Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: bowtech721 on February 14, 2009, 06:54:54 PM
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I was just wondering if anyone here has hunted or hunts the Island unit 410... my dad used to hunt it back in day and had great success but i was just wondering what its like now... anything helps and i would like to talk with someone who knows whats up there because I have yet to get a blacktail of anytype and I saw that its any deer up there so im guessing the populations are pretty good...
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My dad just retired from the ferry system two years ago so I use to ride the boats all the time and he always talked about the large populations of deer in the islands. Two years ago a buddy and I tried hunting Orcas. We could have shot several nice blacktail, I wanted a nice 4pt and I never found one. We saw 13 bucks in one day. The problem with the islands is that most of the land is private. When we where out there we couldn't find anywhere that was public until the very end of our hunt. After driving around the island most of the day looking we started to get a following and not a good one. The sheriff started following us around. We should have just stopped and asked him where to go but we didn't. There are spots out there that you could shoot a deer no problem with a bow and not be hassled and get away with it, BUT, you should know that the gamewarden sits down at the ferry terminal and checks vehicles going on and off the island. You have to be able to tell him where you shot that animal and if you cant, well your in trouble. Another thing to think about, the deer see people all the time, you don't need camo. I wouldn't recommend wearing it because most the people out there don't like hunters.
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Deer numbers are healthy on the islands. Not much hunting pressure due to being almost exclusively private land these days. My advice...first, get permission. Then, head out this summer to scout it out. Around the opener in early Sept is the best time for deer activity.
Call WDFW and ask for any contact numbers to folks that may allow access or participate in the ACCESS program. Either the sheriff deputies or game warden(s) will/should have a short list of names. When playing the "hunt the tree-hugger's backyard" game, it's well worth puting in the time to make sure your ducks are in order.
Like teacher said, tread lightly around those parts. It can be a bit like a hornets nest of you rub them a bit wrong.
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I scouted one of the islands many many years ago. Can't remember if it was Lopez or Orcas, but the only public land we found was a very small area and had people living in tents on it. I can't imagine how crowded it would have been when hunting season opened and I personally didn't feel comfortable shooting a gun (shotgun) with people randomly living on the public lands open for hunting. So the long and short of it is to find some private land to hunt or possibly get a boat and hunt Cypress Island. I haven't tried the Cypress Island angle yet, but plan on doing it at some point in the future just to see what its like.
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teacherman... you said you were able to find some land afterall??? I have yet to take a blacktail buck of anysize so would you recommend it as a good place to try this year if Im not picky about size?
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There are generally good deer numbers on the islands, not so sure about Whidbey itself but you always see them on the other islands. One thing that was mentioned before is not to where your camo etc, which I think is a probably a good call, lots of bunny huggers on the islands that would love to screw up a hunt.
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On San Juan I had an adjacent land owner walk up to me, of course I was bracing for a bit of a confrontation, and ask, "what are you hunting for?" Of course I mentioned the property owner's name and our relationship, and then said, "deer." That's when the guy said, "oh, why are you wearing camouflage? All you need is an apple and a hammer to hunt deer out here." :DOH:
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nice... :) I think Im gonna try and get up there in the summer or somthing and just check it out and try to find some places to hunt... thanks for the info
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Ive also heard that some of the islands have some public land that is only accessible through private property so that might be something to look into as well.
Good luck
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I have never had a problem getting permission to hunt. Try and go before the season and talk with people. They seem to be more responsive before the season starts.
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I've yet to shoot a big blacktail buck either :chuckle:. I've been to picky. If you just wanted to fill a tag ya its a great spot. You should think about putting in for a B tag out there to. Lots of two and three points. I've never seen a ripper our there. I have seen 4 points that I would like to have shot. The one I'm thinking of was in a flowerbed eating. The key is permission. I got a good map and looked at all the islands out there and was able to find land that way. I've been thinking of doing it again this Thanksgiving but this time launching my boat on the main land and hunting from my boat. If anything it would be another fun adventure.
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I hunt Shaw Island every year and it is loaded with deer, but the only reason I am able to hunt there is because I have friends there. There is not very much trophy potential on Shaw at least but if all you want is your first blacktail then it is the place to be. I have never hunted there where I have not been able to look over multiple bucks and get a nice one. I am not a trophy hunter but do like to try to get a buck. I have taken a decent 2 by 2 with eyeguards with my shotgun, and a nice 2 by 2 with my bow. My dad only hunts for meat and has always been able to find a nice fat doe for the table. If you are interested, I can pm you some info on some people that might give you permission to hunt on Shaw. Here are pictures of the bucks that I have taken off Shaw as well as a collage of all the deer that my dad and I have taken off of Shaw.
My 06' shotgun buck
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi9.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa61%2Foneshotkill%2F49.jpg&hash=4a46a21fdf532bf81966831f782d4032c5aa90e5)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi9.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa61%2Foneshotkill%2Fhunting%2520and%2520fishing%2520pictures%2F46.jpg&hash=0341959f263a6ad714ddc9b693fa9cf9dd96a541)
My 08' archery buck
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi9.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa61%2Foneshotkill%2FArcheryDeer61.jpg&hash=1e4ea6cf2cd53903484a091bdaf4c6b93d15e1dc)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi9.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa61%2Foneshotkill%2Fhunting%2520and%2520fishing%2520pictures%2FArcheryDeer5.jpg&hash=dc7c06420285e88477df333890f552ba98961ef5)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi9.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa61%2Foneshotkill%2Fhunting%2520and%2520fishing%2520pictures%2FDSC_0304.jpg&hash=51ffa0f483ea6490aa8ba3a582dfca6193c8a3d2)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi9.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa61%2Foneshotkill%2FLinneaIsaiahJoelDeerpicture.jpg&hash=0756ebe8b11e4bdad19d296a6b9881bb18ca78bc)
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That would be awsome oneshotonekill... :)
