Next three year season setting process, we need a change.

[SuperX]

Hahaha that is some funny stuff right there. And archery to use to be primitive, now bows are shooting north of 320 fps and a lot of people's range is 80+ yards. I was a competitive Archer and Hoyt shooter for years. I have seen the advances in both, and they are comparable.
You can not compare our seasons to any other of the PNW states, as they have twice the amount of critters, and we have twice the amount of sportsman. This is why we have to choose our weapon. To limit the overall success rate. No hate, but a good chuckle

but even with compound bow and release improvements, you still have to draw the bow while the animal is within range, and can not shoot through even the wispiest of obstruction.  Even when you can thread the needle, the arrow can be thwarted by bone or the slightest step or duck.  These, to me, are the relevant factors in effectiveness.  BTW you could always shoot 80y, the NFAA field round has 80 yard shots 50 years before the invention of the compound bow.  Modern archery equipment just means get to shoot accurately with less time spent practicing, and deliver a lot more Kinetic energy.

[Mallardmasher]

And when my powder gets damp it goes pop not bang, we both have advanced and we both still have obstacles. I am for all user groups, not for taking away anyone's passion. There are enough, that want us all finished, without us doing it to ourselves.

[High Climber]

First, a caveat.  I fully understand politics, in that my personal opinion will have little bearing on the final outcome.  Thus, I won't comment in either direction to your proposals.  However, please note that if you succeed in moving the ML season opener to the last Saturday in September, and get a 9-day season, I will switch my tag from archery to ML (but still use my bow).  Food for thought for you.

That's a fact! I would be right there with ya

[kentrek]

It's that way due to popular opinion.

Your correct but if it's set by popular opinion then why is there a wave of threads every year on how the dates suck.....

Our seasons shouldn't be set off popular opinion but off the statistics for what a given area needs or needs not to be hunted....lets fight to get some actual science involved in Washington and then maybe we could call our selves conservationists

[bobcat]

It's that way due to popular opinion.

Your correct but if it's set by popular opinion then why is there a wave of threads every year on how the dates suck.....

Our seasons shouldn't be set off popular opinion but off the statistics for what a given area needs or needs not to be hunted....lets fight to get some actual science involved in Washington and then maybe we could call our selves conservationists

Maybe because people like to complain and often think the grass is always greener on the other side? In my opinion if seasons were to be set according to science, there would be no general seasons at all. All deer and elk hunting by permit only, that's the only way to manage by science. Again, my opinion only.

[winshooter88]

In my previous post I tried to explain that seasons for the different user groups are set to help maintain parity, (equality) between the take of the different user groups. By changing when the muzzle loader season is even by a few days (during the rut) you will make a significant change in that parity, that is why it is unlikely that there will be any significant change in the length and timing of the seasons. As for the choice of Saturday openers is because the majority of survey responses wanted it that way so families could more easily take the kids with them. Simply put the WDFW gets more responses than however many people you may know or talk to or know buglebrush.

[grundy53]

2 days in the late season do not equate to two days in the prime/end of the rut.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Skyvalhunter]

Would be nice to close down the whole Methow units and try to let the herd come back but I know that will never happen

[Mallardmasher]

It opened last year on Oct 1st and they where fine with that, so let's have it open the Saturday closest to oct first every year
For the Archers out there. Did the season yield higher success rates when Archery opened on Or about Oct 1st or what we have now with our current season. It was changed by popular demand

[kentrek]

It's that way due to popular opinion.

Your correct but if it's set by popular opinion then why is there a wave of threads every year on how the dates suck.....

Our seasons shouldn't be set off popular opinion but off the statistics for what a given area needs or needs not to be hunted....lets fight to get some actual science involved in Washington and then maybe we could call our selves conservationists

Maybe because people like to complain and often think the grass is always greener on the other side? In my opinion if seasons were to be set according to science, there would be no general seasons at all. All deer and elk hunting by permit only, that's the only way to manage by science. Again, my opinion only.

I've spoken against you on that but it really gets down to ones views on what a permit system is....is idaho a permit system ? I view it as a quota system and I believe it's a really good route...

[bobcat]

It's that way due to popular opinion.

Your correct but if it's set by popular opinion then why is there a wave of threads every year on how the dates suck.....

Our seasons shouldn't be set off popular opinion but off the statistics for what a given area needs or needs not to be hunted....lets fight to get some actual science involved in Washington and then maybe we could call our selves conservationists

Maybe because people like to complain and often think the grass is always greener on the other side? In my opinion if seasons were to be set according to science, there would be no general seasons at all. All deer and elk hunting by permit only, that's the only way to manage by science. Again, my opinion only.

I've spoken against you on that but it really gets down to ones views on what a permit system is....is idaho a permit system ? I view it as a quota system and I believe it's a really good route...

Whatever you want to call it as long as the number of tags issued are controlled in some way. We don't have any limit on the number of tags sold or the number of people who hunt each unit. Other than recently, where timber companies are limiting the number of hunters on their lands.

[buglebrush]

They have it opening on a Saturday because that's what most hunters want. Look at early archery elk season- opens on Saturday. Modern deer season- opens on Saturday. Modern elk season- opens on Saturday. See the pattern? That's not going to change. It's that way due to popular opinion.

I've never met a hunter that likes the saturday opener.  In fact everyone I've ever talked to hates it!  If you are really a die-hard hunter you'll take the first day off work, especially if it eliminates a little of the outrageous pressure of the saturday opener.

Then the majority of hunters must not be "die hard" hunters. If you look at surveys that the WDFW has done in the past, a large majority of hunters want opening day on Saturday. I agree with you, I prefer to have seasons open mid-week, but that's only because I'm able to get paid days off whenever I choose.

Oh and WDFW surveys are sure to be accurate...  Nothing that agency has done gives me even a shred of trust.   

[floatinghat]

Bring on the hate but, I'd assume see the muzzleloader season eliminated and extend the archery season through where the muzzleloader season was. Muzzleloader used to be primative and hunters couldn't shoot them 150-175 yards and kill elk.

With the new guns like the nw knight disc extreme your hunting with a weapon that is a killing machine that is nowhere near what technology was a few years ago. I like Montana's style where if you want to hunt the rut you have to learn how to shoot a bow and get close. Muzzleloader season is set when the elk are very vulnerable and with the new technology you barely have to get inside their senses.

Think you need to revisit, the old black powder guns shooting big heavy conical where shooting well past your quoted distances.   I would have not problem supporting going back to cap locks if you agree archery goes back in time, no compounds, no carbon, no sites etc.  So I look forward to seeing longbows, wooden arrows, etc.    Look at the harvest percentages, they have been very similar, throw in the additional lost animals from archery.

[Elkcollector82]

they have been very similar, throw in the additional lost animals from archery.

Haha. That's funny. Cause only archery looses animals 🤦‍♂️