Why Early Archery Season Start Date Needs To Change

[Fullabull]

WDFW changed the seasons for Archery hunters years ago to start the day after Labor day. Since then Archery success rates have been falling. There is no good reason for the current starting dates, it has only served to reduce the number of branch bulls harvested by Archery hunters. I have noticed in the general season harvest reports that they try and make it look like success rates are kind of equal between hunting groups.

But what they do not show you is how much disparity there  is in the success rates for Special Permit hunts. I took the time to go through them and provide the success rates below.

Archers need to demand going back to early season starting date of Sept. 8th and keep it there.

Quality Bull Hunt MF         
Hunters   251   Permits   305   
Spike  2 Point   3 Point   4 Point   5 + Point
 8         3             6           20          116
Total Bulls   153   Success   61%   
   Branch Bull Success   54%   

Quality Bull Hunt AR         
Hunters   406   Permits   580   
Spike     2 Point   3 Point    4 Point    5 + Point
  5             2          0              5              57
Total Bulls   69   Success   17%   
   Branch Bull Success   15%   

Quality Bull Hunt ML         
Hunters   108   Permits   141   
Spike     2 Point   3 Point    4 Point    5 + Point
3             2              0              3           42
Total Bulls   50   Success   46%   
   Branch Bull Success   41%   

Bull Elk Permits MF         
Hunters   482   Permits   598   
Spike     2 Point   3 Point    4 Point    5 + Point
16            8         8             30              146
Total Bulls   208   Success   43%   
   Branch Bull Success   36%   

Bull Elk Permits AR         
Hunters   60   Permits   87   
Spike     2 Point   3 Point    4 Point    5 + Point
   2          0              2              0          13
Total Bulls   17   Success   28%   
   Branch Bull Success   22%   

Bull Elk Permits ML         
Hunters   48   Permits   71   
Spike    2 Point   3 Point    4 Point    5 + Point
   2           0           0            1               11
Total Bulls   14   Success   29%   
   Branch Bull Success   25%   

[buglebuster]

While I appreciate your work putting this together, those numbers are so far off on hunter reporting that you can't get an accurate answer.

[Deathgrip]

We noticed the change when "Advanced Hunters" got to start with ANY weapon on the first of August. A family friend was shooting two elk with his rifle on the first weekend of the month in the area that we bow hunted for over ten years. The Elk never bugled after that. The herds were broke up and scattered. Am I blaming this all on them? No but it sure as hell didn't help. Washington State does not want to be in the Elk game. If you look at the amount of cow tags given around the state in the last 6 years it will make you sick. I hunted in Idaho last year and was amazed at the number of Elk. My friend told me that this was nothing as compared to 7 years ago. Yet there herds were unbelievable compared to ours. Its sad that we chose to drive 14 hours and spent thousands of dollars in their state just to have quality hunting when we should be able to drive an hour south of home and have the same. With all the new pay to play and tribal hunting in this state it just doesn't pay to buy a tag here anymore. Yes there is still elk around and places to get them. But I feel this state is doomed no matter what day we get to start.
Sorry I got off topic a little but its how I feel.

[pianoman9701]

I'm having no problems getting close to elk with the early dates. Wherever I've hunted in S and SW WA, they rarely if ever bugle but they come in to calling. I don't personally have a problem with the dates as they are. 

The one thing I will say is that it's damned hot, but that could happen anytime in September.

[motg9_6]

i personally havent had an issue getting in the elk either but i would like the opportunity to get those screamers that are hot to trot wanting to kick some ace intead of these sneaky quite oh  look here i am elk.

[pianoman9701]

I understand that. I think the way it's set up, we have that opportunity sometimes and the MLs have it sometimes.

[washelkhunter]

AR gets to hunt the beginning of the rut always. ML hunts the tail end of the rut always. The reason no one hunts the middle of the rut is because most of the breeding bulls would be killed off and then what? Seems to me AR has precious little to whine about. You get liberal take, 12 days, and all the prime units. Fugettaboutit.

[bullfisher]

The purpose of the later start date was to decrease the hunting pressure during their peak breeding window.

[motg9_6]

AR gets to hunt the beginning of the rut always. ML hunts the tail end of the rut always. The reason no one hunts the middle of the rut is because most of the breeding bulls would be killed off and then what? Seems to me AR has precious little to whine about. You get liberal take, 12 days, and all the prime units. Fugettaboutit.

other states with PREMIER DESTINATION elk hunting hunt the prime every year and their herds seem to do better than ours. Heres something to think about. Turkeys, kill the big toms and the jakes breed more and thus theres more turkeys made every year. same with dominate coyotes kill them the others will breed rapidly till new dominance is established. seems like this would work with elk as well

[Fullabull]

Starting Sept 8th each year still leaves 2 to 3 weeks during prime rut for the elk to do there thing. that would be just fine. ML's hunt more in the rut than Archers do! That is why they restrict the units they can hunt.

[motg9_6]

Starting Sept 8th each year still leaves 2 to 3 weeks during prime rut for the elk to do there thing. that would be just fine. ML's hunt more in the rut than Archers do! That is why they restrict the units they can hunt.

agreed

[washelkhunter]

Starting Sept 8th each year still leaves 2 to 3 weeks during prime rut for the elk to do there thing. that would be just fine. ML's hunt more in the rut than Archers do! That is why they restrict the units they can hunt.

I could support that; if AR is limited to one week; Sun-Sun, 2nd week of Sept.

[snowpack]

Starting Sept 8th each year still leaves 2 to 3 weeks during prime rut for the elk to do there thing. that would be just fine. ML's hunt more in the rut than Archers do! That is why they restrict the units they can hunt.

I could support that; if AR is limited to one week; Sun-Sun, 2nd week of Sept.

It would be as crowded and crazy as the early muzzy elk seasons.

[jackmaster]

i know a few bow hunters and they all whack a bull every year here on the wetside i have elk in my backyard almost the whole bow season give or take a day when its hotter than the firey pits of hell, almost wish i could shoot a bow

[stromdiddily]

i know a few bow hunters and they all whack a bull every year here on the wetside i have elk in my backyard almost the whole bow season give or take a day when its hotter than the firey pits of hell, almost wish i could shoot a bow

PM me your address, I'll come take care of that population problem you seem to have