Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: JosefAbrams on November 27, 2015, 09:30:08 PM

Title: New Bowhunter, New to Hunting Wetside
Post by: JosefAbrams on November 27, 2015, 09:30:08 PM: I'll be both new to bow hunting, and new to hunting on the west side of Washington next season.

I haven't hunted in probably 10 years, since moving to Seattle. Looking on advise on some locations to start with. I'm not looking to be spoon fed; just looking for a starting point. I'm more than willing to do all the work.

I've head good things about Black Tails in Kitsap Valley, and tiny White Tales in the islands, but would like o get a little more specific.
Title: Re: New Bowhunter, New to Hunting Wetside
Post by: Special T on November 27, 2015, 10:50:43 PM: There are deer everywhere. Imo you just need to do some scouting and get to know an area. Spend a bunch of time getting to know an area. Read Boyd Iversons blacktail trophy tactics 2 and burn some boot leather. Use the Go Hunt feature on wdfw site to narrow down an area. Likely your first year your gona be scouting with your weapon.

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Title: Re: New Bowhunter, New to Hunting Wetside
Post by: Shooting Stix on November 28, 2015, 12:26:59 PM: Look into the coast such as the southwest corner, Winston, skookumchuck there is elk and deer there. A bear or cougar if you are lucky
Title: Re: New Bowhunter, New to Hunting Wetside
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on November 28, 2015, 01:16:25 PM: Quote
tiny White Tales in the islands
You mean Blacktails, you mess with any whitetail in western Washington, you will learn a VERY important lesson :yike:

Check harvest statistics, use GoHunt, Google Earth, and Washington Atlas and Gazetteer.
Find a good spot and learn it thoroughly.
Blacktails don't have large home ranges (normally) and are difficult to pattern.
If you find a spot with lots of sign, the more time you can spend there, the more your chance of success.
You never know when they will get up out of the blackberry thicket and show themselves, I see them in my backyard a lot during the middle of the day.
Most of the time I just know they are there, eating my apple trees and other plants during the night.
Title: Re: New Bowhunter, New to Hunting Wetside
Post by: huntingbaldguy on December 02, 2015, 06:03:11 AM: If you're only hunting archery and not getting multi season, you have to catch blacktails in early season in their daily routine, or near their bedding areas, especially the big boys. They do pattern but the question is can you pattern them and find where they are in daylight. With does you can get lucky at times and get them wandering in in daylight hours to a blind or stand. If you can hunt end of October, you can bait the bucks in though. If you find the does you will find where they will be for the last week of October. Put a cam up and find the does with apples and corn and throw in a molasses block. Does and fawns love the blocks. Acquire private land to bait. Can be a buzzkill to get gear stolen, trust me.