New proposals

[Ridgerunner]

Well what does everyone think they will be?  They are supposed to come out this week on Friday?

Will the proposal to move the elk season back, open more MZ units, start targeting those big 2 point muleys, limit the number of special hunt choices?  WE'll find out real soon. 

[dbllunger]

We can only hope the decisions were made for quality management not quantity management.

[Ray]

I think they will shorten the early archery season by about a week and move back muzzleloader season as well as open more MZ units. I think that the late Swakane Archery hunt will vanish. There might be a possibility that the late deer and elk archery seasons get bumped later as well.

[WDFW-SUX]

I guess there are some big changes from what I have been lead to believe.  Rumors of the draw system being overhauled in 10/11 as well.

[boneaddict]

rumor has it they were going to have the modern season until the 30th of October.  I about had a cow and called my "congreesman" over that one.  

[Ray]

rumor has it they were going to have the modern season until the 30th of October.  I about had a cow and called my "congreesman" over that one.  

I didn't hear any dates regarding that but I did also hear an expansion of the modern rifle season was highly likely as well.

[rasbo]

I couldnt imagine shortening anything but archery.Im all for closing an area thats hurting real bad also..what ever it takes to keep the herds up.

[Gobble]

I have no problem with that  we should applaud more opportunities not complain about them

[Ray]

I have no problem with that  we should applaud more opportunities not complain about them

To me these would be negative changes. I'm not complaining about the Swakane changes but if you look at things already - I believe the archers do not get very many choices with special permits as it stands today. The archers take longer to do their hunts because the activity of closing the distance to the animal requires more time in the field for many people. It doesn't mean they are getting more opportunities than anyone else if their season is longer. If I was an MZ hunter it would be good and I am glad they are expanding things for that user group. Not sure the modern season expansion is a good idea but I am confident we will know after a year or two.

What I believe we should avoid is the concept that each user group is meeting some sort of quota. As if the WDFW should place a critter behind every bush so that the archers or MZ or modern users can get their "fair share". Or even expanding the season unless they are intending to take more animals.

[mossback91]

I think an expansion of modern season would be BAD very BAD......especially if it was expanding it into the end of october and beginning of november......That would cause too much success! I think modern season is fine where its at now

[Ray]

Don't get excited yet. This is all rumors here right now

[Gobble]

But you have to look at the big picture. Archers get 2 mos to hunt deer, it selfish to say that one group deserves more time than another, don't get me wrong, I do bowhunt for elk and have bowhunted for deer many times. I found it easier to take a deer with a bow (esp mulies) just for the time of year you can hunt them, your getting them before anyone else in the early season then you get to hunt them while they are trying to winter. We need to band together as hunters no matter the method that we hunt, it will be better for the sport.

[Ray]

Archers do not get 2 months for deer. They get about 6 or 7 weeks depending on the species. This isn't a discusson of division as I mentioned before - I am happy to see MZ hunters get some opportunties and I have a tendency to disagree that modern firearms season should be expanded. In addition to that I believe that it would be ok to cut a late archery unit like Swakane but it should be duly noted due to #1 below.

What I outlined is the two major points which I will illustrate again for you:

1) Special Hunt permit opportunities for archers are extremely limited on deer. This may be ok with me as long as regular seasons are not cut too greatly.
2) Proportional arguments between user groups don't always make sense.

[ThePascoKid]

I wouldn't mind having a long deer season just once so I could have a chance at the huge mule deer buck I always see first weekend of elk but can never find during deer season 

[bucklucky]

Why is it that 99% of the bucks I take in for taxidermy are rifle kills??

But you have to look at the big picture. Archers get 2 mos to hunt deer, it selfish to say that one group deserves more time than another, don't get me wrong, I do bowhunt for elk and have bowhunted for deer many times. I found it easier to take a deer with a bow (esp mulies) just for the time of year you can hunt them, your getting them before anyone else in the early season then you get to hunt them while they are trying to winter. We need to band together as hunters no matter the method that we hunt, it will be better for the sport.