Commission sets new hunting seasons, legalizes primers for muzzleloaders

[Bob33]

OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new hunting regulations through 2020 for deer, elk, waterfowl, and other game species at a public meeting April 12-14 in Olympia.

The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also authorized the department to purchase 1,275 acres in Chelan County's Stemilt Basin to protect critical wildlife habitat.

Key changes in hunting rules approved by the commission for the upcoming season include:

Waterfowl: The limit for pintail ducks was increased to two birds a day in all general waterfowl seasons, due to improved conditions in their breeding areas. In addition, special seasons for hunters under age 16 will be staggered to allow an individual hunter to participate in youth hunts on both sides of the state. The special youth hunt is set for Sept. 22-23 in western Washington, followed by a youth hunt Sept. 29-30 in eastern Washington.
White-tailed deer: Hunters will be allowed to take antlerless white-tailed deer in game management units 101-121 in northeast Washington. Special permits will be available to seniors and hunters using modern firearms, while other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons.
Elk: The early general bowhunting season for antlerless elk in the Yakima and Colockum elk herds has been reduced to six days from 13. This change, as with previous permit reductions for hunts with modern firearms and muzzleloaders, is designed to meet and sustain population objectives for those herds. The season for bull elk is not affected by this change.

The commission also approved a proposal to allow hunters to use primers designed for use in modern cartridges during muzzleloader seasons, but explicitly banned the use of "unmanned aircraft" – also known as drones – while hunting.

These and other new hunting rules will be incorporated into the 2018-19 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet, which will be available online April 19 at https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/, and at WDFW offices and hunting license vendors across the state starting the last week of this month.

The purchase of the Stemilt Basin property, approved earlier in the meeting, will allow the department to complete a land exchange initiated with the Washington Department of Natural Resources in 2007. WDFW secured federal funding to purchase two parcels, appraised at $1,778,000, to protect the basin's habitat for northern spotted owls, wolves, elk, deer, and other wildlife species.

The land exchange received strong support from the Stemilt Partnership, a broad community-based coalition established by Chelan County of agriculture, wildlife, recreation, conservation, and economic development interests. The state Board of Natural Resources is scheduled to take action on the land transfer today.

In other business, the commission directed WDFW to begin developing new rules for suction dredge mining to provide additional protection for fish. The department currently regulates suction dredge mining in and near state waters the same way it regulates gold panning and other small-scale prospecting and mining activities.

Jeff Davis, assistant director of WDFW's Habitat Program, said the department plans to meet with interested parties to discuss potential changes starting next month.

The commission also heard public comments on several new rules proposed by WDFW to meet the objective of the American with Disabilities Act, reviewed the department's role in killer whale recovery, and discussed progress in recruiting a new director for the department.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1618a/

[Ridge Hunter]

Thanks Bob!

[CLARKTAR]

So I guess that means 209 primers are legal?

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[trophyhunt]

So I guess that means 209 primers are legal?

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yup

[Mudman]

So the greenies saved some more earth.  Cant even gold pan in this state, might destroy the fish!!  As the city dumps sewage into our waters.

[bearpaw]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1618a/

White-tailed deer: Hunters will be allowed to take antlerless white-tailed deer in game management units 101-121 in northeast Washington. Special permits will be available to seniors and hunters using modern firearms, while other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons.

An open general season whitetail antlerless hunt will wipe out our herds! 

[jagermiester]

On the positive side of things.
I'm throwing my Traditions northwest POS in the garbage and I'm going to go get a new muzzle loader.
I couldn't be happier about the change. 

[Special T]

On the positive side of things.
I'm throwing my Traditions northwest POS in the garbage and I'm going to go get a new muzzle loader.
I couldn't be happier about the change. 

You should get one with the built in can on the end of the barrel!

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[jagermiester]

What's that?

I might though if it's cool.

[buglebrush]

when will we be getting our hands on the reg's?

[lewy]

Always used musket caps, would a 209 conversion be worthwhile on the ol bighorn?

[jager]

when will we be getting our hands on the reg's?

I was at the Region 1 office yesterday. They said, the regs would be out the 23rd.

[bowhunterforever]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1618a/

White-tailed deer: Hunters will be allowed to take antlerless white-tailed deer in game management units 101-121 in northeast Washington. Special permits will be available to seniors and hunters using modern firearms, while other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons.

An open general season whitetail antlerless hunt will wipe out our herds! 

Wow herd numbers are already way down

[Blacktail Sniper]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1618a/

White-tailed deer: Hunters will be allowed to take antlerless white-tailed deer in game management units 101-121 in northeast Washington. Special permits will be available to seniors and hunters using modern firearms, while other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons.

An open general season whitetail antlerless hunt will wipe out our herds! 

Wow herd numbers are already way down

More discussion on this here:

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,226492.msg3013269/topicseen.html#new

[Special T]

What's that?

I might though if it's cool.

Silencer Co. Muzzy with fixed can maximum 50 about $1k

[Skyvalhunter]

Wildlife (WDFW), also authorized the department to purchase 1,275 acres in Chelan County's Stemilt Basin to protect critical wildlife habitat.

And this is exactly where they should put every wolf behind a High Fence and let them eat each other.

[Jason]

On the positive side of things.
I'm throwing my Traditions northwest POS in the garbage and I'm going to go get a new muzzle loader.
I couldn't be happier about the change. 

Let me know when and where you plan on doing that and I'll come save that said "POS" from the depths of a landfill.

[Skyvalhunter]

Ok has anyone looked to see if the proposals that the WDFW wanted comments on changed any? Looks to me like that comment period was a waste of time again

[bobcat]

Ok has anyone looked to see if the proposals that the WDFW wanted comments on changed any? Looks to me like that comment period was a waste of time again

Comments from the public certainly had an effect on the early archery season in region 3. The proposal was to eliminate antlerless elk from that season, but due to feedback from hunters they are allowing antlerless elk hunting for 6 days of the 13 day season. That's the only change in the proposals that I'm aware of.

[jagermiester]

On the positive side of things.
I'm throwing my Traditions northwest POS in the garbage and I'm going to go get a new muzzle loader.
I couldn't be happier about the change. 

Let me know when and where you plan on doing that and I'll come save that said "POS" from the depths of a landfill.

You don't want it. The firing pin is sticking on it. I sent it back to Traditions and they fixed it. It's doing it again. Pretty dangerous with it being a muzzle break.

[gee_unit360]

Always used musket caps, would a 209 conversion be worthwhile on the ol bighorn?

Yeah that?? What are the benefits of a 209 primer? I’ve never used one.

[CP]

Always used musket caps, would a 209 conversion be worthwhile on the ol bighorn?

Yeah that?? What are the benefits of a 209 primer? I’ve never used one.

I have shot both musket caps and 209s with my Bighorn.  There is no difference ballisticly. 

[Mudman]

So a citizen commission appointed by Inslee thus likely very liberal decides how wdfw should set policy??  Mining is regulated a lot already yet more coming to help the fish?  Really?  Land buys with precious resources to help spotted owls and wolves?  Really?  No surpise but I am surprised this thread seems to focus on how BOOM our muskets go?  Missing something here?

[Special T]

So a citizen commission appointed by Inslee thus likely very liberal decides how wdfw should set policy??  Mining is regulated a lot already yet more coming to help the fish?  Really?  Land buys with precious resources to help spotted owls and wolves?  Really?  No surpise but I am surprised this thread seems to focus on how BOOM our muskets go?  Missing something here?

I don't think it's fair to characterize every commissioner  in that way. There are some that really hug the bunnies, and those that lean tword  more restrictive conservation. It would appear that there are at least a couple that are sportsmen advocates, and some that are like warm.

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[Mudman]

I don't know who they are so could be I am totally wrong.  I assume liberalism conservation.  But if this is the summary of work from commission when we all know of huge issues not addressed then I am disappointed again.