Spikes taken with Quality permit

[bobcat]

Looking at the harvest report I see a few spikes reported with Quality permits. Who does that? Alta had one, and Teanaway another. Several blacktails as well. Then in the archery permits there was 1 spike taken in Entiat and 1 in Sinlahekin.

Some 2 points as well. 2 each for Pearrygin and Gardner, and 1 each in Sinlahekin, Chewuch, Gardner, Alta, Chiwawa, Swakane, Quilomene, and Cowiche.

Another interesting thing- Entiat shows a 100% success rate but only 8 deer taken out of 15 permits. Only 9 reports returned. But how can they call that a 100% success rate? Why don't they make a phone call to the six who didn't report ?

[7mmfan]

Those are guys that wanted big ones until the last day or two and then shot the first "meat" buck that was next to the road. Their prerogative I suppose.

[Stein]

If I hunted 9 days on a 10 and didn't get anything and didn't have a good chance at one on day 10 and a spike showed up I would absolutely shoot it.  Then again, my chance at drawing a quality tag are 0%, so it's moot.

I don't trust much of the WDFW data, there are inconsistencies in many places.  It happens in both hunting and fishing, if data is missing there are some pretty crude extrapolations made many times assuming a much higher harvest than actual.

[Karl Blanchard]

Day 1 or day 10 I care not one bit what someone else does with THEIR tag. Shoot what makes you happy and apologize to know one.   

[kselkhunter]

Day 1 or day 10 I care not one bit what someone else does with THEIR tag. Shoot what makes you happy and apologize to know one.

 

[WSU]

I drew a bull tag during school and could only take 3 days to hunt. I had to travel from out of state and your grades went down if you missed class.  I shot a spike bull in the third morning after passing some smaller bulls.

A couple years ago my dad drew a quality deer tag. We hunted a week and passed dozens of bucks. He shot a 2 point out last morning mainly because my six year olds had hunted with us and it was more important to us to have a successful hunt than it was to hold out an extra 4 hours.

I don’t see anything wrong with shooting whatever animal makes you happy with your hunt.

[7mmfan]

Not quality tags but regular bull tags. I've killed two spikes with them and was happy to do so.

[Southpole]

Lot’s of different circumstances come up that’ll put a stick in your spokes for a time sensitive hunting trip. Health, work, school, family, fires or just a crappy year. A guy might of had only a day or 2 to getting something done to at least fill their tag.

[bobcat]

Yeah I killed a spike with a quality Peaches Ridge permit. But this is about deer. I don't think I could shoot a spike mule deer even if it was the last day. Most of these mule deer permits have nearly a 100% success rate, if not 100%. So it doesn't make sense that you'd have to settle for a spike, and end up with 40 pounds of meat.

[Southpole]

Some of units for the quality permits aren’t what they used to be, I would imagine we’ll see smaller/less points taken in the years to come.

[Buckhunter24]

Hard to say the circumstances and hunting experience. I would have no issues shooting a nice 2 point in the last couple days. I'm not sure I would shoot a spike but I could see why someone who burned their time off would instead of come up empty, or someone who hasn't harvested a lot of deer..

[full choke]

Wouldn't the meat be considered a trophy?
Maybe the hunt was a blast, good times were had, a son and father bonded, and took home some meat. Quality hunt box checked...

[jrebel]

I'll speak up....I am the one in the Entiat that shot spike zilla!!     

For inquiring minds, I will share the story.  I drew the tag with 6 points.  I had the entire season off.....until I switched jobs at the start of September.  Not having any vacation, I managed to trade a few days and ended up with 6 full days of hunting.  I changed my mentality with only having six days and still wanting to make it a quality experience.  I took my son out of school to spend the entire hunt with me.  I had my hunting buddy and a few random friends stop in to enjoy camp life with the shortened days of hunting.  I set up my new wall tent and figured we would make the best out of a shorter season than I would have wanted.  We spotted quite a few very nice bucks, some that were out of stalking range and others that I just blew stocks on.....that is part of archery hunting.  I passed up shots daily on 3 points....some of them very nice 3 points.  My hunting buddy said I would regret it....but I knew I wouldn't.  I would rather shoot a spike on the last day than shoot a 3 point on day 2-3 or 4.  I blew a stock on a huge 4x4 that I got to within 30 yards of.  I had multiple blown stocks on 160+ bucks (3 or 4).  We saw tons of deer, had a ton of fun and the last evening hunt, I decided to shoot a spike or 2 pt to fill the freezer.  My son was by my side and got to help drag it out, gut it, skin it and ultimately be part of the entire 6 day hunt.  Hands down one of the best hunts I have ever had. 

Sure, do I wish I had shot one of the big boys.....OBVIOUSLY YES!!  Do I regret filling the freezer with spike zilla....NO.  I purposely didn't do a write up on here because people are cruel and I didn't want my son reading it.  To him this spike had just as much bone as a 190 class muley.  I personally don't care what people say about me, but I find myself protecting my kids from people that think quality means antlers.  I teach my kids that quality was 6 days in the field with my son and best friend (hunting buddy). 

Here are pics of what Quality means to me!!!  Bobcat, as a moderator your question of "who does that?" Is mildly insulting.  Of all people .... showing a little restraint and promoting our sport as something more that bone=quality.......

[full choke]

I'll speak up....I am the one in the Entiat that shot spike zilla!!     

For inquiring minds, I will share the story.  I drew the tag with 6 points.  I had the entire season off.....until I switched jobs at the start of September.  Not having any vacation, I managed to trade a few days and ended up with 6 full days of hunting.  I changed my mentality with only having six days and still wanting to make it a quality experience.  I took my son out of school to spend the entire hunt with me.  I had my hunting buddy and a few random friends stop in to enjoy camp life with the shortened days of hunting.  I set up my new wall tent and figured we would make the best out of a shorter season than I would have wanted.  We spotted quite a few very nice bucks, some that were out of stalking range and others that I just blew stocks on.....that is part of archery hunting.  I passed up shots daily on 3 points....some of them very nice 3 points.  My hunting buddy said I would regret it....but I knew I wouldn't.  I would rather shoot a spike on the last day than shoot a 3 point on day 2-3 or 4.  I blew a stock on a huge 4x4 that I got to within 30 yards of.  I had multiple blown stocks on 160+ bucks (3 or 4).  We saw tons of deer, had a ton of fun and the last evening hunt, I decided to shoot a spike or 2 pt to fill the freezer.  My son was by my side and got to help drag it out, gut it, skin it and ultimately be part of the entire 6 day hunt.  Hands down one of the best hunts I have ever had. 

Sure, do I wish I had shot one of the big boys.....OBVIOUSLY YES!!  Do I regret filling the freezer with spike zilla....NO.  I purposely didn't do a write up on here because people are cruel and I didn't want my son reading it.  To him this spike had just as much bone as a 190 class muley.  I personally don't care what people say about me, but I find myself protecting my kids from people that think quality means antlers.  I teach my kids that quality was 6 days in the field with my son and best friend (hunting buddy). 

Here are pics of what Quality means to me!!!  Bobcat, as a moderator your question of "who does that?" Is mildly insulting.  Of all people .... showing a little restraint and promoting our sport as something more that bone=quality.......

My point exactly!

Congratulations on a great quality tag jrebel!

[jrebel]

I will also add.....

Upon arriving home, my son couldn't wait to tell him mother all about it.  He had learned a ton on this trip and was so excited to share his experience that he broke the cardinal rule......what happens at camp stays at camp!!   

Top lessons learned (in no particular order)
1.  How to start a fire,
2.  How to gut and skin a deer,
3.  How to open beer bottles with his elbow.....  

He could have left that one out!!!