Hunting in snohomish county

[ydeardorff]

Hello,
I have just retired from 20 years in the US Navy. I used to be an avid hunter 20 years ago in Oregon where I grew up. But the terrain is significantly different here in WA.
I live in the Sauk river valley, the deer come in town, and are often seen along the road way. Yet I can and have scouted out clear cuts, and other grassy features up hill from the river, and don't even see game trails.
I would presume that the deer (black tail) graze and sleep in the fields and meadows, and move up the hillside during the day and can be found along the edges of the clear cuts, or in the woods just adjacent the them. Yet since the beginning of bow/elk season, they have flat disappeared.
I had presumed they would retreat up into the hills, yet still staying withing a couple miles of the parent terrain, and have been spotting for clear cuts, adjacent to creeks and rivers with plenty for them to eat. Still nothing.
My friend is a bow hunter and hasn't seen even a doe. except for along the 530 highway. In which case they look at you like they know the regs too. LOL
Were hunting in the 400 series GMU's as its a cost, and convenience issue. With the absurdly short season, Id like some input if possible on how to correct my glassing of potential hunting areas.
Oregon is far less rugged, and has grassy meadows evenly dispersed everywhere in the forests. With the 200 foot minimum road to hunting distances it really takes a toll to find somewhere I can hunt that isn't around any population, yet still holds deer. And Im not fond of dressing up like an orange marshmallow either. The fact that the orange camo isnt legal bugs me, and seems it would make me stick out like s sore thumb, short of a 500 yard shot.
After a couple of calls to clear up some unclear items with the dept of fish and game, I found out I can use an illuminated reticle scope so long as it does not emit any light beam, any roadway, even a closed and over grown one, is still considered a road therefore the road distance rule still applies, and the camo blaze orange is not legal.
Any thoughts? Im running swiftly out of time, and Im still trying to get my chech/mauser .270 with its new BSA scope sighted in. But with college midterms looming this week, I have enough on my plate right now.

Any help or insight would be appreciated! Im not in kansas anymore toto!

[bobcat]

There is no set distance you are required to be from a road. If you are off the road, you are legal to hunt. I would say if you are not even seeing deer trails or any deer sign where you have been scouting, I would find a different area to hunt. Of all the areas in the state, I know region 4 the least, so I'm not much help there. If you can't find deer close to home, I'd consider driving over the mountains and hunting in Okanogan County.

[pianoman9701]

I don't know your area at all, but welcome to the site and back to hunting. Thanks for puttin' it out there for us in the Navy for so long. I appreciate it a lot. If you're ever down in Vancouver area, send me a PM. I'd buy a cup of coffee for an old squid if given the chance.

[ydeardorff]

There is no set distance you are required to be from a road. If you are off the road, you are legal to hunt. I would say if you are not even seeing deer trails or any deer sign where you have been scouting, I would find a different area to hunt. Of all the areas in the state, I know region 4 the least, so I'm not much help there. If you can't find deer close to home, I'd consider driving over the mountains and hunting in Okanogan County.

I called the dept of fish and game since I talked to two forestry officers and got different answers. The dept of fish and game specifically said 200 feet from the edge of the maintained surface. So that includes the mowed grass edges of the road. Sucks I know, but Id rather be safe than sorry.

In Oregon, the black tail have much less rugged terrain, lots of meadows, food and water sources. They bed down in the valley meadows within close reach of the timber line. They get up have a snack, get a few drinks of water and they're off into the trees for their mid day meanderings. In the evening its the exact opposite. So they are very predictable, and about as thick as fleas on a dogs back. Not to mention you have a 30 day deer hunt for bucks, ending with a 2 day doe hunt as well. No orange has ever been required, but it is recommended.
Here in the Washington Sauk River valley, you can see them on the highway at dusk or dawn, but they are usually coming out of private land  on the valley floor next to the river. Some are found in more densely populated ares around the heavier trees. But these blacktail are definitely a different animal than the Oregon black-tail.

I have recently gone to the okangan area (Chesaw) for a birthday trip for my wife, and we saw tons of bucks and deer every where. But with my college schedule, not to mention the shear cost of the trip its not really worth it. Id only get about a day or two of hunting. Plus they have a 3 point minimum there this season.

Thank you for the offer, I dont get up to vancouver often, but if I plan on a trip, Ill shoot ya a pm.

[bobcat]

I called the dept of fish and game since I talked to two forestry officers and got different answers. The dept of fish and game specifically said 200 feet from the edge of the maintained surface. So that includes the mowed grass edges of the road. Sucks I know, but Id rather be safe than sorry.

I'm not sure why anyone would tell you that, because there is no such law. Look in the hunting regulation pamphlet- the rule is in there. It just says you have to be off the maintined portion of the roadway. And if it's a private road, you can shoot from it if you like. The law only pertains to public roads.

[woodswalker]

I have been teaching Hunter Ed for over 15 years, I KNOW that the issue gets CLARIFIED every single year...

The regs state, under prohibited hunting methods, item 6:

Discharging a firearm from, across,
or along the maintained portion of any public
highway, regardless of surface, is prohibited,


What were the names of the folks that this was discussed with?  I will contact the sgt that I know and put the question to him.  there is NO requirement for 200 feet...the REQUIREMENT is OFF the maintained portion of the roadway...that includes ditches, cuts, fills or anything that is maintained like mowing or brushing.  As a general rule if you are standing on soil that was disturbed in any way, or from which the brush or grass has been cut in maintaining the right of way you need to take a few more steps.  If you are standing on native soil, with natural vegetation you are good to go.

did any of these folks reference any RCW in stating that 200 feet?

[ydeardorff]

No they didnt,
But with three people asked, and three different answers, I figured Id err on the side of good judgement as it seem even the enforcing officers arent clear on it.

Even the reg state 400 square inches of blaze orange viewable from all sides. It said nothing about the camo blaze orange.

Yet when I call they say absolutely not. Only standard blaze orange is allowed, no camo blaze orange clothing.

Are they even aware of the confusion they cause? sheesh

[bobcat]

I've never seen anything that said camo orange wasn't legal either. According to the law, if you have 400 square inches of orange, you're legal. Doesn't matter if it's not all in one solid blob of orange.

[Curly]

Sounds like you are getting bad info from the folks at the State office.  That's too bad, but not unexpected. 

Blacktail bucks are unpredictable.  They are pretty much nocturnal now until the rut (about the end of October).  They are sneaky *censored*s, and this weather will make it very tough to find one.  Good luck and welcome to the site.

[Navyrep1]

Hey Brother.  PM me....I'll shoot you some suggestions for local hunts.  We might be able to swap a sea-story or two as well.  As noted, they are indeed sneaky *censored*s but believe me, they're out there....just gotta find them at the right place and right time.  Until you PM, three basic suggestions; buy a muzzleoader for the better season, look for trails in the thickest/nastiest spots near a recent logging cuts, and don't even bother looking during full daylight hours because you'll never see them.  As noted, they're almost exclusively nocturnal right now.

Blaze camo outlawed....BS.  If it's not in the regs then it isn't a reg. That is not in the regs.

[superdown]

It's only 3pt minimum for mule deer in gmu 204 it's any buck for whitetail

[dirty24d]

Stick some of the cheapest apples you can find along the edge of some timber but where you can still glass they will come  if the bears dont eat them first.

Its completely legal in Wa to bait for deer, elk, cougar, small game etc.  Every thing minus turkeys, bears, and waterfowl.

cob works great.  good luck!!! and welcome to the site.

[ydeardorff]

Well I just got back from a few logging roads, and saw some pretty nice areas. I saw one track about as big as 2 knuckles on a dirt road next to the black berry thicket.

One thing also they told me was that you had to be 200 feet away from ANY road, maintained, closed or otherwise.

Now if my reading is correct, when it says "any maintained portion of the roadway" well if its an over grown mess, thats not a maintained roadway is it? LOL

Hey Navyrep1 Ill shot ya a pm here shortly.

Thanks

[bobcat]

One thing also they told me was that you had to be 200 feet away from ANY road, maintained, closed or otherwise.

Now if my reading is correct, when it says "any maintained portion of the roadway" well if its an over grown mess, thats not a maintained roadway is it?

I'll just say this one more time- "they" told you wrong. There is no such law. You only have to be OFF THE ROAD, not any particular distance from it. And this only applies to public roads. Read the 2011 Big Game pamphlet from front cover to back cover and you can see for yourself.

[Kola16]

I will say it another time bobcat  Get off the maintained part of the road, and you can fire away. There is actually good deer hunting in your area. You just half to know how to get them comin'. Set out some cheap apples. That almost always works  Oh, You will get used to our fish and "wildlife" department saying a lot of things that are wrong. Just check out the regs. Read it through once or twice