WDFW Announcement : Help shape future hunting seasons at seven meetings

[Ray]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=aug1308a

Help shape future hunting seasons at seven meetings around the state


OLYMPIA – Hunters and other members of the public will have an opportunity to help shape future hunting seasons at a series of public “open house” meetings planned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) over the next few weeks.

Those meetings, scheduled in seven cities from Bellingham to Spokane Valley, are an important part of the process in developing hunting seasons and associated hunting regulations for 2009-11, said Dave Ware, WDFW game manager.

“We want to hear what people think about proposals currently under consideration, as well as others they may have to offer,” Ware said. “The “open house” format of these meetings will allow participants to speak directly to wildlife managers about the issues of greatest concern to them.”

WDFW will consider comments received at the meetings in developing a final set of recommendations for 2009-11 hunting seasons for adoption by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, he said.

The seven meetings are scheduled to run from 7-9 p.m. on the following dates in these cities:

Bellingham – Aug. 25, Broadway Hall, 1300 Broadway
Aberdeen – Aug. 26, Log Pavilion at Morrison Riverfront Park, 1401 Sargent Blvd.
Tacoma – Aug. 27, Landmark Convention Center, 47 Saint Helens Ave.
Vancouver, Wash. – Aug. 28, Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way
Wenatchee – Sept. 2, Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way
Spokane Valley – Sept. 3, Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center, North 1100 Sullivan Rd.
Pasco – Sept. 4, TRAC Center, 6600 Burden Blvd.
All seven of the meetings will focus on local hunting issues as well as statewide issues, such as non-toxic shot restrictions, shooting hours, muzzleloader seasons and possible changes to permit drawings. Many of those issues were included in an online opinion survey conducted through mid-July by WDFW to gauge public interest in various alternatives, Ware said.

“Results of the online survey were used to shape the various alternatives that will be available for comment at the upcoming meetings,” Ware said. “We want everyone interested in future hunting seasons to have an opportunity to comment before we move forward with any proposals.”

Additional information on the process for developing hunting seasons for 2009-11 is posted on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/index.htm.

 

[Dave Workman]

Well, just for the sake of starting a discussion, how about we:

a) Bag the 3-point restriction on mule deer bucks and extend the season another full week or just move it back two weeks? It is no doubt responsible for a lot of shot 2-pointers left in the woods by people who made a mistake, and that's a bigger hurt on the herd than opening up the opportunity. Biologically, bucks are excess baggage after the rut. Why not save more pregnant does and give hunters a genuine late season opportunity?

b) End the spike-only restriction on eastside elk and run that season another full week, and move it back a week? We're talking about more opportunity, and since elk hunter numbers appear to be down from 10-15 years ago, and the elk herds appear to be healthy, why not?  Biologically, bulls are excess baggage after the rut and as the winter comes on. Let's enjoy some genuine elk hunting opportunity.

c) Restore the northeast whitetail buck season to what it was when I was over at F&H News?  It ran for six full weeks and included seven full weekends. 

d) Restore game cops to the status of "Wildlife Agents" or "Game Wardens" and abolish this notion of "Fish and Wildlife POLICE."  These guys are fish and game cops, not DEA, not traffic cops.


Now, these are issues that have come to my attention the past couple of years from people who are devoted hunters, and who are convinced that they, and the rest of us, have been disenfranchised by the WDFW, which they painfully refer to as the "Department of NO Fish and NO Wildlife."

This ought to start the juices flowing. 

[Ray]

I think they should remove the restrictions on carrying a handgun while bow hunting. With the meth heads and organized drug cartels growing marijuana out there I believe that people are currently discourged (or otherwise majorly inconvenienced) from carrying to defend themselves in light of the regulation.

I don't have any problem with Game Cops. It's just a name to me.

It sure would be nice to be able to change my tag on a deer if I did not win a draw too.  I should be able to change that up to September 1st.

I don't believe in the non toxic shooting restrictions for rifles and pistols. However I do shoot copper and lead.

I would like to make sure the start of the fall W WA Bear season doesn't get changed in light of the recent incident on Sauk Mountain.

[MountainWalk]

I myself, am fine with the handgun restriction during bow season. Leave it as it is.

Also, I believe the last weekend of early elk archery should be open to cows for all westside units.

Keep ML rules as they are, but open up more units for the late season.

Allow during deer archery season the use of expandable/retractable broadheads. For deer only.

For spring bear, a few non permit units should be opened.

[Ridgerunner]

new survey on line as well.

[BC CHASER]

I think we should definatly be able to carry a pistol during archery.  I know we dont have a grizzly problem like other states but we do have a wacko and meth problem.  And we all know there are some a$$#ole hunters out there that will steal you game and do carry.  I am not going to try to shoot a deer at 40 yards with my s&w 40.

[billythekidrock]

I think we should definatly be able to carry a pistol during archery.  I know we dont have a grizzly problem like other states but we do have a wacko and meth problem.  And we all know there are some a$$#ole hunters out there that will steal you game and do carry.  I am not going to try to shoot a deer at 40 yards with my s&w 40.

You may not try to shoot a deer with a handgun while archery hunting, but there are guys that will. I do agree with being able to carry while archery hunting if licensed to conceal.

[hunterbuilder]

I agree that we should be able to change weapons of deer/elk tags if you don't draw your special permit. Even charge a small fee if you have to for processing and printing the new tag. I also agree that you should be allowed to carry a handgun during archery season. I would back up the proposal even if it only applied to concealed permit holders.

[Ray]

I agree that we should be able to change weapons of deer/elk tags if you don't draw your special permit.

That is actually distinctly different from my suggestion. I only would like to see change on the deer because it is a statewide tag.

[Timberlineduke]

How about giving us back the late deer hunt for modern firearms in November......I mean all the same units that are open during the general season.....statewide!

[Bscman]

You may not try to shoot a deer with a handgun while archery hunting, but there are guys that will. I do agree with being able to carry while archery hunting if licensed to conceal.

100% in agreement with this.
Too many grow operation, meth labs, and "unstable" hermits out there...not to mention car theifs/prowlers you may come back to find at your rig or big, hungry cats during the late hunt...

I don't think it's right that Washington's hunting laws keep us from being able to excersize our right to self defense simply because we choose to carry a bow with us...
All the while these same laws permit those who are hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, and/or horseback riding to carry a sidearm for any reason at all--simply because they are outdoors.

So simply because I'm an archery hunter I'm not allowed to carry protection?...but any other joe-blow in the woods can? Even if they aren't hunting? ...And any rifle hunter can carry as many weapons they want while they are hunting?

To add to this, I can understand the opinion of many who believe seeing archery hunters with exposed side-arms will "ruin" the sport or appearance of archery hunting in general...a concealed carry permit clause will satisfy BOTH parties, IMHO.

Allowing archery hunters to carry concealed will not increase poaching to any degree.
Those who poach don't care about seasons, appropriate weapons, or laws as-is. The smart poachers (if there is such a thing) realize pistols and rifles are too loud to discreetly poach, anyway...so they will use a bow.

To think that thousands of archery hunters LIVES and RIGHTS to self-protection is less important than the (unlikely) possiblity of a small increase in poaching is assinine.

-----ALSO-----

I'd like to see a change in the rules for legal weapons for cougar hunting.

As an archery hunter for both deer and cougar, I am required to hunt cougar with archery gear during an open archery deer season....so for all of september, then from thanksgiving to the end of the year I cannot hunt cougar with a rifle--whether I am deer hunting or not!

It's difficult enough to have a successful cougar hunt without dogs, but being forced to use a bow as well? Nearly impossible for a guy like me!

I understand the laws regarding carrying a rifle while archery hunting (illegal!)...they make sense. However, I can't understand why I can't hunt cougar with a modern firearm when I am NOT deer hunting, or after my deer tag has been filled.

If I get my deer Sept. 1, I still cannot hunt cougar with a rifle for half of the season--for absolutely no reason!
However, I can hunt bear with a rifle, or go grouse hunting with a rifle/shotgun, or hunt rabbits or bobcat with a rifle... it's only illegal to hunt cougar with a rifle during an open archery season, simply because I bought an archery deer tag. Pathetic!

I do not agree with this rule, and it needs to be changed!

[BC CHASER]

Yeah that is BS about the equipment deal.  I was going to say you are reading it wrong but I just read it and it says just that.

[Machias]

It should make absolutely NO difference to YOU on YOUR hunt if I carry a sidearm on my hunt.  If YOU don't want to carry, YOU  are not required to carry.  YOU should not be allowed to tell ME, I cannot carry a sidearm for my protection, whether it be against two legged critters or four legged critters.  If someone is going to violate game laws then they are already going to do it now.  Just because you holster a sidearm does not suddenly transform honest hunters into slobs.  There already folks in the woods during archery season carrying firearms legally, bear hunters, coyote hunters, grouse hunters etc.. so the, I will hear shots in the distance argument, doesn't fly either.  In 14 years of bowhunting in this state I think I have seen less then 10 other archers in the woods, if one had a sidearm strapped to his side, it wouldn't have made a single bit of difference to ME one way or the other.  A sidearm is nothing more then one more piece of survival gear.  You shouldn't head out without matches, water purification, knife, etc.. and you should have the OPTION of carrying a sidearm.  Saying bowhunters should not be allowed to carry a sidearm is no different then saying handguns should be banned in D.C. or you can keep them in your house unloaded, same metality IMO. Give me one Legit reason why it is legal for me to carry a sidearm in Idaho, but not here in WA?  One legit reason please.

[Bscman]

Yeah that is BS about the equipment deal.  I was going to say you are reading it wrong but I just read it and it says just that.

Worth noting it's only in certain counties/GMU's as well...
but B.S. none-the-less.

While I'm back and responding...
It'd be nice to see the Centerfire/Rimfire ban dropped in GMU 407 west of I-5.
The only reason I say this is because my *future* inlaws own a couple hundred acres on Fir Island that is littered with 'yotes and rabbits. It'd be nice to be able to use the newer frangible 17HMR and 22WMR rounds for these critters...it's tough getting some of these dogs within shotgun/bow distance.
The reduced risk of ricochet with these rounds, and the very low level of terminal enegery is every bit as safe as hevi-shot "dead-coyote" IMHO.

[Gobble]

It should make absolutely NO difference to YOU on YOUR hunt if I carry a sidearm on my hunt.  If YOU don't want to carry, YOU  are not required to carry.  YOU should not be allowed to tell ME, I cannot carry a sidearm for my protection, whether it be against two legged critters or four legged critters.  If someone is going to violate game laws then they are already going to do it now.  Just because you holster a sidearm does not suddenly transform honest hunters into slobs.  There already folks in the woods during archery season carrying firearms legally, bear hunters, coyote hunters, grouse hunters etc.. so the, I will hear shots in the distance argument, doesn't fly either.  In 14 years of bowhunting in this state I think I have seen less then 10 other archers in the woods, if one had a sidearm strapped to his side, it wouldn't have made a single bit of difference to ME one way or the other.  A sidearm is nothing more then one more piece of survival gear.  You shouldn't head out without matches, water purification, knife, etc.. and you should have the OPTION of carrying a sidearm.  Saying bowhunters should not be allowed to carry a sidearm is no different then saying handguns should be banned in D.C. or you can keep them in your house unloaded, same metality IMO. Give me one Legit reason why it is legal for me to carry a sidearm in Idaho, but not here in WA?  One legit reason please.

 

Couldn't agree with you more