Wdfw survey

[buckfvr]

I voted for a 2 pt minimum and no loss of opportunity for youth and 65+. There's no doubt that if we don't make drastic steps toward killing predators that in the next 10 years it will probably be draw only in the NE corner (which was a question on the survey), which is hard to even comprehend considering what it used to be.

Entirely the same age class of whitetail as a spike.  Don't need to be pursuing baby bucks still with their mamas (except youth).  The most vulnerable bucks in the woods (1, 2, 3pt 18 mo old deer) need a free pass from adult hunters.

[vandeman17]

I voted for a 2 pt minimum and no loss of opportunity for youth and 65+. There's no doubt that if we don't make drastic steps toward killing predators that in the next 10 years it will probably be draw only in the NE corner (which was a question on the survey), which is hard to even comprehend considering what it used to be.

Entirely the same age class of whitetail as a spike.  Don't need to be pursuing baby bucks still with their mamas (except youth).  The most vulnerable bucks in the woods (1, 2, 3pt 18 mo old deer) need a free pass from adult hunters.

Need a pass to create a better age class buck or better population?

[Jonathan_S]

False choice.

[jrebel]

I voted for a 2 pt minimum and no loss of opportunity for youth and 65+. There's no doubt that if we don't make drastic steps toward killing predators that in the next 10 years it will probably be draw only in the NE corner (which was a question on the survey), which is hard to even comprehend considering what it used to be.

Entirely the same age class of whitetail as a spike.  Don't need to be pursuing baby bucks still with their mamas (except youth).  The most vulnerable bucks in the woods (1, 2, 3pt 18 mo old deer) need a free pass from adult hunters.

Need a pass to create a better age class buck or better population?

Clearly a pass so we are not teaching people to get participation trophies.....duh!!  Because if you hunt for a week straight and decide to fill you freezer with a 3 point buck you didn't hunt as hard as the guy that got a 5 point. 

I would argue that shooting a smaller buck would allow the larger ones to continue to spread their genes.  Isn't this the reason most east side elk is spike only? 

I am all for a healthy population and also for a chance at a nice buck but I feel some hunters today have lost the meaning of what hunting is and has always been for most who enjoy the sport.  It isn't always about killing a 150+ class whitetail. 

I have hunted the NE corner (though sporadically) since I was 8 years old.  The deer numbers are clearly down but some make it out as if the deer are almost extinct.  This is simply not the fact.  Take and hour drive in the morning or evening in most of these GMU's an a guy can count 100's of deer.  I get it...20 years ago driving the same roads a guy would likely count 5 times as much. 

I agree with all that has been said about predator hunting ....and we try and do our part yearly by killing bruins.  We also shoot coyotes when the opportunity presents. 

I get the distinct feeling that a few on here want trophies....and are willing to take opportunity away from others in the hopes of building trophy class deer.  I couldn't disagree more with this sentiment.    I am for point restrictions if needed to benefit the heard.  I am not for point restrictions in an attempt to build trophies.  I also am not for giving up any more ground to WDFW especially when it burdens our youth and 65+ opportunity. 

[Spuddieselwwu]

Plenty of 4pts up there. I don’t have a problem with an antler restriction... as long as they pair it with aggressive predator control. Those two things could do wonder for that herd.

pair with aggressive predator management? as with WDFW doing it? bears are 2 a season now and if you are not helping you are part of the problem. Thats the biggest problem is guys complain about deer and elk herds yet less than 10% get out and hunt predators.

No, as with incentivizing hunters to manage the problem.  Opening up more spring bear tags, making 2nd bear super cheap, allowing limited cougar hound hunts, etc.

[Jonathan_S]

I voted for a 2 pt minimum and no loss of opportunity for youth and 65+. There's no doubt that if we don't make drastic steps toward killing predators that in the next 10 years it will probably be draw only in the NE corner (which was a question on the survey), which is hard to even comprehend considering what it used to be.

Entirely the same age class of whitetail as a spike.  Don't need to be pursuing baby bucks still with their mamas (except youth).  The most vulnerable bucks in the woods (1, 2, 3pt 18 mo old deer) need a free pass from adult hunters.

Need a pass to create a better age class buck or better population?

Clearly a pass so we are not teaching people to get participation trophies.....duh!!  Because if you hunt for a week straight and decide to fill you freezer with a 3 point buck you didn't hunt as hard as the guy that got a 5 point.  silly attempt to put a bad motive on those who disagree with you

I would argue that shooting a smaller buck would allow the larger ones to continue to spread their genes.  Isn't this the reason most east side elk is spike only?  genetics aren't in question, spikes have the same genetics. From a management perspective it's apples to oranges, obviously

I am all for a healthy population and also for a chance at a nice buck but I feel some hunters today have lost the meaning of what hunting is and has always been for most who enjoy the sport.  It isn't always about killing a 150+ class whitetail.  people who pursue 150+ class bucks can and have done so with AND without APRs

I have hunted the NE corner (though sporadically) since I was 8 years old.  The deer numbers are clearly down but some make it out as if the deer are almost extinct.  This is simply not the fact.  Take and hour drive in the morning or evening in most of these GMU's an a guy can count 100's of deer.  I get it...20 years ago driving the same roads a guy would likely count 5 times as much.  so what's your point? That it's bad but not bad enough to stop shooting the recruitment class of some of the1.5 old bucks?

I agree with all that has been said about predator hunting ....and we try and do our part yearly by killing bruins.  We also shoot coyotes when the opportunity presents. 

I get the distinct feeling that a few on here want trophies....and are willing to take opportunity away from others in the hopes of building trophy class deer.  I couldn't disagree more with this sentiment.    I am for point restrictions if needed to benefit the heard.  I am not for point restrictions in an attempt to build trophies.  I also am not for giving up any more ground to WDFW especially when it burdens our youth and 65+ opportunity. as said before, actual trophies are there either way. I've pursued giant whitetails in units that have/had OTC any buck and any deer seasons for years.

[jrebel]

I voted for a 2 pt minimum and no loss of opportunity for youth and 65+. There's no doubt that if we don't make drastic steps toward killing predators that in the next 10 years it will probably be draw only in the NE corner (which was a question on the survey), which is hard to even comprehend considering what it used to be.

Entirely the same age class of whitetail as a spike.  Don't need to be pursuing baby bucks still with their mamas (except youth).  The most vulnerable bucks in the woods (1, 2, 3pt 18 mo old deer) need a free pass from adult hunters.

Need a pass to create a better age class buck or better population?

Clearly a pass so we are not teaching people to get participation trophies.....duh!!  Because if you hunt for a week straight and decide to fill you freezer with a 3 point buck you didn't hunt as hard as the guy that got a 5 point.  silly attempt to put a bad motive on those who disagree with you

I would argue that shooting a smaller buck would allow the larger ones to continue to spread their genes.  Isn't this the reason most east side elk is spike only?  genetics aren't in question, spikes have the same genetics. From a management perspective it's apples to oranges, obviously

I am all for a healthy population and also for a chance at a nice buck but I feel some hunters today have lost the meaning of what hunting is and has always been for most who enjoy the sport.  It isn't always about killing a 150+ class whitetail.  people who pursue 150+ class bucks can and have done so with AND without APRs

I have hunted the NE corner (though sporadically) since I was 8 years old.  The deer numbers are clearly down but some make it out as if the deer are almost extinct.  This is simply not the fact.  Take and hour drive in the morning or evening in most of these GMU's an a guy can count 100's of deer.  I get it...20 years ago driving the same roads a guy would likely count 5 times as much.  so what's your point? That it's bad but not bad enough to stop shooting the recruitment class of some of the1.5 old bucks?

I agree with all that has been said about predator hunting ....and we try and do our part yearly by killing bruins.  We also shoot coyotes when the opportunity presents. 

I get the distinct feeling that a few on here want trophies....and are willing to take opportunity away from others in the hopes of building trophy class deer.  I couldn't disagree more with this sentiment.    I am for point restrictions if needed to benefit the heard.  I am not for point restrictions in an attempt to build trophies.  I also am not for giving up any more ground to WDFW especially when it burdens our youth and 65+ opportunity. as said before, actual trophies are there either way. I've pursued giant whitetails in units that have/had OTC any buck and any deer seasons for years.

Jonathan

If you read the previous post you would understand my comment about about the participation trophy.  I 100% don't agree with this sentiment but it was stated that hunters that let kids shoot young bucks is likened to a participation trophy.  This is simply ridiculous and if it had any truth most hunters should be ashamed at ever shooting does, cows, young bucks, spike elk, etc......

As for the 150+ class bucks.....again, we are on the same page.  Re-read the entire post.  I want opportunity over trophy.....especially as it pertains to youth and 65+.

"so what's your point" comment......again we are on the same page. 

I am not a trophy hunter....I like to eat them more than I like to look at their antlers.  In my years of hunting I have been fortunate enough to kill a few nice animals.  I have been more fortunate to kill and eat many many more.  I value the experience and culture of hunting more than I do the trophy nature of big racks.   

[Jonathan_S]

Excellent, same page. All in for APRs 

[jrebel]

Excellent, same page. All in for APRs 

    As long as it doesn't apply to youth or 65+.    

[Jonathan_S]

That's a different page my guy

[bhawley76]

Its kinda like fishing, You'll never get a big one if you keep all the lil ones. Same goes for hunting. But to each his own. 

[jrebel]

Yes, but it all blurs together.  WDFW and trophy hunters, if given the chance would shut down all hunting except for APR units that cost $$$$ to apply to hunt for trophies.  I'm 100% against that.  The NE units are not gonna be hurt by youth and 65+  hunters. 

I am aggressively addressing the bear in and around my land.  I have owned it for two years and am allowing family to hunt and hopefully kill or pressure the bruin to the point they don't want to be there.  We will see what happens to the local deer herds.  some may think I am arguing to simply argue....but I have a vested interest in the NE corner and I personally do not see an emergent issue with current deer population.  Could it be better....yes.  Is managing one aspect of the perceived problem the answer....no.  Until WDFW pulls their heads out of their rectums and manages predators better.....I will not support the continued loss of hunting opportunity. 

Its kinda like fishing, You'll never get a big one if you keep all the lil ones. Same goes for hunting. But to each his own. 

Not everyone wants the big ones.  The little ones taste better.   

[hunter399]

I just want to put this out there .
WDFW doesn't give two craps about trophy hunting or shooting mature bucks.
They want to sell tags,end of story.
If I had to guess the two main reasons the 4pt min was lifted in 2014 was,

Too many hunters complained
It was hurting the bottom line-not selling enough tags.

People should fill out the survey on how they really feel .
How I feel is they should start some kind of APR,one season APR for everybody ,next year APR everybody except youth,next year APR everybody except disabled,next year APR everybody except 65 over.
Basically rotated opportunity for everybody but rotated so that the deer herds will continue a upward trend.
That would be my plan a four year rotations .
First year-everbody has APR
Second year-everybody has APR-youth any buck
Third year-everybody has APR-disabled any buck
Fourth year-everbody has APR-65 over any buck
Then start rotation over again.

[BULLBLASTER]

Yes, but it all blurs together.  WDFW and trophy hunters, if given the chance would shut down all hunting except for APR units that cost $$$$ to apply to hunt for trophies.  I'm 100% against that.  The NE units are not gonna be hurt by youth and 65+  hunters. 

I am aggressively addressing the bear in and around my land.  I have owned it for two years and am allowing family to hunt and hopefully kill or pressure the bruin to the point they don't want to be there.  We will see what happens to the local deer herds.  some may think I am arguing to simply argue....but I have a vested interest in the NE corner and I personally do not see an emergent issue with current deer population.  Could it be better....yes.  Is managing one aspect of the perceived problem the answer....no.  Until WDFW pulls their heads out of their rectums and manages predators better.....I will not support the continued loss of hunting opportunity. 

Its kinda like fishing, You'll never get a big one if you keep all the lil ones. Same goes for hunting. But to each his own. 

Not everyone wants the big ones.  The little ones taste better.   

You do realize that in recent years wdfw has both increased spring and fall bear opportunity in the NE? Both of which are a large step in managing predators, imo apr is a logical next step to helping deer population.

[jrebel]

Yes and we have been targeting bears in our area.   

I would like to see cats get managed better.  Hounds, trapping, year round season etc.   we have a cat problem bad.  I have cats on camera regularly and they say an adult cat can kill a deer a week.  Just in our area that would equate to hundreds of deer a year.