What Species deer was your first kill in WASH.

[Glockster]

Mine was a muley-black...crossbreed.  "Benchleg" i think they call it.  Better question is how big was your first deer.....mine was a fork x spike.  LOL

Shot him in Unit 360 Oct 14,1985.  Back then we had 3 full weeks of general season and any buck was legal.  Our current EWA seasons are a sham....

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I disagree. I think it has more to do with te westside kids not taking time off of school. If your dad goes on an annual trip to eastern washington to chase mulies for a week your probably not going to get to go with him until you graduate high school. There are not many parents that would be willing to let their kid miss a whole week of school just to go deer hunting. Atleast thats how it was for me. So my first deer was a blacktail. When I started to go with my dad to eastern Washington after I graduated I didn't become a trophy hunter by any means. I was just afforded more time for the trip. 

So you hunted where? Closer to home. 

More reasons to hunt close to home (at least when I was a kid)

Hunt with family. We'd all meet up at my uncle's ranch.
Spend less money. (need less equipment) (Also, when I was a kid, you still had a choice of buying a cheaper license that was good for the county you lived in only instead of a statewide license)
Know the local area better.
Short hunts such as after school or work are more feasible.
Easier to find a hunting partner, especially on short notice.
Sleep in your own bed at night.

[woodswalker]

First deer was a blacktail buck, taken out Northwest of Timberlakes.  42 yards with a Winchester 94 in .32 Winchester Special.

[grundy53]

I disagree. I think it has more to do with the westside kids not taking time off of school. If your dad goes on an annual trip to eastern washington to chase mulies for a week your probably not going to get to go with him until you graduate high school. There are not many parents that would be willing to let their kid miss a whole week of school just to go deer hunting. Atleast thats how it was for me. So my first deer was a blacktail. When I started to go with my dad to eastern Washington after I graduated I didn't become a trophy hunter by any means. I was just afforded more time for the trip. 

So you hunted where? Closer to home. 

More reasons to hunt close to home (at least when I was a kid)

Hunt with family. We'd all meet up at my uncle's ranch.
Spend less money. (need less equipment) (Also, when I was a kid, you still had a choice of buying a cheaper license that was good for the county you lived in only instead of a statewide license)
Know the local area better.
Short hunts such as after school or work are more feasible.
Easier to find a hunting partner, especially on short notice.
Sleep in your own bed at night.

I guess I should clarify. I'm in disagreement about your reference to people wanting to hunt closer to home unless they are trophy hunting. I as well as many people I know make the trip to eastern washington every year to chase mulies or whitetails and we don't consider ourselves trophy hunters by any means. I didn't go on these trips when I was younger because I couldn't get out of school that long. Not because I wasn't a trophy hunter.

[Deep Forks]

3x3 muley in 1963 with a model 99 303 savage.

[Pathfinder101]

Whitetail 1986, NE Wa.  Age 14, 30-30 Win.  Still haven't shot a bigger WT...

[mkcj]

Mule deer taken above Milk lake off HWY 410 with a 7mm express.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

My first deer was the majesic, the beautiful, the hardest big game animal to hunt in north america. Of course i speak of the all mighty BLACKTAIL.The king of the forest. Might only be a forky antler buck but a true trophy in my book!!!

[Arteman]

Blacktail spike in the Toutle unit in 91, killed a blacktail every year since but the two years I got Mulies.  Still no Whitetail.