Not impressed

[huntnphool]

I ment as an over the counter tag. I watch these hunting shows where elk are bugling all over the place and the guy has a rifle tag.

And where would this be??   I'm not aware of OTC rifle rut hunt tags anywhere?

Actually, Washington does indeed have a few, only there is a crap load of money going over the counter.

Hey I'm talking the OTC from Wal-Mart not the OTC from the Range Rover dealer   

 You can buy raffle tickets OTC, maybe not at Wl-Mart though, and that's basically what the "raffle" has turned into, expensive OTC tags.

[jackelope]

If you want to call thousands of dollars scooping up all the raffle tickets "OTC".

[huntnphool]

If you want to call thousands of dollars scooping up all the raffle tickets "OTC".

 Like I said, that's basically what it is, very little risk involved for those that purchase 1000+ tickets.

[JimmyHoffa]

I ment as an over the counter tag. I watch these hunting shows where elk are bugling all over the place and the guy has a rifle tag.

And where would this be??   I'm not aware of OTC rifle rut hunt tags anywhere?

Actually, Washington does indeed have a few, only there is a crap load of money going over the counter.

Hey I'm talking the OTC from Wal-Mart not the OTC from the Range Rover dealer   

 You can buy raffle tickets OTC, maybe not at Wl-Mart though, and that's basically what the "raffle" has turned into, expensive OTC tags.

Yeah, you can get them at Wally World. 

[pianoman9701]

I ment as an over the counter tag. I watch these hunting shows where elk are bugling all over the place and the guy has a rifle tag.

And where would this be??   I'm not aware of OTC rifle rut hunt tags anywhere?

I dont just mean Washington. Wow guys was just saying doesn't seem that hard. I have hunted the blues all my life, if i had a rifle bull tag in the rut, i could be done in the first morning. Not saying he would be a monster.

So your point is? My point is that everyone hunts differently. Some use bows, some bows and bait, some muzzleloaders, some rifles. It doesn't matter what method you use to hunt as long as you hunt and you do it well. If you need something to be "not impressed" with, go talk to a vegan for an hour. After that, you won't find anything wrong with rifle or any other hunter.

[huntingbaldguy]

The longbowman is not impressed with the recurve shooter.
The recurve bowman is not impressed with the compound shooter.
The compound shooter is not impressed with the crossbow shooter.
The crossbowman is not impressed with the muzzy shooter.
The muzzy hunter is not impressed with the 30-30 Win shooter.
The 30-30 hunter is not impressed with the long range magnum shooter.
The long range magnum guy is not impressed with the tank mounted 416 Barrett...
The anti hunter isn't impressed with the longbowman, the recurve bowman, the compound bowman, the crossbowman, the muzzy hunter, the 30-30 shooter, the long range magnum guy and likely not the 416 tank mounted Barrett either.

If the law permits it and the management is sound who really cares if I'm impressed or not?  Stand together or fall as individuals.


ELITIST
adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior

+1

[Taco280AI]

Go easy on the guy, he is a 49er fan which shows a lot about his judgment and character 


I know what he's saying though, just seems too easy using a rifle during the elk rut. As far as those premium tags - Governor's tag - I think they should do away with the highest bidder (auctions) and do raffles. That way the guy who can only afford one tag still has a chance, just as the guy who can afford 1000 tags and the state still benefits from all the funds raised. 

[RadSav]

As far as those premium tags - Governor's tag - I think they should do away with the highest bidder (auctions) and do raffles. That way the guy who can only afford one tag still has a chance, just as the guy who can afford 1000 tags and the state still benefits from all the funds raised. 

They do both now.  I don't think adding one more tag to the raffle will raise anywhere near as much for wildlife as the one single governors tag does.  For one eastside and one westside bull per year the funds generated do help.  Though I do think the state could offer more raffle bulls in many areas without effecting the numbers in a negative way.  They offer two moose raffle tags so you would think they could give out two or three elk raffle tags in the Elk (westside) and Elk (eastside) categories.  I'd support that!  But it still wouldn't add up to the funds raised by the Governor's auction.

[RadSav]

As hunters I think we need to be careful using the terms "It's not fair" or "It's too easy" as that is often times counter productive.  It is also a hunter specific situation.  To the 10% of bowhunters that kill 90% of the animals you could say elk hunting to them is not fair to the elk.  To the rifle hunter who has not filled a tag in his life a rut tag might not be as easy as it seems it should be.  It would be impossible to manage wildlife on an individual hunter aptitude basis.  So most states attempt to manage by achieving a health and harvest goal by user group.  For some states and units that allows rifle hunters during the rut and in others it does not.  Seasons are usually longer if not and the vast majority of hunters prefer that over a lottery or waiting list.

What impresses you or me is irrelevant.  We are all sportsmen and should support each others individuality even if our weapon choice or impressions very.  The fight for our hunting future is stronger if we stand and fight unified.  It is also stronger if we are willing to make some sacrifices that help maintain a proper balance in health and harvest of our recourses.  As soon as this noble heritage becomes about "me" and "my impressions" the less it becomes about "our opportunities" and "hunters (plural) rights".  That does not mean we can't debate what being a good steward means to each individual.  In that regard a good debate and open discussion is quite beneficial and shows outsiders that we are concerned sportsmen and hunters and not blood thirsty Mongols. 

It's a fine line we walk.  Made infinitely more difficult if we do not pay close attention to the words we use and the actions we take.  I think the OP's concerns are valid ones.  Certainly worth open discussion and debate.  It was just the words and the actions that took away from constructive debate about stewardship.  As time passes and social arrogance evolves hunters become less the valued providers and more the prey of a judgmental society.  Our survival today is as much dependent on recognizing the dangers within as anticipating the dangers from behind.  Image and solidarity means everything!

[grundy53]

Well said!

[Bob33]

". I have hunted the blues all my life, if i had a rifle bull tag in the rut, i could be done in the first morning."

Someone needs to tip WDFW about this so they can close down these rifle hunts in the rut.

[pianoman9701]

". I have hunted the blues all my life, if i had a rifle bull tag in the rut, i could be done in the first morning."

Someone needs to tip WDFW about this so they can close down these rifle hunts in the rut.

 

[Rick]

just doesn't seem as fair to the elk.

I'm guessing from an elk's perspective, none of the methods we use to kill them would be considered fair.

[jackelope]

I ment as an over the counter tag. I watch these hunting shows where elk are bugling all over the place and the guy has a rifle tag.

And where would this be??   I'm not aware of OTC rifle rut hunt tags anywhere?

I dont just mean Washington. Wow guys was just saying doesn't seem that hard. I have hunted the blues all my life, if i had a rifle bull tag in the rut, i could be done in the first morning. Not saying he would be a monster.

Still curious to know where these OTC rifle rut tags are.
99% sure you're going to find they are either drawn as permits or purchased as auction type tags or indian reservation tags.

You know there are rifle rut hunts in the Blues, right?
They're not OTC, but they do exist.

[bobcat]

just doesn't seem as fair to the elk.

I'm guessing from an elk's perspective, none of the methods we use to kill them would be considered fair.

That sounds like what a vegetarian might say. Eating any kind of meat- is that really "fair" to the animal that had to die so that we could eat it?