Proposals for upcoming seasons and who is behind it.

[bowhuntin]

Yeah, not trying to rub salt in anyones wound. I really think we all need to stick together and look out for each user group. A hard time, when we all are sort of competeing against each other at the same time. I have way way way more respect for other users since joining this site.

I think you are right and we as hunters do and will stick together, but the way our system is it puts us against each other when it comes to setting seasons. Everyone just wants the best opportunity for their choice of weapon. Nothing is set in stone yet. My biggest beef is with that peak rut hunt. I am fine sharing some rut hunts with other user groups, but no other user group gets to hunt during the peak of the rut and I think we should keep status quo on that. Also the rut tags rifle hunters will get opportunity for should reflect the resource allocation.

[tmike]

Thanks for that. It will take me a while to digest all of it. I am just wondering how much the survey data influenced the proposals and also if the percentage of user groups influenced them also. I'm pretty sure "Biology" wasn't a major factor.

[popeshawnpaul]

Well, nobody is getting mountain goats except my camera...

[tmike]

I got one by accident with my Toys R Us camera in a place no one would expect this year. I woke it up. I guess that will be as close I come 

[Elkstuffer]

Sorry guys, but alot of us rifle hunters like his thought process.  These same types of complaints are what many rifle guys put on their survey. 

This effects everyone. Not just archery hunters. The fact that you can't go into the national forest and hunt black bear in August effects us all.

[Ray]

   

[dbllunger]

I hunt rifle and bow in this state, but this last proposal is totally biased against the bow hunters.  I am ok with some change, but not to totally gut one way of hunting.  If this is what they are going to do then they need to allow us to hunt with multiple weapons.  This is about as bad as I have seen them.  They have screwed this up so many times, now they go the other way instead of finding a middle ground.  Well I guess we just voice our opinions and they will continue to ignore us.  WTF I just can't afford to hunt out of state every year, so I will just make the best of what happens.  Frickin idiots.

[billythekidrock]

  Well I guess we just voice our opinions and they will continue to ignore us.  WTF I just can't afford to hunt out of state every year, so I will just make the best of what happens.  Frickin idiots.

I too will try to make the best of this year, but I doubt I will be purchasing tags/licenses for my son and wife. With shorter seasons comes larger crowds and more pressure. Not the type of hunting I want my family involved in. I have been doing it so long that I don't know if I could completely stop, but every year I get less enthused. This may be the topper. I may look to hunt out of state every other year for one species at a time.

[Pathfinder101]

We will have to see what it does to the crowds.  It may just run a lot of people out of the state.  I know I am planning to go on Montana's FWP site and start researching hunting out of state now.  I have never hunted out of state before, but I think I am going to have to change the way I think now.  I'll bet that is a large part of the intent of the new regs.  I see "go hunt in another state" written between each line.
At least they changed the sidearm carry law this year.  I think that is supposed to appease us..

[Snapshot]

FYI, this was mailed on Friday.

DS

________________________________________________________

January 22, 2009

Mr. Phil Anderson
WDFW interim department director
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091


Dear Mr. Anderson,

I am writing at the request of the Washington Archery Coalition, which represents the memberships of Washington State Archery Association (WSAA), Washington State Bowhunters (WSB) and Traditional Bowhunters of Washington (TBW). The Coalition has been involved in honest negotiations regarding the 2009-2011 hunting season recommendations. It’s made a concerted effort to help attain a fair outcome that is mutually acceptable for the three user groups: archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm.

Concessions from the archery community were placed on the table even though WDFW statistics indicate that Resource Allocation is achieving its equity goals, to within a few percentage points, for both deer and elk for all user-groups. The compromises were put forth with trust even though in the face of a vehement assault on archery seasons by a vocal member of the hunting community.

Passion is expected in the privacy of a negotiating room, but this week zeal for sabotaging fellow hunters went public as you, Mr. Anderson, are very well aware. Because the architect of this attack is known to have influenced the proposed recommendations that were announced on late Wednesday, there has been a great outcry from not only our constituents but also the greater archery community. They don’t understand why it has been recommended that archers lose nearly one-quarter of their time in the field while at the same time increases in opportunity are being proposed for the other two user-groups.

For this reason all that had been negotiated in good faith is hereby withdrawn and the archery community will heretofore support the status quo, with minor adjustments as are biologically necessary for the good of the resources.


Most Sincerely,



Dale Sharp

Cc: Rick Liebel; GMAC, Ray Crisp; WSAA, John Pignotti; WSB, Dave Brittell; Assistant Director Wildlife Program, Dave Ware; Game Division Manager, WDFW Commission, Lt. Governor Brad Owen

[WDFW-SUX]

I was trying to stay away for the day but that is a great letter

Please let us know if you receive any response

[boneaddict]

Nice.

[Skyvalhunter]

Here is the response I recieved to the e-mail I sent voicing my concerns. Generic response.





Thank you for contacting the Wildlife Program with your suggestions.
  As
you may know we are currently in the process of creating our 2009-2011
seasons.  Please know that your suggestions will be taken into
consideration during this process.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider these recommendations
 and
take public input at its March 6-7, 2009 meeting in Ellensburg. Final
Commission action is scheduled for the April 3-4 meeting in Olympia.

The recommendations posted http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/
will be updated on February 18 with recommended adjustments that will
 be
presented to the Fish and Wildlife Commission at their March 6-7
meeting.

If you have any further questions, comments or concerns please feel
 free
to contact the Wildlife Program at 360-902-2515.

Sincerely,

Mike Day
Customer Service Specialist
Wildlife Program
(360) 902-2515

[Slider]

Yea from what I have been hearing the Archery Hunters have been WIPING out the Deer and Elk population in Washington!!! OK lets drop all the Archery Seasons and give them all to the rifle hunters!!! Should we give them free bullets too!!!....................LOL

[rooselk]

Here is why.   NO OTHER western state makes you choose a weapon. 

Have you ever hunted in Oregon?