Eastern WA is a 3pt minimum for bucks on the general OTC tag, so it's not a controlled tag. But verify in the regulations which units are open for the general season. WA has far more hunters than OR so expect company. Hunting-Washington.com is the WA forum and is a great forum with 1000x the usage of this one. Get to know folks on there well. I'm on there alot (different handle) as I lived in WA the prior 7 years before moving back to Oregon last summer (where I lived for 4 decades prior).

The controlled tags for eastern WA are premium tags, most of them rut hunts with a rifle. Although there are some good controlled archery rut hunts too. WA is a bonus point state instead of a preference point state like Oregon, so you can have 40 years of points and still not draw a tag. They square your number of points and put that many of your names in the hat....so if you have 20 points you get 400 chances....but WA has lots of residents so that is 400 chances out of millions of entries (large quantity of high point holders in WA).

WA application deadline is same as Oregon's, 5/15, typically but they extended it a few days the past two years due to COVID. But you missed it already for this year, so OTC tags are your only option. Best part of WA is you get a chance at moose....it's a tiny chance, but it's still a chance.....

The WA general season tag also let's you hunt the additional season of the "high buck hunt" in the specified wilderness areas in September. So you can hunt your general tag for both seasons. WA also has a "multi-season" tag that you apply for in January/February, that allows you to hunt all weapons general seasons....so you could hunt deer or elk during archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons....3 months of hunting. The multi-season tag also gives better options going into the May 15 draw in terms of where you can apply (especially elk, as in WA you have to specify weapon and east or west when buying your license/tag and those are the only units you can apply for in the controlled drawing....with a multi-season tag you can apply to any unit in the state with any weapon).

Will PM suggested eastern buck areas.....

 

Eastern WA is a 3pt minimum for bucks on the general OTC tag, so it's not a controlled tag. But verify in the regulations which units are open for the general season. WA has far more hunters than OR so expect company. Hunting-Washington.com is the WA forum and is a great forum with 1000x the usage of this one. Get to know folks on there well. I'm on there alot (different handle) as I lived in WA the prior 7 years before moving back to Oregon last summer (where I lived for 4 decades prior).

The controlled tags for eastern WA are premium tags, most of them rut hunts with a rifle. Although there are some good controlled archery rut hunts too. WA is a bonus point state instead of a preference point state like Oregon, so you can have 40 years of points and still not draw a tag. They square your number of points and put that many of your names in the hat....so if you have 20 points you get 400 chances....but WA has lots of residents so that is 400 chances out of millions of entries (large quantity of high point holders in WA).

WA application deadline is same as Oregon's, 5/15, typically but they extended it a few days the past two years due to COVID. But you missed it already for this year, so OTC tags are your only option. Best part of WA is you get a chance at moose....it's a tiny chance, but it's still a chance.....

The WA general season tag also let's you hunt the additional season of the "high buck hunt" in the specified wilderness areas in September. So you can hunt your general tag for both seasons. WA also has a "multi-season" tag that you apply for in January/February, that allows you to hunt all weapons general seasons....so you could hunt deer or elk during archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons....3 months of hunting. The multi-season tag also gives better options going into the May 15 draw in terms of where you can apply (especially elk, as in WA you have to specify weapon and east or west when buying your license/tag and those are the only units you can apply for in the controlled drawing....with a multi-season tag you can apply to any unit in the state with any weapon).

Will PM suggested eastern buck areas.....

Hey friend,
Thanks for the outstanding information and time it took to write me. You are a rare breed, but then again, I have always found hunters to be so awesome. I will anxiously await your PM. I am 73 now, so it will be my wife and I, shes 67, out there, so I am pretty limited to lots of walking or hill climbing. But, I just love it, the outdoors, and the anticipation of the hunt. Thanks again,

Eastern Washington And Oregon vary greatly in the amount of public land. The vast majority of open sage and grassland is private or restricted, Oregon has a great deal of BLM that Washington doesn’t. The areas you can gain access to through WDFW programs are very crowded with few animals. Washington has a similar percentage of hunters as Oregon but twice the population. The access is in the national forests and wilderness areas, including north cascade east slopes, blue mountains and Selkirks. Plan to get packed in or do some hiking and set camp. I have hunted both states on east side. Washington has more deer even after bad due off in white tails from blue tongue, but Oregon better access and far better quality of bucks. The closing of most private forestland in western Washington has just made it worse on east side, last 3 years have been the worst I have seen. I know it is not encouraging, but it is an accurate representation. If you can somehow find access to private land it can be consistent hunts, but farmers are less and less willing as they are pestered constantly. OnX will give you a lot of information, my family that are wheat farmers and they hate OnX. It brings people to their doorsteps and too many act like having an app should equate to access. If you get to know people in a small town where you potentially want to hunt in 5 to 10 years you can build relationships and start getting access. Good luck.

Hey there,
Thanks very much for taking the time to write me. I am 73 now, wife 67, but we just love being outdoors and the anticipation of a good hunt. I cant get around like I use to but still love it. I really do appreciate your suggestions.

 

Eastern Washington And Oregon vary greatly in the amount of public land. The vast majority of open sage and grassland is private or restricted, Oregon has a great deal of BLM that Washington doesn’t. The areas you can gain access to through WDFW programs are very crowded with few animals. Washington has a similar percentage of hunters as Oregon but twice the population. The access is in the national forests and wilderness areas, including north cascade east slopes, blue mountains and Selkirks. Plan to get packed in or do some hiking and set camp. I have hunted both states on east side. Washington has more deer even after bad due off in white tails from blue tongue, but Oregon better access and far better quality of bucks. The closing of most private forestland in western Washington has just made it worse on east side, last 3 years have been the worst I have seen. I know it is not encouraging, but it is an accurate representation. If you can somehow find access to private land it can be consistent hunts, but farmers are less and less willing as they are pestered constantly. OnX will give you a lot of information, my family that are wheat farmers and they hate OnX. It brings people to their doorsteps and too many act like having an app should equate to access. If you get to know people in a small town where you potentially want to hunt in 5 to 10 years you can build relationships and start getting access. Good luck.

 

My experience parallels the 2 previous posters. I lived in WA from 2003 - 2015 after growing up in OR. I'm happy to be back. I posted on HuntWashington with the same user name. I did a detailed write up there comparing Oregon public land opportunity to Washington. I found that the lack of large tracts of BLM in WA made for few opportunities for a remote open country hunt. All of the state game areas just crawl with hunters, and 3 pt bucks are hard to find. I did enjoy whitetail hunting on private lands that allowed for access; this was the only bright spot in my opinion. One can backpack hunt in the wilderness areas for big mulies, but you'd be much better off doing that in Colorado.

 

Hi there,
Thankyou very much for writing me. I will visit your suggested site and check it out. Thanks. Love hunting, just getting outdoors in the fall is amazing. Even though 73 now, I will enjoy it as much if I dont get a deer as if I do. It is the anticipation and thrill of the hunt that is in my blood I guess. Thanks again.

 

Most of the people I know hunt National Forest or State Forest land in WA if they hunt in WA. I think the reason why WA doesn’t have a drawing for general deer is because there aren’t any deer. … joking … seriously though, I don’t think WDFW manages wildlife other than Trout and put and take Pheasant. I’m not there now, but I was over 25 years. During the time, hunting and fishing just got worse. But, you probably didn’t move to WA for the excellent hunting.

 

Hi there
Thanks very much for responding to me. It doesn't sound real promising, but I just love the hunt.

 

I was not aware of your age. That changes hinge a little. Washington does have senior special tags and harvest allowances, usually for anterless deer and some cow elk. This opens up some areas of public land to you where buck numbers are low. Some of this is open ground and easier hunting. Check the special hunts in the refs and plan for next year. They may also be done general tag opportunities for senior hunters, I don’t watch them as close for a few more years at least. Good luck.

 

Eastern WA, and OR are drastically different. In addition, Eastern WA has VERY different regions within (Some areas have Benchleg hybrids ( mulie/black tail), some Mule deer and others Whitetail.
There are A LOT more people, most areas have fewer animals. You definitely want to apply for limited tag areas.
What specific region are you considering hunting?

 

Well, seriously I need to hunt in areas that are less hilly, as I am 73 and not as agile as I used to be LOL It's funny, but I no longer absolutely need to harvest a deer, but rather its the love of the hunt I seek. Skunked? Ok, but I tried. Thanks for writing.

 

I would go to the sporting goods store or get on line and buy an Okanogan national forest map. Then I would start driving all of the main line forest service roads till I found what type of ground I want to hunt. The area around Concunally reservoir north to Blue lake and toward Chopaka is all nice stuff.
I would go do this in early September, bring a .22 or 20 gauge for blue grouse.
you won’t regret it!

 

There are a lot of deer out here in Easter Washington both Mulies and Whitetail but there is not a lot of public lands in some areas. Eastern Washington is a big area and very diverse landscape and we could give you a little better advice if we knew which area you want to hunt. SE Washington is a very different than NE washington. Fish and game does publish a list of private propeties that landowner have opend for public hunting access. There a lot of area open for the general modern firearm deer season but the season is short and the deer get a lot of pressure during the short period of time.

I drew a Mayview ( SE WA) early Muzzleloader doe tag this year. So I shouldnt be dealing with crowds or pressured deer at that time.

 

Hi fellas,
I am a newer resident to Washington having lived in Oregon most of my life. We use to hunt the Eastside in Oregon, usually East of Prineville. Loved the open country over there. Now that I am a Washington resident I am looking for similar type country to hunt in. Can yall give me some suggestions on where there is some open spaces to hunt in? Also, I called the WDFW and she told me I do not have to apply for a general season buck tag to hunt over there for bucks like you do in Oregon. Is that true? Seems like she knew what she was talking about but seems questionable.
Sure would appreciate your input.
Thanks
Salmonking

Unless you are hunting private property, hunting public land with a rifle is a tough gig. It's like fishing without catching, however even if you know what you are doing, the chances of success is ridiculously low. It is so hard to find a legal 3 point buck, and you really have to watch as there are big two pointers that mean you need to check those horns again & again.

If you want to deer hunt. I'd look for areas in this triangle between Spokane, Walla Walla & Clarkston WA. Making sure you look at both sides of Highway 12 in Pomeroy/Dayton area. The feel free to hunt land is not much, however the pressure is lighter. The chances are thin, however it's beautiful country and you never know till you go.

 

The original post was hinting at hunting areas like what he used to hunt, east of Prineville. That country is high pine forests with ponderosa, lodgepole, and Doug fir, white fir up high.
that why I suggested Okanogan national forest.
another suggestion would be hunting the republic area. From Tonasket to Republic.
nice mix of high pine and fir forests.
Yes hunting is tough but he didn’t ask for easy.
sometimes it’s the nostalgia that means most. Not success or game seen.
Welcome to WA and I hope you have a successful hunting season.