Dear WDFW....

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

I believe its around 40% gets killed in extended buck (state wide). Biggest reason for declining numbers is the number of hunters. 60 years ago the numbers where way less. Now you throw in todays optics and rifles being used with all the loggings it makes a substantial difference in the amount of deer harvested. I think most hunters would luv to be out during the rut thats what its all about!

[bearmanric]

So why should you be allowed to hunt rutting elk in september. Rick

[JPhelps]

John,

I don't isolate a certain user group and think of the hunters harvest as a whole.  I know the local herd takes a beating from the rifle hunters and the archery and muzzleloader hunters take just a few.

however, in my view, the Blacktail populations are exploding, with logging on private timberland and state land...  And yes you will get people killing a few big 3x or 4x bucks.. but the true monsters are still not getting wiped out... 

You will have a hard time convincing me of this.  I hunt from the coast to the Pacific Crest and have many friends that hunt the same areas.

I know a guy who has harvested 9 P&Y blacktail in the last 11 years.  He talks about the numbers declining just in the last 15 years. 

From my own experience I saw 30 -35 deer a day in 1995.  Now I am lucky to go out and see 5 deer in a day. 

[washelkhunter]

Probably not the right guy to question on my data.  I spend a little bit of time in the woods (scouting, hunting, work, etc...).  I am also very tied in to the hunting community and talk and pay attention to many hunters.  The numbers are guesses but I am very close.  I live on the edge of a tree farm that only allows access to it's employees and it is very easy to track what is killed.

Thats just it. You dont have DATA, you have part time observations in small areas. Again numbers taken have to be weighed against the total population(?). And hey, everyone knows it was always better back in grandpas day right?

[JPhelps]

So why should you be allowed to hunt rutting elk in september. Rick

The weapon you are allowed to use during those times are balanced with the season length to control harvest.  Now if you let all tag holders use a rifle it wouldn't work.

[JPhelps]

Probably not the right guy to question on my data.  I spend a little bit of time in the woods (scouting, hunting, work, etc...).  I am also very tied in to the hunting community and talk and pay attention to many hunters.  The numbers are guesses but I am very close.  I live on the edge of a tree farm that only allows access to it's employees and it is very easy to track what is killed.

Thats just it. You dont have DATA, you have part time observations in small areas. Again numbers taken have to be weighed against the total population(?). And hey, everyone knows it was always better back in grandpas day right?

The area has been logged for the past 100 years.  The carrying capacity should be close to the same.

[GEARHEAD]

maybe if ya got out of the truck, you would see that the herd is just fine....jus sayin' lol

[grundy53]

John,

I don't isolate a certain user group and think of the hunters harvest as a whole.  I know the local herd takes a beating from the rifle hunters and the archery and muzzleloader hunters take just a few.

however, in my view, the Blacktail populations are exploding, with logging on private timberland and state land...  And yes you will get people killing a few big 3x or 4x bucks.. but the true monsters are still not getting wiped out... 

You will have a hard time convincing me of this.  I hunt from the coast to the Pacific Crest and have many friends that hunt the same areas.

I know a guy who has harvested 9 P&Y blacktail in the last 11 years.  He talks about the numbers declining just in the last 15 years. 

From my own experience I saw 30 -35 deer a day in 1995.  Now I am lucky to go out and see 5 deer in a day.

 

[JPhelps]

maybe if ya got out of the truck, you would see that the herd is just fine....jus sayin' lol

I hope the LOL means that was a joke 

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Gotta quit riding along with the lazy Weyerhauser guys lol

[Salmo]

JP,  Totally disagree.    If your for taking away days that once taken we'll never get back,  make it the last 4 of the early season.  Also make all of Western Washington 2pt min.    Permit?  BS!  State already gets enough of my money.   Becareful what you wish for you just might get it.    Willipa hills?  haha   those bucks are doing just fine.  And I'd wager they get alot less pressure than the other units.

Bad idea Really bad idea.   

[JPhelps]

I love hunting these four days (no argument there).

I spend a ton of time in the Willipa Hills from July to December.  I have a pretty good idea how the deer are doing.

I also hate the idea of taking away time in the field.  But with the advancement of weapons, optics, predator pressure, etc... the deer herd may not be able to sustain the seasons they once did.

I would also like to make a point that this wouldn't benefit me in any way.  As a matter of fact it would be tougher for me to get my wife or kids deer but in the long run I feel something needs to be done.

[dc]

I'm afraid I have to side with Mr. Phelps.  Do i enjoy the late season, absolutely.  Do I see a fraction of the deer that I did in the 70's, 80's, and 90's.  Not even close.  I happen to see 5 does on one of my trips this Oct. and it was 3 more than I saw on any other day.  For whatever reason, the numbers are way down, and if it takes shutting some seasons down than why would that be a bad thing.  2 point min. might be a great place to start, but at what time is it to late.  Dont expect everybody to think the same way I do, but without some sort of intervention we will live to see the day that we have way to few deer to hunt.

[JPhelps]

I agree it is a balancing act of offering "opportunity vs maintaining the opportunity".

Do I have the right answers? I don't know    I'm just relaying what I am seeing with my own visual observations.  I feel that it is my job as a conservationist to say that I think there is an un-balance in the system somewhere.

[Turkeyman]

We have more predators now and the hair lose disease has dropped our deer numbers down on the west side. Oregon has a longer season and rifle hunts in the rut and they have and kill more deer. Something needs to be done,but taking late buck out is not the answer.