Firearm restricted elk area

[W_Ellison2011]

Figured i would ask here and i have already emailed the wdfw to find out also. I am going to be hunting modern firearm elk on some private property i have permission to hunt and the area it is in is conpletely restricted down to archery only. My question is this, since crossbows are legal to use during modern firearm could i use a crossbow in that area? I do have a good working compound bow but limit myself to shooting no more than 60 yards and would like to take a crossbow because the newer ones are good to 100 yards give or take. Any ideas? Any info while i wait for the slow wdfw answer would be much appreciated!

[Bob33]

A true "Firearm Restriction" area limits the use of centerfire rifles only; crossbows would be allowed.

If an area allows "archery equipment only", crossbows would not be allowed.

I would double check the wording of the restrictions in the area you are considering.

[W_Ellison2011]

Sorry for the weird circle but im on my phone doing this.

[dreamunelk]

100 yards?

[Bob33]

In that instance I don't believe a crossbow is allowed since it is not legal in archery only seasons, but you could contact WDFW to confirm. Good luck.

I would reference this: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=220-414-100

[JimmyHoffa]

In that instance I don't believe a crossbow is allowed since it is not legal in archery only seasons, but you could contact WDFW to confirm. Good luck.

I would reference this: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=220-414-100

Just be sure you record the conversation if the guy from WDFW says it's okay.......

[W_Ellison2011]

I already emailed them. Figured an email response would be best. That way if another game warden has an issue with it i can just pull up the email and show him. Just figured i would ask here while i waited for their response. Havent heard anything from them in a couple days so the wait continues. My compound will work really well 60 yards or less if need be. Just trying to up my chances of getting my first elk. Last 3 years i have been working harder on filing my elk tag than ever before.

[Bob33]

Let us know what you hear.  Good luck on the elk!

[Bob33]

If this is considered an "Archery hunting season" (which it may not be) them 1(d) would make a crossbow illegal.

WAC 220-414-070

Archery requirements.

(1) The following provisions apply to all archery hunting seasons:
(a) It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while archery hunting in the field during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection. Modern handguns cannot be used to hunt big game or dispatch wounded big game during an archery big game hunting season.
(b) It is unlawful to have any electrical equipment or electric device(s), except for illuminated nocks, attached to the bow or arrow while hunting.
(c) It is unlawful to discharge a bow from a vehicle or from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway.
(d) It is unlawful to use any device secured to or supported by the bow for the purpose of maintaining the bow at full draw or in a firing position.
(e) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow or bolt that does not have a sharp broadhead, or with a broadhead blade or blades that are less than seven-eighths of an inch wide.
(f) It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with any bow equipped with a scope.

[W_Ellison2011]

Thanks for the info guys! I will definitely be letting you know as soon as wdfw lets me know! Hope everyone has a good season and good luck!

[E35alex]

Good luck out there. Let us know how it went 🙏


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[W_Ellison2011]

Finally got a reply from wdfw... figured i would update you guys on how useless they are. They told me that crossbows can only be used during modern firearm seasons. Uhhh duuuhhhh i already told them that it was for a modern firearm elk tag but in an area that has been restricted down to archery equipment by them! I emailed them again.. lets hope i get a quicker response. Bright side is i have been doing a lot of practicing with my compound bow the last few weeks and am confident i can place an arrow in an elks lungs out to 60 yards.

[bobcat]

Just saw this thread for the first time, and all I can say is common sense would tell me that a crossbow would be (or SHOULD be) legal. The restriction is obviously for safety reasons. A crossbow, or a compound bow, shouldn't be any difference in safety betweeen the two. The pamphlet says:  "You may use modern firearm, archery, crossbow, or muzzleloader, during modern firearm seasons." They just recently made crossbows legal for use during modern firearm, and this is the exact kind of scenario for which it makes complete sense for someone to use a crossbow. Personally, I probably would have just gone ahead and hunted with the crossbow without checking with the WDFW. But that's just me. You did the smart thing by trying to verify the legality first. It will be interesting what they say, if you ever do get another response.

[JDHasty]

Finally got a reply from wdfw... figured i would update you guys on how useless they are. They told me that crossbows can only be used during modern firearm seasons. Uhhh duuuhhhh i already told them that it was for a modern firearm elk tag but in an area that has been restricted down to archery equipment by them! I emailed them again.. lets hope i get a quicker response. Bright side is i have been doing a lot of practicing with my compound bow the last few weeks and am confident i can place an arrow in an elks lungs out to 60 yards.

As it stands today you cannot use a crossbow during Archery Season unless you have a Disabled SUP.  One reason is that you cannot have a scope on your weapon during Archery Season unless you have a Disabled SUP. 

[W_Ellison2011]

Im not hunting archery season. I am hunting modern firearm elk with my modern firearm elk tag in a modern firearm unit with a small section of it limited to archery equipment lol. Im just going to use my compound bow but wdfw needs to clarify this situation. Crossbows are capable of reaching a lot further a lot more accurately.

[Badhabit]

Remember the guy that shot they well known bull near Ellensburg and he had his ticket dismissed do to an ambiguity in the regs? You've got a slam dunk case if you get cited. Apparently there's not a clear definition for your area so get ya some.

[Bob33]

Remember the guy that shot they well known bull near Ellensburg and he had his ticket dismissed do to an ambiguity in the regs? You've got a slam dunk case if you get cited. Apparently there's not a clear definition for your area so get ya some.

That hunter also ended up with five figures of attorneys fees...

[JDHasty]

Im not hunting archery season. I am hunting modern firearm elk with my modern firearm elk tag in a modern firearm unit with a small section of it limited to archery equipment lol. Im just going to use my compound bow but wdfw needs to clarify this situation. Crossbows are capable of reaching a lot further a lot more accurately.

If you are hunting during Modern Season w/a modern tag you can use your crossbow.  No question about it.   

[Bob33]

Im not hunting archery season. I am hunting modern firearm elk with my modern firearm elk tag in a modern firearm unit with a small section of it limited to archery equipment lol. Im just going to use my compound bow but wdfw needs to clarify this situation. Crossbows are capable of reaching a lot further a lot more accurately.

If you are hunting during Modern Season w/a modern tag you can use your crossbow.  No question about it.

Firearm Restriction Areas can have unique restrictions.

[dreamunelk]

Sometimes there are local regulations also.

[JDHasty]

I am not aware of a single firearm restricted area that allows archery that makes a distinction betw/vertical bows and crossbows. 

[jmscon]

Im not hunting archery season. I am hunting modern firearm elk with my modern firearm elk tag in a modern firearm unit with a small section of it limited to archery equipment lol. Im just going to use my compound bow but wdfw needs to clarify this situation. Crossbows are capable of reaching a lot further a lot more accurately.

If you are hunting during Modern Season w/a modern tag you can use your crossbow.  No question about it.

Firearm Restriction Areas can have unique restrictions.

There used to be a hunt (might still be available) near squim that was shotgun with slugs only. Each area can be quite unique.

[JDHasty]

Im not hunting archery season. I am hunting modern firearm elk with my modern firearm elk tag in a modern firearm unit with a small section of it limited to archery equipment lol. Im just going to use my compound bow but wdfw needs to clarify this situation. Crossbows are capable of reaching a lot further a lot more accurately.

If you are hunting during Modern Season w/a modern tag you can use your crossbow.  No question about it.

Firearm Restriction Areas can have unique restrictions.

There used to be a hunt (might still be available) near squim that was shotgun with slugs only. Each area can be quite unique.

I had a friend who hunted elk in that vicinity and IIRC he could choose to use bow, muzzleloader or slug gun. 

[W_Ellison2011]

Alright folks. Wdfw got back to me super fast this time. According to them you cant use a crossbow in that area. They said it would be like hunting one unit thats open for modern with a crossbow and crossing into another thats only open for archery and trying to use a crossbow when not disabled. It makes no sense to me but thats the answer they gave me. I told them that they need to fully clarify that in the regulations since it is a modern firearm elk area that is just firearm restricted down to archery equipment. Thats our wonderful wdfw for ya. In any case i hope everyone had or has a successful elk season! I just need a 3 pt or antlerless to get 60 yards or closer to me and my bow and hopefully i can tag my first elk! Good luck everyone!

[Bob33]

Alright folks. Wdfw got back to me super fast this time. According to them you cant use a crossbow in that area. They said it would be like hunting one unit thats open for modern with a crossbow and crossing into another thats only open for archery and trying to use a crossbow when not disabled. It makes no sense to me but thats the answer they gave me. I told them that they need to fully clarify that in the regulations since it is a modern firearm elk area that is just firearm restricted down to archery equipment. Thats our wonderful wdfw for ya. In any case i hope everyone had or has a successful elk season! I just need a 3 pt or antlerless to get 60 yards or closer to me and my bow and hopefully i can tag my first elk! Good luck everyone!

No it doesnt make sense but at least you got a definitive answer and can plan  accordingly. Good luck.

[bobcat]

Actually it does make sense, because a crossbow, under Washington state law, is not "archery equipment." So it completely makes sense that they would say a crossbow wouldn't be allowed there. Which is ridiculous, and they really need to work on changing that so that a crossbow would be legal during modern season in that firearm restriction area.

[Bob33]

Yes it makes sense in that regards but not in the sense that firearm restricted areas are restricted to implements with less range for safety reasons. It's not about harvest success which is the issue with general archery seasosn. Crossbows don't shoot any further than compounds.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Could it be a case of when making the changes regarding crossbows and their use, it maybe just got skipped in that particular situation? 

Kind of like the one time conflict over revolver vs semi-auto's in firearm restricted areas, when in general areas, semi-auto's meeting the handgun requirements could be used, but they were not added to the firearm restricted definition until later, which at the time limited handguns to revolvers only.
 
Possibly contact the commission, using that example of a conflict and seemingly unnecessary restriction and request to add crossbows in that particular described area, provided that King Co. has nothing in their firearm restrictions that would be inconflict...?

[bobcat]

Yep, probably just an oversight. All they probably need to do is to change a couple words somewhere and make crossbows legal in any firearm restriction area during modern firearm season. As it should be.

[W_Ellison2011]

There is good news for that particular area I was hunting for elk. According to the local WDFW biologist there are far too many elk and not enough being taken out of the area. He is going to push to open the area up to shotguns with slugs and maybe muzzle loaders. I'm only doing modern firearm until I can get my quality or any bull tag for the white river unit then its back to pure archery for me. Fingers crossed that they change the regs a little for that area so we can have a better chance during modern. I had a 5x5 hang up at 100 yards out there this year and then walk away from me. If I had a shotgun with slugs or my .50 cal hawkens I could have smoked him but that's hunting!

[Squidward]

this is out of the book
88
2017
Washington State Big Game Hunting Pamphlet
Firearm Restriction Areas
Firearm Restriction Areas
It is unlawful to hunt wildlife in the following
firearm restriction areas with centerfire or rimfire
rifles, or to fail to comply with additional firearm
restrictions, except as established below
In firearm restriction areas, hunters may hunt
only during the season allowed by their tag
•
Archery tag holders may only hunt during
archery seasons with archery equipment
•
Muzzleloader tag holders may only
hunt during muzzleloader seasons with
muzzleloader or archery equipment as
defined by department rule
•
Modern firearm tag holders may hunt during
established modern firearm seasons with
bows and arrows; crossbows; muzzleloaders;
revolver-type handguns; semi-automatic
handguns of
40 (10mm) caliber or larger;
or shotguns, so long as the equipment and
ammunition complies with department rules