Rim Fire Rifle use during fall turkey season

[Russ McDonald]

There is a proposal out there in the 3 year rule and equipment changes for using rim fire rifle during fall turkey season.  Myself and the vice president of the WA NWTF Chapter and the NWTF biologist had a talk via team with WDFW voicing our concerns.  We as the NWTF are opposed to this proposal. The discussion it really revolved around nuisance birds in Region 1 or the north east corner of the state.  In a area where there are farmers that will allowing hunting on the property and a lot that won't.  I know that most hunters are ethical hunters and safe hunters but there are plenty of non ethical and safe hunters out there.  They are the ones that concern me.  They see a flock of turkeys in the field while rolling down road that slam on the breaks and roll out with their .22 and start plugging away at birds at 50 plus yards.  No realizing that there is a dad and his son sitting on opposite side of the field calling or even sneaking in on the birds.  Other discussion was bringing in new hunters.  I see that but I also see a lot of fall turkey hunters not wanting to hunt with concerns for their safety also there would be turkey hunters who do turkey hunt and switch to the .22 no a shotgun.  I think it would be a wash of new participation.  We were also told that that a majority of hunters asked for this.  My question was is this a majority of turkey hunters or hunters that have never hunted turkey but always see turkey when hunting deer and elk?
Also how about handing a new hunter say between the age of 8-12, hasn't done a lot of shooting and gets handed a .22 to hunt turkeys.  I would say you just made way more difficult for a first time hunter to shot a turkey unless they shoot like Chris Kyle  .  We came up with an alternate proposal to WDFW is to allow a rim fire season during the general modern firearm rifle season in the open GMU's during the fall turkey season.  Remember we use to have a split turkey season in the past before going to the open from September to the end of December.  It was October to November plus you would have to wear hunter orange like you do now.  That would be the rim fire turkey season.  My opinion is that this was a proposal that was a lets write something up and throwing on the wall and see if it sticks.  There is another open comments coming up on the proposals in January.  So there is still time to comment.  I am also open to discussion because of course that is what a forum is.

[Stein]

I agree, I think it would increase accidents.  It would also increase the distance you could shoot a turkey fairly substantially.

Would the .22 somehow be limited or could you take out a 30 round magazine and let 'er rip?

If it goes through, what would be the difference between shooting nuisance turkeys with a .22 and nuisance geese?

WDFW should be pushing the private lands hunting program more if there is a nuisance problem.

[hunter399]

Honestly I'm for it .
Sorry but I think it's a good thing youth and all .
How many turkeys get filled with bird shot and run off to die never to be cooked up.

[Stein]

I don't know, do you think a .22 would be more lethal overall?  Vitals on a turkey are pretty dang small.

[MtnMuley]

This ranks up there with their list of stupidest proposals. 

[lewy]

Unless you are head shooting I don’t see a 22lr being very affective on turkey

[Stein]

I honestly think this is likely 95% about landowners and 5% about helping hunters on a small game multi species hunt.  WDFW should really be encouraging landowners to enroll in the private lands hunting program if they have turkey problems. 

They could also not close turkey season.  

[Jingles]

Overall I have to disagree with a general allowance of being able to use a 22 or any rim fire, for Turkeys MOST especially junior or beginning hunters /shooters. Reason being they have not developed the ability to do head shots at any distance over muzzle against paper. And even with a shotgun some hunters can't drop a bird where it stands, let's be honest if it weren't for a shotgun pattern there would be a lot more turkeys with a majority of the so called hunters/shooters.

[syoungs]

I cant imagine the lethality of a rimfire in the hands of a young hunter is greater then a shotgun in those same hands. For selfish reasons, I wouldn't mind being able to hunt with a 22lr, just so I had another justification for a nice bolt action trainer!

if this was truly about making a better situation for hunters, I would stand behind it. This is about appeasing landowners though. If they want turkeys shot and hazed off their properties, then let us have some access! I feel no sympathy for the landowners complaining, when a couple guys show up from out of town to inject some cash into the economy and hunt a few birds, but cannot get access onto the properties holding the animals. Let us have access, and people will come take care of business.

If they do allow for this, I would love to at least see it modified for a shorter season that coincides with modern firearm seasons, not a free for all. I already almost get shot often enough with some of the idiots that roam the woods, this will make it even worse.

[birddogdad]

my grandfather used a 22mag for years in Pennsylvania. think they allow 22lr, mag, hornet, 222 and 223 all with scopes. They are lethal for sure. Maybe for folks with specific handicaps (TBD) would not be a bad thing....

[Russ McDonald]

Honestly I'm for it .
Sorry but I think it's a good thing youth and all .
How many turkeys get filled with bird shot and run off to die never to be cooked up.

I agree with bringing more youth into hunting but using a .22 fir a first time hunter with not much experience on a gun.  I would want to get them in close but if you do that then why not use a shot gun?  Yup turkeys are tough SOB's and there will always be wounded animals with any type of hunting.  I don't want there to be but stuff happens.  I would think that you would have more of a chance with a shotgun than a .22.

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[ne kid]

100% for it.

[Russ McDonald]

Yes on the hunting for nuisance birds on private property.  That was brought up is why doesn't the department press more on getting those land owners to open up to letting people hunt.  We as the NWTF have had some good luck with land owners let us bring first time hunters, youth and veterans out to hunt.  We also said that we would talk to land owners if the department wanted us to.  We came away from the meeting as usual that they don't much care for turkeys in this state.  We have a few in the department that do push turkey hunting but as a hole they just consider a nuisance.  Some stats.  As of 2019 we had over 15,000 turkey hunters and over 35,000 tags sold.  So easy to figure out $525,000 brought in on turkey tags.   Roughly $330,000 brought by small game licenses because you need that to get a turkey tag.  I used the discounted rate as average.  That doesn't include what turkey hunters bring into the communities they hunt in.  I would think that turkey hunting she garner a little more representation on behalf of the WDFW with the amount of money brought in.  I know other game species inbthe state bring in much more but still that isn't anything to sneeze at for us.

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[ghosthunter]

Not for it.

Increase the season.
Increase the harvest
Get more property opened up.
Longer season for anyone 21 or younger. Give this group two weekends or a month.
One weekend for youth is a joke.

[Turkeyman]

Trap and transfer problem solved.