Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: TeacherMan on November 16, 2008, 01:45:56 PM
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If you had to pick one unit that you think is the best blacktail unit in the state which would it be? Why? My entire life revolves around hunting some say, so I will be honest. My wife graduates from school this June and we are going to be shopping for a new area to move so we can both get teaching jobs. Not a lot of jobs opening any time soon in Curlew (if one does, great not really that likely). Alaska is on our list but we are keeping our minds open. My mind is always thinking hunting, since I have never shot a blacktail I like the thought of moving to a location that has them. So what are your thoughts of good blacktail country? ;)
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skookumchuck, buy some property with apple trees. There will be deer around! ;)
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Washougal if you just want to kill bucks.... Lewis for big blackies.
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mashel has a lot of bucks,and bears
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Thanks for the info, helps kill time on the weekends looking into new areas via the interent.
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If I was going to re-locate I would go down to the real good blacktail country, and that would br oregon. Probably southern Oregon. But if Washington is where you are going to stay then it would be comewhere in Lewis county.
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Someplace in Lewis county.
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I agree with bucklucky....southern Oregon. They have less people and a better season for blacktails. They're also bigger the farther south you go. But for Washington, you might consider Olympia. Of course anywhere in Lewis County would be good as others have said, but I'm thinking the pay might be a little better in the Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater area.
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no no i say skagit or whatcom county near deming or concrete
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The 454 0r 448 Ive seen some of the biggest bucks in the 454 while working at peoples house around the Issaquah, Samamish hills. The Valleys in the 448 460 boarder is great as well
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I have to agree with Lewis County, but I wouldn’t look past Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, or even south Thurston County. Units like the Skookumchuck and Lincoln are consistent producers of big bucks, and other units in the area like Minot Peak, Ryderwood, Mossyrock, and Capitol Peak are pretty solid as well. I live pretty much on the border of Thurston and Lewis Counties, and I am literally within 20 minutes of the Skookumchuck, Lincoln, Minot Peak, and Captiol Peak units. I’m a high school teacher so I could help you out with the job search and kind of give you the lowdown on which districts are best to work and coach for. Just let me know. I have also lived in both eastern and western Washington, and I would bet that Lewis County might be more suited to your preferences. Here’s a link to the current job openings in ESD 113, which includes many of the schools in Lewis and south Thurston Counties.
http://edrmonline.esd113.k12.wa.us/edrmonline/app/app_OpenPositionsCert.asp
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No deer here in Grays Harbor I'd go elsewhere if I were you! :chuckle:
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Man you guys are great, thanks for all the information... ;)
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Thanks for the link to the ESD... Any good hunting within an hour of Centralia. There are opens there that have been open since last summer for both position that my wife and I teach.
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Centralia is right in the thick of things really - Skookumchuck on one side and Lincoln on the other. I saw that they had openings in Centralia and I think Onalaska, Napavine, and Tenino. Black Ghost had it right - buy a chunk of ground with some apple trees that borders timber company property in either unit and your in good shape. Both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law teach in Centralia so if or when you are interested let me know and I could get the skinny on the jobs that are posted. Tell me what you teach and I'll keep my eyes open.
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washougal..... if you get land.. tons of bucks
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whatcom county in the lowlands has some tremendous bucks not alot of deer outlying areas around bellingham hold some studs. if u buy some land or know someone who has privat land the hills r pretty dead. but ive seen a few nice ones outta there too
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I live in Chehalis and am surrounded by good hunting unfortunately I live in 501 and am an archer and it only has late ML :bash:
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if this was back in the 80's and 90's i would have said 460. there are still alot of deer in the unit but the cougar population has skyrocketed.
454 has some very big deer and alot at that for how populated it is.
490 has some monsters but sadly we cant hunt that unit.
im not sure of the unit number but around brinnon on hoodcanal has some big arse bucks, though not alot. but all the bucks i have seen over in that areas have been worthy of being mounted.
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You know I got to thinking about this subject again and there are big blacktails in every unit. Ive killed nice ones in every unit I have hunted them in. Its all about finding a little hole and learning it well, and hope the cougars havent killed everthing in there ;)
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I'm in agreement with Bucklucky.....unless of course you decide to move to Oregon. Personally I think if you are going to move to W Washington you need to factor in not only the deer hunting, but the elk hunting and all the fishing/crabbing/shrimping/clamming/sea harvesting activities out there.
Edit....forgot bird hunting!
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SO I will come back with a question from the last comment. Best Wet side elk hunting? I would assume blacktail would be in there aswell. speaking of the fishing,crabbing, shrimping, etc... we just got a 17' alumaweld, cant wait to use it over there.
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If I ever move back to Washington...which is fairly likely unfortunately.... I would probably be hunting my blacktails somewhere between Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass.....OR....in the valleys below outta Duvall/Carnation/Monroe/Sultan/North bend etc.... Elk too.
BUT...honestly...I'd probably be spending my deer hunting time out east! ;)
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Teacherman, the best elk hunting units generally are not the best deer hunting units. For example, Lincoln is a great deer unit, but lacks a good elk population. Coweeman, Toutle and Winston have huge numbers of elk, but they don't have great deer populations.........not to say you can't get deer in those units, but the best deer units don't have large elk populations IMO.
The St. Helens units have the most elk. I think Centralia would be a good place to look for a teaching job. It is not far to good elk hunting and there are good deer hunting areas nearby as well. Tumwater would be worth looking into also.....
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I am certainly not the expert, but the GMUs in SW Washington with lots of timber company land produce a fair number of elk/deer. If you live down south (Kelso/Vancouver/Woodland) then you are closer to great river fishing. If you live farther north you are closer to saltwater types of activities. I personally think Olympia area is a good compromise as far as west side locals. Maybe local Olympia folks can comment, but you are anywhere from 0-2 hours from all the activities I mentioned above.
BTW....that boat should be perfect for all kinds of saltwater activities.
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I think the Goldendale area is great. It is a cross area but there are quite a few deer in the area. Mostly blacktail but you do run into some mule deer and mule/blacktail cross. I'll attach pictures of this years muzzle load hunt. The attached is a picture of my buddies deer he got on opening day in October, a 5 X 5 weighing 176 hanging. Mine I got next day and it was a 4 X 3 and it was 116 hanging weight.
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washugal area has some great genetics, silver star is where the record came from
