I'm in California right now visiting family, but I may be moving here if I can't find work back in WA. I'm down to about 3mo left of savings to live off of. From the looks of this depression (that Obama isn't getting us out of), I may not be around WA this season. Either way, I'll probably still be up there to bag a deer and an Elk during Archery season, but not Modern. Hell, you can come down to Northern California and I'll take you hunting here. I spent a total of 18 years here in Nor Cal, with most of them spent hunting/fishing up in the hills. Saw about 12 Blacktail and 4 Gobblers the first day I got here last week! And a few deer, a wild Pig, and about 20 Turkey today. Do you know how hard it was NOT to fling an arrow at one of those Turkey or that Pig? They aren't even native animals but I have no license and don't think they are in season. When I was 12, ballsy, and stupid, their leftovers would be in the fridge right now. I miss being a kid sometimes haha.

Cougar are very hard to find. They end up finding you on accident. Ran into one when I was like 12 in California (Ok, ran AWAY from not into ha!), one when fishing in 2004/05, i heard two last year right nearby but there's a chance they were Bobcats, and one this year that didn't do so well. If you don't have dogs (which are illegal) to chase them down with, then you have to count on bad luck to bring one to you. I can probably put you into a Bear if we both have a good week to camp out in a few canyons on the Peninsula and in Skagit area. When I go on a hardcore Bear hunting outing, I like to hunt in teams. Usually three teams of 1-2 guys. Surround a big area and work inwards since Bear will spook easy and if they run away and you lose them, they will be heading toward one of the other teams.

Also, you can do the online course but it is only the written portion. You still need to have an instructor sign off that you have done the IN PERSON field safety course.

Outstanding. I was interested in Modern Firearm, as I don't have a muzzleloader nor bow to hunt with (though I'd like to get back into archery as I used to be half-decent at summer camps). Honestly, one of the game animals I wanted to take before I died was a cougar; mainly so I could have a good taxidermist mount it with a UofWA Huskies placard below it. Heck, I wouldn't mind just going out with you to try to pick up on helpful pointers, even if I wasn't hunting. I'll see what I can do about getting the Hunter's Ed. Class behind me... I may even just do the online one.

Ya, I'll take you. Are you planning on hunting Modern Firearm, Muzzleloader, or Archery? And which game animal are you interested in hunting? I bow hunt exclusively and the season does not overlap Modern Firearm for Deer but I'd take you out and bring my Bow & Gun for Bear/Cougar. Season is long closed for Deer and Bear. You need that hunter education class. Unless you were born before 1975 (I think that is the year) you need it, and it looks like you were born in 1981. There are a lot of classes starting now and if you wait too long you won't find anybody who has a class, and if you wait too long they will be packed full.

Hey there, would you be willing to take a newbie with you hunting? Never been before, yet have read up on the laws for a couple years now with the free guide they give out. I haven't taken the time to do the Hunter's Ed. yet because I wouldn't know where to go to hunt. If you're willing, let me know and I can PM you my contact info.