WDFW Season Setting Mistake? I sure hope this is a clerical error?

[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! 

[Timberstalker]

So they are letting archery and muzzy kill does, during general.
That's how I read that.

[bearpaw]

So they are letting archery and muzzy kill does, during general.
That's how I read that.

I sure wished it said that. Two years ago after the winter kill they made a clerical error, even though a retraction was printed, all the wardens allowed hunters to possess does.

[Alchase]

Sounds like they did not learn their lesson from the "Methow Meat Hunt" that took place about 10 years ago that defistated the herd.

[trophyhunt]

That just doesn't make good sense at all, wow.  What would their justification be for this, damage claims???

[jagermiester]

What are they thinking?

[teanawayslayer]

What are they thinking?

obviously there not as usuall.

[lewy]

I honestly think the state is trying to rid Washington of ungulates

[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! 

So they are letting archery and muzzy kill does, during general.
That's how I read that.

It looks like modern hunters will be limited to special permits for antlerless, so if seniors and hunters using modern firearms are the ones that will be limited to permit opportunities, who exactly are the "other hunters" then???

It reads to me that these "other hunters" will be using something other than a modern firearm, so they will in effect have a general, either sex season during the times they can hunt without needing a special permit.

Otherwise why would there be any need for any special permits at all? 

[Blacktail Sniper]

So they are letting archery and muzzy kill does, during general.
That's how I read that.

I sure wished it said that. Two years ago after the winter kill they made a clerical error, even though a retraction was printed, all the wardens allowed hunters to possess does.

I think it does indeed say that.  But until the actual regs are available to confirm one way or another, maybe an inquiry would be in order to voice your concerns.

Especially since apparently there was an error in the past that didn't get caught and corrected in a timely manner, get ahead of it now so there is no need to try and correct it after the fact.

[Bob33]

I believe this must be incorrectly worded. It's ambiguous. I'd contact the Wildlife department of WDFW to get clarification.

Two years in a row, I found errors in late season dates for a second deer permit in Western Washington and got them changed before publication.

[Ironhead]

I honestly think the state is trying to rid Washington of ungulates

They need to remove ungulates to make room for all the wolves!

[smalldog]

They are considering giving the does back in areas 101-121 for Archery again.  They took the does away from Archery because of the fires and now it looks like they may give it back to the way it was.  Its a type error and is meant on for the Archers.

[bobcat]

The proposed seasons have been available since sometime in January. This shouldn't be a surprise. But it is in fact only for the archery and muzzleloader seasons, not modern. And, disabled hunters and youth hunters get 4 days to take antlerless whitetail during the general season. Everything you see in the proposal linked below was made official this past weekend.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/2018-2020/wac/220-415-020.pdf

[ctwiggs1]

My guess is that they're treating it like 454 to reduce road kill.

That being said, it's ironic that some of these units were 4pt minimums just a few years back.

[Bob33]

The proposed seasons have been available since sometime in January. This shouldn't be a surprise. But it is in fact only for the archery and muzzleloader seasons, not modern. And, disabled hunters and youth hunters get 4 days to take antlerless whitetail during the general season. Everything you see in the proposal linked below was made official this past weekend.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/2018-2020/wac/220-415-020.pdf

The surprise is in the wording of the press release.  It's not entirely true that "other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons."

[Timberstalker]

The proposed seasons have been available since sometime in January. This shouldn't be a surprise. But it is in fact only for the archery and muzzleloader seasons, not modern. And, disabled hunters and youth hunters get 4 days to take antlerless whitetail during the general season. Everything you see in the proposal linked below was made official this past weekend.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/2018-2020/wac/220-415-020.pdf

The surprise is in the wording of the press release.  It's not entirely true that "other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons."

Looks like someone understood the press release correctly.

[cem3434]

Looks like I'm switching from modern this year.

[bearpaw]

The proposed seasons have been available since sometime in January. This shouldn't be a surprise. But it is in fact only for the archery and muzzleloader seasons, not modern. And, disabled hunters and youth hunters get 4 days to take antlerless whitetail during the general season. Everything you see in the proposal linked below was made official this past weekend.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/2018-2020/wac/220-415-020.pdf

The surprise is in the wording of the press release.  It's not entirely true that "other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons."

I sent a message to WDFW!

[dscubame]

Anterless opportunities are abundant.  No big deal here just alot of negative nannies always looking for a reason to complain.

[bobcat]

The proposed seasons have been available since sometime in January. This shouldn't be a surprise. But it is in fact only for the archery and muzzleloader seasons, not modern. And, disabled hunters and youth hunters get 4 days to take antlerless whitetail during the general season. Everything you see in the proposal linked below was made official this past weekend.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/2018-2020/wac/220-415-020.pdf

The surprise is in the wording of the press release.  It's not entirely true that "other hunters can take antlerless deer during general hunting seasons."

Yes, I know. Obviously the press release was worded incorrectly. To know what it really means you need to look at the proposals, or by the end of this week, look at the actual regulations that will be posted online.

[Bob33]

Proofreading, the lost art.

[hunter399]

I don't think mistake ,anything to make more money ,intell wildlife populations are so bad that nobody in there right mind will buy a tag.

[Bigshooter]

The proposed seasons have been available since sometime in January. This shouldn't be a surprise. But it is in fact only for the archery and muzzleloader seasons, not modern. And, disabled hunters and youth hunters get 4 days to take antlerless whitetail during the general season. Everything you see in the proposal linked below was made official this past weekend.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/2018-2020/wac/220-415-020.pdf

People are smart enough to get on this forum and post but to damn stupid to look this up.

[dscubame]

Wow

[bearpaw]

I got clarification today:

Thank you for contacting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The new regulations will be available on line April 19.

As to your questions, the proposed rule will allow, during general season GMU 101-121, archery and muzzleloader to harvest any white-tailed deer.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Team Spokane
2315 N. Discovery Place
Spokane Valley, WA 99216-1566
509-892-1001