Early archery elk dates?

[D-Rock425]

I was thinking about hunting out of state archery next year and just going point option in wa .

You must be looking for a bull.  You seem to do pretty well for cows.

I've only killed 3 cows and a bunch of spikes.  I'm more concerned with my dad and his 11 points.

[D-Rock425]

understatement of the year 

[steeliedrew]

I made this a topic in the WDFW survey about hunting issues. I asked that they start the early season on the 8th and end on the 21st of every year. Archery hunters have the worst percentage of harvesting branch antlered bulls of all the three weapons which is due to the way they are doing the early season. 2015 is the only year we will have a later start and end date, then it goes back again

Here is what we get to look forward too:
Labor Day 2014   September 1, 2014   Monday      
Labor Day 2015   September 7, 2015   Monday      
Labor Day 2016   September 5, 2016   Monday      
Labor Day 2017   September 4, 2017   Monday   
Labor Day 2018   September 3, 2018   Monday   
Labor Day 2019   September 2, 2019   Monday   
Labor Day 2020   September 7, 2020   Monday   
Labor Day 2021   September 6, 2021   Monday   
Labor Day 2022   September 5, 2022   Monday   
Labor Day 2023   September 4, 2023   Monday

2015 and 2020 look like great years to me if that's how it's gonna work.

[bullcanyon]

We need to flood their inboxes with requests for a realistic start date for elk.  8-21 is good for me. Should always be well after labor day and not interfere with anything else. 

[D-Rock425]

The dates posted above are not set in stone yet so you are right we need to be pro active and start sending emails.

[bobcat]

How about going to permit only, reduce the number of elk hunters by 50%, and then have the 8-21 season? Maybe the WDFW would be willing to do that.

[motg9_6]

   the group with the lowest success rate and they wont give us a better season..... Backwards thinking.im all for the 8-31put it in the survey.

[bobcat]

Actually, archers have the highest success rate:

[D-Rock425]

How about going to permit only, reduce the number of elk hunters by 50%, and then have the 8-21 season? Maybe the WDFW would be willing to do that.

never going to happen wdfw would loose 50% of there total tag revenue.

[bobcat]

How about going to permit only, reduce the number of elk hunters by 50%, and then have the 8-21 season? Maybe the WDFW would be willing to do that.

never going to happen wdfw would loose 50% of there total tag revenue.

Couldn't they double the price of the tags to make up for it?

[D-Rock425]

Guess they could.

[TMortensen]

When I first started hunting in 86 it was oct 1st-14th then in the early 90's it went to sept 1-14th then in the late 90's to sept 8-21 and then 3 yrs ago it went to this damn day after labor day crap and we lost a day so we only get 13.
So this year we get sept 2-15th. The 3 year plan is up so maybe in 2015 we'll get a favorable season again. lets hope and pray archey guys will get a gift from the wdfw and give us sept 15th -30th Just wishfull thinking!

[JPhelps]

Actually, archers have the highest success rate:

Bobcat I think there are other correlations as to why the archery user group is more successful.

[bullcanyon]

Like there are thousands of modern Elk hunters that buy a tag to put in for a permit and don't hunt if they don't draw.

[bullcanyon]

And actually if you factor in all elk hunts combined archery is at the bottom.  That is including permits.

Archery 12.8
modern 13.0
muzzy   16.7

That's for the 2012 season.