Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 08:18:55 AM
I have a Marlin 60 that I am planning to use on small game to start, with the hopes of buying a .30-06 in time for deer/elk season. My plan is to start out hunting squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons until big game time. I figure this will get me some experience in the woods, and while hunting the small critters I am hoping to scout out potential spots to hunt deer/elk when those seasons come. I am mainly interested in hunting things I can eat, and that can be hunted outside of deer/elk season for now. According to the WDFW web site squirrels, and European rabbits are open year round for hunting, and cottontail, snowshoe hares, raccoons are open till mid march. I am hoping some people here will have some advice/pointers to help me get started. I also have no idea where to start looking for animals to hunt. I live in Marysville and am hoping maybe someone can tell me some areas where I might have some success finding small game within a few hours drive. Also if there are any other edible critters that could be hunted with a .22 I am open to suggestions on that as well. I am not really interested in bird hunting though since I don't own a shotgun, and will be saving all my spare change towards deer/elk rifle this year.
I am also curious about the edibility of certain animals. Just about everyone I talked to that has eaten it says that rabbit is tasty, so I feel pretty good about hunting those. I am getting mixed messages though about squirrels, and very little at all about raccoons or any other small game. From what I read on-line squirrels are supposed to be pretty tasty if prepared properly. I have had several people tell me not to hunt squirrels in washington though because they "eat trash". I am wondering if I get far enough into the woods to not be getting "city squirrel" if the trash eating would be less of an issue? Same for raccoons; according to internet they are tasty, but the few people I got to comment in Washington have said "You don't want to hunt those, they eat trash." Anyone here eat washington squirrels and/or raccoons? If so how do they taste, and how far into the woods do you have to go to avoid the trash eaters?
Post by: Straight Shooter on December 30, 2009, 08:28:38 AM
While you're in the process of completing Hunter's Safety, do your research on the areas that you are interested in hunting... i.e., obtaining BLM/topo maps, studying the regs, etc. Hopefully, you will find someone that you know and trust that can take you out and teach you hunting methods.
I like both rabbit and squirrel. Wouldn't eat raccoon unless I absolutely had to. Make sure that you know your seasons.
Good luck!
Post by: Gutpile on December 30, 2009, 08:28:48 AM
Post by: shoot-em-dead on December 30, 2009, 08:40:42 AM
Post by: turkey slayer on December 30, 2009, 08:55:36 AM
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 09:15:59 AM
I have been research regs best i can, so I know what small game will be legal and what the seasons are for them. I was thinking about forest grouse, but that season will be closed before I get my license, and IIRC doesn't reopen till end of 2010. I am hoping to get started mid-late January if I can get my license that soon. As far as the squirrels go there are certain squirrels that are protected, but some varieties that are open year round to hunt with no bag/possession limit. I have been told by 2 different people not to eat washington squirrels/raccons though because they "eat trash", so I am hesitant to hunt them as I don't want to hunt something I can't eat. Although if there not enough edible game to satisfy my hunting urge, I may consider coyotes. If anyone has eaten washington squirrels and/or raccoons though I would love to hear from you.
Post by: Gutpile on December 30, 2009, 09:22:26 AM
Hate to say it and don't take this wrong but you picked the wrong time of year to pick up hunting. Keep poking around here and you may get some good info. People may be a little hesitant to help you much at first thinking you may be a bunny hugger in diguise though.
Good luck to you.
Post by: Big10gauge on December 30, 2009, 09:26:14 AM
Post by: Gutpile on December 30, 2009, 09:31:35 AM
Post by: Big10gauge on December 30, 2009, 09:47:31 AM
Post by: Gutpile on December 30, 2009, 09:52:32 AM
Post by: Huntbear on December 30, 2009, 09:58:14 AM
Where are you located in the state, may help you get some better info.
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 10:12:44 AM
All squirrels, and chipmunks are protected in Wa. for some unknown reason, since there are a jillion of the dang things in the woods.
Where are you located in the state, may help you get some better info.
Here is the info I got from the WDFW web site. http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasons.htm
Forest grouse* limit=4/12 Sept. 1-Dec. 31 Mixed Bag
Cottontail rabbit and Snowshoe hare limit=5/15 Sept. 1-Mar. 15, 2010
European rabbit limit=None Year Round Hunting license required
Gray and fox squirrels limit=None Year Round Except western gray squirrels
Ground squirrels limit=None Year Round Except golden-mantled and Washington ground squirrels
Raccoon limit=None Statewide: Sept. 1, 2009- Mar. 15 2010 Closed on Long Island within Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
Oh and btw whats bag/possesion limit? Does bag/possession limit of 5/15 mean I can get 5 per day until I have 15 total? If so say I get 15 total and eat 5, then can I go out and get 5 more?
I am in Marysville, WA. I am starting to wonder if everyone read my entire post though, as I stated in my original post "I live in Marysville and am hoping maybe someone can tell me some areas where I might have some success finding small game within a few hours drive." ;)
Post by: Huntbear on December 30, 2009, 10:18:27 AM
You have some great areas, East and North of you. Talk to the local gameys, and the guys teaching your classes. They will be a world of help. Also, just get out and put the boots to the dirt, with a map. Best way to learn an area.
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 10:20:26 AM
That sounds like bunk to me about WA squirrels eating trash. I wouldn't hestitate to eat a squirrel from WA versus anywhere else. It's not like they eat carrion. That said, I'm 42 and have never met one person who has hunted squirrel in WA. Now coons on the other hand. I would never eat one no matter where they're from.
Hate to say it and don't take this wrong but you picked the wrong time of year to pick up hunting. Keep poking around here and you may get some good info. People may be a little hesitant to help you much at first thinking you may be a bunny hugger in diguise though.
Good luck to you.
Definitely not a bunny hugger....unless you count feeding bunnies to an 11 foot columbian red-tailed boa and letting it "hug" them to death. ;) According to WDFW web site there are plenty of small game that I can hunt either year round or until mid-march 2010. I am just trying to find out which ones are tasty, and where they live so I can add them to my menu.
Post by: Kain on December 30, 2009, 10:31:26 AM
Eastern Grey Squirrel
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/mammals/WA_eastern_gray_squirrel.html
Fox Squirrel
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/mammals/WA_fox_squirrel.html
Same with the European rabbit
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/mammals/WA_european_rabbit.html
As for eating squirrels and raccoon that is up to you to try them and see if you like them. There is nothing wrong with eating a raccoon as long as it is healthy. A lot of guys love the taste of bobcats also and they can be called in with predator calls. plus the hides are worth some money.
Post by: Kain on December 30, 2009, 10:44:34 AM
Oh and btw whats bag/possesion limit? Does bag/possession limit of 5/15 mean I can get 5 per day until I have 15 total? If so say I get 15 total and eat 5, then can I go out and get 5 more?
Correct daily bag limit of 5. Total possession limit of 15. Eat 5 of the 15, go get 5 more. :tup: If you can do that your first year hunting you will have hit the mother load of rabbits. Most of us hunt coyotes to manage the population. They eat a ton of small game and fawns so it is in a hunters best interest to hunt them. Sometimes there are reasons to hunt other than food but that is up to you to decide.
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 10:47:12 AM
Correct daily bag limit of 5. Total possession limit of 15. Eat 5 of the 15, go get 5 more. :tup: If you can do that your first year hunting you will have hit the mother load of rabbits. Most of us hunt coyotes to manage the population. They eat a ton of small game and fawns so it is in a hunters best interest to hunt them. Sometimes there are reasons to hunt other than food but that is up to you to decide.
I had not considered that aspect of coyote hunting. I think I may reconsider my stance on that if hunting coyotes might help improve the availablility of edible game. thanks for the perspective.
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 11:01:40 AM
Very limited range for huntable squirrels in WA.
Eastern Grey Squirrel
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/mammals/WA_eastern_gray_squirrel.html
Fox Squirrel
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/mammals/WA_fox_squirrel.html
Same with the European rabbit
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/mammals/WA_european_rabbit.html
As for eating squirrels and raccoon that is up to you to try them and see if you like them. There is nothing wrong with eating a raccoon as long as it is healthy. A lot of guys love the taste of bobcats also and they can be called in with predator calls. plus the hides are worth some money.
Wow those are some depressingly small areas, and unless my geography is worse than I though, most of those areas seem to be in or near city limits. :( Any idea where I could find similar maps to show where ground squirrels, cottontails, snowshoe hares, coyotes and raccoons live?
Post by: Kain on December 30, 2009, 11:08:25 AM
Wow those are some depressingly small areas, and unless my geography is worse than I though, most of those areas seem to be in or near city limits. :( Any idea where I could find similar maps to show where ground squirrels, cottontails, snowshoe hares, coyotes and raccoons live?Yep mostly city limits. Eastern grey squirrels are an introduce species and are not protected but they are mostly in large city areas.
Here is a map feature to find out where there is huntable land near you. It took me a bit of messing around to figure out how to use it but it is helpful.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/gohunt/
Nature mapping for Washington.
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/#mammals
Post by: lokidog on December 30, 2009, 11:15:02 AM
Not sure why they are in the hunting regs.
You might be able to find squirrels near towns but make sure you are not hunting in the "city limits." I don't know anyone that actually goes after them here in WA. Rabbits are another tough one (can't shoot the native pygmy cottontails), unless you are in the San Juan Islands, then you might be able to get permission from someone to hunt, as many consider them pests out here. I just remembered, you can't use a .22 out here in the firearm restricted areas, just get the .454 casull out after them....
Don't let the raccoon naysayers scare you off!! Raccoon is very good eating, as long as you get ALL the fat off the meat when you clean it. They are really good if you quarter them (don't forget the backstrap), and toss them in the slow cooker for the day with some cream of mushroom soup or beef broth/boullion. I wouldn't worry about them eating "garbage". Unless they are picking up toxins like poisoned pigeons or something, it all gets turned into meat. If they are eating dead salmon or something like that they could get a bit stronger tasting.
You might find some local farmers that would let you spotlight raccoons in their barns. You can set out apples or other bait to get them coming in regularly. A trail camera would be handy to figure out what time they come through. Head shot on a raccoon is the best as they can run a long ways with a .22 round to the lungs.
If you need to borrow a shotgun, I can probably dig one up for you to use. Turkey season is coming up this spring. Check out the pawnshops around, usually good prices on shotguns at least. Also, a .22 might be a little light for coyote (yeah, I know you can kill them with the right shot placement but you don't want to start out your hunting career with wounding animals, even coyotes...).
If you can, just spends a lot of time shooting so you know what your abilities are.
Good luck. PM me if you want.
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 11:58:53 AM
You can hunt voles and shrews year round, just need a hunting license.... :dunno:
Not sure why they are in the hunting regs.
You might be able to find squirrels near towns but make sure you are not hunting in the "city limits." I don't know anyone that actually goes after them here in WA. Rabbits are another tough one (can't shoot the native pygmy cottontails), unless you are in the San Juan Islands, then you might be able to get permission from someone to hunt, as many consider them pests out here. I just remembered, you can't use a .22 out here in the firearm restricted areas, just get the .454 casull out after them....
Don't let the raccoon naysayers scare you off!! Raccoon is very good eating, as long as you get ALL the fat off the meat when you clean it. They are really good if you quarter them (don't forget the backstrap), and toss them in the slow cooker for the day with some cream of mushroom soup or beef broth/boullion. I wouldn't worry about them eating "garbage". Unless they are picking up toxins like poisoned pigeons or something, it all gets turned into meat. If they are eating dead salmon or something like that they could get a bit stronger tasting.
You might find some local farmers that would let you spotlight raccoons in their barns. You can set out apples or other bait to get them coming in regularly. A trail camera would be handy to figure out what time they come through. Head shot on a raccoon is the best as they can run a long ways with a .22 round to the lungs.
If you need to borrow a shotgun, I can probably dig one up for you to use. Turkey season is coming up this spring. Check out the pawnshops around, usually good prices on shotguns at least. Also, a .22 might be a little light for coyote (yeah, I know you can kill them with the right shot placement but you don't want to start out your hunting career with wounding animals, even coyotes...).
If you can, just spends a lot of time shooting so you know what your abilities are.
Good luck. PM me if you want.
Thanks for the info. I just sighted in my rifle last week with a new bushnell 3-9x scope and my best 5 shot group at 50 yards was just barely over an inch. So I am fairly confident I can take down the game cleanly if I can get close enough. I think with some more practice I can probably bring that group size down even smaller though.
I may take you up on the loan of a shotgun. I don't want to buy one *yet* though. I am on a pretty tight budget, so what spare money I can scrape up is going towards my .30-06 fund for deer/elk. I know already that I like the taste of deer/elk because I was in a group home as a teen and we got poached animals, and salvageable roadkill donated to us. *yum*
Post by: Kain on December 30, 2009, 12:07:19 PM
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 12:19:32 PM
A 12 gauge shotgun is a great all around gun. From small game and birds to big game and home defense. If you are going to be hunting the west side of the state there are lots of shot opportunities with a slug. Just something to think about if you can only get one gun.
Good points. One of my other reasons for wanting a rifle for deer/elk though is that I already have reloading equipment for metallic cartridges. So I am planning on handloading my ammo for deer/elk to help keep costs down.(least thats what I am telling my wife) ;) I also have very little experience with shotguns, but I know already I am reasonably accurate with a scoped rifle. Eventually I may get a shotgun as well, maybe next year, but for now my goal is to have a weatherby vanguard synthetic chambered .30-06 in time for 2010 deer and/or elk season.
Post by: Jerry malbeck on December 30, 2009, 09:44:01 PM
Post by: Atroxus on December 30, 2009, 10:54:58 PM
Save your money for better glass and buy a savage . weatherby is way over priced and over rated.
From what research I have done the savages seem quite a bit more expensive than the weatherby vanguard, and as far as I can tell don't gurantee their accuracy. The vanguard guarantees 3 shot groups less than 1.5" at 100 yards. You are the first poster I have seen with anything bad to say about weatherby. Everything else I have read says that the weatherby vanguard is plenty accurate/reliable enough for hunting, and it's pretty hard to beat the $399 price listed on the weatherby web site. If savage makes a .30-06 around that price point I have not been able to find it.
Post by: Thefisherman83 on December 30, 2009, 11:14:06 PM
Post by: Jerry malbeck on December 31, 2009, 08:05:02 AM
Post by: lokidog on December 31, 2009, 11:53:16 AM
The point is, don't get hung up on a manufacturers claim. The experiences of members on this site are probably more accurate.
Don't discount used guns either, the savings could be well worth a ding or two on a stock and if the gov't doesn't know about it, all the better.... Plus most people selling a gun would probably let you take it to a range to shoot, can't do that at Cabelas.
Post by: Straight Shooter on December 31, 2009, 12:26:25 PM
For examples...
My S&W 1500 in '06 is a shooter... much better than 1.5 moa and consistently out-shoots both my Ruger .308s. I agree, a 1.5 moa isn't something that I would get too excited about. 1.5 moa rifles would definitely spend a lot of time in my guns safes... collecting dust and waiting to be sold or traded)
My "budget" Stevens 200 in .223 will shoot 1/2 moa all day (did the 1 minute trigger adjustment) with my "pet" factory loads.
Haven't shot my new Howa Axiom in .223 yet, but I have no doubt that it will shoot 1/2 moa or better. I'm looking hard a Tikka, but my next purchase will may very well be another Stevens 200, but in .243. I can afford "better", but... "accurate is accurate" and "reliable is reliable"... and (as stated by others) with the $$ saved, you can upgrade the glass.
My point is that, you really can't go wrong with either manufacturer... it's about personal preference. :twocents:
Another rifle that I would take a hard look at is the Marlin XL7. It is getting great reviews and you can pick one up for around $300.00 (sometimes less) retail.
Post by: bobcat on December 31, 2009, 12:34:22 PM
As far as hunting for squirrels or rabbits, honestly there is very little opportunity for either in this state. The eastern gray squirrels live in cities and parks. Generally there aren't anywhere you can hunt. I'm not sure about fox squirrels...I didn't realize they were legal to hunt. But most of the squirrels you'll see out in the woods are protected species. Ground squirrels can be hunted but they would be mostly in eastern Wa. You will see rabbits occasionally out in the woods. The only ones I ever see are on the edges of logging roads. I would suggest spending your time mostly scouting for deer and elk for next fall, and carry your 22 rifle if you wish for any opportunity that may present itself. Grouse opens September 1st and you can hunt them with your 22 rifle.