Hunting in northwestern WA

[hoyt77]

So I'm new to this forum. I posted in the general chat section yesterday and had couple People respond to me. It was great to find others that are willing to help others out.

I want to hunt next year for archery season since it works the best with my work schedule. But I need to figure out where. When I lived in PA growing up hunting we just used our family cabin which sat smack dead in the center of state land which we could hunt. Here in WA most roads are closed so you can't get to many places to find good areas to start looking for good spots. I'm not asking for people's honey holes just for ideas from hunters who have been around these thick WA woods. As for asking permission to hunt private property, how do you find out who owns what land.

Also I want to get a trail camera but with a new born baby (our first) most of my time and money goes into raising him (which is great) but would like to get a good inexpensive camera to help me find these hard to find black tail. Any suggestions would be great.

[markts]

Moultrie D-40 great inexpensive camera. Mark

[high country]

the good ol' colville national forest has a pooptillion acres, and about as many deer. pick an area that fits your style and go for a hike. there is everything to choose from there.

[PolarBear]

I think he is looking for NorthWestern Wa.
Can't help you with the Northwestern corner but if you are interested in the Southwestern or Northeastern I can hook you up.

[Special T]

There is 1 archery club near you in Custer you should check out, and one in Mt Vernon, Silver Arrow Bowmen. Check out the WSAA www.washingtonarchery.org sight. lots of people just head into the woods with a camper and hunt. if you want something closer, ask around. People are a Little more willing to let a bow hunter out and about than a gun hunter. I recommend the cabellas wildview 2fer pack trail cam.  i have 3. not the best pic quality but will save you lots of unproductive time in the woods. This ain't whitetail country! Good luck!

[hoyt77]

Thanks Special T for the information about the archery clubs I'll check that out.

Polar bear at this point in time I'm willing to do a little traveling. We go to the central WA during quail and chukar season (which is another big passion of mine). Plus during the summer time we go over and around that same area for camping. I would love to be able to get a deer archery hunting.

Also thanks for all the information on the trail cameras.

[upriver]

If you live in Whatcom or Skagit county there is a lot of timberland and forest service to hunt in your back yard. The private timberland is mostly gated but it makes for good hunting since you don't get the road traffic. Sierra Pacific and Longview Fiber allow foot or bike traffic behind the gates. Remeber you are hunting blacktail deer and you are not going to see large numbers of deer. The balcktail are hard to pattern as well since there is so much feed and cover in the habitat around here. Find sign and just hunt. There are nice deer living right around us but it's not easy.

[let.it.fly]

winthrop and twisp area. get over there and knock on doors

[AKBowman]

If you live in Whatcom or Skagit county there is a lot of timberland and forest service to hunt in your back yard. The private timberland is mostly gated but it makes for good hunting since you don't get the road traffic. Sierra Pacific and Longview Fiber allow foot or bike traffic behind the gates. Remeber you are hunting blacktail deer and you are not going to see large numbers of deer. The balcktail are hard to pattern as well since there is so much feed and cover in the habitat around here. Find sign and just hunt. There are nice deer living right around us but it's not easy.

 

The deer are there you just have to believe it!!! And there are there in suprisingly high numbers for the lack of deer spotted...but you gotta be patient and believe. I'm still learning to do things the right way myself. There's lotsa good deer in and around your immediate area. I would hunt the late season just above the snow line. If it snows up high the hunting can get real good. Look for natural funnels, saddles etc on topo maps. This can save a lot of gas money and narrow down your search before heading out on foot.