Why Early Archery Season Start Date Needs To Change

[D-Rock425]

No way would I want to give up a week of the late season for a start date of sept 8th.  You make it the 15th-30th I may go for that but I've done just fine over the last few years with our start dates as is.  I would love to see it set as September 8th but I'm not willing to loose a weeks worth of hunting to get it.

[Rainier10]

No way would I want to give up a week of the late season for a start date of sept 8th.  You make it the 15th-30th I may go for that but I've done just fine over the last few years with our start dates as is.  I would love to see it set as September 8th but I'm not willing to loose a weeks worth of hunting to get it.

x2 loud and proud, no way would I give up a week for set dates.

[Nice Racks]

This is only my 3rd year of elk hunting.  I'm just glad to be able to buy an "over the counter" tag, go set up camp and elk hunt.  Guess I'm just not a seasoned  elk hunter yet...but I am a happy elk hunter.   

[bobcat]

Here's the deal guys: as my wife tells our children- "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit."   

The thing is we do have lots of options. If you don't like the archery seasons for whatever reason, buy a muzzleloader tag or a rifle tag and there you go. A different season. It's that easy. None of us are locked in to hunt only one method every year. Hunt whichever season you like best. You think the muzzleloader season is at a better time? Buy a muzzleloader tag, you still can hunt with your bow if you choose to do so.

It's kind of hard to complain about a lack of opportunity in this state. A lack of animals and an over abundance of other hunters, yes. But plenty of opportunity to hunt when and where you want.


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[huntnnw]

Its super easy to complain terrible seasons and opportunity compared to others! I live 15 min from ID and look at there opportunity! Look at MT! like this throughout the west!!

[huntnnw]

In ID you can pick up a bow on Aug 30th and and hunt till Dec 24th!!! and almost the same price as this S%%$# hole state!

Then in this state if you want half the opportunity other western states get you get to apply for a multi season permit and if your lucky enough to draw a multi elk you get to spend over $200 in your home state to hunt half the season other states get at non resident prices!

[bobcat]

Its super easy to complain terrible seasons and opportunity compared to others! I live 15 min from ID and look at there opportunity! Look at MT! like this throughout the west!!

But WE are the problem! This state has too many people and as a result, too few animals. That's why there's no way this state can ever compare to any of the other western states. If they gave us the same opportunity that Idaho and other states have, we'd have no animals left.

[huntnnw]

They could offer more! thats the problem. Why dont we get a tag and hunt whatever general season are open till we fill our tag or seasons end? they have no problem with doing it with deer, but it has to make this state money in $140 a pop plus a tag! 

[idahohuntr]

Why dont we get a tag and hunt whatever general season are open till we fill our tag or seasons end?

See bobcats answer above...thats why.

[Fullabull]

It was the MF group that got things changed because they complained about not harvesting as many branch bulls as the archery hunters. It that was true the numbers have swung more that they should and the WDFW needs to make a change to again make it equal. Isn't that what they are supposed to do.

[Curly]

I like bobcats analogy to kids whining,  cuz must be what it is like for wdfw trying to deal with all user groups.

[Fullabull]

OK...I've said my peace this year. Plus you guys are starting to make me feel like a Democrat :-O

[Colville]

It's mostly a silly debate.  First, other states aren't comparisons and throwing them up pretty much negates the rest of your point.  We don't have the habitat volume to produce the #'s and have many more hunters  that's the end of the story.

The rest of the argument about class x getting more days or better days is equally simple.  You either have to argue that the total elk harvest the state permits is too conservative or you have to argue why another group should get less harvest so that you can get either better days or more days, there's no way around it.  The Bios come up with the total surplus elk, cow/spike/bull, that can be taken in a year. Those are then allocated by user group over the course of the season setting based on prior hunter days in the field and success reported. I haven't heard anyone make a case that the number they arrive at is too low. 

An elk killed can be pegged to hunter days in the field and hunter days success rates relative to the dates they hunt.  You can't add hunter days or higher success rate days without taking a larger bite from the surplus pie. if you do that you have to recoup that loss by restricting someone else opportunity.  Unless you add animals, you can't just add opportunity without taking it from someone first.

Also, rather than looking at % of permit kills relative to the class, what's the % of permit kills compared to the % of licenses held by that group of all licenses sold?

[haus]

With regards to general seasons...Colorado gives you a full month and they stack muzzy in the middle of it then follow up with multiple rifle season options. I don't see why we couldn't do that here too.

I find it interesting that of all the hunters I work with in the oil field, not one of them has ever brought up or complained about their fish&game department...er parks department, and we have plenty of time in the patch to complain about a lot of **** 

Colorado has a much, much larger population of elk, along with a much, much smaller population of people. This results in much less hunting pressure.

habitat management, lower poaching frequency, and no tribes market hunting the crap out of any elk herds.

[huntnnw]

BS! Its all about the dollar here...there is no damn reason we cant deer hunt with our deer tag like a multi season permit holder! hell they cant get enough to apply and buy them. 8,000 multi season hunters could be afield every year and thats just fine with WDFW as long as they get their $140