How to get big game rules changed?

[highcountry_hunter]

Does anyone know how to go about getting big game rules changed? Not biology based, just a few simple rules that I’ve thought could be done better

[Humptulips]

1st you need to talk to the people who are writing the rules. If it is a specific species you need to find out who the management lead for that species. If broader maybe Anis Aoude is who to talk to. I predict no success unless you have a group behind you. Tough for an individual to get much traction. They won't change anything except during the three-year package changes which is in 2027 so believe it or not you probably should have started 6 months ago.
Getting a change is tough so if you think your ideas are worthwhile don't be discouraged if you fail.
You probably need to convince someone within the Department to go to bat for you.

[Magnum_Willys]

Does anyone know how to go about getting big game rules changed? Not biology based, just a few simple rules that I’ve thought could be done better

You picked the hardest of the four LOL

A. Cure the common cold
B. Eliminate Taxes
C. Change Big Game Rules
D. Change Day length to 28 hours

[FlyFish360]

I got a rule change within a year back in Michigan. Pointed out to a Game Warden a caliber restriction loophole. They didnt like it one bit and the loophole was closed the next year.

[nwwanderer]

Have worked with WDFW on rule changes a time or two, meetings, focus groups, huge amounts of paper with little colored dots, hired facilitators and multi layer staffers.  Only changes in direct contradiction to original goal.  Good luck!!!

[Bunny Thumper]

What’s your idea? Maybe you could get a start right here.

[hunter399]

Well I wouldn't expect anything from our commission.
Your email account will probably lock up before you get anything changed.
I tried once to petition a rule change,it got round filed.
I've also submitted rule changes , through the proper channels with same results.
Not sure if that Scott bird is still in charge,Good luck with that guy.

I'd email the commission a few times a year,along with email to WDFW management.
Anything and everything I always submitted was disregarded,and deleted in short order.
Now I don't even waste my time, I haven't emailed,or response to anything from WDFW since cougar changes happened.

If it's anything biology or science based, I wouldn't waste your time.
They always know best.

[blackdog]

What rule are you seeking to change?

[highcountry_hunter]

What rule are you seeking to change?

Well you guys are making this sound extra promising haha

First, the hunters orange rule. I’m pretty sure a game warden could give me a ticket every day of the season because my backpack and binocular harness are always over my vest. A much simpler approach would be Wyoming’s hunter orange rule which just says you have to wear an orange hat. Ball cap, beanie, cowboy hat cover. Whatever

2nd would be caliber restrictions. I completely understand why the minimum caliber restrictions were set the way they are when bullet options were much more limited. But fast forward to today and modern bullets coming out of centerfire .22’s are absolutely lethal

[hunter399]

What rule are you seeking to change?

Well you guys are making this sound extra promising haha

First, the hunters orange rule. I’m pretty sure a game warden could give me a ticket every day of the season because my backpack and binocular harness are always over my vest. A much simpler approach would be Wyoming’s hunter orange rule which just says you have to wear an orange hat. Ball cap, beanie, cowboy hat cover. Whatever

2nd would be caliber restrictions. I completely understand why the minimum caliber restrictions were set the way they are when bullet options were much more limited. But fast forward to today and modern bullets coming out of centerfire .22’s are absolutely lethal

Are you trying to make a hat only legal?
Cause you can already add a hat,while wearing a backpack to meet the 400 inch required.

The minimum caliber has been proposed before and rejected.

I'd support less orange in a heartbeat,I'd also support caliber restrictions to 22 caliber.
You'll find it's definitely mixed bag of people who will support your changes.

[Rat44]

I have asked many times about Blaze Camo and always receive the same answer.
Just quote the inches required.
Up to the discretion of the officer.

[MADMAX]

I have asked many times about Blaze Camo and always receive the same answer.
Just quote the inches required.
Up to the discretion of the officer.

Never had a problem with blaze camo

And when I use a day pack I just tie an old blaze mesh vest on the back
More for idiots that shoot at anything , than to be legal.

[RB]

I have asked many times about Blaze Camo and always receive the same answer.
Just quote the inches required.
Up to the discretion of the officer.

Never had a problem with blaze camo

And when I use a day pack I just tie an old blaze mesh vest on the back
More for idiots that shoot at anything , than to be legal.

 

[freezerfull]

I would think WDFW would be very difficult to encourage a rule change without a large advocacy group behind it. I can’t even get an email response out of them.

Recently sent an email asking why a category change was made to a certain special hunt. Nothing but crickets.

[Skillet]

Food for thought - pushing to allow all 22 Caliber CF cartridges due to modern bullet tech making them more effective will be used a a strong argument to ban lead in bullets (like CA now), since you then can't allow what had long been understood as ineffective. .

Why add to our hunter orange burden?  If we deem what's legal now is effective, why add to it?  First, beanies, next,  full pants.  Boots?  Next step - required hunter orange gun stocks and bow risers?

There's always unintended consequences from nearly any change that anti's can use against us.  These rules don't need changed at all, IMHO, and the risk in doing so doesn't justify the meager benefits.

This, however,  coming from a guy that argued against -

Lighted nocks
209 ignition
ML scopes

All of which were passed...

[Britt-dog]

Does anyone know how to go about getting big game rules changed? Not biology based, just a few simple rules that I’ve thought could be done better

You picked the hardest of the four LOL

A. Cure the common cold
B. Eliminate Taxes
C. Change Big Game Rules
D. Change Day length to 28 hours

You forgot daylight savings time

[furbearer365]

You wont get the orange thing changed. One of the only hunting rules that gets ticket money.  Unlike fishing, theres not very many hunting laws that are ticketable. Its not about safety like they say, its about tickets

[chukarchaser]

Spot on Skillet.  They will go after Lead.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Food for thought - pushing to allow all 22 Caliber CF cartridges due to modern bullet tech making them more effective will be used a a strong argument to ban lead in bullets (like CA now), since you then can't allow what had long been understood as ineffective. .

Why add to our hunter orange burden?  If we deem what's legal now is effective, why add to it?  First, beanies, next,  full pants.  Boots?  Next step - required hunter orange gun stocks and bow risers?

There's always unintended consequences from nearly any change that anti's can use against us.  These rules don't need changed at all, IMHO, and the risk in doing so doesn't justify the meager benefits.

This, however,  coming from a guy that argued against -

Lighted nocks
209 ignition
ML scopes

All of which were passed...

I think you missed his point on this part.  If I am correct, it would be a proposal to lower the required amount of Hunter Orange (or pink now) from 400 sq inches, vest, coat etc., to just a hat as the required minimum.

[andersonjk4]

As I read the WAC on hunter orange you don't have to have 400 square inches visble.  You have to be wearing 400 sq. in. above the waist and it has to be visible from all sides.  I would be curious if anyone has recieved a ticket while wearing a legal piece of orange, but having a backpack and/or bino harness covering some of it.

WAC 220-414-080:
(4) Wearing fluorescent hunter clothing means: A minimum of 400 square inches of fluorescent hunter orange and/or fluorescent hunter pink exterior clothing, worn above the waist and visible from all sides. A combination of both colors may be worn to meet the 400 square inches.

[Boss .300 winmag]

You wont get the orange thing changed. One of the only hunting rules that gets ticket money.  Unlike fishing, theres not very many hunting laws that are ticketable. Its not about safety like they say, its about tickets

If it was about safety all the non hunters in the woods during hunting seasons would have to wear hunter orange, or pink as well.

[highcountry_hunter]

Food for thought - pushing to allow all 22 Caliber CF cartridges due to modern bullet tech making them more effective will be used a a strong argument to ban lead in bullets (like CA now), since you then can't allow what had long been understood as ineffective. .

Why add to our hunter orange burden?  If we deem what's legal now is effective, why add to it?  First, beanies, next,  full pants.  Boots?  Next step - required hunter orange gun stocks and bow risers?

There's always unintended consequences from nearly any change that anti's can use against us.  These rules don't need changed at all, IMHO, and the risk in doing so doesn't justify the meager benefits.

This, however,  coming from a guy that argued against -

Lighted nocks
209 ignition
ML scopes

All of which were passed...

I think you missed his point on this part.  If I am correct, it would be a proposal to lower the required amount of Hunter Orange (or pink now) from 400 sq inches, vest, coat etc., to just a hat as the required minimum.

You are correct, maybe I didn’t word it quite right. Abolish the minimum 400 sq inches rule and implement a basic orange hat rule.

Thanks for the replies everyone, sounds like it would be wasted time and effort to push for a caliber restrictions change. And knowing our f&g commission, I very highly doubt that they would want to view dozens of images of the collateral damage that a .22 cf can inflict on the vitals of an animal.