Little Naches now open for Early Season Archery

[fishm@n]

How many of you guys have drawn the Peaches tag and if so how many times?

If WDFW wants to manage the herds properly with their health in mind and budget secondary they should go for mandatory draws for all elk units. Over the counter would turn into one of those Walmart xmas sale trampling scenes with all the people in this state.

I keep hoping they will split the Peaches bull tag into two tags, one draw for Taneum and one for LN. I know where plenty of bulls hang out in Taneum but I always have to compete for the coveted tag.

[ribka]

Some good points Matt

[halflife65]

How many of you guys have drawn the Peaches tag and if so how many times?

If WDFW wants to manage the herds properly with their health in mind and budget secondary they should go for mandatory draws for all elk units. Over the counter would turn into one of those Walmart xmas sale trampling scenes with all the people in this state.

I keep hoping they will split the Peaches bull tag into two tags, one draw for Taneum and one for LN. I know where plenty of bulls hang out in Taneum but I always have to compete for the coveted tag.

I've never drawn Peaches tag (and do put in for it), but like the idea that we have a quality bull hunt available and it's a great hunt to put in for.  I've hunted the Taneum side - and walked in a long ways, but would rather hunt LN if I draw.  The Taneum side has all the people...although I suppose that it doesn't matter now.

[Gringo31]

Norsepeak,

FANTASTIC letter!  It was backed up with solid facts and good math.  I hope they take you up on your offer to take them out.  346 is the best tag in the state.  I've drawn it twice and never harvested a bull......I got to picky and passed up too many smaller bulls.  But, GREAT hunts!  I am finally starting to really believe that the people who represent WDFW either have no clue or their hands are tied to where they are forced to bite their tongue.

Gringo

[BAR C3]

I may get some flack over that comment but it's true.  I think that anyone should be alowed to hunt anyway they want but there are a ton of guys out there that have no business hunting with a bow.  Only because they don't take the time to be proficeint with their equipment.  So on the other side of this I hope that it discourages those that fit this mold to try something else.  It may be off topic but kind of ties in.

All these Primos shows showing how easy it is to call them in and everyone tags there bull/buck has generated a ton of new bowhunters. At work we had four-five guys that bow hunted. We have 30+ now. Most have no business doing it. They aren't even successful with a gun and now they watch these shows and think they are going to get a ten yard shot. Most don't shoot until a week before the season if at all!
I've drawn the rifle Little Naches and harvested a 336 bull after seeing many others while scouting. I also brought my father-in-law in there 2 years prior and harvested a nice 6X6. Both on opening morning.
I sent my e-mail to the department yesterday and they must be getting hammered because my response was that because of the overwhelming about of e-mails, it would be 5 days before I would recieve a response. Keep them going!

[norsepeak]

I've had peaches tag twice and bumping tag once....ate both peaches tags and shot a nice 6pt in bumping unit...hate to see peaches go general tag, but it would make the big bull tag in bumping a lot more fun...

[Matt]

Making the Bumping and Nile a spike only archery tag would make the Goose Prairie tag premier.  Just my thoought.  There is always late season for the cows.

[colockumelk]

BARC3 you received a response too.  WTF WDFW I have yet to get a response.  Rick gets a phone call and I get jack.  Okay it is official Operation Bombard them with the same letter is now a go. 

[TheKid#10]

I think the new "pay to camp" sites they are constructing in the Little Naches area may have something to do with it too. This state is all about the money. I bet they will make plenty with most the archers now going to 346 instead of 356 & 352 to hunt. 

KID

[bobcat]

I think the new "pay to camp" sites they are constructing in the Little Naches area may have something to do with it too. This state is all about the money. I bet they will make plenty with most the archers now going to 346 instead of 356 & 352 to hunt.  

Very unlikely, since the state doesn't own any land in GMU 346. All the public land there is National Forest. How would the state get money from people camping on National Forest?

[TheKid#10]

Bobcat, You don't think that they are in bed together,    if you know what I mean. Ever here of caveats. You scratch my back I'll scratch yours.

[brianb231]

Hello,

I also recieved a reply from my letter that I sent. he writes the following:

Dear Mr. Blair,

 

I’ve attached a summary of the some of the information we used to develop our 2010 season recommendations.  I hope it helps provide a better understanding of the data and the trends we’re trying to deal with.

 I’m sure conditions will change if the recommendations are adopted, but those early archery permits in the Yakima will still be great to draw.  I’ve hunted early seasons in all of those units myself, either with my own bow or muzzleloader or bugling for friends who were lucky enough to draw.  Having cow and spike hunters in the woods does impact the hunt, but generally just closer to the roads.  Anyway that’s my experience in several parts of Washington and in Idaho and Montana.

 The Fish and Wildlife Commission will be taking public input on all of the season recommendations in Olympia.
 
Thanks for you message.


Anyways, Thought I would share the response.

Kind Regards,

Brianb231

[bobcat]

Bobcat, You don't think that they are in bed together

No, I don't.

[dreamingbig]

I could be wrong here, but I don't see a lot of cow hunters going in deep into the Little Naches to hunt cows, so I think that a guy with a bull tag could still have a good hunt.

Apparently you have never been in 356 during the early season.  There are not many opportunities for archery hunters to get away from the crowds and when you can't draw a branch antlered permit you end up going where the elk are.  For me that has been deep in the wilderness.  This decision by the WDFW blows and mostly because they are still giving out 40 cow tags between modern firearm and muzzie and ZERO to archery for 356.  Dumbfounded and depressed.

[brianb231]

 Hey Dreaminbig,

That was the WDFW statement, not mine. I have been Hunting 356 for 20 years. I know what it is like.

I am just passin in what they tried to placate me with.

Regards,

Brian