Depressing archery permits

[coachcw]

I believe there more chances in washingtons permit system to harvest a true throphy elk than other western states .

[PolarBear]

It seems that EVERY user group complains about not enough "rut" hunts.  I wish they would eliminate ALL rut hunts.  The bucks and bulls are at their most vulnerable at that time. 

[NWHydroprint]

And just how everyone is complaining about which user group gets the best season or more tag opportunities will end hunting as we all know it.
 Everyone needs to stop complaining and ban together collectively Modern,Muzzle loader, archery, Duck , upland bird hunters etc. and start fighting for hunting in general as we loose land to hunt on we all will loose more opportunities we are divide user groups. Divide we will be conquered.

[huntnphool]

Get yourself a multi season pass and hunt all the seasons.

[RadSav]

Well, if you think the gun and muzzy guys have got it too good you can always get that tag and hunt with your bow during those seasons.  It's now legal to do so, even during the muzzy season.  That's pretty simple, isn't it?

However, I just do not see where the problem is.  I can't think of a case where the rifle hunters get what the bow hunters don't.  Same case for the most part on muzzy opportunities.  Most of the seasons or hunting dates archers have lost over the years has not been because of equipment and success rates.  It's because the other user groups have argued that "It's not fair " that archery hunters get more time, seasons, does, on and on and on.  I personally think us bowhunters have it pretty good in Washington.  Very few areas we don't have the opportunity to hunt.  And we generally get a generous chance at those spots twice per year.  A lot more if we draw multi season permits and buy them.

Washington State Bowhunters do a lot for bowhunting in this state.  They don't do a bunch of grandstanding and "look at me and how important I am" campaigns.  But if you go to the state meetings you will definately know they are there.  If you want to know what you can do to protect bowhunting in Washington and get your voice heard - Join WSB.  I don't think you will regret it!

[huntnphool]

Well, if you think the gun and muzzy guys have got it too good you can always get that tag and hunt with your bow during those seasons.  It's now legal to do so, even during the muzzy season.  That's pretty simple, isn't it?

Exactly my point Rad, if you archery hunt its more about choosing which season you want to hunt rather than which weapon.

[Houndhunter]

I would like to see some better archery westside bull permits, ive given up and won't be applying for elk this year.

[RadSav]

I would like to see some better archery westside bull permits, ive given up and won't be applying for elk this year.

    Where on the westside can we not apply or hunt in a general season?  Or do you mean dates for westside archery permits?

[wa_archer]

The archery seasons are the best out of all of them. They have great opportunities. That's why I'm archery hunting for elk this year. You get two weeks in September, and then about a 3 week late season. Many units are open for either sex deer and elk hunting. If you have both deer and elk archery tags, it's often possible to take any deer or elk that you see.

Sorry, but I just don't think there's any reason to say there's a lack of opportunity for archery hunters, in comparison to modern firearm and muzzleloader hunters.

Now if it's special permit hunts you're talking about, yes it's true there aren't as many special permits, but that's because with an archery tag you don't need a special permit for a good hunt, because of the generous general season opportunities that are already available.

Exactly why I will be saving money not putting in for special permit points once I use up already earned points.  In addition we archers have some of the better success rates for general season while being really close +- of muzzleloader. 

Although I wonder how different success rates of modern would be if you could take out all the permits bought from guys who are just going to hang out around the campfire

[Fullabull]

I think what most people complain about the archery seasons here in WA is that all the other states have a season that actually runs into the elk rut period. Here in WA, you have to be able to get into the back country to get any good early rut action. For most people, that is just not how they hunt so unless you have good knowledge of elk, elk sounds and how to locate them, you might as well be hunting with a rifle or ML. Most archery hunters see the snot running, tree killing, screaming elk on TV where hunters get to hunt during the rut in all the other states and want a part of that here.

Archery may get a lot more days to hunt but the equipment although faster and more accurate than in the past does not get you any closer to the game as where now you see these TV shows of people shooting out to 1000 yards at animals with their rifles (not ethical). You don't see archery shows with guys taking 100 yard shots at animals. With a bow you still need to get into an effective range to make an ethical killing shot. All the advancements in archery have really only made them more accurate and not long range killing machines!

There is a reason why ML hunters are so restricted and that is because they are the only group who actually get to hunt during the elk rutting cycles. If they allowed them to hunt all the units the elk herds would be devastated and everyone would change to hunting ML.

The only thing I would like them to change is the starting date for archery elk. I would like to have it at least run to the 20th or 21st every year. That would at least provide a small window of opportunity for the archery hunters to taste some actual rutting action. Save the last of Sept. and first week or so of Oct. for the elk to do their thing without pressure.

[huntingfool7]

Kingpuck- if you could create your very own special permit to put in for, what dates and where at?

[Houndhunter]

I would like to see some better archery westside bull permits, ive given up and won't be applying for elk this year.

    Where on the westside can we not apply or hunt in a general season?  Or do you mean dates for westside archery permits?

Yes exactly, some rut tags in other areas. As it is now imo, theres one good permit and the rest aren't really a quality hunt

[NoBark]

 What permits does archery not have compared to rifle? For all the rifle permits there is an opportunity for us as archers and it usually falls during a prime time to hunt. We also enjoy much better odds at drawing quality permits compared to those that choose to pick up the modern rifle and hunt.
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There are some really nice late season permit hunts in units for rifle that aare NOT open to archery for a late special season.   It's too bad.   

I say if a unit is open to one user group, open it for all user groups. 

Sideaffect of this is it helps to spread out the hunters. Late seasons can be a zoo because of how few units are opened.   

[huntnphool]

There is a reason why ML hunters are so restricted and that is because they are the only group who actually get to hunt during the elk rutting cycles.

So hunt the ML season with archery gear, problem solved!

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea because there are no guys that hunt with ML out there.