Future of Washington Hunting Season's

[Colville]

Antler, can you post some WDFW data about the units you feel are significantly below plan? Lots of people have anecdotal evidence about what they see, but I'm not aware of a major population decline problem in our Mule deer. That's why I don't see any dramatic draw only solution being called for. If I'm wrong about that it won't be the first time, but I've not seen a link or a study to that end posted yet.

Some Octobers we get early weather and hunters really kick em in the balls and it takes a couple years to get right, but the overall population not just the huntable 3 pt or better pop remains intact.

[Dman]

 I'll give you a good example. On Federally managed lands on the YTC, there is no general season, draw only and a good harvest of mature bucks, over 50%. Right accross the street, in the Quilomene, the State has steadily reduced tags for years, for various reason's. Again, no general season, but in my conversation with the WDFW game manager for that area two year's ago, he said "I have not seen a mature buck in post season counts my entire 15 years managing this unit". Case in point, if the YTC tags can remain steady in number, so then could the Quilomene tags. My question here was exactly that, a question, I knew there would be input to my 'proposal', that was the point. I was interested in seeing what type of response a primarily draw-oriented system would have, as we are headed that direction anyway and from what I've seen given the case above, we need to put less pressure on our deer as it is right now. Unless the State starts putting more emphasis on land preservation than land development, we are headed toward's 100% limited draw opportunity on our already stressed out hunting land's. I don't mean to sound like WDFW doesn't do a good job, when I say "State", I am primarily referring to our elected official's outside the DFW. 

[Moosehunt]

Land preservation has it's problems if the state is given ownership and/or management control.  The tribes......I sat in a meeting with some local/national conservation groups - a one-on-one (maybe 15 of us) - with Dr. Koenigs.  He had some very interesting things to say with regards to the land piece.  DNR is making deals with local tribes and is doing it without consultation with WDFW.  Two different state agencies....two different agendas.  Need to keep as much land in private ownership as possible....including the tree companies.  Land swaps can be hazardous to our game populations as well......take one overhunted piece, give it to the lumber companies and trade it for another with a healthy population.....biggest example to your point about the draw hunt scenario.....Nooksack Elk herd....24 permits available.....6rifle, 3muzzle, 3archery, 12 for the tribes.....

[sisu]

The draw system seems fair to me the way it is but then I'm not a rocket scientist.
 
What bothers me more is the lack of public lands in Washington compared to Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming and maybe a few other western states. Near me it seems the state has been selling of thousands of acres to a company called Clearwater Development. They'd had public meeting over it but going to the meetings were a waste of time as the land deal had been made prior to the meeting and discussions. What good is a meeting over the sale of public lands if the PEOPLE don't have a say in it? The best part of all this is that the state pits one outdoor group against another. For instance the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (I believe that is what it's called) supported the sale of our lands near us to get some land else where in the state. End result I can't hunt near my house any longer the land is gone, no one is making any more either.

You can change the draws all you want but if you're losing land to hunt on where are you going to go?

[Dman]

The draw system seems fair to me the way it is but then I'm not a rocket scientist.
 
What bothers me more is the lack of public lands in Washington compared to Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming and maybe a few other western states. Near me it seems the state has been selling of thousands of acres to a company called Clearwater Development. They'd had public meeting over it but going to the meetings were a waste of time as the land deal had been made prior to the meeting and discussions. What good is a meeting over the sale of public lands if the PEOPLE don't have a say in it? The best part of all this is that the state pits one outdoor group against another. For instance the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (I believe that is what it's called) supported the sale of our lands near us to get some land else where in the state. End result I can't hunt near my house any longer the land is gone, no one is making any more either.

You can change the draws all you want but if you're losing land to hunt on where are you going to go?

 I AGREE! That's why my next GOV letter is going to address overcrowding and shrinking lands in Wa..

[edmondshunter]

 What if the state made multiple changes in the system to take off some of the pressure.  For instance, limiting tag numbers per gmu so areas dont get as over run.  That method seems to work for permits, why not for a specific gmu.
  Say you wanted to hunt the 460gmu, declare that at the time of tag purchase and hope you get the "privilege" to hunt that gmu.  Maybe the state could open an area like Tiger Mnt. State park for 1 week to hunters and by the same fashion, use a first come, first serve method.   
 Some states limit legal shooting light to dawn and dusk.  We lucked out to get the extra hour of legal shooting light. Maybe that change would help get buck numbers and up.  Anyway just my 2 cents.
 I like it the way it is, but change isnt always bad. Think about our kids rights and what we do  can either help or hinder both generations.

[bornforhorns]

Can somebody please show me some hard evidence that are mule deer herds are in trouble? 
Your opinions mean "squat", if my opinion mattered I would say since 1991 (16 years) The hunting has only gotten better and during the general season I have seen a 175+ mule deer every year.  I get to hunt about 5 of those days if I'm lucky.  I'm talking Central Washington in general.  If other parts of the state are hurting...ie: Yakima or the Blues than maybe management strategies that are different can be put in place.  They use to have a 2 pt. limit when the rest of the state had nothing.
3 pt. or better has definitely helped, shorter seasons have definitely helped, no need for draw only at this point.  Why are some you so again'st the current plan is my question?  Are you not seeing deer?  Are you not finding bucks?  In order to kill big deer...you got to go where there are big deer...they are definitely here!!!  Are they running all over hell...geezus no!  This isn't Wyoming where there's more deer than people.  Hunt 5000 ft. and above in October...hint...the CASCADES (you know the big mountain range in the middle of our state)...glass, glass, glass and than do some more glassing and you just MIGHT be rewarded.  That to me is a hell of a lot bigger accomplishment than killing one in the desert or foothills of Wyoming. 

Hunting Muleys in the high Cascades rivals any hunt in my book.  How about some of you Outfitters that have been doing this for years...Icicle?  What are your opinions?  If I'm wrong so be it.  I don't claim to be David Long or Cameron Haynes but give me a pair of decent binos. and I will find a nice deer.

For the record...I am not a muzzleloader, but if anybody is getting the shaft...I agree it's you.  But, even than there are a couple really quality hunts out there...one I might try this year since I was drawn for the multi. season.

Finally, I must say that I respect everybody's opinion on here even though it doesn't sound like it.  I'm just glad I'm not discussing it with somebody from Utah or Montana...that's why I love this site.  Happy hunting everybody!  Hopefully I can notch a big Whitey here in a couple weeks or a big muley with a bow if that doesn't happen.  God I love this state.