Big thanks to Pope, Todd and others

[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.