Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Anyone from eastern Washington? I would be interested in how your luck was this year? I have only had action 1 day out of the season this year, and was mighty depressed about it. I was on private land that day, and still did'nt get a deer. Could have actually bagged one, but I was a little to careless. Other times I was always on state land, and had nothing! Never saw a single one.

I'm looking to find a good GMU to hunt in, but I'd like some feedback. Thinking about Sprague, Lancaster and St. John, or Colville National Forest.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Well i dont know if htis is what your looking for but I hunt in and around winthrop but im from michigan. I hunt there Idaho and here in Michigan everyyear send me a PM if you want to know any info.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

If you hunt deer, I've heard good things about coville and mt. spokane. What season are you hunting?

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Well, I don't particularly want topay hundreds of dollars to hunt deer in another state. Its hard enough to find deer here! Yea, Colville is what I think I may be doing next year. Its a big forest, and alot of animals high in the altitude! I went modern firearm hunting this year. Last year I tried doing it with a bow, and that was 10x harder for me. So I'm sticking to the gun for the while. Bad thing is, that alot of the land is just ridiculously thick brush. I barely have any fields to hunt.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Well, not sure if you do your homework. I've hunted during modern and archery and it's not that bad. You just have to do your work first. I been to Colville once and tagged one. It's too far for me. I've hunted the west and usually get one. There are plenty of deers in our state. Good luck.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Hunted public land here in Spokane and saw a few deer(more yotes)but couldn't get a shot off.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

I'm originally from Spokane and still get over there to visit friends, etc.There is certainly plenty of deer to be found on the public lands in that area. We used to hunt up near Chewelah and Colville. My buddy from Deer Parkstill hunts up there and usually has no problem getting his deer every year.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

My problem is that I don't necessarily know where prime areas are to actually start scouting. I understand you can go anywhere and do it, yes. But I would prefer to find a public land that has vast amounts of acreage so I know the land is only moderately hunted, or less. Nowhere near Spokane is there something of that sort except Mount Spokane or Colville. I have'nt been to Mt. Spokane yet, though. I have also heard from other hunters I've been with that most of our public land is to hard to hunt. Its been excessively hunted and/or pushed.

What would you guys think about putting a food plot on some public land? Or maybe just throw out a couple bales of hay with some alfalfa? Of course in a strategic location... I've just never really thought that it might be logical. Other hunters might find the spot and take a deer from it before me, huh? I bet it'd basically be investing into someone elses harvest.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

That would be considered baiting, which I believe is illegal.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

maybe this is what you are looking for.unit 113 selkirk its just out side of newport go to the bead and marshal lake area its got all kinds of state land there with mule and white tail there

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

The WDFW publishes the harvest data for each unit on their website. You can go back several years and see how a particular unit has done. My suggestion is that you look over that data and then pick a unit. Once you've done that, get up there and explore. Go up there at every opportunity year round and get to know the area like the back of your hand. Make sure you get off the roads and put in some qualityshoe leather time. The time to start looking for your 2007 deer is now. And if the data is good, don't give up on the area even if you don't get one next fall. Stick with it and it will all come together for you.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Actually, it's perfectly legal to bait for deer and elk. It's only illegal to bait for bear, turkey, and migratory birds. This has been discussed many times in the past, and they even brought it up before the legislature before to ban it. If it doesn't state it is illegal in the regs, it's not. It didn't have enough support to get much attention. I'd prefer itstay that way and let us make the decision, but that's another argument. Just wanted to clear up the misinformation.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Another option Hexorz is check out Bearpaw outfitters in Colville. For $400 you stay in their cabins ,They feed you, Plus they tell you where to hunt on public land. I had 2 friends do this and they recommend it.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

I've seen great bucks along the Idaho border south of Liberty Lake. There's a lot of private property out there but I've heard that folks are pretty good about letting hunters in. I have a friend that got a 130 whitetail down there last month.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Slee is correct, but I just wanted to remind everyone that the Reg book is not all encompassing. The regs are just a paraphrase of the actual rules/laws.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Why are you limiting yourself to public land?

There is plenty of private land to gain access to around the Spokane/Colville area. The majority of the farm folk I've talked to have been more than willing to allow us to hunt their land in exchange for a day or two's worth of work.

The public land around here is hit hard during modern firearm season. I'm not complaining, but I don't understand why folks limit themselves to only public land. Knock on a few doors, shake a few hands, you may be suprised at the results.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Wow!!! I always assumed it was illegal. Things to make you go hmmmmm :D

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

There is plenty of state land around the Spokane area that doesn't get a lot of hunting pressure. You just have to know where it is. My brothers and Uncles tag out every year. See if oyu can get topo maps from the DNR, they show you where all the state land is. My brother used to work for the DNR during the summer and he has several topos that show the state lands.

I didn't make it back to washington to deer hunt this year, but the deer season here in Maryland has been good. Been seeing tons of deer and the season doesn't close until the end of this month. The bad limits are huge, 10 does and 2 bucks for archery, 10 and 2 for muzzleloader, 10 and 2 for shotgun, this part of Maryland you can not use a rifle to hunt deer and you can bait deer on private land. But trying to hunt state land in this area is nuts, with all the weekend hunters I don't even hunt it, I hunt only private land, and you can't hunt on Sundays in this state.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Is there much elk hunting in Eastern Washington, or do you guys have to go across the border into Idaho for that?

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

There are places in Eastern washingotn that have elk in them, down in the Blue Mountians, up above Spokane and in and aorund Spokane, my brother saw 20 cow elk in Bigalow Gulch on Friday, they are there just have to look for them.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Been hunting elk for 5 years in the middle of the state. As of now, don't see the reason to go out of state. :D

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Me too.......but I'd be dating myself if I said how long, So I won't.
As for hunting private land in NE Wa for deer, doing that in the 105 Kelly Hill unit is NOT easy. I don't know if it's too many old hippies, bad experiences in the past, or just PETA type enviro-Whackos!!

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

There are a bunch of elk at the Oak Creek feeding station by Nachez right now. Went up Saturday to see for myself. :)

http://www.nachesvalleychamber.com/info/elkfeeding.html

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Colville is the place to be! Monster bucks, good elk numbers, forget about Selkirk or Mt. Spokane areas. I got a 6x6 Bull over there this year, and my buddy got a 170 class whitetail and he just missed a Monster 5x5 bull.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

ZEN is that state land or private land .. and where does a person get on state land there. i would like to know i live in spokane

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Usens, go to the DNR office and get some topo maps of the coville area it will show you all the state land and also access places for the colville national forest.

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

If you don't yet have google earth....get it. But if you take 395 north, go west on Blue Creek Rd which turns into county road 9311, or go east on Moran creek rd. these are just a couple, the town is surounded with National Forest Land. Robb92 had a good idea too, I have been up there hunting for a while, but you will only really learn the area by driving around and hunting. all the county roads that lead over towards Ione have alot of good hunting, you just have to want it. take a look at my gallery you will see this years elk. good luck!

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

thank you for the info robb and zen it helps alot i will go and check it out this spring

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

A friend of mine has put a free informational website out there if you want some ideas of where to go in Washington. The website is huntwashingtonstate.com. Good luck

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

thank youwazzu i will check it out

RE: Eastern Washington Goers...
 

Anybody hunt any of the Inland Paper land east of Mt Spokane or behind Newman Lake? What do you hunt for? What kind of success do you have? I've hunted it a few years...see a lot of game...but haven't had any luck. Always looking for someone to go with. Get's lonely hunting by yourself.

Happy Hunting
Reid