Weird season hard to get excited about hunting

[BUTTER]

I know it seems impossible to not be excited about hunting but with this season's crazy weather and all the fires in the state and people losing there home and a few life's that have been taken due to the fire season its hard to swallow when some people complain about the fires and ruining there plans I fought fires for three summers and know how it can be and ultimately life and safety comes first and believe the firefighters are doing the best they can if my wife wouldn't kill me and I wouldn't lose my job I would love to strap into the old fire boots and get out and help sorry rant over

[h20hunter]

I agree and here is a bit of my mindset. I'm planning on going, bowhunting, and conducting business as usual. I'll be responsible and hope that my little extra money spent along the way will help. If I see donation areas along the way for those affected I'll have a little cash to drop as I go. If plans change and I can't go I will not be upset or complain.

[ELKBURGER]

My only feeling of relief comes in knowing I have a multi season elk tag. Gives me some options.

[Eli346]

I'm already donating and plan on spending more if I get there but I wish I could do so much more. I feel really helpless sitting over here on the wet side when I know there's thousands of people whose lives have been changed forever on the other side of the mountains.

[BUTTER]

It's appears the Wenaha Grizzly complex has blown up and ran all the way into Troy Or where a level three evac is happening

[shootnrun]

I am a FF/PM here on the wet side. A few of our brethren have the opportunity to travel across the state and fight the beast, I am left back protecting the home front. As exciting it is to look forward to my first archery season and having a mess of elk on our cams, it is a sombering thought to think about all my brothers and sisters out on the front lines, my friends and family that are affected by the blazes, and the turmoil our state finds itself in..

[ghosthunter]

I agree and here is a bit of my mindset. I'm planning on going, bowhunting, and conducting business as usual. I'll be responsible and hope that my little extra money spent along the way will help. If I see donation areas along the way for those affected I'll have a little cash to drop as I go. If plans change and I can't go I will not be upset or complain.

 

Unless they lock me out I will be muzzy elk hunting. And modern deer around Twisp. But if it locks up than the dog will get her first pheasant season, grouse and early duck.

I just don't like the patch work stuff. If it is too dry than its too dry every where. But they better decide because Labor day weekend is almost here.

[fastdam]

I'm super excited to fill the "anybull" muzzy permit I have waited 7 years for. As long as they don't close cowiche I'm good to go.
 Hopefully this years fires will lead to better management of wildlands in the future, but I doubt  it will.

[fishngamereaper]

I'm already donating and plan on spending more if I get there but I wish I could do so much more. I feel really helpless sitting over here on the wet side when I know there's thousands of people whose lives have been changed forever on the other side of the mountains.

I could never see myself donating anymore money to the state after the new special permit applications costing about 150 bucks to apply, another 220-240 for tags and licenses, plus another 35 for DISCOVER pass and 30 for a permit to park at wilderness parking lots. Add another 140 for a multi season deer permit that I can't apply for special permits with because its over the counter. Plus another 375 for Hancock pass, understand that's not from state but it's close to home. If they can't manage the money I already spend then sorry no more.

Pretty sure he meant donating to those in need, displaced families, small business owners etc....nothing to do with the state.

[WAcoyotehunter]

it is sure tough to get excited about hunting NE Washington.... the fire closures are all over and the smoke is so thick you can barely breathe or see.  Not good.

[Bango skank]

it is sure tough to get excited about hunting NE Washington.... the fire closures are all over and the smoke is so thick you can barely breathe or see.  Not good.

Yup, seems like all of my good areas are either on fire, choked with smoke, closed to access or all of the above.  I am taking all of september off work, but now it seems kind of pointless. 

[bobcat]

Looks like Idaho and Montana are burning up too. Looking at the "Incident Management Situation Report," Idaho, Montana, and Washington have 12 fires listed for each state.

What's amazing is Wyoming has none. Zero.

I'm thankful for that since Wyoming is my first hunt of the year. We'll be leaving in 2 1/2 weeks. Will be nice to get out of this smoky state for a while!

[cryder]

Well, good luck to all that dare to chance being circled by unescapeable flames started by some slack jawed yokel in a jeep or full blown headers in a 74 chevy or that fool who just cant say no to his trophy child, and has to roast marshmellows just so he can have the total camping exsperiance. I for one will be skipping this firey start , and will be focusing in on some snowy trail chaseing this late bow season, and as I said good luck out there to you and our fire fighters,im sure there will be a lot of success this year but there is allways next year.At least fish and feathers didn't soak me to bad I haven't even bought a license or tag yet, so its not that big of a loss I geuss . ( OR IS IT ? )

[WapitiTalk1]

I just looked at the weather forecast for many of the fire areas in several mountain states (WA, ID, MT) and it looks like there is rain forecasted during the next few weeks starting this weekend, area dependent.  Some of the forecasts call for pretty significant showers in some areas, other areas intermittent rain for a few days at a time.  I hope it's enough to help control some of the on-going fires and save further loss of life and property.     

[Netminder01]

I've been having the same conflicted feelings; Especially after coming back to my truck this weekend during scouting, breathing smoke and seeing ash on my truck.  Makes me wonder if my priorities are right (tbd).

[JDHasty]

Looks like Idaho and Montana are burning up too. Looking at the "Incident Management Situation Report," Idaho, Montana, and Washington have 12 fires listed for each state.

What's amazing is Wyoming has none. Zero.

I'm thankful for that since Wyoming is my first hunt of the year. We'll be leaving in 2 1/2 weeks. Will be nice to get out of this smoky state for a while!

I was in Omak/Okanogan for Stampede week and it was rather smoky from Thursday on through Monday when we left.  There wasn't already fire camp at the Okanogan County Fair Ground when we pulled in Wednesday morning, where we stay every year, for the first time in a long time.  They started to pour in Saturday evening though. 

Five new lightning fires started on (I believe) Thursday night. 

It was burning in Scotch Creek on Friday down in the bottom and when I was up there Saturday it was on top and appeared to me to be gaining.  The USFS guy I talked with disagreed with my assessment and said that they had cut fire breaks and were back burning and it was pretty much contained.  He was entitled to his opinion, let's just leave it at: I was a bit skeptical regarding his optimism. 

I was in Nespelem on Friday visiting with Tribal member friends.  They were run out of the woods because there was a good size fire going on the Res up north of 'spelem.  There was also a pretty good size one going to the east of Riverside.

Last Monday, on the way to Eburg to drop my RV before heading to Montana there was a burn from just south of Pateros all the way to Beebe Bridge.     

We left Omak on Monday and went to Helena Montana for a few days and then up to my cousin's ranch in Augusta and both were quite smoky.  Helena was smokey, and that is kinda' normal for Helena which sits in a bowl, but not so much for Augusta.  On Friday night a pretty good wind blew down from Canada and that cleared things up a bit.  Missoula was really smokey though and the Bitterroot Valley had health warnings, Idaho has a lot of fires going right now too.

I feel really sorry for people visiting Glacier Park, ones I talked to said they could barely see the white line on the side of the road.  I suggested they head down to Yellowstone because my dad said the air was pretty clear down south.     

Crazy lot of fire this year.   

 

[cryder]

PRIORITIES !! Couldn't put any better, PERZACKLY ,, ABSAGULOOLLY !!

[huntingbaldguy]

My birthday party is this Saturday.  My family asked me 2 weeks ago what i wanted for my birthday.  I said a week of rain.  10 day forecast says i'm getting what i want.

[huntnnw]

This thread .....so did you go hunting when a hurricane displaces 100X what these fires have done? or how about a earthquake ? or genocide? etc. Theres always something going on around the world.

[Duckslayer89]

This thread .....so did you go hunting when a hurricane displaces 100X what these fires have done? or how about a earthquake ? or genocide? etc. Theres always something going on around the world.

Did I somehow miss a genocide in Washington State?

[huntnnw]

point is there are people dying, losing there homes somewhere at almost any given time in the world..you gonna stop hunting ? odd mentality

Even if my house burnt down due to a forest fire,Id be finding away to hit the woods. Far more important things in life such as being alive than worrying about stuff that burned its mostly replaceable and its just stuff! would I be sad if some of my mounts burned up? hell yeah.

[Duckslayer89]

I know I'm jk I hear you. I know I won't stop...

[Duckslayer89]

Nice bear BTW huntnnw!

[Bigshooter]

This thread .....so did you go hunting when a hurricane displaces 100X what these fires have done? or how about a earthquake ? or genocide? etc. Theres always something going on around the world.

 
My first thought was I went hunting right after 9/11.  Why would some fires stop me now?

[huntnnw]

I was elk hunting when I heard about 9/11

[cryder]

I wish you the best of luck,and im mostly speaking of your luck of not being by some of the fools who will be out there with you, that don't have a clue as to what there doing or drinking or smokeing , don't forget its leagal to be impaired in Washington wooded areas, and believe me they are ! :bash:I have missed two hunting seasons in the last 35 years , one to get married and one to eject some cancer tissue my doctor just had to get his hands on it seemed,this year just seems stupid , to give any effort at all so I can be told to get out while I still can , or to be carried out because I cant.Hope to see some good pics. on here so I can curse myself afterwords.

[huntnnw]

Never will you see me missing a hunting season I better be physically unable to hunt is the only way. Wedding hell no! That's what all the other months are for. There are two types of hunters on here.. Some that do it cause it's something to do or the ones who live for it.

[Jonathan_S]

Wedding hell no! That's what all the other months are for.

 

hope my wife doesn't see this 

[Little Dave]

Not too unusual.  It was a lot like this back in 78.

They say you are what you eat, go out there and roll around in a smelly wallow and get ready.

[BUTTER]

They elk must not care from what I've been hearing the elk have been going Ape Sh!+

[cryder]

YOU HAVE NEVER MET MY WIFE SO YOU WILL NEVER KNOW HOW INSANELY YOU ARE WRONG, GET A GRIP HERCULESE DANIEL BOON YOU ARE NOT. :chuckle:Once you reach your 50,s even you the best hunter in the land will start to get closer to your Harley too !Kinda like all those motorcross trophies ive got, there great but they are no longer my main focus, so until your priorities become more important like staying alive I think even you will come in for some kind of landing, but until then don't let your testosterone get the best of you.Im not to proud to admit the closer it gets the more insane it seems, if it rains as predicted chances are after the heavy metal Christian  rock band leaves 364 im thinking ill be there but im no fire master like the 3 poor indaviduals who gave there all this year so im not going out for a lesson in fire survival.

[Jonathan_S]

I think that was an insult but I'm not sure who it was directed at or for what reason 

[grundy53]

Never will you see me missing a hunting season I better be physically unable to hunt is the only way. Wedding hell no! That's what all the other months are for. There are two types of hunters on here.. Some that do it cause it's something to do or the ones who live for it.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[headshot5]

   +1.   I live for it.

[bobcat]

I have to say I'm very excited about hunting season this year. Of course none of my plans have been affected by the fires. The only negative I can see for my hunts is that there may be more hunters in my area during the modern firearm blacktail deer season. That is, if my assumption is correct that many people who would normally go east for mule deer or whitetail will stay home and hunt blacktails instead.

[boneaddict]

This will probably be the first year since 1983 that I don't go hunting and notch a deer tag.  It's early yet, but I am having family issues, and family comes before hunting.  I have to admit I've made a couple feeble attempts to get out and it's not real exciting with how dry it is.  Toss that in with even more country burning up, might be a great year to take off in. My book.

[jjhunter]

 Football, mule deer...my favorite time of year.   Hard to walk around without a smile on my face.   

[cbond3318]

Football, mule deer...my favorite time of year.   Hard to walk around without a smile on my face.   

 

[turkeyfeather]

This will probably be the first year since 1983 that I don't go hunting and notch a deer tag.  It's early yet, but I am having family issues, and family comes before hunting.  I have to admit I've made a couple feeble attempts to get out and it's not real exciting with how dry it is.  Toss that in with even more country burning up, might be a great year to take off in. My book.

That's exactly what I was talking about in another thread. Unfortunately some just aren't grasping that concept.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Most all private timberland will be locked up for archery elk if we get no rain.  All the Hancock and rainier land and gates are closed for fire danger untill significant rain fall.  Probably won't get that before sept 12th.  wonder if they lock out the permit guys on wy lands.   

[BIGDOG253]

Never will you see me missing a hunting season I better be physically unable to hunt is the only way. Wedding hell no! That's what all the other months are for. There are two types of hunters on here.. Some that do it cause it's something to do or the ones who live for it.

x5 Cant friggin wait to get out there and hunt!   

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I won't be missing the season.  Rain or not.  Just gonna make for some crowded open areas.   Hopefully the wyhehauser permits are honored.  I'll go to idaho this year too so all is not a loss.  Let's all start the rain dance and get this year started!  Should rain from the 28th till the 2nd of sept.  That might be enough to open some land.

[cryder]

Sure don't want to miss this year or be labled some kind of couch vegetable, but as dry as it is up north its pretty loud moveing around , went up yesterday saw 4 good size deer in my front yard that just about got me to going in to the tag counter , but not yet , if we get that predicted rain im all in,i don't want to get my brand new Harley wet anyway.