Why is deer modern rifle not two weeks anymore?

[Hot Lunch]

Growing up modern rifle was a two week season. We used to stay at the Boneparte Lake resort in cabin #9. Had the second week reservation for a number of years. I got out of deer hunting for a time, and now that I am heavily back into I can see no logical reason to not have a two week season.

I would like the WDFW to give hunters a first or second week option for deer. It would help with the crowding somewhat. Anyone have the answer why the state most popular rifle season is crammed into one week?

[KillerMiller]

Deer management!  Too many hunters not enough deer.  That is why there is late permit hunts instead of a free for all or second week.

[DBake]

I be willing to bet the East side will be all permit in the next 10 years.com

[Antlershed]

Deer season always starts the first saturday after the 10th and runs through the end of the month. The 10th fell on a saturday this year, so it got pushed to the 17th.

[huntnphool]

 Actually Hot Lunch, there are those of us that remember it being much longer than that and running into the second week of November.

[Armadillo]

the problem is not too many hunters

[boneaddict]

Increased predators = decreased deer
decreased deer = decreased oppurtunity.
More hunters and not enough deer.  Seems pretty simple to me.  Go hunt whitetails if you can't get it done in 9 days, or switch to a different method, or apply for the multiseason permit.

[h2ofowlr]

To many hunters.  It will continue to get worse with all the bear, cougar and wolf depredation on the deer.

[actionshooter]

I be willing to bet the East side will be all permit in the next 10 years.com

I say 5 years

[Pathfinder101]

I be willing to bet the East side will be all permit in the next 10 years.com

I say 5 years

After what I saw this weekend, I could be talked into that proposition easier than I thought. 

[Okano-gun]

I think they should make it so you are guaranteed a tag in the county you reside in and then allow a limited number of tags (special draw) for those who don't.

[turkey buster]

 

[Redmist]

HuntenPhool is right.  It used to be 4 weeks and run hard into the November Migration.  Population growth, competition between weapons groups, and a good share of hard winters and fires, blended with lack of 20/20 forsight from WDFW have cut nail to the skin.  Really though, the bucks are being taken by those that continue to adapt and work hard.  The big bucks still exist, just look at that giant Highhunter clicked with a digital, but the total herd population is way down.  The total season is actually much longer now if you add the user groups together, and that in my opinion is a problem because the game is now pushed from September into December instead of a 10 day Highhunt plus what used to be 4 weeks of any weapon.  Hunter weapons are better, and also knowledge because of websites like this which cause me to waste incredible amounts of time viewing.  

[Hot Lunch]

does anyone have any numbers? The last articles I have read say there are less hunters now than ever.

[Elkaholic daWg]

  And if you're really old you can remember the 2 week elk season, and a NE late hunt running through thanksgiving.