Spike only units

[buglebrush]

This has been beaten to death, but WDFW doesn't seem to care a bit about the hunters.   Absolute refusal to properly manage predators, ridiculously short seasons, and far too many special permits.    

[Jimmy33]

Buglebrush....your right, it has and I have sent email after email and call after call into the bios and only one really let me bend his ear. I feel stuck and there's nothing we can do about it. I'm just surprised there are people that are completely blind to what this state is doing.


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[Jonathan_S]

Opportunity does not equal armed hiking...it means a chance at success


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I think you're in denial of some complexities here. Idaho is definitely better elk hunting but the two states are apples and oranges for elk hunting

[buglebrush]

Opportunity does not equal armed hiking...it means a chance at success


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I think you're in denial of some complexities here. Idaho is definitely better elk hunting but the two states are apples and oranges for elk hunting

Why is Idaho Apples to oranges?  Just curious what your thought process is?  Idaho has more elk hunters per year than Washington in case you are going to trot out the " Washington has x-millions of people".  That is true, but irrelevant as most of them don't hunt. 

I know there is some special challenges Washington faces, but that doesn't render their gross negligence on predator management, etc... irrelevant.  I believe they could improve both game numbers, and the overall hunter experience by modeling their management after Idaho.   

[scoutdog346]

Does wolves contribute to it being considered apples and oranges?

[Jimmy33]

Scoutdog...there are wolves in Idaho...more in fact.

Jonathan...the only complexities we have here that Idaho doesn't have are all the bunny and tree huggers. Just a note: Idaho has more hunters than Washington does, longer seasons, more opportunity, and makes less money in the permit process. There are some states that genuinely care about what people think and some that do not.


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[bobcat]

The big difference between Idaho and Washington that nobody mentioned is HABITAT.

Idaho has better elk hunting due to having much more elk habitat. Period.

[Jimmy33]

It has better elk hunting because they actually let you hunt them. Yes the habitat is better, but I'm not concerned with better, I'm concerned with getting taken advantage of by the state of Washington.


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[Igor]

[Jimmy33]

True Igor...I'm done with this.


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[scoutdog346]

I was just asking is if its the wolves that make it much differnt between the two states in regard to the apples and oranges.  Does wdfw get to keep the $ made from special perms. or does it go into the "General funs".

[cryder]

Well that's all well and good guys and I agree totally with most of your lore but I've hunted rimrock bow for alto of years now and one thing for sure you buy your license tags permits drawings camping fees parking fees from that slacked jawed yokel finally find a place to set up camp hike for days if you survive the first 5 days of hell they call hunting up there and by some million in one chance a elk and a bull elk and its only a spike elk at that happens to walk in on you you shoot he runs 75 yards drops you but and gut getting personal enemas from wasps and drag it back to camp skin it hang it and suddenly you realize you have shot nothing but the Niebors St. Bernard ! And that's what a spike amounts to .but don't get me wrong I've been doing this insanity for 30 some years now and boy are they yummy 😅😅GET OUT THERE !!

[elkchaser54]

I grew up in the midwest deer hunting from tree stands and that was BORING !!! I love elk hunting and have only hunted in the spike only units of the blues and one year in the Observatory (4 total years of elk).  I still enjoy watching the big bulls bugle and calling them in.  It sucks I cant shoot them but they are still an amazing animal and its an experience not many people outside of the hunting realm understand or have experienced.  Our state isn't the best for elk hunting we all know it, but complaining won't change it.  If you don't like spike rules DONT HUNT in a spike unit!!!! Its pretty simple.  I am okay with only shooting spikes if the experience of elk hunting can be kept going for generations.  Remember the elk aren't yours! and be okay with letting them walk because if they didn't have rules they all would be DEAD! Our state employs many biologist and I'm sorry if you feel that you know more about elk and how to manage them because you just don't. 

[buglebrush]

I grew up in the midwest deer hunting from tree stands and that was BORING !!! I love elk hunting and have only hunted in the spike only units of the blues and one year in the Observatory (4 total years of elk).  I still enjoy watching the big bulls bugle and calling them in.  It sucks I cant shoot them but they are still an amazing animal and its an experience not many people outside of the hunting realm understand or have experienced.  Our state isn't the best for elk hunting we all know it, but complaining won't change it.  If you don't like spike rules DONT HUNT in a spike unit!!!! Its pretty simple.  I am okay with only shooting spikes if the experience of elk hunting can be kept going for generations.  Remember the elk aren't yours! and be okay with letting them walk because if they didn't have rules they all would be DEAD! Our state employs many biologist and I'm sorry if you feel that you know more about elk and how to manage them because you just don't.

So...  Idaho's biologists are stupid too then?

I just don't understand defending this States management policies?   

Unless you think that a gradual elimination of hunting opportunity, and replace human hunters with wolves, lions, and bears is good policy? 

I believe America is founded on the ideals of holding the government accountable when they are being stupid.   

[elkchaser54]

Im just saying I would rather get to hunt every year for spikes then live somewhere that I only get to hunt once every 5 years for elk.  People act like our license fee goes to waste if they don't tag animal.  Every elk herd is different you can't just compare states vs states.  Some have more predators or some have more agricultural land.  And if you hate spike units just go to the NE corner, its any elk archery and bull rifles.