Future of Washington Hunting Season's

[littletoes]

I have a feeling Our State enjoys the revenue that is generated by the selling of licenses every year, and without this, there would have to be a lay off of State F & G employee's.

I think that is something that they have attempted to avoid....'ya think?

[Curly]

Thanks for clarifying, Bigshooter.  Now I definately know that I am in agreement with you.  Hopefully, someday the WDFW will make most of eastern Washington draw only and manage most units for trophy bucks.  (They just need to do what the biologists think is right and not try to manage based on what will keep most hunters from whining too loud.)

[bornforhorns]

I have been drawn for deer rifle, deer archery, elk archery twice, multi season twice and sheep once.  All were some of the best tags you can get in this state...I have not told many people until now because of the anger other hunters show towards those of us who have been drawn, by the way, I had max. pts. in all of those draws but one.  What is my point?  I for one think that going to any sort of draw only for mule deer is unneccessary, but I would oblige if they said you could not put in for a special permit for that species (ie: deer) for 5 years(or whatever it takes) following your draw, therefore reducing drastic numbers of applicants in those five years.  I was very much satisfied with my experiences and only wish that others could experience it.  In fact, I did not apply for another rifle special permit the following 3 years.  Now forget the soft tone...I think Washington is the best state in the U.S. to hunt for it's variety, opportunity, scenery, and if your willing to work...you just might be rewarded.  Nope, your not going to get to kill a big one from your truck in October but get off your butt and hike and you might, a lot better than our friends just south of us hunting 90 degree temps the first week of October.  LEAVE WASHINGTON ALONE AND THANK YOU WDFW...I FOR ONE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE...I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU PERSONALLY AND PLEASE KEEP IT UP.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I was once drawn for a doe tag that i didn't mean to put in for...

[jackelope]

 

[Palmer]

Over the years I've become less and less enthused on harvesting does.  Why reduce your population unless the habitat can't support them.  We have enough predators around these days to keep their numbers in check.  For example if you and a couple buddies kill three doe in an area then it is less likely that a trophy buck in full rut is going to search for a doe in estrus in your hunting area the following year.  Furthermore, there'd be 3 - 12 less deer in your area two years from now. 

I hunt whitetail near a doe bedding area every year and I count on the doe to bring in a big buck.  I call in at least one buck every year and I hear them grunting back at me as well.

[Palmer]

Does taste much better.... 

You're correct.

[Palmer]

I've heard many comments on the subject of one tag, one deer.  Some states allow 5 or more deer a year.   I think Florida allows 50 or more.  I support one for these reasons:
1) My wife would leave me if I could harvest more.  
2) When I watch deer hunting shows they talk of public lands in these states and how there are few if any 3 year old deer or older.  They all get harvested and there is very little chance of harvesting a trophy.  The films still have huge bucks but they are hunting some private ranch.  In Washington I believe the biggest are still yet to be had.  There are plenty for all especially if a hunter improves their skills and with a little luck.
3) There are other options; elk, bear, and fishing
4) When the deer pop is down where are all the predators going to go for food?  (your dog or cat maybe?)
5) My boss needs me to focus on work

[huntnphool]

I would like to see several of the units go to a 4 point restriction. I have been hunting deer for 37 years on the eastern side of the state. I have witnessed the "good ole days" and the present and have stood in wonder while our "Wildlife Experts" struggled to come up with the perfect solution. Although I am mostly disappointed with the way things currently are, I do like the way the bucks are looking since the 3 point rule was implemented. For most of my hunting life I have hunted the eastside 3 point areas, long before the entire eastside went to this rule, and even before certain units were slapped with this designation. It was instilled in me as a young man growing up, and has stuck with me to this day. My first buck was a 3x3 and I have never harvested a smaller one, and that's not to say I don't have my share on the wall.

 One of the things I noticed several years ago was the amount of spikes that I saw every day hunting in my areas. Back then there were a few units designated with the 3 point restriction on one side of the road, and "any buck" on the other. As a young man back then, I noticed how many more people hunted the "any buck" side of the road as opposed to the alternative. I also noticed that most of the bucks I saw in the back of pickups in town were 2 points and fork horns. This led me to believe that "most" of the hunters over there were only interested in "success", success being a relative term. When the entire east side went to a 3 point restriction I saw a huge increase in the amount of 2 point bucks and fork horns roaming around the hills, and I still do.

 Like a lot of you, I fill out the online questionares regarding our proposed rules and regs, wondering why the issues that I believe need addressing are never on their agenda. I asked them a few years back why they don't try a 4 point restriction in certain units, explaining to them what I have observed, and what I believed would happen to the amount of mature bucks. Their answer really confused me. They told me that "if they put a 4 point restriction in some units, then only mature bucks would be harvested". I told them that was the whole point. Sure most people wouldn't hunt those units, but at the same time a great deal of your 3 points would have opportunity to make it to 4 points, assuming the buck actually carried the 4 point genome, but that's an entirely different discussion. The point being, more 3 points would be able to mature. I believe we would start seeing more 3 points roaming the hills just as I saw the spikes increase to forks and 2 points with the 3 point restriction. Now before you go ripping my theory apart, remember I'm not talking about the entire eastern side of the state, just a few of the units, particularly the winter range units. Gardner, Perrigan, Entiat, etc.

 For those of us that are okay with not harvesting an animal every year, holding out for a "trophy" type buck, again "trophy" being a relative term, this would increase the amount of bigger deer we see.
I could go on with more examples, states that have done this, etc. but I fear your boredom setting in, not to mention the bandwidth..........................rf

[boneaddict]

I think I have a couple pics of some of your bucks in my files, you should let me put them on here, you guys would be impressed.  I have at least two of them I think.  At least I think they are yours.

[huntnphool]

Lets see them, I love seeing Washington bucks posted...............rf

[boneaddict]

If this isn't yours, let me know so I can zap it.


Obviosly sort of impressed as I have saved this picture and knew where it was at for several years.

[boneaddict]

and I think this was another....and don't you dare tell these guys where you got this either.

[huntnphool]

LMAO, where in the heck did you get those. Yes they are mine, that is my daughter with a buck that is #80 in the Washington book. Took that one out of Twisp a few years ago. 80 typicals ahead of it in the Washington book but only 3 have more mass, 6"+ bases. Just posted her with her first buck a couple days ago, under somone elses original post.

[Antlershed]

I've only skimmed through this thread, so I don't know everything that has been said...

I think WA should, and eventually will (sooner, rather than later), switch over to permit only hunts for all Mule deer. According to a buddy, the numbers have been dropping off since the steady increase in the Whitetail populations, and of course, winter kills that they never fully recovered from. Add that to Cougars and disease, and there is a bad situation for our Mule deer. I agree with the ones that said Blacktail and Whitetail could still maintain general seasons. I think the Elk situation is alright (can't really think of a better alternative). The points system WA uses is a complete joke. Why not switch to one similar to Oregon, even though it is more complex and most people don't understand it? I have 11 points on my Elk tag and have never drawn one. I have been putting in for either Margaret or Little Naches for 11 years. My dad has drawn Mod Firearm Toutle Bull with 3 points, Modern Firearm Margaret Bull with 3 points, and Margaret Bull Muzzleloader with 2 points. Those are all some pretty high desired permits, and he's drawn them with very few points.