Proposal to eliminate harvesting of cow elk for archery hunters in 8 game units

[bobcat]

I think most people on this forum have seen the 2018-2020 proposals.

The units being referred to here would be 175, 328, 329, 336, 340, 352, 356, and 364.

[bowhunterty]

But those units are only closed in the early archery season. Late season didn't change under the proposed regulations. Still spike and antlerless Last year modern and muzzy cow tags dropped 90%. Where archery seasons didn't change. I would rather see them keep early season antlerless/spike and do away with late season antlerless.

[Bob33]

I wasn't informed

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/2018/wsr_18-03-177.pdf

[jstone]

It was bound to happen, with all the tags they gave out a few years ago. Also I know there were a lot of people out there bow hunting and taking crazy shots. Not being responsible. That hurts the archery group to. Doesn’t surprise me.

[Mfowl]

So I haven't seen (in this thread or the other one on this topic) anyone mention the private/ag land aspect of this rule change. I recall reading that hunting pressure in the early archery season drives herds out of the hills and on to private property earlier in the year than naturally occurring migrations causing property damage and depradation and also coincides with harvest timing. I was under the impression this is as much of the driving factor as herd numbers. Up to this point, archery has been the fastest growing segment of the hunting community in this state. Perhaps archery is a victim of its own success.

[X-Force]

328 and 329 will still have early season antlerless opportunities it will change to a permit instead of general season. 100 permits.

[JimmyHoffa]

It was bound to happen, with all the tags they gave out a few years ago. Also I know there were a lot of people out there bow hunting and taking crazy shots. Not being responsible. That hurts the archery group to. Doesn’t surprise me.

I know about two dozen former westside hunters that moved over east specifically for the cow/spike allowance.  They got cows/spikes regularly enough, but what surprised me was how many animals lost.  Hunting eastside with a bow in early sept they would lose maybe two or three for each one recovered (some were unconfirmed hits, some blood was found, some the animals were found but too late and bloated).  Enough animals to get enough shots to get animals.  When they did westside rifle, finding a legal bull is tough enough most wouldn't get a shot but every 3-4 years, so if something was lost it wasn't like they could just go after a few more the next day.

[jstone]

Yep, I would listen on the radio. Sad

[D-Rock425]

It was bound to happen, with all the tags they gave out a few years ago. Also I know there were a lot of people out there bow hunting and taking crazy shots. Not being responsible. That hurts the archery group to. Doesn’t surprise me.

I know about two dozen former westside hunters that moved over east specifically for the cow/spike allowance.  They got cows/spikes regularly enough, but what surprised me was how many animals lost.  Hunting eastside with a bow in early sept they would lose maybe two or three for each one recovered (some were unconfirmed hits, some blood was found, some the animals were found but too late and bloated).  Enough animals to get enough shots to get animals.  When they did westside rifle, finding a legal bull is tough enough most wouldn't get a shot but every 3-4 years, so if something was lost it wasn't like they could just go after a few more the next day.

if you loose that many animals please just stop archery hunting and go back to rifle.
(Just a general statement not directed towards any one person)

[pianoman9701]

It was bound to happen, with all the tags they gave out a few years ago. Also I know there were a lot of people out there bow hunting and taking crazy shots. Not being responsible. That hurts the archery group to. Doesn’t surprise me.

I know about two dozen former westside hunters that moved over east specifically for the cow/spike allowance.  They got cows/spikes regularly enough, but what surprised me was how many animals lost.  Hunting eastside with a bow in early sept they would lose maybe two or three for each one recovered (some were unconfirmed hits, some blood was found, some the animals were found but too late and bloated).  Enough animals to get enough shots to get animals.  When they did westside rifle, finding a legal bull is tough enough most wouldn't get a shot but every 3-4 years, so if something was lost it wasn't like they could just go after a few more the next day.

Sorry and all due respects JH, but I've gotta call BS on this statement. I don't believe that the lost elk figure for archery is anywhere near 2 to 3 times the harvested elk figure and doubt it's even close to  1 for 1. If it were, there'd be dead elk all over the place and the whole woods would stink of rotting flesh.

As far as the restrictions are concerned, this is just the beginning. Lack of predator management is going to speed this process along. Hunters are no longer needed to control ungulate numbers even though hunters are the ones responsible for their former abundance.

[Blacktail Sniper]

It was bound to happen, with all the tags they gave out a few years ago. Also I know there were a lot of people out there bow hunting and taking crazy shots. Not being responsible. That hurts the archery group to. Doesn’t surprise me.

I know about two dozen former westside hunters that moved over east specifically for the cow/spike allowance.  They got cows/spikes regularly enough, but what surprised me was how many animals lost.  Hunting eastside with a bow in early sept they would lose maybe two or three for each one recovered (some were unconfirmed hits, some blood was found, some the animals were found but too late and bloated).  Enough animals to get enough shots to get animals.  When they did westside rifle, finding a legal bull is tough enough most wouldn't get a shot but every 3-4 years, so if something was lost it wasn't like they could just go after a few more the next day.

Sorry and all due respects JH, but I've gotta call BS on this statement. I don't believe that the lost elk figure for archery is anywhere near 2 to 3 times the harvested elk figure and doubt it's even close to  1 for 1. If it were, there'd be dead elk all over the place and the whole woods would stink of rotting flesh.

As far as the restrictions are concerned, this is just the beginning. Lack of predator management is going to speed this process along. Hunters are no longer needed to control ungulate numbers even though hunters are the ones responsible for their former abundance.

I think he is placing that number on the specific group of hunters he knows that travel over the mountains to hunt, not all archery hunters in general...

[JimmyHoffa]

   Just the groups that I know that have switched to go over there.

[pianoman9701]

OK. In that case, please plead with them to switch to modern, as was previously suggested. That's ridiculous. Thanks JH. 

[baker5150]

It was bound to happen, with all the tags they gave out a few years ago. Also I know there were a lot of people out there bow hunting and taking crazy shots. Not being responsible. That hurts the archery group to. Doesn’t surprise me.

I know about two dozen former westside hunters that moved over east specifically for the cow/spike allowance.  They got cows/spikes regularly enough, but what surprised me was how many animals lost.  Hunting eastside with a bow in early sept they would lose maybe two or three for each one recovered (some were unconfirmed hits, some blood was found, some the animals were found but too late and bloated).  Enough animals to get enough shots to get animals.  When they did westside rifle, finding a legal bull is tough enough most wouldn't get a shot but every 3-4 years, so if something was lost it wasn't like they could just go after a few more the next day.

if you loose that many animals please just stop archery hunting and go back to rifle.
(Just a general statement not directed towards any one person)

Going back to Rifle won't help.  This is an ethics issue, not an equipment issue.

[The scout]

It will help a bit because there isn’t going to be near the opportunity at wounding elk as there is with archery when cow is open. But I agree with you they have ethics issues.