Free: Contests & Raffles.
I have hunted the Blues for twenty years, my dad for many more than that. We have both applied for a bull permit in units in the Blues with a combined total of over 50 years, can you guess how many times we have been drawn? 00000000000000000000. I wouldn't want a permit system just to hunt as others have suggested as the state has a proven track record of not drawing based on points, on years put in for the draw, it's a total joke and a huge money maker to the state. The spike unit system has its peaks and its downs. The main idea behind it I believe was to increase the herd size. Where I hunt in the blues, (Really close to Oregon and pretty far east) the herd size hasn't increased inside the fence for many many years. Record book bulls have increased. Cow numbers haven't. Number of people poaching has went up though. Have you ever sat near a road from dusk till dawn and notice how many guys drive into the mountains? It is an insane amount and there not all there just to see the moon. Recently the number of Elk inside and outside the fence has increased though with the elk being pushed from Idaho. Hopefully in years to come it will become common to see different herds of elk and be able to see a spike every year and not just every 30 years. The solution I have would be to shut down the Blues and other spike only units for five or so years and let the herds build up. Anybody caught in the mountains in that time with a rifle not during a deer season should be accused of poaching to help limit some of the herd lose. I also wouldn't mind to see the season pushed back a week to give the mountains some time to calm down from deer season.
Quote from: 300rum on November 04, 2013, 12:37:53 PMI would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year. Seriously? So you'd get to hunt elk like 4-5 times in your life? Not me.
I would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year.
If you only hunt Washington......Quote from: Jonathan_S on November 04, 2013, 03:03:50 PMQuote from: 300rum on November 04, 2013, 12:37:53 PMI would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year. Seriously? So you'd get to hunt elk like 4-5 times in your life? Not me.
"It would definitely make it easier for the native americans."Really, you don't think the whites take more than their fair share? This argument needs to end, its a stupid, stupid point to make. (I am white and do get upset at some of the Indians ways they have it, but this argument is absolutely insane to even bring up.........)
Quote from: 300rum on November 04, 2013, 03:30:18 PMIf you only hunt Washington......Quote from: Jonathan_S on November 04, 2013, 03:03:50 PMQuote from: 300rum on November 04, 2013, 12:37:53 PMI would rather have an opportunity to hunt a nice bull every 10-12 years then kill a spike every year. Seriously? So you'd get to hunt elk like 4-5 times in your life? Not me.I understand and I'm looking into getting into the out of state elk hunting myself but I don't think that's a cool solution across the board