follow up to the archery high hunt question

[jackelope]

i emailed wdfw enforcement to see if i could get the real scoop when the question regarding the pasayten and the high hunt with archery tackle came up...this is the response.

Thank you for contacting the Wildlife Program regarding high buck
regulations.  At this time it is legal to hunt with muzzleloader or
archery weapons if you have a modern tag.  Those hunting with
muzzleloader and archery weapons still must follow the modern tag
regulations.  Those holding muzzleloader or archery tags are not
eligible for the high hunt.
 
If you have any further questions, comments or concerns please feel
free to contact the Wildlife Program at 360-902-2515.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mike Day
Customer Service Specialist
Wildlife Program
(360) 902-2515

i think that is the answer we all knew we would get.

[bowsandhose]

 

[Ray]

RETARDED 

[bobcat]

Well, I don't have a problem with it, since I hunt deer with a rifle. It's nice to have one unit that isn't open to archery. Just about every other unit is open to archery. If archers feel they are entitled to have every single unit open to them, then I feel every unit in the state should be open to muzzleloader elk hunting. 

[Ray]

Archery deer compared to muzzleloader elk... Sounds like a mixup.

[MichaelJ]

But the other wilderness areas are open correct?  If I remember correctly, their GMU's are open sept 1-30.... so???

Michael

[bobcat]

Archery deer compared to muzzleloader elk... Sounds like a mixup.

Ray, no not a mixup. I'm just saying since I hunt elk with a muzzleloader, and the units open for muzzleloader season are very limited, while archery hunters have nearly all the prime units open to them, that I would like to have more good units open for me to hunt. If archery hunters are going to be greedy, I may as well be too!   

[shanevg]

First of all, the WDFW agent who responded to you is completely wrong on their response.  The high buck hunt is open to both rifle and muzzleloader tag holders (see page 19 and 21 of the hunting regs where the high buck hunt is clearly listed as open for both weapons.)  This sure inspires a lot of confidence in the agents at WDFW and their hunting knowledge.  Seriously, this is just pure laziness, all it would have taken was a quick flip through the regs to clarify this one. 

Secondly, I think it is stupid so many units are only open for rifle or archery.  Muzzle loaders should have just as much right to hunt just as many units as archery and modern hunters for both elk and deer.  I think all units that are open for rifle should be open for every other weapon as well.  Seriously, why close something down for archery?  Archery has the lowest success rate as is!  I also think all the special permit tags should be available for every weapon.  Why shouldn't archery hunters and muzzleloader hunters be able to apply for the late Pearrygan deer tag?  I think we should be able to apply for any tag regardless of weapon choice, and then get to choose our weapon for the general season.  It's ridiculous.

[Ray]

Archery deer compared to muzzleloader elk... Sounds like a mixup.

Ray, no not a mixup. I'm just saying since I hunt elk with a muzzleloader, and the units open for muzzleloader season are very limited, while archery hunters have nearly all the prime units open to them, that I would like to have more good units open for me to hunt. If archery hunters are going to be greedy, I may as well be too!  

Greedy? I think that the muzzleloaders give a real whacking on the elk. But you're trying to compare apples to oranges on this subject in order to hijack the thread. This is a deer hunt in the wilderness area which we are discussing.

This unit is open for muzzleloaders for deer (just about makes the argument pointless now) and the wilderness hunt is not the type of hunt where every Tom Dick and Harry can shoot a deer from the road. Therefore people have to work to get their animals extra hard and the odds are low. You can't shoot a deer and drag it into your truck within sight of the road. A lot of people don't use horses either. It's not even in the same league as most other type of hunts and the high hunt is the hunt which has generally been fair to weapon types at least in the past few years. Meaning open to all from 15th to 25th in almost every area except this one.

Please show me where the archery guys are killing all the animals on the high hunt and taking all the opportunity away from muzzleloaders? I don't even see many reports of people killing animals on the high hunt with archery tackle. It's not non existent but it is not exactly a big impact at all.

Definitely mixed up from my point of view.

[jackelope]

First of all, the WDFW agent who responded to you is completely wrong on their response.  The high buck hunt is open to both rifle and muzzleloader tag holders (see page 19 and 21 of the hunting regs where the high buck hunt is clearly listed as open for both weapons.)  This sure inspires a lot of confidence in the agents at WDFW and their hunting knowledge.  Seriously, this is just pure laziness, all it would have taken was a quick flip through the regs to clarify this one. 

i think you need to read this again.
especially page 19 where it says valid modern firearms deer tag required and where it says modern firearm deer tag holders may use rifle, handgun, shotgun, archery or muzzleloader, but only during modern firearm season.

[billythekidrock]

First of all, the WDFW agent who responded to you is completely wrong on their response... This sure inspires a lot of confidence in the agents at WDFW and their hunting knowledge.  Seriously, this is just pure laziness, all it would have taken was a quick flip through the regs to clarify this one. 

The response was not from an Enforcement agent. It was from a Customer Service rep, which in some agencies are nothing more then a glorified secretary.

[actionshooter]

On page 21 it clearly shows the High buck hunt listed in the muzzleloader general seasons. If it makes a difference I have hunted the high buck with my muzzleloader, been checked and I dont have a ticket to show for it.   

[bobcat]

Yes, shanevg is correct in that the high hunt is open to muzzleloader tags just the same as it is open to rifle tags, same areas and same season. That is true.

And Ray, all I'm saying is that archery hunters have darn near the entire state open to them, and they've got early and late seasons. Muzzleloader hunters have just a few units open for early season, for both deer and elk, and late season for elk and mule deer is almost non-existent. So I just find it ironic that archery hunters would have a problem with just one unit not being open to them, when there are so many others to choose from.

The reason I bring up elk is just that I am most familiar with the muzzleloader elk seasons, and not deer, since I hunt deer with a rifle. The archery hunters have all the choice units open, and the muzzleloaders are left with the scraps. Just how it is. If I wanted to hunt a good elk unit, I'd be hunting with a rifle instead of a muzzleloader. Muzzleloader season is also after the rut is over while archery hunters get the prime time to hunt, when the elk are easiest to find.

I do agree that it is strange that the Pasayten is not open for archery. I have no idea why it isn't and really I don't care if it was. And you're right there is no good reason for it not being open. But if archery hunters think they have the right to hunt every single unit in the state, then I want to hunt the Lewis River, and Winston, and Willapa Hills, and Williams Creek, just to name a few, with my muzzleloader. Fat chance of that though I am sure.

[Ray]

There are a lot of choices open. However I believe this is only a trivial mistake and that they probably would rather have it open to archers as well. If you are upset because I complained about it then that's your problem. It doesn't mean it's an archer vs. muzzleloader war.

[bobcat]

I don't have a problem and I'm not upset.