Free: Contests & Raffles.
Listening to my Dad, Uncles, and Grandpa talk about elk hunting in the 70's and 80's makes me wish I was around back then. Same with deer and duck. I missed the good ol' days
Quote from: Sitka_Blacktail on October 24, 2013, 12:34:40 PMI agree with a lot of the article, but there's another side too. Part of the reason we are where we are now is because it was so good back then. The success and liberal seasons brought big crowds and reduced bull/cow ratios. Something had to be done to fix that, so management changed. Also, Natives hadn't started asserting their treaty rights, which is another factor modern managers have to deal with now.On the west side, changing logging practices have affected the herds in areas that were once prime. Not to mention access to forest lands has greatly been reduced. There's a lot of uproar over here about the Wild Olympics campaign, but I'm all for it. I'd much rather see forest land as public land than as private land opened at the whim of a logging company. Now that I've hunted the National forests of Eastern Washington, I appreciate the access they provide.Just a quick check on the WDFW website, in 1997, 68,492 hunters purchased tags, and harvested 4,919 Elk, In 2012, 94, 590 hunters purchased tags, (an increase of 28,098 close to 40%) and harvested 9162 Elk, (an increase of 4,242 or over 50%) The reason "the good old days" were just that, before it was so cool to be a hunter, I know I have introduced the sport to at least a dozen new hunters.And every year I meet someone else interested, especially my children.Read These forums, good stories, great success photos of beautiful Bulls every year...Lots of Elk meat ending up in freezers...Sure other states are looking attractive, but that is just because they have not been "Californicated" yet, Washington’s population grew from 4.1 million in 1980 to 6.7 million in 2010 and is expected to reach 8.8 million by 2040.You think it is bad now, wait until then...
I agree with a lot of the article, but there's another side too. Part of the reason we are where we are now is because it was so good back then. The success and liberal seasons brought big crowds and reduced bull/cow ratios. Something had to be done to fix that, so management changed. Also, Natives hadn't started asserting their treaty rights, which is another factor modern managers have to deal with now.On the west side, changing logging practices have affected the herds in areas that were once prime. Not to mention access to forest lands has greatly been reduced. There's a lot of uproar over here about the Wild Olympics campaign, but I'm all for it. I'd much rather see forest land as public land than as private land opened at the whim of a logging company. Now that I've hunted the National forests of Eastern Washington, I appreciate the access they provide.
Quote from: Mike450r on October 26, 2013, 10:22:18 AMQuote from: npaull on October 24, 2013, 12:56:59 PMQuoteThere's a lot of uproar over here about the Wild Olympics campaign, but I'm all for it. I'd much rather see forest land as public land than as private land opened at the whim of a logging company. Now that I've hunted the National forests of Eastern Washington, I appreciate the access they provide.Amen! Make it public and protected! Habitat loss is *THE THREAT* to hunting!Private forests have the best habitat and resource management.The best habitat for what? Mushrooms? Monoculture, spraying the equivalent of roundup, crowded forests that don't let in the light, mud filled streams caused by erosion and other problems on "managed" tree farms do not equate to the best habitat for deer and elk and other forest creatures. In western Washington, the habitat was much better back in the 60s and 70s before private tree farms went to "modern management".
Quote from: npaull on October 24, 2013, 12:56:59 PMQuoteThere's a lot of uproar over here about the Wild Olympics campaign, but I'm all for it. I'd much rather see forest land as public land than as private land opened at the whim of a logging company. Now that I've hunted the National forests of Eastern Washington, I appreciate the access they provide.Amen! Make it public and protected! Habitat loss is *THE THREAT* to hunting!Private forests have the best habitat and resource management.
QuoteThere's a lot of uproar over here about the Wild Olympics campaign, but I'm all for it. I'd much rather see forest land as public land than as private land opened at the whim of a logging company. Now that I've hunted the National forests of Eastern Washington, I appreciate the access they provide.Amen! Make it public and protected! Habitat loss is *THE THREAT* to hunting!
There's a lot of uproar over here about the Wild Olympics campaign, but I'm all for it. I'd much rather see forest land as public land than as private land opened at the whim of a logging company. Now that I've hunted the National forests of Eastern Washington, I appreciate the access they provide.
Quote from: huntnphool on October 27, 2013, 02:27:24 PMQuote from: boneaddict on October 27, 2013, 02:02:07 PMReally? This forum, internet(I know you mentioned these, but I think these have really impacted things), are your Swaros pre 1985. How about cellphones? Pretty easy to see a buck and get a pic to a friend in less than 10 seconds, except for those of us who haven't gotten a cell yet. Got any Sitka gear, Kifaru or whatever they call it. Don't think compounds have upgraded since 85? How about Muzzeloaders. Factory ammo hasn't improved? When did carbon arrows become the norm? How about Quads. I don't recall a lot of Razors running around back in the 80s. I mentioned the internet and no my Swaro's are not circa '85 but I did have quality optics for the time.My first cell phone was in about '87, but even today I don't use my cell phone to hunt with (AT&T service is spotty at best), although I do carry it for emergency purposes, no advantage for me since then.I don't own any Sitka or Kifaru (sp) gear so it too has never given me a advantage.I have never shot a deer/elk with archery gear past 30 yards, even way back in '85 trads and compounds were capable of performing at this distance.I have only shot one animal in my life with a muzzy,(this year) it was open sites, exposed nipple, non sabot, not much different than what was available in '85.I have never shot a deer/elk with a rifle further than 500 yards, factory ammo in '85 was plenty capable of performing at this range way back then.I have never hunted from a quad or side by side, and yes similar toys were available back in "85, some would even argue they had less restrictions on them than today, again not a big difference from '85.So, to answer your questions, and to reiterate my point, things have not changed "that dramatically" since 1985, certainly not enough for them to justify the season changes. You haven't, but how about the average hunter?
Quote from: boneaddict on October 27, 2013, 02:02:07 PMReally? This forum, internet(I know you mentioned these, but I think these have really impacted things), are your Swaros pre 1985. How about cellphones? Pretty easy to see a buck and get a pic to a friend in less than 10 seconds, except for those of us who haven't gotten a cell yet. Got any Sitka gear, Kifaru or whatever they call it. Don't think compounds have upgraded since 85? How about Muzzeloaders. Factory ammo hasn't improved? When did carbon arrows become the norm? How about Quads. I don't recall a lot of Razors running around back in the 80s. I mentioned the internet and no my Swaro's are not circa '85 but I did have quality optics for the time.My first cell phone was in about '87, but even today I don't use my cell phone to hunt with (AT&T service is spotty at best), although I do carry it for emergency purposes, no advantage for me since then.I don't own any Sitka or Kifaru (sp) gear so it too has never given me a advantage.I have never shot a deer/elk with archery gear past 30 yards, even way back in '85 trads and compounds were capable of performing at this distance.I have only shot one animal in my life with a muzzy,(this year) it was open sites, exposed nipple, non sabot, not much different than what was available in '85.I have never shot a deer/elk with a rifle further than 500 yards, factory ammo in '85 was plenty capable of performing at this range way back then.I have never hunted from a quad or side by side, and yes similar toys were available back in "85, some would even argue they had less restrictions on them than today, again not a big difference from '85.So, to answer your questions, and to reiterate my point, things have not changed "that dramatically" since 1985, certainly not enough for them to justify the season changes.
Really? This forum, internet(I know you mentioned these, but I think these have really impacted things), are your Swaros pre 1985. How about cellphones? Pretty easy to see a buck and get a pic to a friend in less than 10 seconds, except for those of us who haven't gotten a cell yet. Got any Sitka gear, Kifaru or whatever they call it. Don't think compounds have upgraded since 85? How about Muzzeloaders. Factory ammo hasn't improved? When did carbon arrows become the norm? How about Quads. I don't recall a lot of Razors running around back in the 80s.
Spend more time in the woods and you would be amazed by the amount of new technology being used to hunt! Maybe not you or anyone you know but its obvious that you either dont get around or you dont pay attention. please dont take that to personal.
Trailcams, scentlock, coverscents, better calls, range finders, black powder changes, I'm sure none of that has contributed that's why its a million dollar industry.
Quote from: boneaddict on October 27, 2013, 04:45:22 PMTrailcams, scentlock, coverscents, better calls, range finders, black powder changes, I'm sure none of that has contributed that's why its a million dollar industry. Don't forget Luminoks
Quote from: huntnphool on October 27, 2013, 04:49:44 PMQuote from: boneaddict on October 27, 2013, 04:45:22 PMTrailcams, scentlock, coverscents, better calls, range finders, black powder changes, I'm sure none of that has contributed that's why its a million dollar industry. Don't forget Luminoks Aren't those the little lights that help increase harvest rates by helping you to be able to take an un-ethical shot.
Quote from: Dave Workman on October 24, 2013, 11:58:15 AMWhen I was a kid, Eastern WA's modern firearm Elk season was a full two weeks in November. Late enough to give us elk moving weather....snow, wind , rain; and the animals moved down from the high country. In 1985 it snowed almost 5 feet over night during elk season. Elk hung in many camps and men took their sons out of school for the week, oftentimes BOTH weeks. (provided grades were good enough.) Wide spots on Highway 12 and 410 like Naches, Rimrock Retreat, and Cliffdell resembled major shopping centers on Christmas Eve...only these were men buying gas, groceries, and supplies for their full two weeks in the woods. Signs were strung across the road and hung in local shops saying “Welcome Hunters” and we were not told to hide our kills by the game dept (we had a Game Dept back then). A pile of big elk in the back of your truck was a badge of honor back then. ~It still is in places where people understand where meat comes from. Elk hunters spent lots of money supporting these little mountain communities. They came enmasse from all over the state because the hunting was good, often great. And in the 80's they didn't have to choose their weapons…or their friends. Choose your weapon, AKA “Resource Allocation” split up a lot of elk camps.....many elk hunters believe that was by design. If you wanted to be an archer, a rifleman, and a smokepole stuffer, you could buy all three tags and have 3 months of hunting opportunity (limits were still one deer and one elk a year and we had twice as many hunters). Today you ask us to send you $6 to enter a lottery for a chance to sell us that privilege. We didn't have to watch 6 point bulls walk by. A cow tag was good the day elk season opened, not 3 days later. The annual elk hunt in WA was much more of a hunt back then. Today, our season is one week at the end of Oct. The 70 degree temps forecast for this weekend's opener ensure it to be a “Quality” armed elk camping/ elk watching experience for the thousands who still live to hunt elk in their ancestral areas.. I’ll spend my money and precious 2 weeks of vacation in Montana again this year. Their "Welcome Hunters!" signs went up last month and don't come down until January.. Brian LullGeneral Manager,Northwest Sportsmanand ex WA elk hunterWell said Dave!
When I was a kid, Eastern WA's modern firearm Elk season was a full two weeks in November. Late enough to give us elk moving weather....snow, wind , rain; and the animals moved down from the high country. In 1985 it snowed almost 5 feet over night during elk season. Elk hung in many camps and men took their sons out of school for the week, oftentimes BOTH weeks. (provided grades were good enough.) Wide spots on Highway 12 and 410 like Naches, Rimrock Retreat, and Cliffdell resembled major shopping centers on Christmas Eve...only these were men buying gas, groceries, and supplies for their full two weeks in the woods. Signs were strung across the road and hung in local shops saying “Welcome Hunters” and we were not told to hide our kills by the game dept (we had a Game Dept back then). A pile of big elk in the back of your truck was a badge of honor back then. ~It still is in places where people understand where meat comes from. Elk hunters spent lots of money supporting these little mountain communities. They came enmasse from all over the state because the hunting was good, often great. And in the 80's they didn't have to choose their weapons…or their friends. Choose your weapon, AKA “Resource Allocation” split up a lot of elk camps.....many elk hunters believe that was by design. If you wanted to be an archer, a rifleman, and a smokepole stuffer, you could buy all three tags and have 3 months of hunting opportunity (limits were still one deer and one elk a year and we had twice as many hunters). Today you ask us to send you $6 to enter a lottery for a chance to sell us that privilege. We didn't have to watch 6 point bulls walk by. A cow tag was good the day elk season opened, not 3 days later. The annual elk hunt in WA was much more of a hunt back then. Today, our season is one week at the end of Oct. The 70 degree temps forecast for this weekend's opener ensure it to be a “Quality” armed elk camping/ elk watching experience for the thousands who still live to hunt elk in their ancestral areas.. I’ll spend my money and precious 2 weeks of vacation in Montana again this year. Their "Welcome Hunters!" signs went up last month and don't come down until January.. Brian LullGeneral Manager,Northwest Sportsmanand ex WA elk hunter
And the purpose behind "resource allocation" was to get the Archery and ML guys out of the woods when that MAJORITY were out, a result of Archers and Muzzleloader hunters request for separate seasons.Taking away the option to hunt during other seasons was the price for that opportunity.
