Big thanks to Pope, Todd and others

[Gamblin Guy]

Pope/Todd and anyone else that worked with the GMAC to get our archery elk seasons moved back to a reasonable starting date, just wanted to say thanks.

I was very skeptical that the change would be made, my hat is off to you all.

 

[popeshawnpaul]

Thanks, it's been a long 6 years to get this accomplished.  While I'm happy we made much progress in my focused objective with the early elk season start date, I'm more frustrated that I couldn't get Alta or another unit for late mule open to increase opportunity and decrease pressure on swakane.  Next package!

Thanks to Ren Sarnes.  He was with me at every meeting and we equally fought this through this package.  I'm proud at how WSAA & WSB have been able to work together for this package.  That cooperation greatly helped all bowhunters, whether they know it or not.

Right now, we will need members to start looking at other issues to fight for.  In the interim,  I'm concerned about the increased muzzy opportunity and how it will affect resource allocation.   

[huntnphool]

I'm more frustrated that I couldn't get Alta or another unit for late mule open to increase opportunity and decrease pressure on swakane.  Next package!

 Adding Alta would make the most sense, remove pressure from Swakane and Pogue late hunts.
 

[4fletch]

Humongous thank you guys for the hard work Time and $ you guys do for us

[Eli346]

Thanks guys. Your work is not going unnoticed here and in the politico game.

[D-Rock425]

Thanks guys.

[Todd_ID]

Thanks for the thumbs up guys!  Shawn is right. We need more opportunity for the late season hunters. But the more important part is that it's VERY GOOD that we're now working with WDFW and not in an adversarial role against them. Hunters have always known what should be done to properly manage a population: now we've proved we can work with the agency in a way which keeps hunters happy AND manages wildlife. 

[Skyvalhunter]

I'm more frustrated that I couldn't get Alta or another unit for late mule open to increase opportunity and decrease pressure on swakane.  Next package!

 Adding Alta would make the most sense, remove pressure from Swakane and Pogue late hunts.

Time to reduce the permits and pressure on the Alta unit herd and let it try to come back to even a shadow of what it used to be.

[wsmnut]

I'm more frustrated that I couldn't get Alta or another unit for late mule open to increase opportunity and decrease pressure on swakane.  Next package!

 Adding Alta would make the most sense, remove pressure from Swakane and Pogue late hunts.

Time to reduce the permits and pressure on the Alta unit herd and let it try to come back to even a shadow of what it used to be.

I agree with Skyvalhunter.  Adding pressure to Alta would be a huge mistake.  That unit needs a lot of time to even remotely begin to recover.  I hope to live long enough to see it get back to half of what it should be.

Wsmnut

[pianoman9701]

Huge success, guys. My WSB membership money was well-spent! 

[popeshawnpaul]

I'm more frustrated that I couldn't get Alta or another unit for late mule open to increase opportunity and decrease pressure on swakane.  Next package!

 Adding Alta would make the most sense, remove pressure from Swakane and Pogue late hunts.

Time to reduce the permits and pressure on the Alta unit herd and let it try to come back to even a shadow of what it used to be.

I agree with Skyvalhunter.  Adding pressure to Alta would be a huge mistake.  That unit needs a lot of time to even remotely begin to recover.  I hope to live long enough to see it get back to half of what it should be.

Wsmnut

You can simply take some pressure off by adjusting other weapon type pressure.  Bowhunters kill very little even in a late general season. 

[UBA]

If the Alta isn't what it used to be then what is the Swakane going to turn into?  The pressure up there is crazy.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well like some of the Quality buck units they end up transitioning to Buck permits due to the lack of trophy animals. It happened with East Okanogan and others. This will happen to Alta. Having over 10 preference points for quality deer Alta unit is not even in my top 5 anymore. Not to say there are not respectable bucks there as I know places that hold them but I know the unit well. Just like last year you have these guys with high preference points that draw the unit not knowing enough about the unit. They end up shooting a legal buck or none at all do to holding out for large buck. 

[boneaddict]

Awesome job guys.   Proud to be a member of the WSB.  If you are a bow hunter, you should have a membership. 

The alta is vey sick.   Predator permits should be the only permits issued for that unit for the next three years.  Yes I can find and kill a big deer there, but it's in pitiful condition at the moment. 

And I was around when that was a late archery hunt.   Those were certainly the days. 

[huntnphool]

I'm more frustrated that I couldn't get Alta or another unit for late mule open to increase opportunity and decrease pressure on swakane.  Next package!

 Adding Alta would make the most sense, remove pressure from Swakane and Pogue late hunts.

Time to reduce the permits and pressure on the Alta unit herd and let it try to come back to even a shadow of what it used to be.

 Let's start by issuing 1900 doe permits in knee jerk prediction of a "possible" devastating winter huh?

 How about the increase in quality buck permits over the last two seasons throughout the Methow?

 Yeah, a late archery season is what's really going to destroy Alta right?

[Rainier10]

Thanks guys for putting in the work.  And yes more late season options would decrease pressure in the units that are open.  Just not so much opportunity that you get a huge influx of people wanting to bowhunt.  I am concerned about how many options there now are for muzzy hunting and how many people say they are going muzzy hunting because of it.  It will be interesting to watch the harvest reports.

Thanks again for all the effort.

[popeshawnpaul]

I runt he numbers every year Rainier10.  Muzzy is relatively inline with deer.  They have a major advantage on elk and just got 20 more units.  If they are as successful as I think they will be, there will be a major adjustment next season.

[popeshawnpaul]

Those that complain about swakane being crowded...you are not helping.  They listen to that complaint and then consider closing it as the "obvious" answer.  So every year WSB needs to fight to keep it open so the common man can go out and hunt late season in a unit that might have a potential migrating trophy deer.  I know, most of you on here are trophy hunters and would accept a draw system to lessen hunters.  Most regular hunters are not into that.  The answer to perceived crowding is to close the unit.  That would then further crowd all the other units.  Opening up more areas lessens the perceived impact of crowding. 


There are as much or more modern rifle hunters most years than late archery Swakane hunters.  Modern rifle usually kills as much or more than late archers.  Modern hunters hunt early and kill all the "resident" local bucks suppressing that population.  Lifted restrictions in other units will hopefully lessen crowding.  I think archers aren't used to crowding and modern hunters are, thus, the large bitching from archery hunters with respect to crowding. 
Reality is, archers don't kill that many bucks in Swakane.

[bearpaw]

Good work guys!

[willapawapiti]

A big thank you from the over here on the coast!!!

[400out]

I'm no stick flicker but good job! 

[Rainier10]

I'm no stick flicker but good job! 

I think all hunters should be happy overall with the new regs.  There will always be things to complain about but I think for the most part opportunity and options for hunting methods improved across the board.