Any other bowhunters want to throw up?

[Karl Blanchard]

I just wish for once Hunter's as a collective would have herd health as first priority instead of our own personal gain. If the Yakima pmu is under objective numbers then we all need to take a little hit on opportunity to build those numbers back up to a healthy sustainable population. We need to remember we can still take our stick and string into the woods in September and Chase elk. That was not taken away from us. Remember it's only a three year cycle as well. 

Unfortunately wdfw rarely gets to use science when it comes to actual management because when a group doesn't get their way they scream the loudest. Then the pendulum swings in the other direction and that group starts to scream. I have had good conversations with the biologist in my area and they know what they are doing. I just wish for once we let their recommendations be the guide for the future of our hunting heritage.

[Pathfinder101]

Idaho Fish and Game should use our Hunting Regulations as an advertisement for promoting tourism...

[hughjorgan]

I just wish for once Hunter's as a collective would have herd health as first priority instead of our own personal gain. If the Yakima pmu is under objective numbers then we all need to take a little hit on opportunity to build those numbers back up to a healthy sustainable population. We need to remember we can still take our stick and string into the woods in September and Chase elk. That was not taken away from us. Remember it's only a three year cycle as well. 

Unfortunately wdfw rarely gets to use science when it comes to actual management because when a group doesn't get their way they scream the loudest. Then the pendulum swings in the other direction and that group starts to scream. I have had good conversations with the biologist in my area and they know what they are doing. I just wish for once we let their recommendations be the guide for the future of our hunting heritage.

Maybe the WDFW should be more concerned for the health of our elk herd before they go and give out exorbitant amount of cow tags to reduce the herd even though they didn't do any aerial surveys in 2014 and 2015 when they were being so generous with tags. Even as late as 2016 the WDFW claimed the status of the Yakima herd was well above its objective. Doesn't seem like they are being good stewards of the peoples resource...

[nitroelk]

typical wdfw. maybe enough public comment will sway them, but not likely. at least we'll have late season.

[Rainier10]

typical wdfw. maybe enough public comment will sway them, but not likely. at least we'll have late season.

I have been to commission meetings before and the rules were actually modified based on comments received via the website comment page and testimony given at the meeting.

These rules are by no means set in stone.

I am going to be asking more questions and doing some more research.  If there is a good reason for the changes I am all in.  If I don't like the responses I get for the changes I will let them know at the meeting.  For now I am going to comment on my concerns with the changes and see if they get back to me with their reasoning for the changes.  My guess is I will have to wait until the commission meeting.  That is where they have given their reasons in the past.

[bearpaw]

typical wdfw. maybe enough public comment will sway them, but not likely. at least we'll have late season.

I have been to commission meetings before and the rules were actually modified based on comments received via the website comment page and testimony given at the meeting.

These rules are by no means set in stone.

I am going to be asking more questions and doing some more research.  If there is a good reason for the changes I am all in.  If I don't like the responses I get for the changes I will let them know at the meeting.  For now I am going to comment on my concerns with the changes and see if they get back to me with their reasoning for the changes.  My guess is I will have to wait until the commission meeting.  That is where they have given their reasons in the past.

  Bow hunters and other user groups can certainly encourage changes, like you I've seen it happen at the commission meetings.

However, I don't think the commission will vary much on big predators, the anti-groups and upper government really control that agenda.

[Special T]

typical wdfw. maybe enough public comment will sway them, but not likely. at least we'll have late season.

I have been to commission meetings before and the rules were actually modified based on comments received via the website comment page and testimony given at the meeting.

These rules are by no means set in stone.

I am going to be asking more questions and doing some more research.  If there is a good reason for the changes I am all in.  If I don't like the responses I get for the changes I will let them know at the meeting.  For now I am going to comment on my concerns with the changes and see if they get back to me with their reasoning for the changes.  My guess is I will have to wait until the commission meeting.  That is where they have given their reasons in the past.

  Bow hunters and other user groups can certainly encourage changes, like you I've seen it happen at the commission meetings.

However, I don't think the commission will vary much on big predators, the anti-groups and upper government really control that agenda.

If that is the case BP it means we are fighting over a decreasing pool of game.it also means that while the different user groups are fighting amongst themselves the department can slowly transition away from sportsmen priorities and $.

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[dreamingbig]

Bow hunters have some of the most vocal lobbying groups in this state, if they aren't complaining about these changes then there must be a good reason, from what I have seen they push for everything they think they can get all the time.

They are complaining.  These changes/moves caught them off guard.  #doyourresearch


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[bobcat]

I'm happy with the reduction in general season antlerless elk opportunity, because I think it's needed to bring elk numbers back up. But at the same time I'm really surprised that they're not offering at least a small number of special permits for antlerless elk during the early archery elk season. They could definitely sell a lot of applications at $7.10 each, so why there are none is really baffling to me.

I think I'll send in a comment suggesting that they do just that. Even if it were only 40 to 50 permits for each unit, that would be better than nothing, and fair since there are antlerless permits offered for muzzleloader and modern firearm.

[dreamingbig]

They should be required to submit the science behind these changes now and not wait for the meeting.  They made the same changes in 2010 without a scientific reason.  If you are going to go from unlimited to zero you can at least be forthcoming with a reason.


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[nitroelk]

 

[Stickerbush]

Tag

[bobcat]

Hunting seasons for the most part are not based on science. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just the way it is. It's fine to ask for the reasoning behind a change like this, but don't ask for that reason to be based on science.

[hunter399]

Here's the science, we gave out a lot of permits and OTC tags made a pile of 💰 ,oops the herd in trouble we better do something we don't wanna lose our 💰 maker.

[Buzz2401]

The herds are in trouble because of last winter.  It was brutal for herds.  The increased number of antlerless tags the few years prior was a good thing or even more elk would of died last winter.  Elk permits for Eastern Modern and eastern Muzzleloader are down to less then 5% of what they historically have been.  Ya it sucks for a loss of opportunity but with the increased number of archery guys out and the reduced herds do to last years harsh weather I think this is a smart move.  With each of the units that saw antlerless archery go away they were averaging 50 or so cows taken a year per GMU so the that is still more then the rifle hunters averaged even with 250 permits when they used to hand that many out.  Look at the statistics, hunting during modern is not easy and success rates are really low.  It is not because of lack of skill or effort it is because the animals have been getting pushed around for two months and are not in the rut.