new Desert early archery permits

[vandeman17]

I see that they have an early archery permit in 290 from September 1- Oct 7 for any buck. That could be a fun but tough hunt. If you got lucky, could even shoot one in velvet

[Ridgerunner]

Better to be the first one in there after those bucks than the last, archery guys got to be happy about that one.

[vandeman17]

Better to be the first one in there after those bucks than the last, archery guys got to be happy about that one.

Exactly and I see a lot of deer when I am out and about scouting for ducks before the season. Just hotter than heck and snakes galore that time of year. 

[trophyhunt]

That would be a heck of a challenge, but I have to say I can't stand seeing any nice animals killed while still in the velvet! Yuk!  It just looks 100% better all colored up.

[D-Rock425]

Snakes I have snakes.

[Mfowl]

These new tags bother me. There are now 30 archery tags, 29 modern tags and still only 2 ML tags for Desert. Some of those new tags should have been given to us ML guys. There are even 5 new antlerless youth tags as well. I may have to choose a new unit for my first choice in my quality buck app this year.

[MLBowhunting]

There were more archery permits last year.  No difference just cut in half now.

[BOWHUNTER45]

That would be a heck of a challenge, but I have to say I can't stand seeing any nice animals killed while still in the velvet! Yuk!  It just looks 100% better all colored up.

I agree 100% ..I like them all rutted up and Swollen necked 

[Mfowl]

There were more archery permits last year.  No difference just cut in half now.

 Irregardless, the tag allocation for that unit is unbalanced! Archery has the smallest user group applying for tags, I see no reason why they should also have the largest tag allocation as well. The scale should be balanced as that is a desirable unit for all user groups.

[dreamunelk]

Tag allocation does not equal harvest.  That is what they are thinking of when allocating tags.  If to successful they can always reduce tags.

[Bwana Bob]

 Hey, I'm turning 65 yrs, I should get one of those tags to. 

[Mfowl]

Tag allocation does not equal harvest.  That is what they are thinking of when allocating tags.  If to successful they can always reduce tags.

So by this are you suggesting that ML has the highest success rate for this unit and there for have the lowest allocation of tags? If so I disagree! In addition both MF and Archery have tags that are timed with the rut, no such allocation for ML. I think a premiere unit should have adequate opportunity for all user groups!

[vandeman17]

Tag allocation does not equal harvest.  That is what they are thinking of when allocating tags.  If to successful they can always reduce tags.

So by this are you suggesting that ML has the highest success rate for this unit and there for have the lowest allocation of tags? If so I disagree! In addition both MF and Archery have tags that are timed with the rut, no such allocation for ML. I think a premiere unit should have adequate opportunity for all user groups!

I understand and agree with your argument here but I think that the reason is two-fold. First is that archery is harder and with lower success rates than muzzy and rifle and thus the number of permits. Rifle is the cash cow of the WDFW and the largest user group so they allocate more there as well so they can get more applications and more $$. 

[Mfowl]

Tag allocation does not equal harvest.  That is what they are thinking of when allocating tags.  If to successful they can always reduce tags.

So by this are you suggesting that ML has the highest success rate for this unit and there for have the lowest allocation of tags? If so I disagree! In addition both MF and Archery have tags that are timed with the rut, no such allocation for ML. I think a premiere unit should have adequate opportunity for all user groups!

I understand and agree with your argument here but I think that the reason is two-fold. First is that archery is harder and with lower success rates than muzzy and rifle and thus the number of permits. Rifle is the cash cow of the WDFW and the largest user group so they allocate more there as well so they can get more applications and more $$. 

It occurred to me that the ML guys used to get the first season in 290 as well. Very few tags but first crack. Now there is a long season with a decent amount of hunters leading  right in to ML season and still only 2 tags for ML. As an ML hunter who applies for this unit, I feel shafted! I have no issue with the MF allocation, many more applicants than the other groups. As for archery being harder, this is certainly true. IMO a few tags shifting from archery to ML in exchange for first crack and to balance the scale a bit isn't unreasonable. I think I'll be putting my points elsewhere this season, maybe a change of pace will be the ticket.

[vandeman17]

Tag allocation does not equal harvest.  That is what they are thinking of when allocating tags.  If to successful they can always reduce tags.

So by this are you suggesting that ML has the highest success rate for this unit and there for have the lowest allocation of tags? If so I disagree! In addition both MF and Archery have tags that are timed with the rut, no such allocation for ML. I think a premiere unit should have adequate opportunity for all user groups!

I understand and agree with your argument here but I think that the reason is two-fold. First is that archery is harder and with lower success rates than muzzy and rifle and thus the number of permits. Rifle is the cash cow of the WDFW and the largest user group so they allocate more there as well so they can get more applications and more $$. 

It occurred to me that the ML guys used to get the first season in 290 as well. Very few tags but first crack. Now there is a long season with a decent amount of hunters leading  right in to ML season and still only 2 tags for ML. As an ML hunter who applies for this unit, I feel shafted! I have no issue with the MF allocation, many more applicants than the other groups. As for archery being harder, this is certainly true. IMO a few tags shifting from archery to ML in exchange for first crack and to balance the scale a bit isn't unreasonable. I think I'll be putting my points elsewhere this season, maybe a change of pace will be the ticket.

Can't argue with that. I smell what you are stepping in

[splitshot]

   I have yet to see a snake in the desert unit with the exception of bullsnakes(gopher snakes) along the wasteways.   mike w

[WAcoueshunter]

What percentage of total WA tags are muzzy?  Not including multi.  I don't know the answer, just curious. 

[fly4fish]

Most bucks will be shed of velvet by the end of the first 10 days. It doesn't take long to get some color to them.

As an archery hunter, I think the tag allocation is a bit off for the muzzy hunters, but I'm not gonna complain.

[WAcoueshunter]

What percentage of total WA tags are muzzy?  Not including multi.  I don't know the answer, just curious.

Found it - muzzy is 6.7% of the overall deer hunters.  Appears to be 53 total quality tags in the Desert, so 2 tags out of 53 is a little under 4%.  Really not that far off.  Add a 3rd and the muzzy allocation would be right there.

The tag allocation between weapons and units varies greatly.  There will be a weapon group that thinks they are getting the late tag shaft in pretty much every unit, it just varies from one weapon and unit to the next. 

[bobcat]

It's impossible to make every single person happy. Give more opportunity to one group, and the other is going to get less. I would say if you like archery or modem firearm opportunities better than the muzzleloader opportunities, then don't buy a muzzleloader tag. Choose the tag that provides what you feel is the best opportunity.

[MLBowhunting]

The cool part is you can apply for the rifle hunt and then use a muzzleloader

[Mfowl]

So to correct myself, ML is the smallest user group applying in this unit. The new regs show there were 365 apps for ML compared to 545 for archery. For some reason I was thinking there were more like 6-700 apps for ML. I still feel shafted on the whole first crack thing though!

[Thehowler]

I drew one of those muzzle deer tags some years back, I was jumping all around with excitement. Then they had the big redraw, and lost it.

[splitshot]

  I am quitting muzzy.  the permit deal is terrible.   mike w

[Chesapeake]

I quit muzzy 3 or 4 years ago. It's been a constantly escalating shaft job for the muzzle hunters for several years now. Elk is worse yet than deer. They seem to think cow tags are a fair trade for bull tags.
At least this year it looks like they expanded muzzy elk opportunity, but it seems at the expense of the hunt quality.
With the new tag/season structure many of the better units will get pounded from September straight through November and into December.

[Limhangerslayer]

I remember the last time i drew the desert unit there were like 104 permits given out and it was early back then. Got out finally towards the end and nobody was hunting.