white river elk

[trophyhunt]

The Notes says you may hunt ONLY with the hunting method in compliance with your tag.  It seems to me it's ok to hunt w archery w a muzzy tag only on a general season, special permits have different rules, at least that's how I read it?

[bobcat]

I don't read it that way. Archery IS in compliance with the muzzleloader tag.

[billythekidrock]

Just talked to enforcement, using lesser weapons is only legal if you have a modern firearm tag.  It does not apply to muzzy tags!!

I'm 99% sure that is wrong. Look in the reg's, page 48, upper left. It's in blue. You can't always believe law enforcement. They often don't know the laws they are supposed to enforce.

I would use a bow if you want. Without even asking anybody else. It's plainly spelled out in the law that you can do so.

I agree that the advice would be wrong for a general season. I am not so sure about a permit.

[bobcat]

Why would the legal methods for a tag not be the same for a general season or a permit season? That makes no sense. None. A bow would be a handicap over using a muzzleloader. They changed the law a couple of years ago to allow the use of a bow with a muzzleloader tag. I can't believe there's even a question about this. With a modern tag and a special permit hunt, you can still use a bow.

Besides, like I already said, it plainly says in the reg's that it's legal. (Look at page 48 ) If you read it differently, you're drastically overthinking this. Again, WHY would it be that way?

[billythekidrock]

Why would the legal methods for a tag not be the same for a general season or a permit season? That makes no sense. None. A bow would be a handicap over using a muzzleloader. They changed the law a couple of years ago to allow the use of a bow with a muzzleloader tag. I can't believe there's even a question about this. With a modern tag and a special permit hunt, you can still use a bow.

Besides, like I already said, it plainly says in the reg's that it's legal. (Look at page 48 ) If you read it differently, you're drastically overthinking this. Again, WHY would it be that way?

I agree with everything above, BUT I would be worried that enforcement would take it too literal.

[grundy53]

Why would the legal methods for a tag not be the same for a general season or a permit season? That makes no sense. None. A bow would be a handicap over using a muzzleloader. They changed the law a couple of years ago to allow the use of a bow with a muzzleloader tag. I can't believe there's even a question about this. With a modern tag and a special permit hunt, you can still use a bow.

Besides, like I already said, it plainly says in the reg's that it's legal. (Look at page 48 ) If you read it differently, you're drastically overthinking this. Again, WHY would it be that way?

  I read it the same way

[huntnphool]

I don't read it that way. Archery IS in compliance with the muzzleloader tag.

+1

[arrowflinger]

I don't read it that way. Archery IS in compliance with the muzzleloader tag.

+1

+2

[bigtex]

So who's ready to be mad at WDFW for bad regs???

Here's the answer.

Yes, you can use a lesser weapon for general season, BUT NOT for special permit seasons. You must use the actual weapon that was issued for the permit. So if I am hunting the general rifle elk season I can use a rifle, bow, or muzzleloader. But if I am hunting the White River sept 22-26 rifle special permit tag I can ONLY use a rifle.

Lets look at how the WAC's are written:
WAC 232-28-358 general elk season: for rifle
Hunting Method: May use modern firearm, bow and arrow, or muzzleloader, but only during modern firearm seasons.

WAC 232-28-360 special elk tags
Hunters drawn for a special permit hunt must comply with weapon restrictions, dates, and other conditions listed for the hunt.

So realistically if you were hunting in a regular season rifle any bull unit but had a rifle cow tag you could legally shoot the bull with a bow, but it would be unlawful to shoot the cow with a bow.

[trophyhunt]

 

So who's ready to be mad at WDFW for bad regs???

Here's the answer.

Yes, you can use a lesser weapon for general season, BUT NOT for special permit seasons. You must use the actual weapon that was issued for the permit. So if I am hunting the general rifle elk season I can use a rifle, bow, or muzzleloader. But if I am hunting the White River sept 22-26 rifle special permit tag I can ONLY use a rifle.

Lets look at how the WAC's are written:
WAC 232-28-358 general elk season: for rifle
Hunting Method: May use modern firearm, bow and arrow, or muzzleloader, but only during modern firearm seasons.

WAC 232-28-360 special elk tags
Hunters drawn for a special permit hunt must comply with weapon restrictions, dates, and other conditions listed for the hunt.

So realistically if you were hunting in a regular season rifle any bull unit but had a rifle cow tag you could legally shoot the bull with a bow, but it would be unlawful to shoot the cow with a bow.

kneel suckers!!!

[bobcat]

I still don't see how you interpret it that way.  What was the intent of the law when it was changed a couple of years ago?

Was the intent to only allow muzzleloaders during special permit muzzleloader hunts? If so, why?

If it really is as you say, bigtex, then it needs to be made much more clear in the regulations.

[tgray]

So who's ready to be mad at WDFW for bad regs???

Here's the answer.

Yes, you can use a lesser weapon for general season, BUT NOT for special permit seasons. You must use the actual weapon that was issued for the permit. So if I am hunting the general rifle elk season I can use a rifle, bow, or muzzleloader. But if I am hunting the White River sept 22-26 rifle special permit tag I can ONLY use a rifle.

Lets look at how the WAC's are written:
WAC 232-28-358 general elk season: for rifle
Hunting Method: May use modern firearm, bow and arrow, or muzzleloader, but only during modern firearm seasons.

WAC 232-28-360 special elk tags
Hunters drawn for a special permit hunt must comply with weapon restrictions, dates, and other conditions listed for the hunt.

So realistically if you were hunting in a regular season rifle any bull unit but had a rifle cow tag you could legally shoot the bull with a bow, but it would be unlawful to shoot the cow with a bow.

Exactly what they told me on the phone

[rosscrazyelk]

That's stupid.  If someone wants to hunt a special modern elk hunt with a bow they should.  What does it matter if you are using a lesser weapon?  Good grief

[trophyhunt]

That's stupid.  If someone wants to hunt a special modern elk hunt with a bow they should.  What does it matter if you are using a lesser weapon?  Good grief

i agree, they let you do it if its a regular tag but not if its a special permit?  It really doesn't make sense.

[bobcat]

It especially doesn't make sense when the law was written specifically so you could use a lesser weapon. But apparently some in the WDFW choose to interpret it in a way in which it was not intended, and for what? So they can write tickets to people who are doing nothing wrong? Even if nobody has been cited for this it's wrong to be telling people that they can't do it. This is the kind of thing that is making the WDFW less and less popular with the public. Myself included.