Swakane

[spin05]

What they should have tried before making it a permit unit was making it an unlimited draw unit that you could put in for but if you drew it that is the only place you could deer hunt that year. I think it would have eliminated the guys who came over just because they still had a tag and left it a quality hunt for those who are committed to late season mulies. OF course way to confusing of a concept I guess. nwhunter

Thats how Oregon does it.But not unlimited draw.But the good units are your only archer deer opportunity..

[johnsc6]

typical, typical ,typical............WDFW take something good and Frig it up.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Unfortunately it got to the point I felt something needed to be done to control the numbers of archers in the late Swakane hunt; but replacing it with 15 permits is absurd (I could live with around 300 permits.)  I grew up in Wenatchee and started hunting the late Swakane archery hunt when I was 12 ('84) and have see this unit change, not so much in animal numbers or quality of bucks, but in technology and hunter densities.  The Swakane GMU used to have Tyee Mountain area in it and the season went until December 15.  And, we had the late Malotte (sp) hunt in Okanogan until the 31st of December which was usually antlerless and a great backup meat hunt.  In my teenage years I could go up on Birch Mountain just north of Wanatchee on a weekend and see maybe two other rigs!!!  The last few years I've seen dozens of headlights coming off of Birch from town on weekdays!!!  Another thing I've noticed is the attitudes of some of the hunters (all user groups) sucks and is embarrassing.  I live off a main branch off Entiat River Road and have noticed the speed limits grossly ignored, trespassing on a regular basics, and lots of trash left in camps and on the roadways.  We do need to be policed by WDF&W with reasonable and fair seasons for all user groups as the mechanics of the hunt and the hunter changes, and we need to go out of our way to tactfully police our own in the field.

As I've said earlier, I think the .280 will come in-service this year if we lose the Swakane late hunt.

And, Videoman.  Solely cutting the late Swakane archery hunt out WILL NOT make the Swakane "a trophy unit again."

Keep up the good fight ladies and gents, and I'll see you in Eburg come March.

[TheHunt]

I have hunted it on and off for the last ten years.  I could not agree with you more.  I ride the trails on my motorbike during the summer and it is getting worse and worse all the time.  The garbage is amazing.   I am afraid to leave my truck in the summer as it might get broken into...   

[hunt4]

Keep up the good fight ladies and gents, and I'll see you in Eburg come March.

We should be there by the bus loads!

[Pathfinder101]

Quote:  What they should have tried before making it a permit unit was making it an unlimited draw unit that you could put in for but if you drew it that is the only place you could deer hunt that year. I think it would have eliminated the guys who came over just because they still had a tag and left it a quality hunt for those who are committed to late season mulies. OF course way to confusing of a concept I guess. nwhunter

I like NW Hunter's idea.  hmmm, applicable common sense... careful, if WDFW gets wind of that they may put out a contract on you... 

[zackmioli]

I think it's bulls---!  The rumor is that they are going to open more modern and muzzleloader tags for the area.  So why take away from the late archers, to help the plinkers.

The WDFW sure loves to see hunters ragging on other hunters. Why do you think they do this *censored*? Its to pin us against each other. Archers have a ton of opportunites (more than modern and muzzleloaders), its nice to see the "plinkers" getting something good. IMO.

[ICEMAN]

"Plinkers?"  Are bow guys "Flingers" then...?   

[Bullelk]

 No, we are called feather pushers!

[Bigshooter]

I always call my buddies bow *censored*.

[ICEMAN]

You must not have many friends. 

[Lungbuster]

I think only giving 15 permits in swakane and dropping the entiat from 150 to 17 is f'd up... there are so many quality animals in the units for those that are willing to get out of thier trucks and put some foot time in

[243slinger]

Thats bull I've been up there this year and the year before and the first year we went up there we saw monster bucks huge i could see them at 400 yards without binos easy. But this year i saw a few nice bucks but that was more then likely gecause there wasn't much snow.

[dbllunger]

I bow hunt and have hunted the Swakane before.  I can see them making it permit only with a lot of permits, but then also opening up a couple more units.  See you in Ellensburg. 

[CSOUTFITTERS]

DID WDFW give any reasoning on why they are closing it?  Do they think that the archery guys are harvesting too many animals?  I had the most fun that i have ever had hunting last November and i finally got the opportunity to see and kill a nice buck.   Just when i thought i found a honey hole they make it permit only.  Oh well saving my $150 or 300+ w/multi season deer is sounding better and better every year they keep screwing more stuff up.  OTC Idaho and Oregon is sounding pretty good right now.