Washington 2015 Regulations
- Thread starter Elkman
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
lefty315
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2004
- 950
- 500
Vince, to help clarify. Washington tags are sold over the counter and wherever a resident can hunt with an OTC tag, so can a non-resident. There are some units though that require a special draw, but unlike other states in Washington you have to purchase your tag before applying for a special draw. If you don't get drawn you still have the money invested in a tag, so you would definitely want to have a backup plan.
I do concur with Elkman though, unless you really want to hunt here or have family that you want to hunt with, I'd look elsewhere. Our non-resident tags are spendy and I think you could increase your odds, of a successful hunt,in other states. Washington has some amazing country but it seems our animal population has decreased over the last few decades.
I do concur with Elkman though, unless you really want to hunt here or have family that you want to hunt with, I'd look elsewhere. Our non-resident tags are spendy and I think you could increase your odds, of a successful hunt,in other states. Washington has some amazing country but it seems our animal population has decreased over the last few decades.
lefty315
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2004
- 950
- 500
Not at all trying to keep non-residents away. My buddy wanted to come out West and hunt Elk so we ultimately went to Idaho. I usually hunt out of state once, sometimes twice a year and its Wyoming, Montana or Idaho.
Don't get me wrong, Washington isn't horrible, just given the choice I'd rather leave the state. The other issue here is we have around 7 million people in the state and our seasons are much shorter than some other states.
Don't get me wrong, Washington isn't horrible, just given the choice I'd rather leave the state. The other issue here is we have around 7 million people in the state and our seasons are much shorter than some other states.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,836
- 6,312
Vince - the recreational opportunities in Washington State are terrific!
The fishing can be quite good. Excellent bicycling and hiking/backpacking. But the hunting? Well, it's okay, but there are better opportunities. I think the one kind of big game hunting we offer that's an interesting possibility is our spot and stalk bear hunting, with a good chance for a chocolate or cinnamon colored bear...
Other than that... elk hunting and deer hunting is likely better elsewhere. That's why I've taken so many trips to Wyoming in the past 15 years to hunt.
Several years ago, in 2008, a friend came up from California to hunt mule deer with me. He paid what I thought was a pretty intimidating non-resident fee for the license and deer tag. No drawing involved, just bought the general season tag. We hunted pretty hard for I think six days... Saw two legal bucks, but too far for a shot, then gone... He had a weak heart, and couldn't hike super hard, that was his only problem. Good shot, and comfortable in the hills
The day he left, I headed up into the hills and hiked in to a place he couldn't reach and shot a 26" wide 4x4.
Regards, Guy
The fishing can be quite good. Excellent bicycling and hiking/backpacking. But the hunting? Well, it's okay, but there are better opportunities. I think the one kind of big game hunting we offer that's an interesting possibility is our spot and stalk bear hunting, with a good chance for a chocolate or cinnamon colored bear...
Other than that... elk hunting and deer hunting is likely better elsewhere. That's why I've taken so many trips to Wyoming in the past 15 years to hunt.
Several years ago, in 2008, a friend came up from California to hunt mule deer with me. He paid what I thought was a pretty intimidating non-resident fee for the license and deer tag. No drawing involved, just bought the general season tag. We hunted pretty hard for I think six days... Saw two legal bucks, but too far for a shot, then gone... He had a weak heart, and couldn't hike super hard, that was his only problem. Good shot, and comfortable in the hills
The day he left, I headed up into the hills and hiked in to a place he couldn't reach and shot a 26" wide 4x4.
Regards, Guy
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,836
- 6,312
Bought my fishing license, hunting license and over-the-net tags for cougar, bear, elk & deer last night.
Also applied for a few special hunts, emphasizing the doe & cow tags. Also those "once in a lifetime" tags for moose, mountain goat and bighorn sheep.
We will see...
In a couple of weeks, before the deadline, I need to do all that for my son the college kid. He's broke, so it's my wallet again. That's okay, gives us good field time together.
Highlights this year, as planned anyway:
1. Fishing trip to AK with Dad
2. Bear hunt here in WA with my son
3. General mule deer season here in WA with friends & family
4. HOPEFULLY elk hunting in OREGON...
Taking a break from the long drive to hunt Wyoming again this year. Need to re-think that whole thing. Sure has been a good hunt though. Think I might be shuffling that hunt back to western Wyoming, or maybe back to Idaho or western Montana. Somewhere closer instead of the 2,000 mile round trip.
Guy
Also applied for a few special hunts, emphasizing the doe & cow tags. Also those "once in a lifetime" tags for moose, mountain goat and bighorn sheep.
We will see...
In a couple of weeks, before the deadline, I need to do all that for my son the college kid. He's broke, so it's my wallet again. That's okay, gives us good field time together.
Highlights this year, as planned anyway:
1. Fishing trip to AK with Dad
2. Bear hunt here in WA with my son
3. General mule deer season here in WA with friends & family
4. HOPEFULLY elk hunting in OREGON...
Taking a break from the long drive to hunt Wyoming again this year. Need to re-think that whole thing. Sure has been a good hunt though. Think I might be shuffling that hunt back to western Wyoming, or maybe back to Idaho or western Montana. Somewhere closer instead of the 2,000 mile round trip.
Guy
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,502
- 6,506
Guy Miner":1rk3d3gv said:
Money well spent.
Thankful Otter
Handloader
- Oct 8, 2012
- 783
- 97
Dr Mike, a little help please
what is this tag, draw and license thing the fellows are talking about.
If we want Moose or Caribou for dinner, we go out the back or front door, shoot one, and dinner is soon on the table
Of course we cant buy liqueur so it all balances out
what is this tag, draw and license thing the fellows are talking about.
If we want Moose or Caribou for dinner, we go out the back or front door, shoot one, and dinner is soon on the table
Of course we cant buy liqueur so it all balances out
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,502
- 6,506
yukon huntress":23fmpa13 said:
A growing number of species can be hunted only if you enter a draw for a tag (a limited entry hunt--LEH). Grizzlies in BC are all on LEH now. In many zones, moose and elk are on an LEH (as is true for virtually every big game species, depending on zone). Increasingly, game is managed for the hunters rather than for the animals, with the result that there are fewer animals available for the number of people wanting to hunt. For instance, mule deer were plentiful a few years ago, but that created difficulties in farming areas. The animals were being pushed by burgeoning whitetail populations and a game management plan that called for creating a world class hunting opportunity. So, the harvest was adjusted upward, including generous harvest of does and young deer to assuage farmers. This led to overly generous harvests in these zones in farming areas which attracted a growing number of people from the Lower Mainland who wanted to "shoot several deer." Simultaneously, predator populations were growing rapidly and whitetail populations were increasingly aggressive in these same zones. The ultimate result was a collapse of the mule deer population. Whereas I witnessed deer yarding up in herds of 200+ as recently as ten years ago, winter herds are closer to ten to twenty deer now. Still, the guide-outfitters want opportunity to take increased numbers of mature animals for their growing number of clients even as locals are restricted. Therefore, the political concept is to regulate the harvest through limiting the opportunities to hunt. Glad that I'm old enough that I am not seriously affected. However, my grandchildren are facing an increasingly bleak future for hunting.
