3 point or better units

[huntnphool]

I suggested this a couple years ago on this site and some guy really jumped my *censored* saying it has never worked in any state it has been implemented in and was a stupid idea.

[kramman]

I personally like the 3pt. rule yet i do realize there are some huge 2pts out there that need to be taken.Probably during either a any buck or 2pt. or better season for youths or by draw only during the regular season.my    Kram

[boneaddict]

maybe the gov tag/ raffle tag/ and incentive tag guys should have to shoot two points.   


I think I have killed a four point every year for at least the last 15 or so, so it probably wouldn't effect me much. 

[GoldTip]

OK, I've asked this before and stated it here before, it makes no sense to me that we have "Trophy" elk units spread across this state where every year there are 370+ bulls killed in each unit, and yes a very small number of tags, but everyone can hunt those units with an OTC tag for spikes, and that system seems to be one that everyone applauds.  Why is it when elk and Mule deer essentially breed in much the same way, that it is a good reason to have Mulies be three point or better?  I mean both elk and Mule deer dominant males gather a harem of cows/does and they have a couple satellites bucks/bulls hanging around trying to steal their chicks and the dominant male does the breeding of most of that group of females.  So someone please explain to me why a 3 point minimum for Mulie's makes any sense to grow the genetic trophy potential?  Especially when we hunt the dominant males only, with no limit on the number of them killed, predominantly before the rut.

[swanny]

I imagine if it went to 4point or better you would see a decrease in tags purchased. Most people tend to only get a weekend to hunt and limiting them with what they can get even more would probably deter them from even going.

Swanny, with the general hunt only 8 days long, how many weekends do they have to choose from anyway.

Good point.

[DOUBLELUNG]

You don't get more of something by putting all of your pressure on it.  Minimum point restrictions result in less survivors of whatever antler point class is the legal class.  What it does is increase escapement of sublegal bucks.  Where legal buck escapement is high, you don't need the restriction.  Where it is low, the point restriction prevents killing too many bucks, period.  Short, early pre-migration and pre-rut seasons are further steps to reduce the pressure and increase escapement of the legal bucks.  Necessary evils to maintain general seasons.  If you want quality, you need to limit hunter participation to the point where harvest pressure does not crop off a high percentage of the desired class of bucks. 

[Curly]

I suggested this a couple years ago on this site and some guy really jumped my *censored* saying it has never worked in any state it has been implemented in and was a stupid idea.

I'm pretty sure that was just last year.......

I think it was Muleyguy..........and I think he had some good points.

It was in the thread "2x2 Bucks only in Roosevelt, Harrington, and Steptoe"

[boneaddict]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,19549.0.html

[jackelope]

I suggested this a couple years ago on this site and some guy really jumped my *censored* saying it has never worked in any state it has been implemented in and was a stupid idea.

it's one of those opinions you're gonna get from every angle on a subject like this.

[coachcw]

I like the draw tag , limit the numbers of tags and if a guy wants to shoot a two or spike who cares . I was hunting col in a three piont unit and had a 30 inch two point at 40 yards almost killed me to pass , that buck was a throphy in my book bummer . I'm sure the states three point system is just get those yearlings a little fatter for the wolves .

[huntnphool]

Draw only will never happen, too much revenue loss.

[Romulus]

Money is the bottom line. Meat hunters send a lot more revenue to the state than trophy hunters do. And if some of these 2pts really are trophies to most guys than that is a sad indictment of the trophy muley potential that is out there. I hunt what are considered to be mediocre units at best out of state and would not consider shooting these type of bucks. I dont always tag a buck but almost always get a chance at 165-175 class bucks with pretty good mass. Short of drastically reducing the tags and then implementing more unit specific management I do not think things will ever get better. We will see the occasional good buck killed but overall most (not all) guys will struggle to get even 160 class bucks. That is the reality of Washington state. If I was not stuck living here it would not be a consideration to hunt here. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Draw only will never happen, too much revenue loss.

It could be done w/o revenue loss.  Make us buy a deer license in order to apply, keep BT and/or WT general.  Could do the same with elk for that matter, eliminate the E/W split, general western, draw eastern.  I have absolute faith in Wa State Government's ability to ensure they don't lose revenue; if participation is cut in half, double the fees.   

Bottom line, can't improve quality in this state w/o cutting opportunity; we already mine our deer and elk.  I would prefer a higher quality hunt for deer OR elk every year, vs. a marginal opportunity for both every year.  I'm not typical, though - paramount importance for the majority of WA hunters is to hunt deer and elk every year, even though they don't like the resulting short, necessarily poorly timed and restricted seasons.

How about general archery OR draw-only ML and modern?  Have to pick before the draw, can't hunt archery general if you apply?  There's no magic solution to give everyone more and better opportunities.

[Romulus]

Excellent ideas! However true trophy hunters are in the minority.

[boneaddict]

I love Doublelungs input.  Always offers ideas and explanations.  Now...what do you know about bullfrog tadpoles.