A more practical opener

[MerriamMagician]

Some of you who are planning your spring turkey hunts may have noticed that the 15th falls on a Monday this year. This is a bit of a downer because unless you take time off work/school to hunt the middle of the week, you have to wait till the 3rd weekend in April to hunt. April 15th has always been the traditional opener. However, many states with similar opening dates to ours will adjust the starting season dates each year for a more practical opener. For example, Montana is opening turkey season on Saturday the 13th this year. This opens up the weekend for hunting, which is a more favorable schedule for most people. Last year was a similar scenario: The 15th fell on a Sunday which would allow only one day of the weekend to hunt for Washington hunters. Montana opened up on the 14th, giving hunters the entire weekend to hunt. My question is should Washington continue with its traditional April 15th opener or modify the starting date every year to better accommodate hunters?

[bigtex]

Very good topic. Just about all other fishing/hunting seasons adjust to the calendar.

[Stein]

It's Washington, if they did anything there would be a limited draw for the early opener and it would cost $15 plus dealer fees to enter.

[Tiger01]

I’m all for moving the date to coincide with the weekend.

[The Gobble-stopper]

I am all for leaving it status quo. Many hunters work weekends. Some have Monday and Tuesday off, others Thursday and Friday. Thus having their own weekend. I believe the 15th. opener allows others first crack at the birds, and not the same hunters each year. I myself like the challenge of others getting out before me. That's why they call it hunting...

[highside74]

I am all for leaving it status quo. Many hunters work weekends. Some have Monday and Tuesday off, others Thursday and Friday. Thus having their own weekend. I believe the 15th. opener allows others first crack at the birds, and not the same hunters each year. I myself like the challenge of others getting out before me. That's why they call it hunting...

 

[highside74]

I wish they would leave more seasons dates the same and not move the around like Archery elk. I would prefer the 7th-20th or something like that every year for early elk.

[ian_padron]

Lmao true

It's Washington, if they did anything there would be a limited draw for the early opener and it would cost $15 plus dealer fees to enter.

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[ian_padron]

I agree 100%

That's why I love the high hunt in Washington so much. Significantly fewer hunters on a weekday opener, and usually only the dedicated ones.

I am all for leaving it status quo. Many hunters work weekends. Some have Monday and Tuesday off, others Thursday and Friday. Thus having their own weekend. I believe the 15th. opener allows others first crack at the birds, and not the same hunters each year. I myself like the challenge of others getting out before me. That's why they call it hunting...

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[hunter399]

Since I always hunt locally in my own area I have no problem that they open on Monday .preferably better that way.Wish they would start opening deer season etc lots of seasons this way.I always save sick pay ,vacation time for hunting so doesn't bother me at all .I think it's great!

[cougforester]

I wish all seasons were set through a series of days (i.e. modern mule deer October 15-25) or something similar. It would make planning so much easier. Like fall bear for my unit I hunt always opens August 15th. It's silly for some seasons to float and some seasons to be fixed. Too bad if you don't get two full weekends to hunt or whatever. Make it more of a priority to not be a weekend warrior.

[Pegasus]

Obviously there is less pressure when opening day falls during the week instead of on the weekend. A few less hunters trying to outcall the other hunters on the same bird makes for a quality hunt and you didn't even have to buy a permit app to participate or to save your points up for your entire lifetime in order to have a chance at being drawn. Who says the WDFW is all about the money? Enjoy the ride until it stops.

[kevinlisa06]

In my opinion a Monday opener is perfect, travel to your spot on Saturday, 1 last scouting on Sunday then hunt Monday morning. The season is 6+ weeks long so much opportunity to get in the woods and hunt. I used to hunt every weekend of the season. Make the drive to the NE corner from Monroe after work on Friday. Have worked birds all season long and have even killed birds even on the last weekend of the season. I don’t even start hunting anymore until May and shoot birds almost every year. Hell I still want Elk season to open up on November 5th every year.


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[HUNTINCOUPLE]

So is the youth hunt the 13/14th or the weekend before?

[ghosthunter]

For me ,Ican go when ever I want for 7-10 days. I usually work it around my hunting partners.
The problem this year is only five days to hunt plus one day travel back before Easter.

Thinking of going the week after Easter. Or skipping Easter and going over on Thursday before and coming back Wednesday after Easter. But that option would have to be cleared through the other half.

The other question is weather.if it’s going to rain for the first three days, not worth going for the opener in my opinion.

[outdooraddict]

thats like the "weekend workers" complaining they dont open general deer on "their weekend or days off"  its luck of the draw, season starts april 15th take a vaca day if u want to hunt the opener, looks like the weekend workers got lucky this year. I love how idaho always opens the 10th, no matter what day of the week. makes planning easy and sometimes keeps the weekend warriors out for a day or two.

[kevinlisa06]

So is the youth hunt the 13/14th or the weekend before?

I would say April 6-7 2019 for the Youth Hunt.


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[HUNTINCOUPLE]

So is the youth hunt the 13/14th or the weekend before?

I would say April 6-7 2019 for the Youth Hunt.


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I'll keep  an eye on the regs to come out. We got some great youth hunters ready to go!!!!!

[Call em in]

thats like the "weekend workers" complaining they dont open general deer on "their weekend or days off"  its luck of the draw, season starts april 15th take a vaca day if u want to hunt the opener, looks like the weekend workers got lucky this year. I love how idaho always opens the 10th, no matter what day of the week. makes planning easy and sometimes keeps the weekend warriors out for a day or two.

I totally agree! I like knowing that the opener in on the 15th year after year. I go every year because it’s important to me.

[Bill W]

All you have to do is decide which is more important; hunting or having a job. <consider this pot stirring>

I'll probably be out on the 15th.

[Sneaky]

leave it as is - the season is long enough and includes enough weekend opportunity as it currently is.

[Alan K]

I think it's good to rotate what day of the week the opener falls on, which happens with the fixed date. I'd actually like to see it for deer/elk seasons as well!  If it happens to work out where there are more or less weekend days in a season so be it. 

[hunter399]

thats like the "weekend workers" complaining they dont open general deer on "their weekend or days off"  its luck of the draw, season starts april 15th take a vaca day if u want to hunt the opener, looks like the weekend workers got lucky this year. I love how idaho always opens the 10th, no matter what day of the week. makes planning easy and sometimes keeps the weekend warriors out for a day or two.

I totally agree! I like knowing that the opener in on the 15th year after year. I go every year because it’s important to me.

Totally agree I have to work weekend most weeks .

[MerriamMagician]

Looks like the consensus is pretty much to keep it on the 15th every year. I'm fine with that of course, just have to plan strategically. Personally I think the biggest reason I would be in favor of it is because I usually only hunt here in WA for 2 weeks or so until I get my three birds and then I rush off on out of state hunts. Welp, time to take some weekdays off to hunt the opener.