2025 Big Game Rules are out!

[Loup Loup]

A product without a product is a non issue with me. No meat = no license, no tag, no hunting, period.
I can’t wrap my head around someone wanting to continue to give money to an agency that has driven the opportunity for the customer to obtain a product into extinction. Through no other name then mismanagement. The people that pay for multiseason tag are extremely gullible.
This situation is like watching lemmings jumping off a cliff.

[ganghis]

How in gods green earth do they think the goose prairie archery hunting gmu can only handle 2 archery bulls to be taken. Do the bios even do anything or are they still blaming covid? I do believe they have caught the stupid.

Yeah, I've probably had 10 shooter bulls on a few cameras in there within a 2 x 2 mi square radius.  What are they thinking, that by decreasing bull tags they'll get some monster bull that will break world records?  I don't think we have the genetics for that, honestly.  Though if you want to increase quality, thin out the herd a little!   Meanwhile there are 50 cow archery tags for the same unit. 

[Buckhunter24]

A product without a product is a non issue with me. No meat = no license, no tag, no hunting, period.
I can’t wrap my head around someone wanting to continue to give money to an agency that has driven the opportunity for the customer to obtain a product into extinction. Through no other name then mismanagement. The people that pay for multiseason tag are extremely gullible.
This situation is like watching lemmings jumping off a cliff.

The draw situation sucks but there's otc deer and elk tags that can be filled every year if meat is your goal 

[westside bull]

Agree Karl, when people want to protest and want everyone to not buy or hunt, that’s just what the anti commission want.   They don’t give two chits about the money.

They give 2 chits about the money it's all about the money!

[trophyhunt]

Agree Karl, when people want to protest and want everyone to not buy or hunt, that’s just what the anti commission want.   They don’t give two chits about the money.

They give 2 chits about the money it's all about the money!

I think the anti’s would rather we lose our hunting then have a budget.  They’d give up all they have to take away our passion.

[stickbuck]

A product without a product is a non issue with me. No meat = no license, no tag, no hunting, period.
I can’t wrap my head around someone wanting to continue to give money to an agency that has driven the opportunity for the customer to obtain a product into extinction. Through no other name then mismanagement. The people that pay for multiseason tag are extremely gullible.
This situation is like watching lemmings jumping off a cliff.

I wouldn’t say gullible is the right word. I buy it every time I draw it because of what it allows me to do. Having a tag that allows me to be in the woods chasing an animal through three different weapon’s season is pretty dang awesome.


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[NOCK NOCK]

Part of me wonders if the state is intentionally trying to keep the elk numbers high hoping there will be a correlating increase in predator numbers?  Afterall, every deer or elk we take is one less for a cougar or wolf to eat.

WINNER WINNER.........not elk for you for dinner!

[NOCK NOCK]

A product without a product is a non issue with me. No meat = no license, no tag, no hunting, period.
I can’t wrap my head around someone wanting to continue to give money to an agency that has driven the opportunity for the customer to obtain a product into extinction. Through no other name then mismanagement. The people that pay for multiseason tag are extremely gullible.
This situation is like watching lemmings jumping off a cliff.

Sounds to me like you were a "hunter" for the wrong reasons. 

Its hunting, not "getting." Some of us LOVE to hunt, there is no shame in doing that no matter how much it costs, or how crappy the opportunities are.

With a little time and effort one can notch tags every year in this state, but if you dont.....well you still get to enjoy your passion of hunting   

[yakimanoob]

Its hunting, not "getting." Some of us LOVE to hunt, there is no shame in doing that no matter how much it costs, or how crappy the opportunities are.

With a little time and effort one can notch tags every year in this state, but if you dont.....well you still get to enjoy your passion of hunting   

I think this point is missing in a lot of the above discussion. Criticize the state if you want, but they're managing for opportunity - the opportunity to enjoy the elk woods with a tag in your pocket. It's ironic to criticize them for "just wanting to sell tags." OF COURSE that's what they want. That's literally the definition of managing for opportunity.

Using the Yakima herd as an example: stable populations and steadily increasing harvests look to me like the system is working. Keep in mind that the "over objective" total population is largely related to the Rattlesnake subherd that's way above objective but on mostly federal and private land outside the purview of WDFW. I want to hunt them too, but if you think the DoE is ever going to allow the public to hunt the Hanford site, you're kidding yourself. MAYBE they'd let some master hunters or special tag holders into the Waluke or Rattlesnake units of the National Monument, but I'd be shocked to see that happen. Basically the entire range of the Rattlesnake subherd is already "any elk" during general rifle, so there's not a lot more the state can do.

[OutHouse]

On another note, it looks like they removed a lot of archery doe harvest that they allowed in most of the 200s units during the second half of the archery season. Have to admit, my family has taken advantage of that twice, and those does were the tastiest deer we ever had. However, I believe that this is a step in the right direction.

The elk issue truly is bizarre. In the last four years I have seen more elk in the Yakima units than ever. The Cowiche feeding station had tons this year even with the mild winter.

[CarbonHunter]

Its hunting, not "getting." Some of us LOVE to hunt, there is no shame in doing that no matter how much it costs, or how crappy the opportunities are.

With a little time and effort one can notch tags every year in this state, but if you dont.....well you still get to enjoy your passion of hunting   

I think this point is missing in a lot of the above discussion. Criticize the state if you want, but they're managing for opportunity - the opportunity to enjoy the elk woods with a tag in your pocket. It's ironic to criticize them for "just wanting to sell tags." OF COURSE that's what they want. That's literally the definition of managing for opportunity.

Using the Yakima herd as an example: stable populations and steadily increasing harvests look to me like the system is working. Keep in mind that the "over objective" total population is largely related to the Rattlesnake subherd that's way above objective but on mostly federal and private land outside the purview of WDFW. I want to hunt them too, but if you think the DoE is ever going to allow the public to hunt the Hanford site, you're kidding yourself. MAYBE they'd let some master hunters or special tag holders into the Waluke or Rattlesnake units of the National Monument, but I'd be shocked to see that happen. Basically the entire range of the Rattlesnake subherd is already "any elk" during general rifle, so there's not a lot more the state can do.

These tables show the decline in bull numbers and even though they have rebounded they still have a ways to go to get back to where they were when we had bull tags we all want to see. Given the fires since the decline I suspect the herd numbers should begin to grow rapidly.

[Dhoey07]

A product without a product is a non issue with me. No meat = no license, no tag, no hunting, period.
I can’t wrap my head around someone wanting to continue to give money to an agency that has driven the opportunity for the customer to obtain a product into extinction. Through no other name then mismanagement. The people that pay for multiseason tag are extremely gullible.
This situation is like watching lemmings jumping off a cliff.

Sounds to me like you were a "hunter" for the wrong reasons. 

Its hunting, not "getting." Some of us LOVE to hunt, there is no shame in doing that no matter how much it costs, or how crappy the opportunities are.

With a little time and effort one can notch tags every year in this state, but if you dont.....well you still get to enjoy your passion of hunting   

It is “getting” for some. Calling it the wrong reason for hunting is a pretty shallow opinion.

I hope the definition of hunting doesn’t get adjusted due the cost or crappy opportunities you mentioned.

[goldenhtr]

Yes I see that, I do believe the department of fish and wildlife hates the entire muzzleloader season.

 

[Dan-o]

It just seems unreal that trophy deer and elk tags in this state are turning into OIL tags right in front of our eyes.    :'(   

[CarbonHunter]

It just seems unreal that trophy deer and elk tags in this state are turning into OIL tags right in front of our eyes.    :'(

And the moose, goat and sheep are turning into never in your lifetime (NIL) tags.