Moving to Washington state, hunting and fishing expectations?

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

I'll be moving for work in the second half of the year. Curious what I should expect for hunting and fishing.

I know it's going to be a change from South Dakota with regards to hunting. I need to wade through the regs, but what's the overall situation? Is it reasonable to expect a big game hunt with rifle every year?


How about on the fishing side? I'll be in the Seattle area, so feels like a boat will be in the future at some point. What's the fishing like? Coming from Alaska I expect ocean fishing to be different. Shrimping and crabbing with some bottom fish? Occasional lesser salmon?


Please no negativity on the state choice. The decision has been made and now we start to figure out how to maximize the move.

 

[Fire_9]

Lots of hunting and fishing to be had. I would definitely focus more on the fishing though as you’ll be hunting in the jungle. Won’t have to worry about drawing a tag and can hunt every year.

 

[Matthew57]

Welcome to the state. I’m on the complete opposite side of the state as you which you’ll probably learn is completely different and feels like a separate state but as far as the regulations go, you should absolutely expect to get a rifle tag every year. You simply have to choose your weapon and in the case of elk you have to choose which side of the state you want to hunt on Western or Eastern side. But other than that, you can go down to the store and buy your tag over-the-counter, which is pretty awesome. It has its draw backs of course because you’ll have plenty of other hunters to deal with and a lower trophy class, but it’s nice having a tag in your pocket every year. A lot of people on the west side hunt black tails. There’s also some good grouse and bear hunting. It’s thick country but some timber company land that’s more open. On the east side we have mule deer and White tails mostly. Fishing is pretty great, a boat will really open up possibilities. My dad and I will do a trip over there every couple years for salmon and a variety of other species. Lots of Alpine Lakes to hike into and lowland lakes to explore on that side of the state as well. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

 

[BuzzH]

I would take advantage of opportunities you didn't have in SD, Columbia blacktail and Roosevelt elk. Think I would also focus on salmon and steelhead in the Rivers if I lived there.

I would also venture up into B.C. quite a bit as well for fishing.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Westport below Seattle is my favorite port to fish out of. Kings, Coho, rockfish, lings, tuna and crab. Lots of good charters to choose from and some of them really understand their business. I'm partial to the Hula Girl and The Slammer.

 

[thomas89]

Westport below Seattle is my favorite port to fish out of. Kings, Coho, rockfish, lings, tuna and crab. Lots of good charters to choose from and some of them really understand their business. I'm partial to the Hula Girl and The Slammer.

+1 on the Slammer. Really need to make another trip over there soon!

 

[Perlodid]

That's funny, I was just thinking about making a thread about moving to WA. I'm going to be moving to Okanogan county soon, so quite a bit different than Seattle but I will definitely be watching this thread as well.

 

[Salmonchaser]

You a Coastie? I spent 20 years, law enforcement, in the Seattle area. Been gone now for a long time so my data is old. I went from being a cop for 20 years to guiding out in Bristol Bay for 20 years. I agree with Chukarman, West Port 20 years ago and today is probably your best bet. The Olympic Peninsula for steelhead. I use to run my sled on the Skagit, Snohomish and Cowlitz and other Washington rivers. Finally sent it to Alaska before I retired the fishing had fallen off that bad.
I did fair on elk in Washington, but it’s been almost 20 years since I lived in the state. Deer was pretty good, mostly hunted mule deer by preference but there are a lot of blacktails and good access on Timber company ground. My favorite hunts were the high country wilderness areas, east slope of the Cascades.
The Columbia, particularly in Eastern Wa. Can produce some great Walleye fishing. Most of the guys I knew who are still up there spend more time fishing them than fishing for steelhead.
Chukar hunting can be good along the breaks of the Columbia and the Snake.
Good luck.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Great info so far! Not going to lie, you've gotten me more excited about the move. I've been worried about opportunities out there, but sounds like that won't be a problem.


For the folks hunting out on the western side, is it a lot of rainforest with limited visibility? Mainly just sitting waiting for something to cross your path? That's how we used to successfully hunt blacktail in Alaska for the most part.

 

[kwyeewyk]

Lots of good advice so far, competition for deer and elk, and some places salmon, can be fierce, but you can usually find some less crowded areas and some success, trophy type hunts are pretty limited, but plenty of options and opportunity otherwise. The variety of landscapes, terrain, geology, vegetation types in Washington is hard to match.

That's funny, I was just thinking about making a thread about moving to WA. I'm going to be moving to Okanogan county soon, so quite a bit different than Seattle but I will definitely be watching this thread as well.

I grew up in Okanogan County, it's a great area, lots of cool low key spots and some interesting people to say the least.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Have any MSRs or 10+ round magazines you want to unload cheap before the move?

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Have any MSRs or 10+ round magazines you want to unload cheap before the move?

Nope, never been into them

 

[texwest44]

The grouse in western WA are massive. First time I saw one I thought it was a turkey.

The trout is fishing is pretty mediocre in western WA. I did most of my freshwater fishing east of the divide. The salmon fishing varies from year to year. I do miss fishing for pinks down on the beach in west Seattle.

Blacktail hunting is pretty challenging, but they're really cool deer. There's no deer hunting experience like alpine blacktail hunting, honestly.

Plenty of bears. Shoot a bear.

 

[marshman]

Great info so far! Not going to lie, you've gotten me more excited about the move. I've been worried about opportunities out there, but sounds like that won't be a problem.


For the folks hunting out on the western side, is it a lot of rainforest with limited visibility? Mainly just sitting waiting for something to cross your path? That's how we used to successfully hunt blacktail in Alaska for the most part.

A lot of spot on information so far. Washington is really like 2 states. The eastern portion arid with terrain that varies from desert sage to forested mountains. Columbia and Snake river breaks with Sheep, Mule deer and Chucker's. Blue and Cascade Mountains hold Rocky Mountain Elk. Even good populations of Whitetail in the Okanogan. Decent amounts of public land to hunt. A lot of private farm land in the Columbia basin.
Western Washington is dense for sure, clearcuts and still hunting, but a lot of private timberland that needs a permit. Not so good. But if ambitious there is opportunity. Waterfowl hunting is very good on both sides of the state.
The water is your public land on the west side of the state and there is a lot. Not only the Ocean and Puget Sound, the Columbia River too.
Fishing can be outstanding at times now ocean conditions have improved for some runs particularly in the Columbia and ocean fisheries. Crabbing to top notch on the coast as is Razor clamming. You will find things to do and learn a whole bunch of new things for sure.
The biggest issue at times can be human pressures. About 7 million people are here now and a lot of 'em like to recreate outdoors.

 

[Straight Arrow]

The water is your public land on the west side of the state and there is a lot. Not only the Ocean and Puget Sound, the Columbia River too.

Don't forget Hood Canal. There were oysters aplenty, ready for gathering back in the day, but don't know about now. But it's a great recreational waterway.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

I grew up hunting the plains. I've kind of lived all over.

The two places I've struggled with the most to figure big game hunting out in are new england (where I'm at now), and the coastal North West. You're not me though. The fishing will be great. My dad went and visited my brother out near where you're at and they went after white sturgeon. After getting a little one he says he's ruined for life on "normal" (for him) fishing. I've been trying to get him to come out and go after some tuna.

 

[Hem]

Amazing fishing opportunity. Saltwater, freshwater.
You can follow the parade to Montana for hunting.

 

[Letthemgrow]

as is Razor clamming

There are no more razor clams.
They all died.
The end.

 

[maconbacon]

Welcome. Everyone above has hit the nail on the head. There are many issues with hunting in WA, but opportunity is definitely not one of them.

I’ve only been here a year and fished salmon, caught dungies and red rock crab, hunted deer, elk, bear, and turkey (not all successfully lol). There is 10x more opportunity here than where I came from (Texas).
There is a spot prawn season locally in the sound but it’s only a half day in June and I was working, but boy was the sound full of boats!

 

[kwyeewyk]

Amazing fishing opportunity. Saltwater, freshwater.
You can follow the parade to Montana for hunting.

I have my 3rd MT elk tag in 4 years, but I can't understand why people pay NR prices for Montana mule deer, at least for public land hunting. I'd rather hunt Washington for cheap, and at least the dinks have to be 3 points!