Why Early Archery Season Start Date Needs To Change

[D-Rock425]

I've only ever shot 1 branched bull and it was the 2nd year the season started sept 8th.  I was the only one in camp for the first 2 days of the season.  Took my 12 hours to pack that bull out by myself good times.

[idahohuntr]

My understanding of why WDFW moved the season earlier was not beacause overall success rates were way out of line compared to other weapon types, but at least on the west side Archers composed 18% of the elk hunters but they were taking 36% of the 5+ point bulls.  So it was more about spreading out the harvest of branch bulls.  I bet if you proposed a spike only rule or went to special apps for branch bull archery tags WDFW would give you back that Sep 8 opener   

[Fullabull]

My understanding of why WDFW moved the season earlier was not beacause overall success rates were way out of line compared to other weapon types, but at least on the west side Archers composed 18% of the elk hunters but they were taking 36% of the 5+ point bulls.  So it was more about spreading out the harvest of branch bulls.  I bet if you proposed a spike only rule or went to special apps for branch bull archery tags WDFW would give you back that Sep 8 opener   

That is why I put those number up. WDFW have never posted them for special permit hunts like this. They only showed the general season numbers which is not a true reflection of what group harvests the majority of branch bulls. That is why I did this so people can really see it and hopefully ask to have the season changed back to the 8th to the 21st or 22nd. It will be interesting to see the numbers after the 2015 season when it will start on the 8th for that one year before going backwards again.

[returnofsid]

The Special Permit Harvest Report numbers are wrong.  I can only guess there was a glitch in the system but the currently posted numbers aren't even close to accurate.

[Fullabull]

The data is pretty much the same in past years as well. I had heard it was messed up when the first posted it but it was fixed and these numbers reflect that.

[idahohuntr]

My understanding of why WDFW moved the season earlier was not beacause overall success rates were way out of line compared to other weapon types, but at least on the west side Archers composed 18% of the elk hunters but they were taking 36% of the 5+ point bulls.  So it was more about spreading out the harvest of branch bulls.  I bet if you proposed a spike only rule or went to special apps for branch bull archery tags WDFW would give you back that Sep 8 opener   

That is why I put those number up. WDFW have never posted them for special permit hunts like this. They only showed the general season numbers which is not a true reflection of what group harvests the majority of branch bulls. That is why I did this so people can really see it and hopefully ask to have the season changed back to the 8th to the 21st or 22nd. It will be interesting to see the numbers after the 2015 season when it will start on the 8th for that one year before going backwards again.

I didn't look at any of the numbers you posted, but wdfw is trying to achieve fairness by trying to keep branch bull harvest proportional to the participation rate for the different weapons...so per your comment I would guess MF guys killed most of the bulls...which they should if most people hunt MF.  Like I said earlier, the issue was 18% of the hunters were archers and they were killing 36% of the branch bulls. 

Of course archers wants the season Sep 8-21 but apparently out of fairness/population concerns etc. WDFW can't do that with a general season.  Most wildlife management is a trade-off and you have to compromise.  For example, if you went to a permit only branch bull archery system where wdfw could limit the numbers of archers then they would probably be able to do Sep 8-21...are you willing to give up otc hunting to achieve that???  Its easy for folks to say "I want to hunt the peak of the rut"...its what they are willing to give up to allow such management that things get tough.   

[Dbax129]

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 

2nd that!

[RadSav]

When you look at the fairness scale you also have to look at drawing success numbers.  For quality bull permits approx. 2.7% of bowhunters draw quality bull permits, approx. 1% of muzzy hunters draw QB permits and approx.  .5% of rifle hunters draw QB permits.  Where would those 5X5 percentage numbers be if all user groups only received .5% of their total hunter numbers in permits?  Or, what would the numbers be if 2.7% of each user group received QB tags?  Modern and Muzzy user groups have been taking it in the short for some time with drawing odds.  All to balance out the harvest numbers.  So when archers start complaining about fairness I start to get a little nervous!  And we don't even know what the end result of these earlier seasons are going to be yet.  The December Toutle numbers have a large impact on those westside total quality archery bull numbers.  So I'm not sure we are going to see much change at all.  To be honest, I don't see where it is going to negatively change my personal success percentages one bit.  Perhaps my enjoyment level, but not my success percentages!

[motg9_6]

since i went back to archery im 3 for 3. 4x5 1st year 5x5 2nd year & 5x6 3rd year. i dont think it changed my success but i would really like to hunt the same area with screaming bulls to get that level 10 personal enjoyment factor. dont foresee it happening and not wanting to go elsewhere so i guess im stuck.

[Fullabull]

I'm sure it would not change success rates for some of the folks who know what they are doing and know their hunting areas well but it would change things for a lot of others who are not as experienced or who cannot hike back in as far as others. An early season of the 8th to the 21st does not cut into the prime rut that much. There would still be three weeks of their most active rutting time without hunters in the woods.

[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 **** 

[returnofsid]

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.

[snowpack]

Colorado gets a lot of non-resident interest.  Easiest/closest elk state to drive to for all the hunters from the south.

[motg9_6]

Maybe their population is due to their managment

[Fullabull]

We do get a late season but I have said before I would give up a week of the late season to have a constant Sept. 8th to the 21st early season. Not a bad trade off