Introduction, New To Bow Hunting

[Fishstiq]

I've made a couple posts and been lurking for a while, so I figure it's time for a proper introduction.  I'm Joe, and my wife's name is April (she introduced herself here http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=87813.0).  We live in the Everett/Lake Stevens area and are both new to bow hunting (I used to hunt mf).  I'm quickly learning that archery is a whole different animal, with a lot more prep time that needs to be put in to be successful. 

Our main hurdle is not knowing if the prep work (scouting, mapping, target practice, site selection....) is being done the best it can.  Are we wasting time doing things wrong, is there a better, more efficient, more effective way?  We are both very much enjoying the learning curve though, and it's nice to just grab our packs and go wander for a few hours.

The community on this site seems to be pretty close knit, even if sometimes there's some friction, and my wife and I are looking forward to getting to know you all better. 

We could always use help and advice in becoming better hunters, so to those of you that wouldn't mind having us bumbling along on an outing asking stupid questions, we would really appreciate the help!  Oh, and we usually show our appreciation with fresh ling cod, cabezon, greenling, or something similar as we both scuba dive and spearfish in Puget Sound to keep the freezer full. 

Thanks in advance for any help, and thank you all for providing a community with so many resources and such a wealth of information in a place like Washington where our chosen sport isn't always the most popular.

[alwinearcher]

Welcome to Hunt-WA!
Glad you are here!

[pianoman9701]

Nice intro and welcome to HuntWA. I scout around the Mt Adams area, so I'm not sure that'd benefit you being so far away, but you're still welcome.

[ShirtGuy77]

Hello Fishstiq....

We are in your boat as well, my brother and I.  I have been a rifle hunter for elk, and decided to add archery because it gets my brother involved.  He isn't a real outdoorsy guy, more of a computer guy.  I took him last summer to listen to the elk do their thing and he was all in.

I have found that you can pull a ton of information as far as gear, techniques, places to practice, etc from this site.  But the general consensus seems to be strap on the boots and hit the hills when it comes to where to actually hunt.  We have been scouring the regs, as well as the harvest reports, trying to locate where we want to focus.  We are in Monroe, so not far from you, and not far from hunting grounds.  Our goal is to try and hunt close so we can maximize scouting trips.  Once the snow starts to melt, we will start scouting.....a lot. 

That is the route we have taken for general tags, but still trying to learn about the draw permits.  Enlisting the help of a friend of a friend to try and point us in the right direction for that. I am not familiar with the process in Washington myself. In the meantime, just got my bow a few weeks ago and loving it.  Can't wait to get out again this weekend and keep shooting.

Best of luck....

[h20hunter]

Ah......we just had a little get together at Hawkeyes! Next time. Welcome to Lake Stevens and the site.

[ELKBURGER]

Welcome to the site!

[lokidog]

Welcome.  Once my wife started bowhunting, I am not sure I could get her to gun hunt again.