Fishing and Hunting to re-open on May 5th

[bobcat]

It's only on state land that overnight stays aren't allowed.

[lokidog]

Excited to get to do some fishing.

I am however very disappointed in not getting to go surf perch fishing.  From what I read it sounds like its the local health departments stopping the coastal fishing.  I sure hope they don't expect those they are turning away to turn around and give them the $$ to make up for their loss in tourism/fishing money. 

The health departments don't want anyone then don't expect to be bailed out when your short on funds--just my 

A great example of the "me me me" attitude all over a little fishing...

Yes, people want to get out and have some fun, so what? Barricade yourself indoors for eternity if you choose, but others want to get back out again.

 

Your county isn't even allowing people to come there.

Not my doing, they don't want me boating over to San Juan or any other island in "my county" either....  If you think people haven't been traveling for non fishing and hunting related things, you are delusional.

"All I'm saying is I find it a little hard to comprehend why someone would penalize an entire community by boycotting them simply because our government made a rule saying we can't fish there. For Pete's sake...wait a couple more weeks and go fishing. It's not gonna kill anyone to wait a couple weeks. Why penalize a bunch of folks in the community who depend on fishing for income?"

By not going fishing there, YOU are penalizing them. Maybe there are businesses that want people to be there to buy their goods and they are adult enough to choose their own level of protection? Someone doesn't want the diseased, germ-ridden masses in their store, don't open it. That's the cool thing about a free country, at least theoretically, we have choices.

You can dang well bet that if I had to travel to lingcod fish here in the San Juans, I would. Am I willing to take the bet that the State will extend the lingcod season on a 50/50 (bear vs. turkey) chance? No way in HE double toothpicks. This season is part of my yearly putting meat in the freezer just as much as deer hunting is for other people. It is not for recreation that I fish, though that is a side benefit.

Feel free to call me selfish....

[TriggerMike]

Both Inslee and WDFW stressed that recreating involving overnight stays is not allowed and they will be monitoring compliance when deciding when to further ease restrictions or worst case close hunting and fishing again.

Right or wrong, those are the rules and it would be rather unpleasant if the rest of the activities still closed were kept closed longer because of failure to follow the rules.

We don't have to like it, but if we follow the rules we will all be happier in the shortest amount of time possible.

But overnight stays aren't illegal unless you're on state land, so they are in fact allowed. Nothing is illegal until a law specifically says it is, that's how laws work. And there's no way he's going to go back now. If he doesn't open up small businesses in the next 2 weeks then the liberals will be the ones burning down the Governors mansion. Hunting and fishing are the least of his problems now. Not too mention the fact that AG Bill Barr likely wrote Inslee a letter warning him of over-reaching restrictions which led to us being able to recreate again. Barr wrote an official memo on Monday, then all of a sudden a couple hours later we're allowed to hunt and fish again.

[fishngamereaper]

I also think part of the reason for the soft openings of some fishing/hunting was to also get golf opened up. If you know the guys Jay runs with golf is a huge thing. I would put money on golf being the primary reason, but he knew we would riot if he didnt give us sportsman a bone.

[jackelope]

It's only on state land that overnight stays aren't allowed.

Agreed, but there is still a stay at home order in effect.

I'm not trying to argue. I'd probably go turkey hunting if I had to make a decision. Just saying. We aren't supposed to be traveling for non-essential reasons.

[bobcat]

It's only on state land that overnight stays aren't allowed.

Agreed, but there is still a stay at home order in effect.

I'm not trying to argue. I'd probably go turkey hunting if I had to make a decision. Just saying. We aren't supposed to be traveling for non-essential reasons.

I know. The rules just aren't very clear or consistent. It seems like most of it is only recommendations and not actually laws or rules. Is it against the law for people to leave their houses at all if it's not for a reason considered essential by the government? How will anyone go fishing or hunting with the stay at home order still in effect? If you can't travel you can't go hunting or fishing. Unless all you have to do is walk out your back door.

[huntnphool]

I also think part of the reason for the soft openings of some fishing/hunting was to also get golf opened up.

 The soft opening has one thing in mind and one thing only....revenue! He doesn’t give two *censored*s about us or hunting!

 The majority of licenses sold every year are right before permits are due, and that date is fast approaching. You must purchase your hunting license to apply for permits, yes except OIL’s, and without opening up hunting, they were looking at a big loss in sales.

[jackelope]

It's only on state land that overnight stays aren't allowed.

Agreed, but there is still a stay at home order in effect.

I'm not trying to argue. I'd probably go turkey hunting if I had to make a decision. Just saying. We aren't supposed to be traveling for non-essential reasons.

I know. The rules just aren't very clear or consistent. It seems like most of it is only recommendations and not actually laws or rules. Is it against the law for people to leave their houses at all if it's not for a reason considered essential by the government? How will anyone go fishing or hunting with the stay at home order still in effect? If you can't travel you can't go hunting or fishing. Unless all you have to do is walk out your back door.

I'm with you.
It's clear as mud.

Also am done arguing this topic.

[Taco280AI]

I went after your two separate "me me me me" posts because you were going after forum members directly instead of arguing a point. Argue the point, not the person.

If this is all for safety, okay, understandable. But why stop there? Auto accidents claim nearly 40,000 lives in the US every, single year yet it's allowed. The government is willing to trade those lives for easy transportation. Now all of a sudden the argument is we need to stop everything, we need to stay inside, we need to give up all freedoms to save lives. Bit of a double standard. Yes, overly simplified and more to it bigger picture, I know.

The elderly and those at risk should take precautions, absolutely. But locking down everyone, why? So it can cripple the economy? How many lives will be destroyed due to that?

Going fishing while still distancing isn't hurting anyone or anything.

[jackelope]

I went after your two separate "me me me me" posts because you were going after forum members directly instead of arguing a point. Argue the point, not the person.

If this is all for safety, okay, understandable. But why stop there? Auto accidents claim nearly 40,000 lives in the US every, single year yet it's allowed. The government is willing to trade those lives for easy transportation. Now all of a sudden the argument is we need to stop everything, we need to stay inside, we need to give up all freedoms to save lives. Bit of a double standard.

The elderly and those at risk should take precautions, absolutely. But locking down everyone, why? So it can cripple the economy? How many lives will be destroyed due to that?

Going fishing while still distancing isn't hurting anyone or anything.

The communities on the coast are the reason that area is closed to fishing. They don't want people coming there, so they pushed for extended closures and got them. That's what the WDFW email said anyway. 

I'm not interested in arguing or debating this anymore, so I'm going to respectfully bow out. All these arguments just make me more and more grumpy about this whole scenario. I'm going to become a spectator in the cheap seats with these discussions moving forward. I shouldn't have engaged in the first place.

[jrebel]

Can we have one thread where we focus on the positive.  Yes....the opening was not perfect and did not benefit everyone.....that sucks!!  I don't agree with it and I think the reasoning is foolish.  Now....at least we have turkey, lake, some ocean, bear, mushroom, hiking, etc. etc. etc...... 

Make this a happy thread and argue in the others.   

[Igor]

Auto accidents claim nearly 40,000 lives in the US every, single year yet it's allowed. The government is willing to trade those lives for easy transportation.

That has to be one of the most bizarre arguments of this entire mess.  It's called a false equivalency, but carry on.

[JeffRaines]

Both Inslee and WDFW stressed that recreating involving overnight stays is not allowed and they will be monitoring compliance when deciding when to further ease restrictions or worst case close hunting and fishing again.

Right or wrong, those are the rules and it would be rather unpleasant if the rest of the activities still closed were kept closed longer because of failure to follow the rules.

We don't have to like it, but if we follow the rules we will all be happier in the shortest amount of time possible.

They obviously are not paying attention to camping in national forrests then, we camped a couple weeks ago and it was a zoo, people camping and riding all over the place.

Came here to say this. People have been recreating and doing overnight stays the entire lockdown... just like there were guys out in CNF hunting "coyotes and lions" two weeks ago or guys dropping lines in water.

I'm just the same as Stein on it - I don't want it to go on longer... but on the same token, why should I suffer when most of the population are disregarding the rules anyway? If it gets shut down again, it isn't going to be because they seen my rig out there. Last time they made the shutdown of hiking it was due to idiots not social distancing on popular trails. 10 bucks says we'll see another Rattlesnake Ridge picture next weekend with people packed together again because no one wants to have a plan b or plan c.

Point being - most of us on here won't be responsible for an extended closure but we'll have to be the ones to suffer.

[WSU]

Auto accidents claim nearly 40,000 lives in the US every, single year yet it's allowed. The government is willing to trade those lives for easy transportation.

That has to be one of the most bizarre arguments of this entire mess.  It's called a false equivalency, but carry on.

It's spot on, actually.  We could almost eliminate traffic deaths if we made the speed limit 20 mph everywhere.  We don't because, as a society, we have decided the inefficiency and economic harm it would cause are outweigh the harm (dead and injured people).  Instead, we put up with a certain amount of traffic deaths and regulate as best we can in other ways.

The same is true of really any regulation or law.  How much is appropriate to decrease the harm prevented by the regulation?  How much is not enough?  Is the trade-off worth it?

[Bwana Bob]

I'll follow the social distancing rules and over night camping rules but I'm still going turkey hunting and fishing next week.
These are the most vague bull S rules ever