SW WA Deer Hunting...

Lured In · 07-22-2002, 08:22 AM

Well I have finally decided to stop missing Oregon and start hunting here in WA. (Although I do have my Cascade Muzzleloader Elk Tag for OR). Here is the skinny.

I wanted to find out what the deer (blacktail) hunting here in SW WA is like. I have read and reread the regs. I have looked at the harvest statistics for the last couple years and that helped a little. So I am looking at the upper Washougal Unit, the Wind River Unit, the Klickitat Unit (Western half), and the unit just below the Lewis River. My primary interest is the late season Muzzleloader hunts. I would like to be able to take my kids out with me to experience deer hunting and am looking for a reasonable place to go. Preferably without tons of wacko's.

Any feedback you guys can offer would be great.

troutguy04 · 07-25-2002, 11:56 PM

I would say that your best chance for harvesting a deer would be in the Battleground (564) because it is any deer. I have hunted it in the past had had fair success on the state land in the eastern part of the unit. Only problem is that it is also open for Modern firearm hunting during that time (Nov.20-Dec.31) However the pressure has not been that heavy from what I have seen. I dont know much about the other units you talked about, if you want more specifics on the Battleground unit e mail me.

Jeff

Big TULE · 07-26-2002, 10:57 PM

The battleground unit is never open for modern fire arm. But you can use all hunting methods to hunt the deer here provided you have the tag for it, bow- you archery hunt. modern firearm you hunt with a 12 guage. You can't hunt the unit with a high power rifle is what i am trying to say i guess.

Big TULE · 07-26-2002, 10:59 PM

oh yeah hey lured maybe one of these days we could go fishing and i would impart almost all of my knowledge of hunting SW WA. on you. I have been hunting for about 15 years, got my first buck in the battleground unit. And my first elk just up out of carson. So i know the areas very well that you are wondering about.

Lured In · 07-27-2002, 09:03 AM

Big Tule...you bet. I am easy and will glad trade for knowledge that will shorten my learning curve. PM me and we can see about getting the fishing trip set up.

Talk to you soon...

willametteriveroutlaw · 07-27-2002, 12:09 PM

I used to hunt in that area and do pretty well, feel free to PM or email me for some ideas and starting places.

Big TULE · 07-27-2002, 10:11 PM

Hey lured i have a monster(by sw washington standards) blacktail up in my back yard eating apples. Maybe it is time to start killing the pets.

bait boy · 07-27-2002, 11:01 PM

Need a deckhand? I need to find more in this area as well and I just haven't seen the animals here that folks say are here...

Snake9t9 · 07-28-2002, 02:51 AM

Actually the Battleground unit does have a modern firearm season. I hunt it nearly every year and have taken a couple of nice deer from the unit. It is however a firearm restricted hunt, meaning that during the modern firearm season only shotguns or handguns may be used.

fishisabonus · 08-04-2002, 02:31 PM

I live in the Battle Gound unit and I do a lot of deer, duck, hunting. The Battle Ground unit is open for shotguns for deer, bear and cougar may be hunted with a 20 to 10 gauge shotgun and shooting slugs or #1 or larger buckshot, like 0, 00, 000, and 1 buckshot. You may use a Muzzleloader for deer, elk, bear and cougar but let me tell you that the people around here don't like there backyard elk being shot at.
Archery is open to deer, elk, bear and cougar too.

Tilla · 08-04-2002, 04:37 PM

Took a nice buck along the Cowlitz River a few years back with my "95 Chevy Z71 Pick up truck

Only cost about $1200 as I recall.

Dogfish · 08-04-2002, 05:49 PM

Lincoln unit, 501, either sex, lot of area, lots of deer.

Mtn Man · 08-08-2002, 06:18 PM

Last year I hunted with a muzzleloader in the Washougal unit for the early hunt and in West Klickitat and Coweeman for the late hunt. I have to recommend Klickitat before the snow falls, last year I ended up in about 3 ft of the white stuff :shocked:

The Coweeman unit is very good in the late unit and I saw LOTS of does in the Washougal unit in the early season. The Battleground unit has a lot of deer in it but is pretty hard to hunt unless you know someone and can get permission.

There is some good areas on the Battleground/ Washougal border, behind Hockinson, near the corrections center. This is mostly public land and you can easily hunt it, beware there can be many hunters because it is so close to Vancouver and open to everyone. :depressed:

If you are interested in early elk, the Yale unit is pretty good.