WDFW 2021-23 Hunt proposals

[elksnout]

There is not option for moving 3pt min to any elk in 578 for modern they need to have that for a couple years

Respectfully, are you serious? They should have stopped slaughtering "any elk" longggggg before they did not only that unit but 574 as well. It's a sliver of what it was for a number of reasons. They shouldn't even be giving out cow tags for God's sake.

Elksnout

[B4noon]

Make your comments and let your concerns be known this morning wdfw managment convinces the commission to move forward with a proposal to shutdown 14 salmon and trout hatcheries and only one commissioner stood up to iron the flip side they also convinced the commission to ask for new money for IT, a study to figure out what seals eat, and money to create fish and wildlife curriculum to share with public schools as an online learning program along with various other backyard wildlife feel good proposals among hatchery cuts they also moved forward with cutting elk feeding by 50% it is quite apparent the direction wdfw is going with their new 25 year plan and recreational users are not in the plan voice your concern to the commission on the choices they have made if you enjoy recreational opportunities in Washington for yourself and future users like Loch who is starting out his outdoor career in the youth section of huntwa

[buckfvr]

Convince the commission    They are colleagues and interact as such, everyone else is clueless.  They are appointed for a reason and unless there is an absolutely compelling argument on an issue, they will always go the way of wdfw.  Always have, always will.  Only outside chance is if it gets proposed as a serious money maker.

[kselkhunter]

If WA were to allow the telescopic sights on muzzleloader proposal (they had both 1x and telescopic sights as separate proposals), if they didn't set a bullet restriction along with it....it basically would change muzzleloader season to single shot modern rifles.  44cal bullets in 50cal sabots isn't a legal restriction....it's just what the bullet companies currently supply. 


If WA joined New Mexico and other states in the scoped muzzy without bullet restrictions regulations, I'd be curious if that would cause somebody like CVA to make a version of their Paramount 45 cal Long Range with a rifling twist option for lighter bullets to support 308 or 338 cal in 45cal sabots.  A 308cal 168 Barnes/Nosler/etc. in 45cal sabot with modern primers and Blackhorn 209 should be able to get up to 2400-2500fps in that rifle (with proper twist rate) with a better BC than a typical muzzy bullet.  Magnum charge in a 700 Ultimate probably closer to 2600-2700fps for that same bullet in 50cal sabot. Which those velocity ranges fall in between 300 Savage and 308 Winchester....good enough for 300-400 yards on an elk as long as the sabots are designed properly for the bullet to stabilize correctly upon releasing.   I've already thought of toying with making a sabot (and even machining a custom 308 or 338 cal bullet that is heavy enough for the existing twist rate in my current CVA) should I ever win the NM muzzy elk tag lottery as their muzzy restrictions are so loose...and odds are so low of winning one of those tags.  Although could just buy a 700 Ultimate with scope, and call it good without messing with bullet calibers/sabots.....


Telescopic scopes defeats the purpose of a "primitive" weapons season. 

[buckfvr]

Plain and simple, if wa. went to telescopic sights, the muzzle season would get twice (at least) the turn out because of multi-season.  Guys would be climbing over each other to get in on that.  I see it as a money grab by wdfw, same as the .223 thing so more guys will buy kids tags because surly they can handle a .223 and make an ethical shot even though they cant quite handle the .243.

I will suggest, it will ruin most muzzle loader hunts.

[Russ McDonald]

Not that I am against but they went away from primitive when they went inline and then 209 primers.  Find me a definition of primitive that fits what we use in muzzle loader season. 

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[kselkhunter]

I will suggest, it will ruin most muzzle loader hunts.

Yes very much so would ruin muzzy hunts.  The NW Legal restrictions removal already significantly increased the quantity of hunters in the unit I muzzy elk hunt substantially.  Allow telescopic scopes....why would anybody hunt rifle season in November anymore when the bulls are still talking sometimes in early October muzzy season (west side)?

Not that I am against but they went away from primitive when they went inline and then 209 primers.  Find me a definition of primitive that fits what we use in muzzle loader season. 

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Agreed.  Might as well copy some of the southern states and call a 35 Whelen a "primitive weapon" (a few do).  Which is amusing as 35 Whelen is my primary elk rifle in modern rifle season.  I like the cleanliness of BH209, but do wish WA would go back to NW Legal restrictions as the influx of new muzzy hunters was crazy. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Not that I am against but they went away from primitive when they went inline and then 209 primers.  Find me a definition of primitive that fits what we use in muzzle loader season. 

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I dont view muzzle loader season as primitive, just a different method. Imo the sight restrictions are the limiting factor.

[buckfvr]

Ya, put scopes on them and the effective envelope will be pushed/stretched to the max and beyond.

I have been very close to buying a new muzzle loader a couple times in the last few months, now Im glad I didnt until I see how this shakes out.  Since Ive killed both deer and elk with bow and rifle, Id like to add the muzzleloader to the list but it wont mean as much if it has a scope on it and quite frankly that doesnt interest me.

[Russ McDonald]

Not that I am against but they went away from primitive when they went inline and then 209 primers.  Find me a definition of primitive that fits what we use in muzzle loader season. 

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I dont view muzzle loader season as primitive, just a different method. Imo the sight restrictions are the limiting factor.

Yup just like bows.  They don't really fall under primitive anymore either.  Since ML are considered primitive why don't they get a longer season like archery.   ML spring season is the shortest out of the 3.

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[buckfvr]

Smallest user group gets the scraps.

[JLS]

A few thoughts:

Grouse:  brood survival is the issue in September.  It's easy to put a huge hurt on a brood of grouse in early September, which can then impact hen survival and perpetuate further population declines.  Hunting males in the springtime after the mating season is done is not going to have a profound impact on overall populations.  After all, we hunt turkeys in the spring on a male only season.

Mule Deer:  there were a number of proposals that addressed antlerless harvest.  Is it enough?  Maybe not.  It's a start, and absent going to limited permit for bucks or choosing your GMU it's probably all that'll happen for now.

Predators:  What are folks wanting to see?  Bear season was just expanded last year and limits liberalized.  Dog hunting won't come back without legislative action.  I think changes to cougar management are going to be looming on the horizon.   

[Bango skank]

A few thoughts:

Grouse:  brood survival is the issue in September.  It's easy to put a huge hurt on a brood of grouse in early September, which can then impact hen survival and perpetuate further population declines.  Hunting males in the springtime after the mating season is done is not going to have a profound impact on overall populations.  After all, we hunt turkeys in the spring on a male only season.

Mule Deer:  there were a number of proposals that addressed antlerless harvest.  Is it enough?  Maybe not.  It's a start, and absent going to limited permit for bucks or choosing your GMU it's probably all that'll happen for now.

Predators:  What are folks wanting to see?  Bear season was just expanded last year and limits liberalized.  Dog hunting won't come back without legislative action.  I think changes to cougar management are going to be looming on the horizon.   

Otc spring bear, 2 lion tags, lion opening august 1st with bear, and no harvest quota.  Since you asked.

[JLS]

A few thoughts:

Grouse:  brood survival is the issue in September.  It's easy to put a huge hurt on a brood of grouse in early September, which can then impact hen survival and perpetuate further population declines.  Hunting males in the springtime after the mating season is done is not going to have a profound impact on overall populations.  After all, we hunt turkeys in the spring on a male only season.

Mule Deer:  there were a number of proposals that addressed antlerless harvest.  Is it enough?  Maybe not.  It's a start, and absent going to limited permit for bucks or choosing your GMU it's probably all that'll happen for now.

Predators:  What are folks wanting to see?  Bear season was just expanded last year and limits liberalized.  Dog hunting won't come back without legislative action.  I think changes to cougar management are going to be looming on the horizon.   

Otc spring bear, 2 lion tags, lion opening august 1st with bear, and no harvest quota.  Since you asked.

I've also advocated for either OTC spring bear or increased quotas.  You may see an earlier lion opener (doubtful), but I can all but guarantee you'll never see a no harvest quota on lions statewide.  I can't think of a western state off the top of my head that has no quotas statewide, absent a select few units (i.e. the Palouse, eastern Montana, etc.).

[hunter399]

OTC spring bear really?
If asked by wdfw I would say ,yes. But do you guys really think that they will give up the buckets of money they make in permits?
Mule deer /no antlerless harvest statewide, permits or otherwise.

Spring grouse /NO
Compare spring grouse to Turkey hunting is a very poor comparison.
Have you ever seen a herd of grouse hanging out in a ag fields.
Are you gonna call in some grouse,you got your spring grouse blind set up.
To say grouse numbers are down,now let's open a new season in the same sentence is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.