Units without Quality Buck permit

[shmacker]

After looking through the special permit hunts, I noticed that one of the 400 series units that I frequent has very liberal seasons and harvest regulations, but there is no opportunity for a Quality buck tag.  Does anyone know why the state would limit access for hunters/ revenue for the state by not offering a quality buck permit in a unit that allows Any Deer, and any Buck in the general seasons?  I would love to hunt the rut in this area and I'm sure there would be many special hunt applications sold if it were available.

[boneaddict]

Probably a balance of opportunity versus expectations for a quality permit.   Quality to many means the realistic chance at a trophy buck.  It also might be management that if there is a high harvest they want to leave x amount of breeding class bucks.

[shmacker]

Bone, you could be right about the expectation of quality, because although this unit produces big bucks it is one of the most human populated GMUs in the state.  I just thought it was odd that WDFW offers "any deer" general seasons to archery and muzzleloader but no rut tag.  Seems like in this unit, the more deer harvested the better from WDFW's point of view.

[fish vacuum]

The 400 series quality tags are basically in place of what used to be the late season. Does the unit you're thinking of still have a late modern season that's open to everyone?

[jackelope]

Is it 454?

[DOUBLELUNG]

Sounds like a unit for a buck permit rather than quality buck.

[shmacker]

Correct Jackelope

[jackelope]

Correct Jackelope

With one weapon or another, there is a season open in there almost everyday from 9/1 to 12/31.

[shmacker]

Yeah I understand that the seasons are long, I guess I was wondering if anyone had insight as to why they don't offer even one rut tag that starts Nov 1.  It's a huge unit with a substantial deer population, and I have seen some really nice bucks between Halloween and when the late season opens.  It seems like it would be a win win for hunter opportunity at a nice buck and revenue from application sales.  I think this will be the first year I will buy a rifle tag to bowhunt blacktails just due to that timeframe.

[Stein]

Call the bio, I'm sure he/she would let you know.  My guess is that they have a few units they manage for opportunity and others that are managed for quality/trophy opportunities.

[fish vacuum]

Careful what you ask for. They could scratch the late hunt and make it draw only.
Quality hunts in other 400 series units got moved up this year. Previously, they were around the traditional late season timeframe.

[jackelope]

I bet it's got a lot, or all, to do with hunter opportunity.

[blackveltbowhunter]

They're could be a variety of reasons. Maybe the breeding age bucks are in short supply so they are protecting all of them, maybe it conflicts with concurrent seasons, perhaps they simply overlooked it. I don't know the unit well, but geographically it would make sense their may not be alot of public ground access. Perhaps thats a factor. It sounds like it could support a couple rut permits, but maybe the department doesnt want the potential headache.

[fish vacuum]

The 400 series units with quality permits do not have a late modern season. The late season in that unit is the quality hunt.

[shmacker]

Good point fish vaccuum

[jackelope]

It's pretty much King County proper. There is very little public ground. It's almost all firearms restricted.