2015 regs are out

[Sitka_Blacktail]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01712/wdfw01712.pdf

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Also, 2014 harvest reports are out.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2014/

[bobcat]

Looked at the deer report and it looks okay, but wow, the sheep report is really messed up. The permit I had last year it shows 3 hunters, killed 3 sheep, for an 8% success rate. 

[pd]

Every year there is something unexpected in the new regulations.  I don't mean those things well discussed, like the 4-point rule in the NE.  I mean something truly unexpected  This would be a great thread to discuss this.

Question: What happened to the Lincoln unit Spring bear hunt?  P. 65 in the new regulations.

I am happy to see new units open up, such as Bear River and Long Beach, and more tags in the NE, but why did Lincoln go away?  I don't remember hearing a discussion of that.

[bobcat]

I think Weyerhaeuser must have decided they didn't want to host the spring bear hunt on their land anymore. Not sure why, but probably because it really didn't benefit them in any way. They already have hound hunters in there chasing and killing bears. So why do they need boot hunters who don't kill any bears anyway?

[Whitpirate]

I think if there isn't some public access they should get to use contract hunters.  Double standard much WDFW?

[trophyhunt]

Have you guys seen them in stores yet?

[pd]

Next Question:  On Page 28 (Second Deer Tag section), it says: "The price of a second deer tag has decreased, please see page 4 for pricing information."  Isn't this a mistake?

The 2015 price is listed as $43.40 for the resident adult.  The 2014 price was also $43.40.  Did the price really go down in 2015, or is this old news (and, and out dated template for regulations)?

[vandeman17]

Have you guys seen them in stores yet?

I have not seen them yet

[bigfoot13]

Sweet, my unit now has a late archery season too. In my unit early archery season is September 1-30, and late season is November 25-December 15. If I get a deer license and an archery tag, can I hunt both seasons?

[splitshot]

is the paper version out yet?  am too old to read that stuff online.        mike w

[Alan K]

Sweet, my unit now has a late archery season too. In my unit early archery season is September 1-30, and late season is November 25-December 15. If I get a deer license and an archery tag, can I hunt both seasons?

Cool.  Your archery tag is valid for both the early and late archery seasons.

[Mfowl]

I am surprised that the Little Naches QBull for MF runs concurrently with the Peaches Ridge QBull for ML. That's a lot of extra competition for the ML guys. Does that also mean that ML hunters will have to wear hunter orange in that unit during the general season?

[trophyhunt]

I am surprised that the Little Naches QBull for MF runs concurrently with the Peaches Ridge QBull for ML. That's a lot of extra competition for the ML guys. Does that also mean that ML hunters will have to wear hunter orange in that unit during the general season?

It has been that way for years I believe, as far as orange goes, I would want it on with the rifle guys around..  But I'm not sure if it's the law or not, I would guess it is the law to wear it. 

[Naches Sportsman]

I am surprised that the Little Naches QBull for MF runs concurrently with the Peaches Ridge QBull for ML. That's a lot of extra competition for the ML guys. Does that also mean that ML hunters will have to wear hunter orange in that unit during the general season?

Well with all the increased tags for youth and disabled during that time as well, that wouldn't be my desired tag to have.

[6haase6]

Not 100% sure about it but I don't think you have to wear orange for special permits unless it says you have to or it runs with a modern season. Even for modern permits.

[Bob33]

Not 100% sure about it but I don't think you have to wear orange for special permits unless it says you have to or it runs with a modern season. Even for modern permits.

Modern permit hunters must wear orange.

[rtspring]

Muzzy permit holders dont have to wear orange even if a rifle permit is open in the same unit..  We beat this up two years ago. Only modern tag holders have to wear orange..

[6haase6]

Thabks Bob. Haven't ever looked into it. Just heard it somewhere.

[lamrith]

Muzzy permit holders dont have to wear orange even if a rifle permit is open in the same unit..  We beat this up two years ago. Only modern tag holders have to wear orange..

Maybe something changed in the regs then?  Because now they are pretty clear that Hunter orange is required during Modern season.
PER PAGE5 of the 2015 regs:

Under the following conditions a minimum of 400 square inches of
fluorescent hunter orange exterior clothing is required. It must be worn
above the waist and be visible from all sides. A hat, by itself, does not meet
this requirement.

• Anyone hunting deer or elk during any modern firearm deer or elk
  general season is required to wear fluorescent hunter orange clothing.
  All modern firearm permit holders must wear fluorescent hunter
  orange clothing. This includes archers and muzzleloaders while
  hunting in units (e.g., GMUs, Deer Areas, Elk Areas, Wilderness
  Areas, etc.) that overlap modern firearm general seasons.
• Anyone hunting in an area that is open for modern firearm deer or elk
  hunting must meet hunter orange requirements if they are hunting
  any of the following species: Bear, Bobcat, Cougar, Coyote, Deer, Elk,
  Fox, Grouse, Hare, Rabbit, or Raccoon.
• During any upland game bird season, anyone hunting upland game
  birds or rabbits with a modern firearm is required to wear fluorescent
  hunter orange clothing. (Grouse are not upland game birds.)
• All master hunters must wear fluorescent hunter orange during all deer
  and elk seasons that allow the use of modern firearms.

Hunter Orange Clothing is NOT Required:

• During an upland game bird season for anyone hunting upland game
  birds with a muzzleloading firearm, bow and arrow, or for falconry.
• While hunting in a muzzleloading or archery only season and
  possessing a valid muzzleloading or archery deer or elk tag.
  

Not sure why the weapon in your hand should dictate if you have to wear hunter orange, you are not a risk to yourself (one would hope) it is the other hunters around you that need to see you.  The real question is, why would you NOT want to wear hunter orange if you are in the field/woods during modern firearm season, with all the incidents we hear of people glassing others with their scopes and shooting at things that are not 100% Identified?

[Bob33]

"Modern Seasons" are interpreted as general seasons. Permit hunts are not general seasons.

[bigfoot13]

Sweet, my unit now has a late archery season too. In my unit early archery season is September 1-30, and late season is November 25-December 15. If I get a deer license and an archery tag, can I hunt both seasons?

Cool.  Your archery tag is valid for both the early and late archery seasons.

Great! Thank you.

[Wea300mag]

With all the changes to special permits, I'm expecting a re-draw this year. The most complicated permit system keeps getting more complicated.

[longwalker]

With all the changes to special permits, I'm expecting a re-draw this year. The most complicated permit system keeps getting more complicated.

Nothing got more complicated. The only new category is the conflict goat tag and that's a great new option. If anything odds should be better across the board with more options to spread the applicants out. Now if only they would make you choose between deer and elk or oil and require fronting the money for tags we could have a pretty damn good draw system in this state. I can only hope