Shorter late season

[Billy74]

I don’t think this was covered yet, sorry if it’s an  old topic.  What was the reason given for the shorter late rifle season.  Was it just low numbers or harvests?


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[The Gobble-stopper]

I don’t think this was covered yet, sorry if it’s an  old topic.  What was the reason given for the shorter late rifle season.  Was it just low numbers or harvests?


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Did I miss something? The regs 
say that it is still a 4 day late season for western wa. Same as it's been for like at least 40 or more years.

[boneaddict]

I assume you are talking blacktails and I haven’t paid any attention to the regs.   My sensible and most PC answer would be for wildlife management.   Knowing there is an acute lack of that in this state, I’d have to move to my more practical opinion and say, they know that they are about to run out of mule deer and Whitetails to feed their pets, so they need to start buffering up their next food source. 

[hunter399]

The late buck has always been on a 5 year rotation.
Basically next year they will add a day to it.
And so on for 5 years ,last year was our longest season in the rotation.
It will get longer again.
Now come next year if they don't add a day,then we better start to worry.
It's been that way for a long time.
Most people don't notice it,guys like you and I do.

Now if we had a antler point restriction for the late season.
Our late buck could go from elk season right to archery after Thanksgiving. Nov 6 - Nov 24.Hunt some big bucks in the rut,with a long late season. With a 4pt min.
Or they could give a few extra days during elk season,hunt elk with deer,with 4pt min and still close on the 19th.

But ,they already sold us a tag for a week long season,with very bad odds, and it ends on a Sunday. So that Sunday will be a crap shoot.

I think he is talking Eastern WA,since that says his location.

[hunter399]

Looks like east and west  end on the November 19.
Doesn't matter which side you hunt late buck,your season ends on the 19th.

We will most likely see a lot of hunters from Nov 11 -16.
That will be guys that double down on both sides.
So your best days will most likely be the last four.
Rut is always best last days anyway.

[Billy74]

The late buck has always been on a 5 year rotation.
Basically next year they will add a day to it.
And so on for 5 years ,last year was our longest season in the rotation.
It will get longer again.
Now come next year if they don't add a day,then we better start to worry.
It's been that way for a long time.
Most people don't notice it,guys like you and I do.

Now if we had a antler point restriction for the late season.
Our late buck could go from elk season right to archery after Thanksgiving. Nov 6 - Nov 24.Hunt some big bucks in the rut,with a long late season. With a 4pt min.
Or they could give a few extra days during elk season,hunt elk with deer,with 4pt min and still close on the 19th.

But ,they already sold us a tag for a week long season,with very bad odds, and it ends on a Sunday. So that Sunday will be a crap shoot.

I think he is talking Eastern WA,since that says his location.

That’s Interesting.  This is my sixth year hunting and only 5th late season and haven’t noticed. 


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[hunter399]

The late buck has always been on a 5 year rotation.
Basically next year they will add a day to it.
And so on for 5 years ,last year was our longest season in the rotation.
It will get longer again.
Now come next year if they don't add a day,then we better start to worry.
It's been that way for a long time.
Most people don't notice it,guys like you and I do.

Now if we had a antler point restriction for the late season.
Our late buck could go from elk season right to archery after Thanksgiving. Nov 6 - Nov 24.Hunt some big bucks in the rut,with a long late season. With a 4pt min.
Or they could give a few extra days during elk season,hunt elk with deer,with 4pt min and still close on the 19th.

But ,they already sold us a tag for a week long season,with very bad odds, and it ends on a Sunday. So that Sunday will be a crap shoot.

I think he is talking Eastern WA,since that says his location.

That’s Interesting.  This is my sixth year hunting and only 5th late season and haven’t noticed. 


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Ya it takes about 20 years of hunting before it hits ya.
But ya it should be Nov 10 -19. Next year.
2025- Nov 9 - 19
So on.....so on....
Till we get to Nov 6 opening.
Then it starts all over again.
Of coarse that's the traditional season.
If they decide to change it in the new big game package.
It may stay the same , Nov 11  -19.
There has been talks in the past about turning late buck into permit only too.
Sticking with the traditional season,any buck is most likely best.

[The Gobble-stopper]

I don’t think this was covered yet, sorry if it’s an  old topic.  What was the reason given for the shorter late rifle season.  Was it just low numbers or harvests?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Did I miss something? The regs 
say that it is still a 4 day late season for western wa. Same as it's been for like at least 40 or more years.

Never mind, I see it now. Eastern whitetail! I was pretty sure, I was right, just wrong animal. And I was pretty sure there wasn't a late mulie. Never hunted the whitetail. And it seems like a long late season to get a whitetail. Maybe they are harder to hunt then the late season blacktail. Which only takes 1 day of late season to put meat in the freezer.

[hunter399]

I don’t think this was covered yet, sorry if it’s an  old topic.  What was the reason given for the shorter late rifle season.  Was it just low numbers or harvests?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Did I miss something? The regs 
say that it is still a 4 day late season for western wa. Same as it's been for like at least 40 or more years.

Never mind, I see it now. Eastern whitetail! I was pretty sure, I was right, just wrong animal. And I was pretty sure there wasn't a late mulie. Never hunted the whitetail. And it seems like a long late season to get a whitetail. Maybe they are harder to hunt then the late season blacktail. Which only takes 1 day of late season to put meat in the freezer.

I'm just gonna throw out some excuses here.
Very large patch work of private to public land.
Many bucks can hole up on a 20 acre patch and ride the season out. The "rut" is more like pre-rut,many bucks have evolved to mate just after the season close.
Pumpkin patch of hunters,which is pretty normal.
Then the predator factor VS mult-season hunting over past ten years.
Basically many factors come into play,public land is very low deer numbers in certain areas. For many reasons.

But yes 10-15 years ago,before wolves,before mult-season,before alot of other factors. It was a pretty easy late season hunt,meat bucks was pretty easy to put some meat on the table.
Now it's like pulling a slot machine if you will even get a shot opportunity.

[buckfvr]

When does cycle, that is when bucks rut, regardless of open or closed season.

[hunter399]

When does cycle, that is when bucks rut, regardless of open or closed season.

No way that hunting pressure would effect a doe cycle.
There is a reason that the quality hunts for WT in the region are just after the 19th.

But I do agree,it happens when a doe makes it happen.
You are correct.

I'll just suggest it.
Maybe the rut starts sooner on private VS public.
But again just a guess, research would have to be done to prove that theory.

[buckfvr]

After the 19th because they believe over 60% of does to be bred by then.  Ive read many many studies, can no longer point them out but searching will turn them up.  Also, studies indicate 75% or more of rut activity occurs at night.  Theres more darkness than daylight so it stands to reason.  Hard to see night time activity from the bed.

[hunter399]

After the 19th because they believe over 60% of does to be bred by then.  Ive read many many studies, can no longer point them out but searching will turn them up.  Also, studies indicate 75% or more of rut activity occurs at night.  Theres more darkness than daylight so it stands to reason.  Hard to see night time activity from the bed.

Again your probably correct.
I'd have to go look at the data from the predator/prey project.
But I believe it indicated that a certain percentage of animals are holed up on private ground  during the hunting season,according to radio collar data .
A rut may be happening,but a public land hunter as myself.
May not be seeing it,with low public land deer numbers.
Like posted above,I see the most activities, during the last few days of season.

[buckfvr]

Seeing more activity last few days of the season, is that because more does are in cycle or less does are in cycle and the bucks are roaming more looking for love while they have their rut on ?

When I hunted late whitetail in 101 late archery for over 20 years, we typically had our best hunting and most success from the opener nov. 10th through the 15th with the majority of our kills the 13th and 14th.  Late rifle in 121 usually produces the same way.  I always have opportunity before the 19th and thats why I dropped multiseason because  I never experienced better late archery in 121 than what I did late modern.  Never.

[10thmountainarcher]

Seeing more activity last few days of the season, is that because more does are in cycle or less does are in cycle and the bucks are roaming more looking for love while they have their rut on ?

When I hunted late whitetail in 101 late archery for over 20 years, we typically had our best hunting and most success from the opener nov. 10th through the 15th with the majority of our kills the 13th and 14th.  Late rifle in 121 usually produces the same way.  I always have opportunity before the 19th and thats why I dropped multiseason because  I never experienced better late archery in 121 than what I did late modern.  Never.

A little bit further east I’ve experienced a little different. The buck I shot on November 17th last year seemed to maybe just be starting to rut. His neck wasn’t swollen and he was just barely starting to stink. After late modern I generally see more bucks, and mature deer out midday.

[hunter399]

Seeing more activity last few days of the season, is that because more does are in cycle or less does are in cycle and the bucks are roaming more looking for love while they have their rut on ?

When I hunted late whitetail in 101 late archery for over 20 years, we typically had our best hunting and most success from the opener nov. 10th through the 15th with the majority of our kills the 13th and 14th.  Late rifle in 121 usually produces the same way.  I always have opportunity before the 19th and thats why I dropped multiseason because  I never experienced better late archery in 121 than what I did late modern.  Never.

Not sure if north or south parts of NE may effect rut.
My observation is about the same as yours.
Not saying it's the same every year,but the last four day of modern.
Is a hot spot for me. I'm talking doe in active heat,with buck that is glued to her backside.
Of course like mentioned ,that's only doe that are active heat,some are,some not.
Some public land,doe are more jumpy and skittish than the bucks.
So you might only see there backside taking off to some private land. They may be rutting,or not. Unless that doe stands around for a minute. You never really know. And sometimes rut will work against you in this situation. If that doe runs off to the next county,so does that buck.
Another noticeable is,that doe that has yearling in tow or nearby are always the most jumpy and skittish.
Mostly from predators all year long I believe.
Always sounding the alarm,making a lot noise on the escape.
Generally not good for any hunt.