Quality elk hunts cut

[ACCUBOND]

WDFW is cutting the quality elk for Carlton, West Goat Rocks, and Mt Adam’s. Only because of conflicting season. They claim deer but not many muzzleloader deer hunters in those areas. Issue is it’s during archery. Instead of moving dates, they are cutting the hunts. BS

[trophyhunt]

They also said the quality has dropped? I know nothing about the quality but has it? And did they open it to otc instead?

[Bone collector 13]

They cut all the “premium” elk tags minus 1, so there goes a shot at drawing

[ACCUBOND]

It’s always been OTC. Special permit has been moved to last weeks of archery. Not much of a quality hunt during general archery. Used to be Oct 1-10 then moved between archery and muzzle. Now last few days of archery. They say because of conflict with muzzy deer hunters. I bet u can count them on one hand. How is having it during archery better for anyone.

[ACCUBOND]

Makes sense success would be down when u put the season at the end of archery. Just their way to cut more hunting. So sick of this state.

[Stein]

I noticed GoHunt updated their WA odds, I thought maybe I'll get a tag this year and put in for a cow draw.  Yeah, probably not.  Looked up the 336/346 quality just for fun.  29 points gets you 1% draw odds.  That was last year, so plan on it being down due to more points in the pool and maybe fewer tags.

Some states have point creep, WA has point falling off the cliff at light speed.

The poor guy with 35 points in 2020 that didn't draw Wenaha did pick it up in 2021, so he's no longer in the game.   

[blackveltbowhunter]

The quality of the experience has certainly dropped. Speaking mostly to goat rocks and adams. Only know carlton from others report and not my own boots.  Every couple years someone will catch one that crosses the trail and ends up with 3 cows in a drainage on the west side and that is what has kept the hunt alive for the past decade. Part of a quality hunt imo, is seeing ample animals and healthy herds passing on a few and waiting for that special one, or having the freedom to know you can likely fill a tag with a lesser animal at the tail end of your hunt.  Not spending an entire season for a glimpse of a couple critters that may or may not be a "quality". I dont like that they cut it, but it likely saved alot of high points holders tons of frustration. Aside from a very few that know the areas intimately and have some success, their is simply not enough animals and certainly not enough big animals to justify a quality tag.

[duckmen1]

The quality of the experience has certainly dropped. Speaking mostly to goat rocks and adams. Only know carlton from others report and not my own boots.  Every couple years someone will catch one that crosses the trail and ends up with 3 cows in a drainage on the west side and that is what has kept the hunt alive for the past decade. Part of a quality hunt imo, is seeing ample animals and healthy herds passing on a few and waiting for that special one, or having the freedom to know you can likely fill a tag with a lesser animal at the tail end of your hunt.  Not spending an entire season for a glimpse of a couple critters that may or may not be a "quality". I dont like that they cut it, but it likely saved alot of high points holders tons of frustration. Aside from a very few that know the areas intimately and have some success, their is simply not enough animals and certainly not enough big animals to justify a quality tag.

I wasted several general seasons being talked into hunting in one of those areas during general season.Sure there are animals. But if I could take those seasons back and hunt how and where I would have liked too and not the area I was brought to I would. Those seasons I had crazy number of bulls located elsewhere. But was talked into going there as it was a place of the past. Very low density of elk. Felt more like hiking then hunting. I don't feel its a quality hunt. In my opinion if they want the extra permit then put it on bull catagory. But wouldn't put in for that either.

[ACCUBOND]

If the season wasn’t during archery, it would be quality. Spent my whole life in those areas. It’s bs that they claim issue with overlap in deer. Not many deer in those permit areas, but thousands of bow hunters. Is that not an issue? FYI I bow hunt, but don’t like them cutting tags with no knowledge of the area or animals that are there

[ACCUBOND]

Then I call to chat with WDFW about it and the message says “we are working from home, leave a message “

[ACCUBOND]

If they want to move it to the bull permit instead of quality, I get that, but don’t eliminate it for bs reasons.

[steeleywhopper]

Is there a link to this information about the upcoming seasons permits?

[trophyhunt]

Is there a link to this information about the upcoming seasons permits?

its on the WDFW website, it’s just hard to find, if I can find the link I’ll post it.

[trophyhunt]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/about/regulations/filings/2022/WSR%2022-04-103.pdf

[dvolmer]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/about/regulations/filings/2022/WSR%2022-04-103.pdf

They have literally destroyed Washington elk hunting in less than 5-7 years.