Thoughts On Oregon & Washington As Hunting States

[NCWshooter]

I am thinking of moving West and finally got my wife on board. She wants to be somewhat close to the ocean (within 5 hours drive) so we agreed that Oregon or Washington would do (we wouldn't live in California). Unfortunately we have to be within 25 minutes drive of a JW Kingdom Hall as my wife is Jehovah Witness, but I think I can get that to work. Which state of the two has the best hunting culture? Which state has the most obtainable tags as a non-resident? Which state has the longest hunting seasons for rifle? I archery hunt as well, but rifle hunting is my passion. I know this is an elk hunting thread, but I am looking to hunt all big game with bolt action rifles (not AR's, not that I am opposed to that). Any crazy hunting laws I should be concerned of? I have really been looking around Bend, OR as it seems like a good mix of being close to high desert and dense Pacific North West forest. We love mountains and I also love to fish. Looking to cash out here on the East Coast and go all in on 40+ acres and a new home within the next couple years. Any suggestions, thoughts etc., would be appreciated. Thanks.

Idaho is having its own population explosion and predator problems but it fills all your goals but being 5 hours to the coast. I recall a comment in an outdoor magazine several years ago where the question was why didn't they cover much hunting in Washington state and the answer was even though a couple of members on their staff were from Washington they all felt it wasn't a big game hunting place to go. Regulations are long and seasons short with little chance to draw the better tags. Oregon might be the better place to hunt but with their new gun laws and attitude I wouldn't want to be there either. My wife refused to move to Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming because of grandkids, so I'm stuck. Fishing in both Oregon or Washington is pretty good though not what it once was either. Good Luck with your move!

 

[xsn10s]

The reality with interest rates so high it's getting tougher to move around. I thought of moving to the midwest. But there aren't many good long range opportunities there.

 

[NCWshooter]

Some parts of Idaho and Montana are rapidly taking a hard left turn! memtb

Yes they are and just like any other state that happens in any college town or larger city where they are more apt to be all the goods services those people seem to require. Not saying being close to groceries or medical facilities is not a good idea as I have gotten to the age where my heart isn't what it used to be.

 

[softtail103]

And bring a rain jacket...

I don't know how people live there without gills....

West side only. From the Cascade mountains east we are 4 season with hot summers. Not to mention it mostly rains in the morning.

 

[bsnyder]

I'd also keep an eye on idaho I can see it flipping in 10-15 years with the population explosion. What about Arizona? Any place there that's 5 hours from the coast?

 

[softtail103]

Been in Washington for almost 3 years I've seen a total of 75 elk. 50 of those were in a unit that takes 20 plus years to draw the other was a lone bull that I jumped while bear hunting. Coming from Colorado I travel back home to hunt because hunting here is tough. I don't mind shooting whitetail but seeing a mule deer over 4 years old is rare. Maybe it's different on private? Idk. The amount of bears and lions in wa is insane. Fishing is great. Hunting no. I leave in 17 days to go back home for an antelope hunt and I'm about to start counting the hours. If my job didn't take me here I wouldn't be staying. One of these days I will get further east to the promise land and die a happy man.

Colville National Forest has plenty of Elk. The Bule Mointains has plenty of Roosevelt Elk. The Cascade Mountains while rugged have plenty of Elk. You just have to work for it. The 20 year draw, where are you speaking of?

 

[softtail103]

I am thinking of moving West and finally got my wife on board. She wants to be somewhat close to the ocean (within 5 hours drive) so we agreed that Oregon or Washington would do (we wouldn't live in California). Unfortunately we have to be within 25 minutes drive of a JW Kingdom Hall as my wife is Jehovah Witness, but I think I can get that to work. Which state of the two has the best hunting culture? Which state has the most obtainable tags as a non-resident? Which state has the longest hunting seasons for rifle? I archery hunt as well, but rifle hunting is my passion. I know this is an elk hunting thread, but I am looking to hunt all big game with bolt action rifles (not AR's, not that I am opposed to that). Any crazy hunting laws I should be concerned of? I have really been looking around Bend, OR as it seems like a good mix of being close to high desert and dense Pacific North West forest. We love mountains and I also love to fish. Looking to cash out here on the East Coast and go all in on 40+ acres and a new home within the next couple years. Any suggestions, thoughts etc., would be appreciated. Thanks.

Eastern Washington has all you are looking for. Some of the best fishing you will find in this country. Hunting is very good. We have over 7 million acres of national forests. Millions of state and DNR land available.
Bear and Cougar are fair chase only. Bear season is 3.5 months long. Cougar is 5+ months. Forest grouse galore. Mule deer in cental Washington scab lands are huge.

 

[bsnyder]

Eastern Washington has all you are looking for. Some of the best fishing you will find in this country. Hunting is very good. We have over 7 million acres of national forests. Millions of state and DNR land available.
Bear and Cougar are fair chase only. Bear season is 3.5 months long. Cougar is 5+ months. Forest grouse galore. Mule deer in cental Washington scab lands are huge.

I'd love to see the huge mule deer from the scab lands. Have any pictures. The elk I speak of are from turnbull wildlife refuge. If there are plenty of elk why is the success rate less than 9 percent, there are otc areas in Colorado that run 33% heck the plains unit that is there is 7 percent with a 6 percent public land. My buddy has killed two elk out of there and I ran out of time on another or it would have been three. I will agree with you that the fishing is world class here. Ive experienced that. I heard on the pnw wild podcast they are voting next month to shut bear hunting down all together. Most of the mule deer I've seen killed here have been under 150 inches. And no more than a 3x4.

 

[bsnyder]

Eastern Washington has all you are looking for. Some of the best fishing you will find in this country. Hunting is very good. We have over 7 million acres of national forests. Millions of state and DNR land available.
Bear and Cougar are fair chase only. Bear season is 3.5 months long. Cougar is 5+ months. Forest grouse galore. Mule deer in cental Washington scab lands are huge.

Also a co worker drew a blues tag last year spent 28 days in the blues and ate the tag he saw 9 bulls and none of which were over 320. The blues used to produce 350 bulls all day long now? Not so much. Wolves and lions have taken over.

 

[softtail103]

I'd love to see the huge mule deer from the scab lands. Have any pictures. The elk I speak of are from turnbull wildlife refuge. If there are plenty of elk why is the success rate less than 9 percent, there are otc areas in Colorado that run 33% heck the plains unit that is there is 7 percent with a 6 percent public land. My buddy has killed two elk out of there and I ran out of time on another or it would have been three. I will agree with you that the fishing is world class here. Ive experienced that. I heard on the pnw wild podcast they are voting next month to shut bear hunting down all together. Most of the mule deer I've seen killed here have been under 150 inches. And no more than a 3x4.

How long have you been putting in for the Turnbull tag? I have gotten 2 in the last 8 years. It's based on points accrued. I get spring bear tags most years. Photos from last season. Hell even broken he was huge. Northeast corner of Wa state. And we worked for It. Not truck scouting. Miles in is where you find them. Look for motorized trails and get an electric bike.

 

[softtail103]

I'd love to see the huge mule deer from the scab lands. Have any pictures. The elk I speak of are from turnbull wildlife refuge. If there are plenty of elk why is the success rate less than 9 percent, there are otc areas in Colorado that run 33% heck the plains unit that is there is 7 percent with a 6 percent public land. My buddy has killed two elk out of there and I ran out of time on another or it would have been three. I will agree with you that the fishing is world class here. Ive experienced that. I heard on the pnw wild podcast they are voting next month to shut bear hunting down all together. Most of the mule deer I've seen killed here have been under 150 inches. And no more than a 3x4.

Been in Washington for almost 3 years I've seen a total of 75 elk. 50 of those were in a unit that takes 20 plus years to draw the other was a lone bull that I jumped while bear hunting. Coming from Colorado I travel back home to hunt because hunting here is tough. I don't mind shooting whitetail but seeing a mule deer over 4 years old is rare. Maybe it's different on private? Idk. The amount of bears and lions in wa is insane. Fishing is great. Hunting no. I leave in 17 days to go back home for an antelope hunt and I'm about to start counting the hours. If my job didn't take me here I wouldn't be staying. One of these days I will get further east to the promise land and die a happy man.

You've been putting in for 3 years and have yet to be drawn and you're bothered by that? More than 40 years of hunting in this state. For everyone else Turnbull is a wildlife refuge. It meant for enjoyment and educating the younger generations. It has many Elk. But a small handful of archery hunters get drawn every year. 3 years and you think you should be drawn ahead of the rest of the hunters? Follow the program and build your points. Maybe wait a few years to have a decent amount of points accrued then apply.

 

[bsnyder]

Biggest buck I've seen killed in this star. So I tip my hat. You're the only one I've heard getting a bull tag for turnbull every 8 years. Guy at work helped his uncle who it took him 23 years to draw a muzzloader tag. I need your draw skills for sure.

 

[softtail103]

Biggest buck I've seen killed in this star. So I tip my hat. You're the only one I've heard getting a bull tag for turnbull every 8 years. Guy at work helped his uncle who it took him 23 years to draw a muzzloader tag. I need your draw skills for sure.

1 bull 1 cow. Hunting there this weekend with a friend who has a cow tag. We have been scouting and have seen many big bulls and large cows. As for the wolves and Cougars, I have yet to see any wolves in Colville Nation Forest but the cats are plentiful. Do you buy a cougar tag also? Most of the cats are taken by someone hunting something else. We just happen to see them walk out of the trees while glassing for bear, elk and deer.

 

[bsnyder]

You've been putting in for 3 years and have yet to be drawn and you're bothered by that? More than 40 years of hunting in this state. For everyone else Turnbull is a wildlife refuge. It meant for enjoyment and educating the younger generations. It has many Elk. But a small handful of archery hunters get drawn every year. 3 years and you think you should be drawn ahead of the rest of the hunters? Follow the program and build your points. Maybe wait a few years to have a decent amount of points accrued then apply.

I never said I should be getting drawn. Nor do I think I should be. I learned to hunt in draw only places as otc was a pumpkin patch and not worth the time or effort.I'm does not bother me as there are far better western states to hunt to which the op asked for peoples input to which I gave. You're far better than the average for odds.

Elk Special Permits - Washington Hunting

HC This is a damage hunt administered by a WDFW designated Hunt Coordinator. Q Some private timberland owners in this hunt area are limiting access or charging fees for access. 25-29 Any bull GMUs 145, 178 1 84/15 2012 Peola C EF Oct. 25-29 Any bull GMUs 328, 329, 334 1 2501/15 2017 Colockum EF…

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