WDFW news release

[bearmanric]

i bet next year you wont be able to hunt bear's till sept 1st. that will ruin boot hunting. there are more predator's than ever. there wont be hunting in this state in a few year's. now with the wolf's . i'm saying this because there ant crap on the coast any more. miss those elk herd's. see very few elk now small band's.Rick

[Intruder]

Josh... I tend to agree with your logic as far as the explanation to why they're "trying" to require a CWP.  That being said, I personally think it is complete BS.  From a constitutional perspective I really wonder if they have any leg to stand on in trying to enforce any restrictions on a person carrying a handgun.  I thought someone on here had given an account of a similar law getting overturn in another state (OR maybe) based on the fact that the state can't legally restrict a law biding citizen from carrying.     

[CP]

Apparently the WDFW has appeased enough hunters with this change.  As long as we argue amongst ourselves on the issue they will have no incentive to relax the rule any further. 

I don’t buy into the argument that we shouldn’t be allowed to carry equipment that we might use to committee a violation.  Like I posted earlier, I hold a CPL and this ruling will not affect me at all, but I will continue to write the WDFW for changing it because the rule is wrong and it should be opposed. 

[bbarnes]

You guys don't get it well let me let you in on a little secret .There trying to catch all the felon's that are buying the tag's illegally.Talk about revenue for the state just get wrapped up in the court system.

[stumprat]

You guys don't get it well let me let you in on a little secret .There trying to catch all the felon's that are buying the tag's illegally.Talk about revenue for the state just get wrapped up in the court system.

How does this rule expose felons? You don't have to show your permit to buy a tag & license.

[bbarnes]

Point # 2 is why all the extra opportunity's for the muzzle loader guy's?There not a primitive weapon any more.Can someone explain this to me,because i have hunted each method and harvested game with each weapon and it seem the rifle guy is taken in the rear here.Please give me some insight here thanks B Barnes.

[bbarnes]

But when you try to get your CW permit you have to show your drivers licence.Then when the WDFW officers see you in the wood, now they can really check you.

[stumprat]

Point # 2 is why all the extra opportunity's for the muzzle loader guy's?There not a primitive weapon any more.Can someone explain this to me,because i have hunted each method and harvested game with each weapon and it seem the rifle guy is taken in the rear here.Please give me some insight here thanks B Barnes.

Still primitive in my opinion. Open sights, exposed cap, limited range,single shot then pour powder or pellets and ram bullet. So whats changed other than the look of the gun.

[Machias]

But when you try to get your CW permit you have to show your drivers licence.Then when the WDFW officers see you in the wood, now they can really check you.

It changes nothing except making honest guys jump through more hoops and spend more money.  Guys have been packing heat concealed for years and if they were already packing this changes nothing for felons, they were already not allowed to carry.  If they make hikers, bikers and fishermen get CWPs then maybe.  If your not carrying concealed you should not have to get a CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT!

[CP]

Point # 2 is why all the extra opportunity's for the muzzle loader guy's?There not a primitive weapon any more.Can someone explain this to me,because i have hunted each method and harvested game with each weapon and it seem the rifle guy is taken in the rear here.Please give me some insight here thanks B Barnes.

What extra opportunity?  ML tag holders are still getting the short end of the stick with less GMUs and less draw tags than modern rifle. 

If you think ML hunting opportunities are so great, you are free to get whatever tag you want.

[JoshT]

 If they make hikers, bikers and fishermen get CWPs then maybe.  If your not carrying concealed you should not have to get a CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT!

You don't have to get a CPL to open carry... unless it's in an archery unit, durring archery season, and you have an archery permit. Same goes for MZ. The reason the hikers, bikers and fishermen don't have to have a CPL to OPEN CARRY (they still need the CPL to carry concealed)... is because they didn't agree to self imposed limits to firearms durring big game seasons... someone who buys an archery or MZ tag DOES AGREE TO LIMITED FIREARM ACCESS. When you agree to that... you get what you get. Would you rather they go back to the old law where you couldn't have a firearm on your person... or even in your truck?

Again, don't get me wrong here... I don't think any law-abiding citizen should be subject to any kind of firearm restrictions... or permit application processes. But, at least this is a start in the right direction... more opportunity, not less.

[Ray]

If you think ML hunting opportunities are so great, you are free to get whatever tag you want.

I think that's the way it's supposed to work.   More often than not I believe the system is fairly even as far as opportunities in most cases.

[Kain]

 If they make hikers, bikers and fishermen get CWPs then maybe.  If your not carrying concealed you should not have to get a CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT!

You don't have to get a CPL to open carry... unless it's in an archery unit, durring archery season, and you have an archery permit. Same goes for MZ. The reason the hikers, bikers and fishermen don't have to have a CPL to OPEN CARRY (they still need the CPL to carry concealed)... is because they didn't agree to self imposed limits to firearms durring big game seasons... someone who buys an archery or MZ tag DOES AGREE TO LIMITED FIREARM ACCESS. When you agree to that... you get what you get. Would you rather they go back to the old law where you couldn't have a firearm on your person... or even in your truck?


Again, don't get me wrong here... I don't think any law-abiding citizen should be subject to any kind of firearm restrictions... or permit application processes. But, at least this is a start in the right direction... more opportunity, not less.

You are wrong here.  A hiker, biker, modern firearms hunter, fisherman or anyone engaging in a lawful outdoor activity is NOT required to have a CWP to carry open or concealed.  That is the problem with this new rule.  It unfairly targets a minority of outdoorsman for no reason at all.  There is already a rule that say you cannot shoot an animal with a firearm that is not on your tag even to dispatch wounded game.  Your whole idea that we should have to give up our rights just because we want to hunt with a certain weapon for a particular animal is just wrong.  We are forced to agree or not hunt the way we want.  The rule will not stop criminals or make anyone safer. 

RCW 9.41.060

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.060

"The provisions of RCW 9.41.050 (carry, including concealed) shall not apply to...
 ...Any person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, only if, considering all of the attendant circumstances, including but not limited to whether the person has a valid hunting or fishing license, it is reasonable to conclude that the person is participating in lawful outdoor activities or is traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area"

[ThePascoKid]

Exactly, it's already illegal, just because someone has a CWP doesn't make them an honest law abiding hunter, an archer with a CWP could just as easily poach an animal with his pistol as one without a CWP.

[Sneaky]

There is no good reason to require a CWP for carrying a pistol that isn't concealed. It doesn't take a forensic scientist to differentiate between a pistol wound and an archery wound.