Free: Contests & Raffles.
Why keep it quiet...the new rules suck for the youth hunters, other than that it's not much of a change...going back to the 2 pt min. (who cares, not like a bunch of people bought the permits to shoot spikes) and the permits don't sell out anyway, so it's not like there's going to be a mad dash and no chance at a permit...If anything, I hope past permit holders call and complain about the youth opportunities taken away. How is it OK for adults to kill does but not have youth get that opportunity? Makes no sense...Grade
I don't get a Kapowsin pass, but I grew up hunting on the westside and I wasn't discouraged from hunting because I couldn't shoot a doe. The idea that a youth is more inclined to pursue hunting because they can shoot a doe is a farce IMO. As for archery does, that is pretty much on par with the state regs.
"As for archery does, that is pretty much on par with the state regs."...So are the youth antlerless permits put out by the WDFW, which by the way, will still be issued by the WDFW for GMU 654 but Hancock is saying they won't honor the WDFW permit on their lands...the game animals cannot be privately owned in WA, as they are owned by the people, this is a big land owner imposing their own management on our animals (which they have every right to do on their lands) but it makes no sense that they allow adults to kill does but not youth...and as far as "still managed to get addicted to hunting" without youth doe permits, well, keep in mind WA is losing hunters at an alarming rate and soon non-hunters and anti-hunters will even have more of a stronghold...if the WDFW gives youth doe permits then Hancock should think twice about allowing them on their lands, after all, it's mostly hunters who buy the permit and hunter numbers are dwindling...soon there won't be hunters to buy the permit...makes no sense is all I'm saying.Grade
I think allowing timber companies to make such decisions like these are a slippery slope. Ya it's "their land to manage", but where does the line get drawn? What if all the companies take this route?
Duckslayer89...if you look at my post I specifically say Youth...I could care less about adults shooting does, with a bow or a rifle...but why discourage the youth, especially when they give out specific youth tags for antlerless that starts the week before the general season...I agree that the deer numbers aren't the same as they used to be but this isn't because of youth hunters, it's because of the combination of all hunters as well as game management and forest practices...GradePS. Adult kills a doe at 30 yards with a bow or kills one at 300 yards with a rifle...still a dead doe...let the youth have that opportunity not an adult with an over the counter tag that has many more GMU's open for does.
