Bowhunters - Voice your opinion before it is too late. Deadline is Feb 14th!

[dreamingbig]

Attention bowhunters!  The game department has issued its proposal for the 2014 seasons.  They continue to steal from our user group; please take the time to let them know how you feel and that you object to the inequality they are proposing.  I posted the letter I sent them below; feel free to copy and use any of it and send them a letter!

Send them to: Written comments may be e-mailed to: WILDTHING@dfw.wa.gov  subject: Game Regulations 2014
or mailed to: Wildlife Program, Game Regulations 2014, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia,. WA 98501

Thanks for reading!

The letter:

ttn:   Phil Anderson, WDFW Director

          Members of the Fish and Wildlife Commission

          Dave Ware, WDFW Game Division Manager

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

I am writing to you today to provide my written comments and objections to the current proposed game regulations for the 2014.  I specifically object to four main areas.

 

The Archery Coalition of Washington (made up of board members from the WSAA, WSB and the TBW) wrote to you previously on some of these same issues and I am writing to you to show my support of their position.

 

The issues are:

 

1.    Change the early archery elk season back to a fixed time frame of September 8th to the 21st as it was prior to the 2009-2011 seasons and add our 1 day back that was taken away in 2009.  Archery is a hard sport and one that does not need further handicaps.  By limiting us to 13 days afield and starting on September 2nd (2014) makes a difficult sport much, much harder.  We are forced to compete with the Labor Day hiking/camping crowd plus deal with potential fire closures that most frequently happen during the first week of September.  For example, the last two years the private timber companies shut down their land during the first week of archery elk season.  Imagine how many days we will lose this year as wildfires and extreme heat are likely to be a problem again.  In addition, compared to most other western states (Idaho, Oregon, & Montana) our archery elk season is only half as long (13 vs. 30 days).  Another fact to consider is that the current proposed modern firearm season for western Washington elk season is 12 days, only 1 day shorter!  I strongly urge you to please reconsider and reestablish the fixed season of September 8th to the 21st.  You are already allowing modern firearm permits during the peak rut (Sep 22 to 26th this year plus Oct 1 to 10th in gmu 346) so you can't continue to fall back on the seasons having too much impact on breeding.  Last time I checked, elk manage to breed okay in Montana, Oregon and Idaho with no problems.

 

2.    Bring back the early archery anterless/spike elk hunt in GMU 346 (Little Naches) as there are plenty of animals as witnessed by the 500 proposed modern firerarm anterless permits.  This opportunity was taken away from archery hunters after the 2012 season.  How can the game department view this as a balanced and equitable approach to the opportunity within this unit?   The proposed increase in anterless permits from 250 to 500 for modern firearm vs. ZERO permits for archery hunters is absurd!  I strongly urge you to add back the early archery elk season in GMU 346 fore spike or antlerless or at minimum issue 250 anterless elk permits for archery hunters.  The archery user group deserves the opportunity to harvest some of these animals.  GMUs can not consciously be set aside for one particular user group without recognizing that there is in an inequity among user groups.  We have noticed what you have done and we will fight to get this inequity reversed!

 

3.    Object to "peak rut" hunts for eastern washington modern firearm quality elk hunts increasing from 1 to 3 permits???  Archery hunters have long been told by the game department that we will never have an archery season during the peak rut (last week of September) however peak rut permits were added in 2009 to allow modern firearm hunters to hunt bulls during the last week of September.  Now I am shocked to read that the number of permits is proposed to be increased from 1 to 3?  I object at this!  These permits should be offered to every user group (archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm) not just MF.  This is another example of the continued inequality that the game department is promoting between user groups.  We aren't blind; we are noticing.  This is a pure money grab play for increased revenue.  Why not really increase the revenue and make the permit open to any weapon?

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter and for the work you do for our state. However, I strongly urge you to consider making these changes prior to approving the next three year package.  We as bowhunters are not asking for much, but rather a return to what we had as an user group as recently as 2008.  The 2006 to 2008 seasons were much more equitable between all user groups than this current proposal.  I am a life resident of Washington State, I am currently 34 years old and I have been hunting since I could walk.  As soon as I could legally be afield with my own license I was and I have been bowhunting from day one.  I love this sport and this state and I am only asking that we get an equitable piece of the pie.  I look forward to hearing your response and witnessing your action.

[elk247]

All good points. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought we were supposed to be back to the sept. 8 opener in 2015?

[PolarBear]

Meh...

[dreamingbig]

All good points. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought we were supposed to be back to the sept. 8 opener in 2015?

The next 3yr package is not out yet and nothing is guaranteed.  Fight for your right; why can't we have a full two weeks and have it fixed to start on the 8th every year?  It worked perfectly fine in 2006 to 2008.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[trophyhunt]

Mostly agree, especially on the fixed dates! I like the fact that in Idaho I know every year when elk season starts, oct 10 th for rifle. I don't see why they have to change the dates all the time, just so they start on Saturdays?? But , I don't know about having seasons that (archery) are as long as idahos.  Idaho has more elk, huntable land and less people than we do.

[dreamingbig]

I am only asking for 14 days, not 30.  They reduced our season from 14 to 13 for no apparent reason other than they needed to be "fair."

I am encouraging folks to let them know how we feel; not enough do it IMHO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skyvalhunter]

So you are only concerned about elk what about deer?

[dreamingbig]

Had to pick my battles.  Deer is a mess too especially the mule deer seasons.  I have written to them about it the past two years.  What would you change?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[billythekidrock]

What was the fourth?
You object to 4 but only mention 3.

[dreamingbig]

Typo


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dreamingbig]

Forgot to revise; I object to a lot more than three but they aren't going to read them all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[trophyhunt]

I am only asking for 14 days, not 30.  They reduced our season from 14 to 13 for no apparent reason other than they needed to be "fair."

I am encouraging folks to let them know how we feel; not enough do it IMHO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

i over looked that! Then I agree with your letter! I will forward, thanks!

[D-Rock425]

When 346 was open it was because of the Nile and bumping closer for antlerless harvest now that that is reopened 346 is now back to how it was prior to that closer.  I remember when 346 was opened people on here had fits about not having a unit just for quality bull tag holders now everyone has flipped and wants it to remain open I just don't know how I feel on that subject yet.   I agree with the season start dates 100%.  I don't even mind the one less day but would love to see the start date back to the 8th.  Or even better the 2nd Saturday of the month.

[dreamingbig]

Are you okay with zero archery cow permits but 500 for modern?  I don't think any unit has to be for bull only.  Regardless of what you think let the game department know!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[swalker]

I think they should leave 346 a permit only area. It's nice to be able to hunt branch antler bulls with out having guys screw up your hunt. I do think that they could give out some cow permit for the early season. But leave that area a permit only area.