Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: jtrammell on July 31, 2014, 06:53:27 PM

Title: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jtrammell on July 31, 2014, 06:53:27 PM: So I recently moved to Washington(military) and I am looking for a place to bear hunt in the Yelm area. I have tried looking online on where public land is and I haven't been able to come up with anything. I was looking to hunt this weekend with my girls in GMU 652 or 666. AAAANY help is greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: turkeyfeather on July 31, 2014, 07:12:20 PM: Welcome :hello: to the forum and the great :rolleyes: state of Washington. What branch of the military are you in and when did you get here?
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jtrammell on July 31, 2014, 07:16:07 PM: Quote from: turkeyfeather on July 31, 2014, 07:12:20 PM
Welcome :hello: to the forum and the great :rolleyes: state of Washington. What branch of the military are you in and when did you get here?

Army. Got here in December.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jtrammell on August 01, 2014, 10:34:54 PM: ...please help....
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: billythekidrock on August 02, 2014, 03:57:35 PM: Things have changed drastically in the last few months with Weyerhaeuser going to a fee for access business model. You might look up the WA DNR website and look at their Public Lands Map. Or you may need to hunt the base or drive to the Capitol State Forest.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: dreamunelk on August 02, 2014, 05:18:23 PM: Here is an online map for locating public lands in Washington.

http://publiclands.smartmine.com/#Map (http://publiclands.smartmine.com/#Map)

Remember you can not hunt National Park, State Park, and most city lands.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jtrammell on August 02, 2014, 06:35:36 PM: Quote from: dreamunelk on August 02, 2014, 05:18:23 PM
Here is an online map for locating public lands in Washington.

http://publiclands.smartmine.com/#Map (http://publiclands.smartmine.com/#Map)

Remember you can not hunt National Park, State Park, and most city lands.

Thanks brother! That actually helped a lot.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: dreamunelk on August 02, 2014, 07:25:11 PM: No problem. Happy to help out.

Next lesson.
Use county mapping web sites to determine ownership of area interested in. For private forest lands. Best often to just drive up an look at the gate or entrance. Signed ok to access? Go for it. No signs or no access indicated by sign stay out.

Thurston county
http://www.geodata.org/online.htm (http://www.geodata.org/online.htm) click on "Online Maps" tab.

Pierce county
http://matterhorn3.co.pierce.wa.us/publicgis/ (http://matterhorn3.co.pierce.wa.us/publicgis/)

That ought to keep you busy.

Most importation get out and scout! It is bears season so take you rifle for a walk.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jason4429 on August 03, 2014, 10:35:52 AM: what about hunting on the base?
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jtrammell on August 03, 2014, 11:56:27 AM: Quote from: jason4429 on August 03, 2014, 10:35:52 AM
what about hunting on the base?

You can hunt on base. I'm registered to do so but they only open certain areas using certain weapons. All the areas open right not are only for bow.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: billythekidrock on August 03, 2014, 12:15:27 PM: Why not hunt bear with a bow?
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jtrammell on August 03, 2014, 01:39:24 PM: Quote from: billythekidrock on August 03, 2014, 12:15:27 PM
Why not hunt bear with a bow?

I don't have one :-[ Well, I have a crossbow but cant use that
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 03, 2014, 01:50:27 PM: I thought a crossbow was legal in the general season ??? I just looked but can not find anything on it !
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 03, 2014, 01:53:13 PM: It says crossbows can be used in firearm restriction areas ..So I would think it would be legal in general bear season . :twocents:
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: jtrammell on August 03, 2014, 02:50:29 PM: Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on August 03, 2014, 01:53:13 PM
It says crossbows can be used in firearm restriction areas ..So I would think it would be legal in general bear season . :twocents:

According to the reg I believe I could use a crossbow because it says I can use any legal weapon. The problem is that base doesn't allow crossbows.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: turkeyfeather on August 03, 2014, 05:43:57 PM: Quote from: jtrammell on August 03, 2014, 02:50:29 PM
Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on August 03, 2014, 01:53:13 PM
It says crossbows can be used in firearm restriction areas ..So I would think it would be legal in general bear season . :twocents:

According to the reg I believe I could use a crossbow because it says I can use any legal weapon. The problem is that base doesn't allow crossbows.
You may want to look into that further. I don't think a crossbow falls into that category neccesarily.
Title: Re: Newbie needs some help. PLEASE HELP!
Post by: wadu1 on August 03, 2014, 05:58:11 PM: JBLM has some good bear and deer hunting, I see bear a lot by the Madigan Gate exit. I'm on base about 3 times a week taking my folks to appointments at Madigan. I would stop in at the recreation center on North Fort for more info also talk to Danny or Dave at the Skeet Range and they will also point you in the right direction. Thanks for your service; SGT A Brty 1/67th ADA Vulcan 9th Inft Div Ft. Lewis a lot of years back.