Archery Quality Elk Hunts

[sakoshooter]

My partner just brought to my attention that the "quality" hunts we're applying for in archery are actually "bull'' hunts. "Quality" hunts in the other weapon choice hunts get a earlier, later or longer season etc but not archery. Our "quality" bull hunts are the same time as the general season. Nothing "quality" about that.
Other than the WDFW gets $13.70(quality) vs $7.10 for a ''bull'' application.
I think a "quality" archery hunt should run an extra week to put it more in the rut without any other archers in the field other than "quality" hunt tag holders. If not, reduce the applicaton fee to $7.10 and stop ripping off the hunter.

[vandeman17]

I posted something very similar in another thread. Only thing that makes it quality, at least for the units I am interested in, is the chance to shoot a branch antlered bull. Still the same time frame which is early and missed most everything but pre rut.

[bobcat]

This wouldn't be an issue if they hadn't switched to this ridiculous new system where all permits have to be in one category or another. But, that's the way it is now. The WDFW decides if it's quality or not, and we decide if it's worth burning our points on.

You think the eastside elk permits are bad- look at the west side. I'm having trouble finding anything worth applying for in the quality elk hunts. Oh and by the way, when is Margaret and Toutle going to be opened up for general season? According to rumor, it should have gone to a general season last year. 

[D-Rock425]

Don't forget about nooksack bobcat and its 50 something day season.

[sakoshooter]

Our 'quality' hunts should be under the 'bull' hunt listing and only cost $7.10 to apply for. There is no quality in any of these hunts other than what we put into them. Just another rip off by our WDFW. $13.70. $6.60 more than a 'bull special hunt' every time we apply. 

[RadSav]

Don't forget about nooksack bobcat and its 50 something day season.

Bowhunter45 says there are no quality elk in the Nook.  I think he also said we have to live within 15 minutes of his house or we aren't allowed to apply

[Bullkllr]

You think the eastside elk permits are bad- look at the west side. I'm having trouble finding anything worth applying for in the quality elk hunts. Oh and by the way, when is Margaret and Toutle going to be opened up for general season? According to rumor, it should have gone to a general season last year. 

In my view that has been a pretty idle, if on-going rumor. Even if it makes sense from a "quality" hunt perspective, why would DFW put those units in to general seasons when thousands of application fees are collected each year...because there really isn't much else at all to put in for?

[sakoshooter]

You think the eastside elk permits are bad- look at the west side. I'm having trouble finding anything worth applying for in the quality elk hunts. Oh and by the way, when is Margaret and Toutle going to be opened up for general season? According to rumor, it should have gone to a general season last year. 

In my view that has been a pretty idle, if on-going rumor. Even if it makes sense from a "quality" hunt perspective, why would DFW put those units in to general seasons when thousands of application fees are collected each year...because there really isn't much else at all to put in for?

Because they said they would right after the elk herds stabilized. They said this when they switched east side elk to spike only. They said they'd open it back up to branched antler bulls as soon as the bull to cow ratios came up. Well boys and girls, it's been opened back up for branched antlered bulls by drawing only and only after the WDFW soaks us all for a few million $$$ first.

[RadSav]

They said this when they switched east side elk to spike only. They said they'd open it back up to branched antler bulls as soon as the bull to cow ratios came up. Well boys and girls, it's been opened back up for branched antlered bulls by drawing only and only after the WDFW soaks us all for a few million $$$ first.

You didn't actually believe a government agency when they told you, "We'll take from you today, but we'll give it back to you tomorrow."  Did you?   In political speak the word "Give Back" has a different meaning.  In Webster's Political Dictionary the definition of "Give Back" means, "Oh, you are so screwed it makes us laugh."

I can't ever remember a government plan that put it's fingers around my throat and ever let go.  I think cause of death in America is a conspiracy.  I believe the leading cause of death is "choking or asphyxiation"  stemming from Uncle Sam strangling the ever living crap out of a man.

[RadSav]

As far as Westside Quality Elk Hunts I look at it this way;

Half of the WF user groups best "Quality Bull Elk" hunts fall into the General Early Archery elk season.  Sure we have an earlier non-peak rut hunt.  But we also get first crack at them.  And it costs us nothing but the general license fees.

I do think we should at least be given the opportunity to draw for a late season bull tag in many of these general areas where we only get cows now.  But I'll take first crack in early September over limited permit chances a week later every time.  Especially with my drawing luck  

Archers have some dang good early bull opportunities on the west side.  Had a lot more before WDFW decided to let our southwest herd just die off with their "Do nothing/Ignore the problem" policy.

[D-Rock425]

I'm not upset about quality permits we have I'm more upset about the lack of bull permit options we have.  I don't see a reason not to give out a few late season bull tags in most areas.

[Fullabull]

Allowing the Quality permit archery hunters to hunt a week past general season would help to make the branch bull harvest more equitable.

[bobcat]

Allowing the Quality permit archery hunters to hunt a week past general season would help to make the branch bull harvest more equitable.

Now that's a good idea that even the WDFW might agree to. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[D-Rock425]

That would be nice.

[Band]

I don't see a reason not to give out a few late season bull tags in most areas.

They do!  And you don't even have to apply, pay for them, or observe a limit.  The only catch is that you have to belong to a tribe.

[sakoshooter]

Allowing the Quality permit archery hunters to hunt a week past general season would help to make the branch bull harvest more equitable.

That's exactly what I had in mind. That would be considered "quality" time.

[bobcat]

Only problem with that is then they'd have to do something similar wih the muzzleloader quality elk hunts. I guess they'd have to move the opening date ahead by a week, so instead of being October 4th this year, it would be September 27th.

[Rainier10]

Allowing the Quality permit archery hunters to hunt a week past general season would help to make the branch bull harvest more equitable.

I know this would be great especially this year if I draw on the east side.  Things just start ramping up in my area around the 14th.  Hunting cows and spikes isn't bad early but if you had a big bull tag it would be nice to be hunting the 14th -21st.

Of course all would be solved if they just changed back to a fixed season of the 8th-21st, at least where I hunt it would help.

[Fullabull]

Only problem with that is then they'd have to do something similar wih the muzzleloader quality elk hunts. I guess they'd have to move the opening date ahead by a week, so instead of being October 4th this year, it would be September 27th.

If that is the case then the ML season should follow the archer season by moving by however many days the archery season does. The archery season moves from Sept 2nd to the 8th for starting dates, so the ML season should follow that model. That way the week after archer or before ML will have the same affect.

[xXLojackXx]

So what's the difference between bull permits and quality permits?

[fair-chase]

So what's the difference between bull permits and quality permits?

About $6.00

[sakoshooter]

So what's the difference between bull permits and quality permits?

About $6.00

$6 times ? applicants = $Thousands.
In all fairness to US, it should cost $7.10 not $13.70