WDFW rules? and prefered broadheads

[starr]

So after a 4 way strike out last year trying rifle hunting   I went and bought a bow this year and i have been trying to find all the hunting rules about bow hunting and i havent been able to find anything beyond what is in the book you get when you buy your tags and have spent HOURS looking. is there somewhere that i can just find a big book of washington hunting regulations? For instance mechanical broadheads i can see why most of them would fall under the "unbarbed" rule but say the blood runner blades that are closed at the back and fly like a normal broadhead?

I just went out and bought the g5 motec broadheads and the blood runners, I would like to read all the rules before i go spend money on something i can't use in washington.

Finally, what is everyones favorite broadhead to use?

[GoldTip]

Blood runners are closed at the back side but their blade does not form an angle that leads toward the fletching end of the arrow as is required here in WA.  There are some fixed blade heads that are probably not legal as well.  The definitions for archery are pretty well outlined I believe in the standard hunting regs.

[Kain]

I think all the archery rules are in the hunting regulations pamphlet.  Starting on page 62.  If you are unsure of a specific broad head you can contact the manufacturer and get the specs to the WDFW.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/huntregs2009.pdf

[poohdog]

I use 125 grain thunder heads and love them.   

[carpsniperg2]

blood runner not legal

 shoot the montec and love them never let me down shoot the same as my field points. all the regs are pretty strait forward allot of the stores like wholesale sports seperates the broadheads that are legal from the ones that are not. all mechanicals are not legal here becuase they must be fixed blade and not move. hope this helps.

[Kain]

Just to clarify...not legal on "big game" and it doesnt say anything about the blade being fixed.

g. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with
a broadhead blade unless the broadhead
is unbarbed and completely closed at
the back end of the blade or blades by
a smooth, unbroken surface starting at
maximum blade width forming a smooth
line toward the feather end of the shaft and
such line does not angle toward the point.

You could still hunt with them for small game and unclassified game.  

[SpokaneSlayer]

The regs are pretty much covered.  I use NAP Hellrazors.  Left a massive entry and exit wound.  I'd say it left an easy blood trail, but the buck only went about 15 yards before going down. 

[halflife65]

There's been some HUGE debates already on what consitutes a legal broadhead.  You can probably find some threads with the name of Shuttle T-Lock in them if you do a search.

You should be just fine with the Montecs, though.  Great broadheads.  I have been using the Strikers from G5 (replaceable blades) and, though they appear to have a 90 degree angle on the back, which technically would make them illegal because they don't slope toward the back of your arrow, they are actually at 88 or so degrees, so they DO slope to the back of your arrow.  As do the Shuttle T-Locks.  Yeah.  I know, I know.  Stupid mother$(*)@(ing hard to interpret regulations (although I do understand why that rule is in place).

Anyway, it's good that you're figuring this stuff out now instead of mid-August when you would be in a giant panic.

[Gobble Gobble]

I'm a fan of Slick Tricks but asking what we all like is another thread that has been discussed a dozen times each season.

The rules are pretty black & white they way I read them. I assume we are only talking compound, long bow and re curve bows.

Archery Regulations

1. Rules pertaining to all archery:

a. It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection if that person possesses a concealed pistol license as defined by RCW 9.41.070. Modern handguns cannot be used to hunt big game or dispatch wounded big game during an archery, big game hunting season.
No CPW no side arm.

b. It is unlawful to have any electrical equipment or electric device(s) attached to the bow or arrow while hunting.
If it requires a battery and attaches to the bow/ arrow it's unlawful (video camera stabilizers I fell should be ok as it does nothing to aid in the hunt.

c. It is unlawful to shoot a bow and arrow from a vehicle or from, across or along the maintained portion of a public highway, except persons with a disabled hunter permit may shoot from a vehicle if the hunter is in compliance with WAC 232-12-828.
If your not handicapped it don't apply.

d. It is unlawful to use any device secured to or supported by the bow for the purpose of maintaining the bow at full draw or in a firing position, except persons with an archery special use permit may hunt game birds or game animals using a device that stabilizes and holds a long bow, re curve bow, or compound bow at a full draw, and may use a mechanical or electrical release.
Again, if you're not handicapped it don't apply.

e. It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with a crossbow, except in firearm restriction areas. However, disabled hunter permittees in possession of a crossbow special use permit may hunt with a crossbow in any season that allows archery equipment.
This applies to maybe 2 GMU's, otherwise you'll know if your broke enough to apply.

f. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow or bolt that does not have a sharp broadhead, and the broadhead blade or blades are less than seven-eighths inch wide.
If the BH is less than 7/8" in diameter it don't fly at big game.

g. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a broadhead blade unless the broadhead is unbarbed and completely closed at the back end of the blade or blades by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at maximum blade width forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft and such line does not angle toward the point.
If it does not slope towards the vanes it unlawful (90 degrees is a gray area).

h. It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with any bow or crossbow equipped with a scope. Except hunters with disabilities who meet the definition of being visually impaired in WAC 232-12-828 may receive a special use permit that would allow the use of scopes or other visual aids. A disabled hunter permit holder in possession of a special use permit that allows the use of a scope or visual aid may hunt game birds or game animals during archery seasons.
If your too blind to drive than this may apply to you.

2. Rules pertaining to long bow, re curve bow and
compound bow archery:

a. It is unlawful for any person to hunt big game animals with a bow that possesses less than 40 pounds of pull measured at twenty-eight inches or less draw length.
You must shoot 40 lbs or greater and the arrow length of 28" and whether you can shoot shorter  confuses me.

b. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow measuring less than 20 inches in length or weighing less than 6 grains per
pound of draw weight with a minimum arrow weight of 300 grains.
Arrow must be 20" or longer, weigh 6gr per pound of draw with an overall arrow weight 300 gr or more.

[Hunterman]

I think you may have miss spoke on two items
[quote

g. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a broadhead blade unless the broadhead is unbarbed and completely closed at the back end of the blade or blades by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at maximum blade width forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft and such line does not angle toward the point.
If it slope towards the vanes it unlawful.


a. It is unlawful for any person to hunt big game animals with a bow that possesses less than 40 pounds of pull measured at twenty-eight inches or less draw length.
You must shoot 40lbs draw or greater and have a draw length of 28" or longer.
[/quote]

The feathers on an arrow are the same thing as the vanes, and the bow can have a draw length of less than 28" as long as the pull weight is still 40 lbs. or greater.

Hunterman(Tony)

[halflife65]

I think you may have miss spoke on two items
[quote

g. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a broadhead blade unless the broadhead is unbarbed and completely closed at the back end of the blade or blades by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at maximum blade width forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft and such line does not angle toward the point.
If it slope towards the vanes it unlawful.


a. It is unlawful for any person to hunt big game animals with a bow that possesses less than 40 pounds of pull measured at twenty-eight inches or less draw length.
You must shoot 40lbs draw or greater and have a draw length of 28" or longer.

The feathers on an arrow are the same thing as the vanes, and the bow can have a draw length of less than 28" as long as the pull weight is still 40 lbs. or greater.

Hunterman(Tony)
[/quote]

I also think that the confusion in the past was broadheads that were an apparent 90 degree slope (or lack of slope) at the back of the arrow.  The problem was that they didn't slope toward the FRONT of the arrow - ie. were not barbed - but didn't meet the definition of sloping toward the back of the arrow. Cleared up because most of the broadheads have a very slight slope toward the back of the arrow, making them legal.  However, there was no end to this debate and I expect to see it rekindled at some point this summer when people are starting to buy crap for their upcoming hunt.

[carpsniperg2]

yeah i forgot they took the fixed part out a few years back.

[Gobble Gobble]

Ok, I corrected my errors and added what I was confused on.

[KillBilly]

3 of the broadheads that were questioned last year have been determined legal by WDFW and these rulings can be found on this site at this link.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33270.0.html

[Hunterman]

Hey don't worry about it GobbleGobble..Hell I called the Game Dept. this past year to ask them about dip netting salmon on the Puyallup River. I told them that I looked all over the regs. and found nothing on it..The dude told me to look on such and such page in the upper right hand corner,,,and sure as hell there it was a plain as day.. Man did I feel like a fool..

Hunterman(Tony)