Anyone ever hunted in both Idaho and Washington state?

[TheGewehrGuy]

I live in Washington, and plan to move to Post Falls, ID in about 4-6 years once I am out of college.

Here in Washington, deer hunting honestly sucks...you are lucky to see a buck when you are hunting. In fact I went for an entire week this year and only saw 3 does the entire time, at the same time too. But I see people down in Texas and all around the U.S. having no trouble at all getting a deer every year.

Anyone find hunting better in general in Idaho over WA?

 

[FNA]

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Idaho is better. Friends of mine have lived in both states. They love the fact you can get tags for several species for around $100 total. Plus hounds (for bear) are allowed.

 

[T.R.]

I hunted near Kettle Falls, WA with my Uncle W.A. back in the early 80's. We each shot decent but not huge black tails on timber company lands. A few years later, we hunted black bear just north of Priest Lake, Idaho. Very rough and wild country. My Uncle shot a medium sized blacky about 300 lbs but I never fired a shot.

There are some pockets of good deer hunting east of Spokane near Green Bluff but due to human population of "transplanted urbanites", you should consider archery for its silence.

I never hunted the "breaks" of the Snake River but I heard that is where the big mulies hang out.

Now we live in SE Pennsylvania. Each Fall I hunt with crossbow or slug shotgun in Maryland and northern Virginia - abundant deer per square mile. I've never witnessed anything like this before: very few hunters and lots of semi-tame deer. In October hardwood trees drop their nuts. Deer are attracted to white oaks most of all. The hunting is fun and productive!

Good hunting to you.
TR

 

[K-Rod]

If your a hunter, Idaho is the place to be!! I live in Sandpoint & there's not a day that goes by I don't see at least 5 deer! I had a bull moose walk through my front yard & I live in town. Hunting here lasts months not weeks. Get your archery permit & you can hunt from the first of Sept to the end of Dec!!

 

[TheGewehrGuy]

Thats the thing, you live in town. Whenever we go into town while we are hunting (into Republic, WA), we see about 50 deer, all within city limits or in someone's yard...NEVER in the woods where they should be.

I swear, the deer know when its hunting season...
In WA state modern firearm season is less than 2 weeks I believe...then you get a late buck season for 4 days...If you can hunt from September to December in Idaho, I am moving there for sure. I'm not much of an Archer though lol.

I can't stand WA state anymore, too many liberals, terrible gun laws, high taxes, its constantly raining (on the west side).

 

[Gromky]

Whitetail season in Idaho is very long. And there are plenty of them, depending upon the area. If you're somewhere where there is a ton of land that has been closed to hunting, things may be difficult. Some places you can hook up with a farmer who can pretty much guarantee you at least a shot at a doe almost every day out. But that typically requires a friend or connection. Public land is ok, but there will be plenty of people road hunting everywhere.

 

[K-Rod]

In town we see a lot of game but most of the deer I've seen is out of town. I'm looking at the Idaho hunting regs right now & I'll list it for you un-lucky guys:

Archery only starts Aug 30th to Sept 30th any deer. Dec 10th to Dec 24 any deer.

Any weapon starts Oct 10th to Dec 1st Antlered only.

Any weapon Nov 1st to Dec 1st Anterless Whitetail only.

That's just my unit (N. Idaho). The coolest thing about Idaho over Washington is in WA you have to pick your weapon. In ID if you want to hunt archery or blackpowder you just pay extra for that permit. I hunt archery as well, so I pay an extra $18 for the permit & I can start hunting Aug 30th. If I for some reason haven't filled my tag by Sept 30th, I wait 10 days & hunt any weapon with rifle till Dec 1st. Now if I'm a real sucky hunter & haven't filled my tag by Dec 1st, I have 14 more days in Dec to hunt Archery!! As I said Idaho is the place to be if your an avid hunter. $175 will put you in a draw for a moose tag. If your not drawn, they give you $170 back. Most people I know get their tag by the second yr but I've talk to a lot that their tag was drawn the first yr. I think 5 tags are drawn for Bighorn sheep each yr as well.