Elk going to waste in TRUE spike areas

[Jonathan_S]

My wife's uncle has a camp in 328 with @ 12 guys.... He came back Tuesday for work and informed me their group found 4 dead... 3 1x2, 1 1x3... He said all would be really hard to tell even with really good glass and some time to glass in the open... Just really small points that were barely legal or questionable.... I will not hunt in a true spike area....

Sounds like a lot of people don't know what the heck they're doing.  If I shot a 1x2, I would turn myself in and pay $80

It's a bum deal but it's better than a tarnished image and 250 lbs of steaks left to rot in the woods.

[Curly]

The True spike area really should go to permit only, but hunters whine and complain when that is brought up so they came up with the stupid true spike idea.  Hopefully there will be enough complaints about true spike that they go to permit only.......

[sled]

I have been hunting with my father and son in the colockum and have found 5 dead 1x2 and 1 cow. Some of the 1x2 i don't see how people cant see the forks. Some of them are 4in forks. I also found one that was a 3x2. It was still kicking on the ground. I hate to see it. People just need to make sure what it is before they shoot. IF YOUR NOT SURE LET IT GO!!!! THERE ARE A LOT OF STUPID HUNTERS UP THERE JUST SHOOTING ELK AND THEN GOING TO SEE WHAT IT IS AND THEN WALKING AWAY IF IT HAS FORKS.     I dont like the fact that if you shoot a 1x2 in these areas and turn yourself in you only get an $80 ticket and a notched tag. They need to hammer these people just as if they were poaching!!!  If you don't like the TRUE SPIKE restriction DONT HUNT THERE!!!!

[coachcw]

true spike rule is total bs ! should be brow tine bulls or not that simple .

[saylean]

Its tough to ensure a true spike even during archery season. Rifle hunting the true spike area, I am sure there are tons that are wasted.

The true spike rule is a crock of Bs.

[Rooster1981]

True Spike is a terrible rule, and was made  that way for one reason. It is entrapment for the sole reason to make money. For guys like me age 31 that have hunted 329 for 18 years and my family that have been hunting in 329 since the sixties, we have seen many changes in this area. When it changed to spike only we saw tones of 2x2's left for dead over the years. My camp was very critical about identification and we shot many 1x2s over the years until the True spike rule change. I boycotted the unit in 09 and returned in 10 to harvest a true spike. In 2011 I made my first critical error as a hunter & hopefully my last. I shot a 1x2 and turned my self in. The game warden couldn't have been nicer, and told me these things happen and its not that big of a deal. He checked out my rifle went to the kill site took my tag we drug the bull about 1/4 to the wardens truck and loaded it whole. I was written a 80.00 ticket and went on my way . I thought They were going to throw the book at me and I couldn't believe how easily I got off. But as a result nearly fifty years of hunting tradition came to a end with my mistake and my family will never hunt up there again, or as long as  true spike remains.

[turbo]

Same argument for 3pt or better with deer. I personally have seen over 8 dead 2 points. Dumb!!

The problem is the policy. If you make a mistake you should be able to report it, pay a fine and keep the animal with a 3 strikes, and you're out rule. Washington is a stupid state! We f-up more than we fix.

[billythekidrock]

True Spike is a terrible rule, and was made  that way for one reason. It is entrapment for the sole reason to make money. For guys like me age 31 that have hunted 329 for 18 years and my family that have been hunting in 329 since the sixties, we have seen many changes in this area. When it changed to spike only we saw tones of 2x2's left for dead over the years. My camp was very critical about identification and we shot many 1x2s over the years until the True spike rule change. I boycotted the unit in 09 and returned in 10 to harvest a true spike. In 2011 I made my first critical error as a hunter & hopefully my last. I shot a 1x2 and turned my self in. The game warden couldn't have been nicer, and told me these things happen and its not that big of a deal. He checked out my rifle went to the kill site took my tag we drug the bull about 1/4 to the wardens truck and loaded it whole. I was written a 80.00 ticket and went on my way . I thought They were going to throw the book at me and I couldn't believe how easily I got off. But as a result nearly fifty years of hunting tradition came to a end with my mistake and my family will never hunt up there again, or as long as  true spike remains.

Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective.

[steeleywhopper]

What the hell kind of dimwit science did they use to come up with the need for "True Spike" anyway?
EXTREMELY STUPID RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[j_h_nimrod]

I have been hunting with my father and son in the colockum and have found 5 dead 1x2 and 1 cow. Some of the 1x2 i don't see how people cant see the forks. Some of them are 4in forks. I also found one that was a 3x2. It was still kicking on the ground. I hate to see it. People just need to make sure what it is before they shoot. IF YOUR NOT SURE LET IT GO!!!! THERE ARE A LOT OF STUPID HUNTERS UP THERE JUST SHOOTING ELK AND THEN GOING TO SEE WHAT IT IS AND THEN WALKING AWAY IF IT HAS FORKS.     I dont like the fact that if you shoot a 1x2 in these areas and turn yourself in you only get an $80 ticket and a notched tag. They need to hammer these people just as if they were poaching!!!  If you don't like the TRUE SPIKE restriction DONT HUNT THERE!!!!

Can't say I agree with all said but THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF STUPID PEOPLE CALLING THEMSELVES HUNTERS AND CARRYING GUNS IN THE WOODS. If everyone was the hunter we learned we should be in hunters ed or at the feet of a hunting father, relative, or friend there would be no need for half the rules on the books, a thousand gamies, and I would not have to wear that damned blaze orange in the field. To damn many idiots out there anymore but you have to take the bad with the good.

I almost thought I shot an illegal buck this year and it was the worst feeling. When I jumped it at 30 yards I took a good sight through the scope and saw what I was sure were 3 solid points on one side so pulled down and dropped it. When I walked up on it I saw only a good fork with with a small sub legal third point and just about had a conniption. When I finally put a hand on the rack and gave it a turn the third legal point I had seen came out of the dust and I was vastly relieved. I do know that if that third point had not been there I would have still taken the carcass but do not know if I would have turned myself into the gamines or not. Wasting the meat is about the worst thing you can do and that never crossed my mind.

I do not see any true reason for a true spike rule but the game managers don't always make sense or follow valid scientific reasoning. There is as much opinion and personal preference involved in regulations as any real fact or truth. But the rules are what they are and if you are caught breaking them your panties can get in a twist quick. Knowing the way this state works so far it would not surprise me if this was a regulation put in place to generate a bit of violation revenue, it sounds like the herds in these locations are strong enough that a true spike reg is unneeded.

Don't really know where I am going with all this but just some thoughts.

[martin1]

i hunt 329 and its the only unit i hunt for elk and ive seen quite a few elk get wasted. also hard to id and elk for true spike especially if its over 200 yards. about the only way is to set up a spotting scope when they are sky lined for a while then make your move after they leave the sky line. even then its still hard to tell some times   

[Kowsrule30]

My wife's uncle has a camp in 328 with @ 12 guys.... He came back Tuesday for work and informed me their group found 4 dead... 3 1x2, 1 1x3... He said all would be really hard to tell even with really good glass and some time to glass in the open... Just really small points that were barely legal or questionable.... I will not hunt in a true spike area....

Sounds like a lot of people don't know what the heck they're doing.  If I shot a 1x2, I would turn myself in and pay $80

It's a bum deal but it's better than a tarnished image and 250 lbs of steaks left to rot in the woods.

Then you might want to go to these units and start a petition....      Maybe more will turn themselves in...

[Rainier10]

The only bonus I can see to the true spike rule is from experience this year in the 328.  Out of a herd of 300 elk and 30 guys shooting only 13 true spikes were taken opening weekend, they left a handfull of 1x2, 2x2 and 1x3 to get bigger next year.  If it would have been 1x whatever, they would have shot every one in the group and had no recruitment of year old bulls to make it through to the next year.

 I think it is a tough rule and sucks that some people don't take the time to ensure it is a true spike and therefore some go to waste.  But after hearing about what happened this year it is good to know that at least some 1x2 and 1x3s are getting through even if a few are going to waste due to poor hunting.

Just my 

[Curly]

Does a guy who self reports himself really get to keep the meat?  I've heard that, but I wonder how true that is?

If that was the case, wouldn't there be guys willing to just shoot a 1x2, self report and pay an extra $80. 

[KyleMB123]

If you find an elk or deer that has been shot dead and is not a legal animal can you at least take the meat, or will WDFW frame you for poaching if they catch you?