo is from Graham and is usually pretty helpful to people maybe drop him a PM. They just had a Hunting Wahsington BBQ and get together not too long ago.

[GCRocketman]

I'm one of those 'meanies' I suppose. However, GC did tell us a little about himself--and he isn't exactly asking "where can I kill me a 5 point mulley?"

Bean Counter :brew:I not calling you a meanie, I have just seen a very small group of people sometimes jump on people for asking pretty simple questions about where to hunt so I was just watching out for GC.  I don't mean to .

GC I found some links that might help you out.
This is a general information website it has harvest reports, tips, Unit Descriptions, and some maps. http://www.huntwashingtonstate.com/index.htm

Here is a DNR link that you can buy maps or if you go to Tumwater they says that some maps are free. DNR is Department of Natural Resouces, they are in charge of many public lands that are free to hunt. The links on the page that might help you are under Maps.
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RECREATIONEDUCATION/TOPICS/Pages/Home.aspx
State Trust land is usually open to hunt by the public. Some of the access is walk in only others you can drive into. I would check with the local DNR offices just to make sure. Here is a PDF link to State Trust Land.http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_trustlands_map_nu2.pdf

I have hunted around Mt Adams, and it seems to have a decent elk herd. Have you looked at US Forest Service website. They also have road maps and access trails to where you might want to hunt. Around Steamboat Rock and off the Pacific Crest trail around Troute Lake is where we used to hunt when I was younger. I hope this helps you out a little bit more. Rasbo is from Graham and is usually pretty helpful to people maybe drop him a PM. They just had a Hunting Wahsington BBQ and get together not too long ago.

Freakin' sweet!  Thank you!!!!

I drove 410 north out of Enumclaw yesterday (towards Rainier) lookin' to find access into the National Forest on timber roads, fire roads ... heck any roads ... and they all seem to be Hancock Forest Management lands ... VERY frustrating ... even around Eatonville when I drove it last Friday ... same thing ... so I'm a tad bit frustrated LOL

Thank you for the links - I will definitely check them out!  Hopefully they're more informative than the GoHunt! web page that Fish & Wildlife has up

[Glockster]

Keep driving over to the other side of the White Pass and / or Chinook Pass areas up 410.

Beautiful over there, doesn't rain as much and lots of public land national forest country to explore.  Pretty p. poor deer hunting, but good elk hunting...well good by WA standards which isn't very high.

Western WA is locked up with timber companies that control access tightly (usually have to buy a permit now) and the forest service land on the westside is no longer good hunting for the most part because they stopped cutting for the spotted owl...who's real enemy is the much more aggressive barred owl not the logger.  Welcome to W. WA lunacy!

Go East young man, go east. 

[GCRocketman]

Keep driving over to the other side of the White Pass and / or Chinook Pass areas up 410.

Beautiful over there, doesn't rain as much and lots of public land national forest country to explore.  Pretty p. poor deer hunting, but good elk hunting...well good by WA standards which isn't very high.

Western WA is locked up with timber companies that control access tightly (usually have to buy a permit now) and the forest service land on the westside is no longer good hunting for the most part because they stopped cutting for the spotted owl...who's real enemy is the much more aggressive barred owl not the logger.  Welcome to W. WA lunacy!

Go East young man, go east. 

I will continue along 410 - thanks!  Totally appreciate the advice!

As for going East ... I may but I won't be able to scout ... 6 kids at home, including 5 1/2 month old twins.  Daddy doesn't get a whole lot of time for scouting trips lol