Free: Contests & Raffles.
Quote from: BlackTail on November 04, 2008, 12:22:10 PMOne thing I haven't heard you address is "greed". I mean I don't want to start a war between different methods of hunting, but I also don't see how this can come off as anthing less than greed. You said blacktails so I'll stick with the west side. Rifle hunters get a combined (deer and elk) 34 days to hunt, muzzleloaders get 61-68 days and archers get 91-114 days depending on what GMU you hunt the late seasons in. Archers and muzzleloaders already get to hunt the rut for elk. Archers also have the option to buy a muzzleloader or rifle tag, if they like that season better, and hunt it with their archery equipment. Rifle hunters have no such option. Now, you want rifle hunters to combine their deer and elk season, shortening their days in the field and increasing the number of hunters at the same time, to get out of the way so you can hunt deer during the rut too? Tell me how that's not being greedy and how you're thinking about all different hunting methods here. Did I miss anything??I haven't checked your numbers so I will take it that you are mostly right (minus accounting for 14 days for modern rifle bull permit hunters) but you failed to take into account that some bowhunters would be willing to reduce the total number of days in the field (last 10 days of Dec and first 10 days of Sep for example for deer) in exchange for 7-10 good days at beginning of November.Also, modern firearm guys can buy an archery permit and hunt with a bow, nothing is stopping them. Except for perhaps the increased difficulty...
One thing I haven't heard you address is "greed". I mean I don't want to start a war between different methods of hunting, but I also don't see how this can come off as anthing less than greed. You said blacktails so I'll stick with the west side. Rifle hunters get a combined (deer and elk) 34 days to hunt, muzzleloaders get 61-68 days and archers get 91-114 days depending on what GMU you hunt the late seasons in. Archers and muzzleloaders already get to hunt the rut for elk. Archers also have the option to buy a muzzleloader or rifle tag, if they like that season better, and hunt it with their archery equipment. Rifle hunters have no such option. Now, you want rifle hunters to combine their deer and elk season, shortening their days in the field and increasing the number of hunters at the same time, to get out of the way so you can hunt deer during the rut too? Tell me how that's not being greedy and how you're thinking about all different hunting methods here. Did I miss anything??
Archery season is mostly pre and early/to mid rut. In some years, muzzleloaders are the ones hunting the peak rut. Just my 2 cents.