What are you going to do

[muley210]

If the proposed regulations do not change, what are you, the archery hunter going to do?   Not buy a license, change to modern or muzzleloader, or suck it up and archery hunt. I want the game and fish to know that I am not happy with their thinking or reasoning, but how do you stop hunting.  It is what I live for.  Right now I am going to wait and see what they do before deciding anything.

[bobcat]

I think I might switch from rifle to bow, if a lot of the bow hunters are going to quit.  I still see plenty of great opportunities in the archery seasons. It will be even better this year. I will have the woods to myself. 

[colockumelk]

I'll continue to hunt elk with a bow.  I currently hunt deer with a ML but I have alot of points for deer so I'm trying to decide whether I should hunt with a ML or modern for deer. 

I will never hunt elk with anything other than a bow. 

[logger]

I am thinking hunt, without buying a lic. or tag and claim that i am tribal.

[mossback91]

I am thinking hunt, without buying a lic. or tag and claim that i am tribal.

shoot I was born in America so i am a native american!!

now I just need a name for my tribe.......open a casino!! oh the possibilities for me and my tribe!!


Im bow hunting!! (just like my ancestors )

Gonna archery deer and maybe hunt elk with some sort of weapon! just depends....

[logger]

I get the okanogan tribune, and in the police blotter there is a name that comes up a lot. eveybodytalksabout, sounds like a good name for you.

[colockumelk]

I wonder what they would do if one year all 170,000 hunters said F'ck off WDFW and didn't buy their tags and instead hunted without a license and shot whatever they felt like just like the Indians.  They couldn't send all of us to prison.  THere's not enough room.  Plus the courts would be so backed up it would bankrupt the judicial system.  I bet they wouldn't be able to do crap but take it in the rear.  Ah if only we were that unified. 

[bowhuntin]

The changes suck, but I am going to hunt no matter what. Archery for both deer and elk.

[JBar]

Not going to change weapons but I am having a hard time buying my families license's. I am however going to hunt out of state for deer this year. 

[billythekidrock]

I am a member of the SlapAhoe's and I will continue to hunt elk with a bow and probably switch to archery for deer as well. Things didn't change that much.

[ICEMAN]

I am a member of the SlapAhoe's and I will continue to hunt elk with a bow and probably switch to archery for deer as well. Things didn't change that much.

 

[Machias]

If they stay the same, outlawing hounds on coyotes for no scientific reason and no inititive, bear season on public lands killed, and they continue to cram us all into a few GMUs, I won't be hunting in WA this year.  And since the last part at least is a gimmie, I guess I'm done hunting in WA.  I bought 20 acres in ID, I'll spend my spring summer and fall over there this year and probably from now on.

[runamuk]

I wonder what they would do if one year all 170,000 hunters said F'ck off WDFW and didn't buy their tags and instead hunted without a license and shot whatever they felt like just like the Indians.  They couldn't send all of us to prison.  THere's not enough room.  Plus the courts would be so backed up it would bankrupt the judicial system.  I bet they wouldn't be able to do crap but take it in the rear.  Ah if only we were that unified. 

It is kinda scary how alike we think 

I've often thought if this country wasn't so darned divided (gee maybe that is another conspiracy theory  )  the people could unite and revolt against some of the more assinine things that go on....

I'm just getting started with a bow, so my plan is to hunt some grouse this fall

I am a member of the SlapAhoe's and I will continue to hunt elk with a bow and probably switch to archery for deer as well. Things didn't change that much.

  never heard of that tribe 

[tonymoe]

All good and funny points, but lets be honest. As much as we all would like to rebel against the WDFW, at the end of the day, its our home state to hunt and the cheapest. What if we don't draw those outta state tags, I gotta hunt somewhere.  I will hope to draw MT and OR deer, draw or no draw, I will hunt WA. (I just couldn't sit around for 4 months during the seasons)
 

[mossback91]

I get the okanogan tribune, and in the police blotter there is a name that comes up a lot. eveybodytalksabout, sounds like a good name for you.

I like the name knowshisgun....which is an actually last name. spottedelk is also one

[WAPITIHUNTER]

I am in the "I kill an elk every year club" well almost every year, there have been a couple years in the past 16 that I didn't get a opportunity. 14 years I have shot or stuck an Elk. 3 non harvests which 2 survived and one did not.

I will never stop archery hunting, not this year not never! I will most likely be getting a Multi season permit for myself and my wife for elk this year. As long as the new regs take effect. Not interested in the deer multi season permit.

For deer I am still in limbo. Not sure if I will do rifle or archery. I am thinking archery just because I can hunt Blacktails for over 2 months long around my place. The changes did not affect me at all, and I am a Doer not a Complainer.

[NoBark]

I say get a license even if you don't hunt. That way, 3 years from now the archers success will be way below the modern and then the modern guys will have to give the archers a ton of time back.

stupid,stupid,stupid proposals

[andrew_12gauge]

i hate to say it but you guys are all over reacting, i looked at the changes and it doesnt seem like they took that much away from archery and there are some really good rifle opportunities now as well, and i am an archery hunter myself, and im thinkin about gettin a washington tag this year still despite the fact that i live in idaho now. let the blasting begin just hope i dont get blackballed for this

[Machias]

i hate to say it but you guys are all over reacting, i looked at the changes and it doesnt seem like they took that much away from archery and there are some really good rifle opportunities now as well, and i am an archery hunter myself, and im thinkin about gettin a washington tag this year still despite the fact that i live in idaho now. let the blasting begin just hope i dont get blackballed for this

No blasting and I sure didn't see anything to blackball you on, but you really don't have any problems with the Game Dept arbitrailly stating something is not socially acceptable and banning it even though there is no scientific reason?  What's next? Might be something you enjoy doing, right?  That is why IMO we have to express our dissatisfaction someway or another then continuing doing the same thing every year.  Otherwise why would they ever really listen?  It's the main reason now they don't listen to us at all.

I am in the "I kill an elk every year club" well almost every year, there have been a couple years in the past 16 that I didn't get a opportunity. 14 years I have shot or stuck an Elk. 3 non harvests which 2 survived and one did not.

I will never stop archery hunting, not this year not never! I will most likely be getting a Multi season permit for myself and my wife for elk this year. As long as the new regs take effect. Not interested in the deer multi season permit.

For deer I am still in limbo. Not sure if I will do rifle or archery. I am thinking archery just because I can hunt Blacktails for over 2 months long around my place. The changes did not affect me at all, and I am a Doer not a Complainer.

Hey as long as you get your elk every year or at least get to stick one it's all good.  Right   

[Ironhead]

Those that think nothing really changed  in the prposals are part of the reason Washington is so lame. Roll over and take what they give you, The sheep mentallity kills me. 

[andrew_12gauge]

no i agree there were some changes and the no bear hunting on public land in august will be huge but this is the bowhunting thread and as far as the bow season goes i see some new opportunities despite the fact that they took some opportunities away, I just think that wdfw is trying to spread the archery pressure out over more units rather than having it all concentrated on the swakane and entiat

[nw_bowhunter]

I'm confused? Aren't they reducing or taking way units so won't that cause more presure in other areas?

[andrew_12gauge]

well they took away units and added others not to mention more areas for special permits even if there arent as many seems to me that they are spreading the pressure out.

ok i just looked at last years regs and it seems they arent really adding to many units just a lot more of them went special permit but they did add slide ridge, alta and chiwawa special permits for archery

[nw_bowhunter]

okay, not sure I see that way. By limiting a major portion of where bow hunters are other untis will be see more pressure. So what they are attempting to resolve now will just happen in another units.

[bobcat]

So archery hunters now have what muzzleloaders have always had...decent opportunities for early season but virtually nothing for late season mule deer.

Actually archers still have it better for late mule deer. As I mentioned in a previous thread,  they still have some good units to hunt, just none in Chelan or Okanogan.

[billythekidrock]

As far as the archery proposals...they really aren't that bad. Most archers I have talked with are cool with no bulls in the late season. As far as cutting back start/end dates. Do some math. Most of these dates are inline with the past seasons. In 2008 late archery started a full week before Thanksgiving. In 2007 it started one day before, same as they are proposing for this year.

[Machias]

Yea it's all good, I mean most states are expanding archery opportunitites, have looong seasons and don't have the other two groups complaining about archer's seasons.  This state causes hunters to sound like my kids when they were younger, hey Cody got more then me, did not, did too.  This is what CYW weapon does, it divides us and pits us against each other.  Tell me why don't they open ALL the GMUs for the seasons?  If they opened the state and stopped cramming us all into a few GMUs hunter satisfaction would be way higher then it is.  I'd rather hunt where there are fewer elk and way less hunters, personally.

[nw_bowhunter]

I'd rather hunt where there are fewer elk and way less hunters, personally. "Good point"

I'm going to have to re-review the prosed changes

[archery288]

Archery hunting is my life and my passion!  I will continue to hunt with a bow in our state and others and I will do what it takes to be successful no matter the circumstances... 

[Todd_ID]

Archery hunting is my life and my passion!  I will continue to hunt with a bow in our state and others and I will do what it takes to be successful no matter the circumstances... 

 

I'm in that same boat.  I'll always be a dedicated bow hunter.  They took away buck hunting in the unit I live in, so I'll have to drive more for a muley buck, but I will.  It takes some of the fun out to lose an area, but there's still plenty enough fun left in bow hunting that I'll keep doing it. With the state's method of forcing you to choose your weapon and area before applying for the special permit hunts, I'll always buy the archery tags because that's what I want to draw tags for.

[bowtech721]

I havent heard about the changes so im obviously missing out on all the commotion... where can i find the details? 

[MIKEXRAY]

Hunting my same area east of the mountains, my area avoided the chopping block. Lost a couple of days but not to big of a deal. I've hunted the same area for six years & love it, I would be pissed to lose it. Same hunting for me, bow all. Mike

[Snapshot]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/#recommendations

Here is a link to the recommendations, bowtech721

[Ironhead]

So archery hunters now have what muzzleloaders have always had...decent opportunities for early season but virtually nothing for late season mule deer.

Actually archers still have it better for late mule deer. As I mentioned in a previous thread,  they still have some good units to hunt, just none in Chelan or Okanogan.

Bobcat, I totally agree with the muzzy guys always getting screwed, they deserve descent hunts also. I see the hunting community in Wa gradually leaning to trophy and quality hunting, permit only is in the future from what I am hearing. When and if that happens the CYW dispute will be out the window and we will all get along once again. This state has divided us ,hopefully the future isn't so dim.

[JBar]

I believe by the next 3 year cycle if not sooner all mule deer hunts will be by permit only. Been seeing the writing on the wall for awhile now and I'm surprised it didn't happen this cycle ( but nothing is set in stone right now so it could still happen). I am all for the "by permit only" gig for mule deer but we should be allowed to hunt all 3 weapon seasons without spending the extra 165 bucks if you get drawn. The only problem I would see is the folks that didn't get drawn would be over crowding the Blacktail / Whitetail areas. I guess we'll see...

[andrew_12gauge]

i think youll be more likely to see otc archery mule deer hunting to go along with the permit only for rifle and muzzleloader if washington is smart they will follow oregons example

[JBar]

[

i think youll be more likely to see otc archery mule deer hunting to go along with the permit only for rifle and muzzleloader if washington is smart they will follow oregons example

" If Washington is smart "  :dunno:There lies the problem! Washington most likely will not follow suit. I would love to be pleasantly surprised but I'm not holding my breath.

[andrew_12gauge]

[

i think youll be more likely to see otc archery mule deer hunting to go along with the permit only for rifle and muzzleloader if washington is smart they will follow oregons example

" If Washington is smart "  :dunno:There lies the problem! Washington most likely will not follow suit. I would love to be pleasantly surprised but I'm not holding my breath.

good point

[bobcat]

I really don't like the way Oregon has over the counter tags for archery mule deer, but permit only for rifle. All that does is it causes all the rifle hunters who don't draw that year to go out and buy a bow so they can hunt mule deer. (and elk too)  They can hunt with a bow every year while they continue to accumulate preference points, until they have enough to draw a rifle tag. If the WDFW ever decides to control the number of people hunting mule deer every year, I would rather see the number of archery hunters limited right along with everybody else.

[WAPITIHUNTER]

I agree Bobcat. That causes some that don't really want to bowhunt to pick one up. Bad scenario.

Although my stepdad, who lives in Bend Or., rather than take up archery he just waits to draw his tag or he hunts the westside for Blacktails as he does not want to hunt with a bow.

[hunt4]

I really don't like the way Oregon has over the counter tags for archery mule deer, but permit only for rifle. All that does is it causes all the rifle hunters who don't draw that year to go out and buy a bow so they can hunt mule deer. (and elk too)  They can hunt with a bow every year while they continue to accumulate preference points, until they have enough to draw a rifle tag. If the WDFW ever decides to control the number of people hunting mule deer every year, I would rather see the number of archery hunters limited right along with everybody else.

Sure you would, but as for now there is 5 times more modern rifle deer hunters (not saying there all mule deer hunters) than archers..so controlling the # of rifle hunters that hunt mule deer would seem the thing to do.  Than if there is a big spike in archery mule deer hunters than start limiting archery.  But i do not think you will see 80.000 rifle hunters convert to archery    It would be great stepping stone in making a great trophy mule deer state.

[bowhuntin]

I really don't like the way Oregon has over the counter tags for archery mule deer, but permit only for rifle. All that does is it causes all the rifle hunters who don't draw that year to go out and buy a bow so they can hunt mule deer. (and elk too)  They can hunt with a bow every year while they continue to accumulate preference points, until they have enough to draw a rifle tag. If the WDFW ever decides to control the number of people hunting mule deer every year, I would rather see the number of archery hunters limited right along with everybody else.

Sure you would, but as for now there is 5 times more modern rifle deer hunters (not saying there all mule deer hunters) than archers..so controlling the # of rifle hunters that hunt mule deer would seem the thing to do.  Than if there is a big spike in archery mule deer hunters than start limiting archery.  But i do not think you will see 80.000 rifle hunters convert to archery    It would be great stepping stone in making a great trophy mule deer state.

If the WDFW switched to draw only for mule deer how would that affect hunter numbers. Would there be a huge swing to archery? Would people quit hunting all together? I don't think that a bunch of new people will pick up bows, but I am sure there will be more hunters than normal. I personally like the idea of switching to a system like oregon, but that is just my opinion. The only thing I would be worried about that this would affect hunter recruitment because people might stop hunting all together if they couldn't hunt every year and that isn't a good thing for all hunters overall. It would be harder to get kids involved in a sport that you couldn't participate in every year. I think by switching to a system like oregon when you did draw you would provide a much better experience and increase the amount of quality animals in those units.