Here's my question what about the animals?? There needs to be a set open date for shed hunting there are way to many people chasing animal for there shed early in the season. Between late hunting season, winter, predators these animal need a little break.
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I couldn't agree more. Our herds are getting chased and run around hard in the late winter in the name of shed hunting. Everyone on this website talks about wanting to help the herds and on and on but a topic like this steers towards how terrible any sort of regulation is. How can we have it both ways? Wyoming has a winter range closure that prohibits picking up sheds until a certain date. I think something like that would be the best scenario as it eliminates several of the concerns raised.
One problem with creating a winter range closure area or a shed hunting "season" is the segment of population that is exempt from state laws... The only way this would work is if the whole population is required to respect the winter range closure / seasons.
Not true. Although total compliance would be the best possible scenario for the ungulates, any relief is a good thing. It would be up to the biologists, however, to determine whether an area is a wintering area and should be restricted.
In your comment about the "whole population", I assume you're referring to Native Americans, right? And just because they're not bound by state laws doesn't mean appeals can't be made to tribal councils or that they don't already have cooperative agreements in place to protect ungulates at risk in their wintering habitat. Contrary to some popular HuntWA beliefs, many Native Americans are concerned for the welfare of our wildlife resources.