help with regulation clarification

[Jason]

Read this what does it say?
3. Archery Regulations
(a) It is illegal to hunt big game animals

A turkey is not a big game animal. I've e-mailed the WDFW with this question and they told me a turkey is not a big game animal.

You could be right Pa, but the way I read it is the first paragraph they are mentioning big game, in the second paragraph they say it is unlawful to hunt with, it does not mention big game in the second paragraph. they need to define the regs a little better.

[PA BEN]

I agree, I looked back through my e-mails and couldn't find the one I got back from the WDFW. Maybe I'll send another one.

[washelkhntr]

Not meaning to jack your thread, but as I read it I have a question. Im not a bowhunter so this might be a dumb question..... but why can you not use mech broadheads?

[bobcat]

From what I've read, they are not reliable.

[SpokaneSlayer]

Just got off the phone with WDFW and asked specifically about turkey's.  Mechanicals are ILLEGAL for all species.

[Jason]

Oh boy!!  I called WDFW and I asked about the subject at hand. when I called I explained to him that I intended on hunting turkeys and small game with a bow in 2009 and also asked about  expanables,so he put me on hold for ten minutes looking for the info i needed, when the guy got back on the phone he said he could find no written archery regs for small game or turkeys, so he did tell me the way he interprets it is as follows-
1-Archery regs in the big game pamphlet only apply to big game and do not apply to small game or turkeys.
2-expandables are illegal for big game and legal for turkeys and small game.

I don't know what to think about this, WDFW needs to put something in writing so they have the info on record, and what if a wildlife officer checks your equipment and interprets the regs his own way?

[SpokaneSlayer]

WTF?!?!?!  Which office did you call?  I talked to Mike in Olympia.  This isn't the first time I've gotten conflicting anwsers on the same question.   

Update:  I just got off the phone with a region 1 wildlife officer, and he stated that you read the regs sentance by sentance, not by paragraph.  Expandable broadheads are illegal.  I'll take his word for it since he'd be the one writing my citation.

[SpokaneSlayer]

I told the officer that's what I was going to do and he said that was fine.  Adding an Adder Point isn't an expandable head.  It just slows the arrow.  I wonder if just dulling the srew on tip on say a Muzzy would work?  It would basically be the same as a Gobler Getter after it expanded, just not the same cutting diameter. 

[Jason]

WTF?!?!?!  Which office did you call?  I talked to Mike in Olympia.  This isn't the first time I've gotten conflicting anwsers on the same question.   

I called the Vancouver Office

[rooselk]

I am not particularly a fan of expandable broadheads. But if the expandable rule applies to turkeys, then it is reasonable to assume that the 40# minimum rule must apply to small game as well. If true, that would certainly eliminate many kids from getting started in bowhunting by hunting small game like cottontails and squirrels. 

[SpokaneSlayer]

The 40 lb rule only applies to big game according to the officer.  That was his point when he says the regs are sentance by sentance.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

not a surprise, I also have been told they are ok for small game, no where does it say they are illgeal for all game, just BIG game.. as it ready anything other then big game is good to go......

[PA BEN]

I guess you can't use a bird blunt or bird point of any kind for Grouse too.

[PA BEN]

                                  2008 Turkey
                               Hunting Pamphlet



                                    Special Regulations                                                            • Spring turkey season is open for shotgun (10 gauge or under capable of holding 3 or fewer shells or muzzleloader with shot) and bow-and-arrow hunting only.
• A valid hunting license and an unaltered, unnotched turkey transport tag are required for hunting turkey.
• Immediately after killing a turkey, hunters must validate their own tag by completely removing notches for month and day of kill and securely attach tag to carcass.
• It is unlawful to use dogs, electronic calls or electronic decoys to hunt turkeys.
• Baiting game birds is illegal.
• Turkey hunters must report hunting activity (see page 5).

[BULLBLASTER]

The only place they define "bow and arrow" or archery equipmwet is in the big game pamphlet, and in there it says that retractible bheads are illegal.