WDFW seeks comments: 2015-17 hunting season proposals

[bearpaw]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
August 13, 2014
Contact: WDFW Wildlife Program, (360) 902-2515

WDFW seeks comments, schedules meetings on 2015-17 hunting season proposals

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking comments on proposed alternatives for 2015-17 hunting seasons, and has scheduled several meetings this month to discuss the proposals with the public.
The alternatives will be posted by Aug. 18 on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/ , where people can also provide comments. The Game Management Plan and scoping criteria for the 2015-17 season-setting process is available on the website as well.

WDFW is accepting comments on the alternatives through Sept. 20.

The department has also scheduled a series of public meetings in August to discuss the alternatives. The meetings will run from 7-9 p.m. and are scheduled for:

•   Aug. 19 – Spokane: Centerplace Regional Events Center, 2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, Great Room.
•   Aug. 20 – Moses Lake: Big Bend Community College ATEC Building, 7611 Bolling St. NE, Moses Lake, Masto Conference Center.
•   Aug. 21 – Ellensburg: CWU Campus 400 E University Way, Ellensburg, Wellington’s Event Center.
•   Aug. 26 – Everett: Holiday Inn Downtown, 3105 Pine St., Everett, Everett Ball Room 2.
•   Aug. 27 – Tacoma: Pacific Grill Event Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, Chinook/Klickitat Conference Room.
•   Aug. 28 – Vancouver: Heathman Lodge, 7801 NE Greenwood Dr., Vancouver, Pacific Ballroom.

Issues currently under consideration by the department for upcoming seasons include:

•   Setting spring and fall black bear seasons.
•   Early archery elk seasons.
•   Modern firearm mule deer seasons.
•   Hunting equipment, including non-toxic ammunition, expandable broadheads and crossbows.
•   Special permit drawings.
•   Baiting big game.

Dave Ware, WDFW game program manager, said comments received from the public will be used to develop specific recommendations for 2015-17 hunting seasons, which will be available for further review in January. 

Final recommendations will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for adoption next spring.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not that I care for baiting Big Game but I sure hope they are not thinking of the worst case scenario ! Would not surprise me 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Maybe they are considering baiting bears.    that would be sweet! It seems they got the point on early archery.  Expandable broadheads would be sweet but I'm not interested in competing with crossbows during bow season.  Hopefully we get some good out of the meetings.  Thanks for the post! 

[bobcat]

I'm pretty sure they're considering a ban on baiting deer and elk. It's become a lot more popular in the last few years, and I think they are getting a lot of complaints.

[t6]

Next they will want to fish with bare hooks.  Baiting deer, elk, and bears is no guarantee your going to get an animal.  It can however improve the quality of the animal the hunter takes by giving them the opportunity to evaluate the animal before shooting. 

Imagine people actually taking animals that are mature and allowing the younger / smaller ones reach quality status. 

[police women of America]

 

Not that I care for baiting Big Game but I sure hope they are not thinking of the worst case scenario ! Would not surprise me 

I'm pretty sure they're considering a ban on baiting deer and elk. It's become a lot more popular in the last few years, and I think they are getting a lot of complaints.

isn't baiting deer illegal already???

[Buck_Nasty11]

Expandable broad heads would be an awesome plus but I think they would cut back our archery season if we keep asking for more... I think if they legalized baiting it would benefit everyone, more money for the state in permits and better opportunities for us. One thing I'd like to see in the waterfowl dept is electronic decoys...

[bobcat]

Not that I care for baiting Big Game but I sure hope they are not thinking of the worst case scenario ! Would not surprise me 

I'm pretty sure they're considering a ban on baiting deer and elk. It's become a lot more popular in the last few years, and I think they are getting a lot of complaints.

isn't baiting deer illegal already???

No but it seems a lot of people think it is.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I just started baiting deer this year.  How lame.  Hopefully all the folks who bait chirp up and stop that from passing. 

[Blacktail Sniper]

Maybe they are considering baiting bears.   that would be sweet! It seems they got the point on early archery.  Expandable broadheads would be sweet but I'm not interested in competing with crossbows during bow season.  Hopefully we get some good out of the meetings.  Thanks for the post! 

I did submit a proposal along those lines.  I can start a new thread with what I submitted if folks are interested and want to comment, criticize, or just trash it all together....

[Peskadot]

It looks like there considering the early archery elk season. I'm hoping they move the dates back...

[Blacktail Sniper]

Posted what I submitted in a new thread:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,158842.0.html

[police women of America]

Not that I care for baiting Big Game but I sure hope they are not thinking of the worst case scenario ! Would not surprise me 

I'm pretty sure they're considering a ban on baiting deer and elk. It's become a lot more popular in the last few years, and I think they are getting a lot of complaints.

isn't baiting deer illegal already???

No but it seems a lot of people think it is.

cool, I'm surprised hunters-ed, WDFW, ect don't say anything about baiting. I have been looking forever to see if its legal.

[jasnt]

Next they will want to fish with bare hooks.  Baiting deer, elk, and bears is no guarantee your going to get an animal.  It can however improve the quality of the animal the hunter takes by giving them the opportunity to evaluate the animal before shooting. 

Imagine people actually taking animals that are mature and allowing the younger / smaller ones reach quality status. 

  

[bearpaw]

Not that I care for baiting Big Game but I sure hope they are not thinking of the worst case scenario ! Would not surprise me 

I'm pretty sure they're considering a ban on baiting deer and elk. It's become a lot more popular in the last few years, and I think they are getting a lot of complaints.

isn't baiting deer illegal already???

No but it seems a lot of people think it is.

cool, I'm surprised hunters-ed, WDFW, ect don't say anything about baiting. I have been looking forever to see if its legal.

It's a controversial issue that some people including some hunters greatly dislike. I think that's why it doesn't get talked about as much as many other issues.