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Archery hunters being phased out...
DOUBLELUNG:
--- Quote from: spike on April 15, 2010, 08:59:27 PM ---I some what agree but I don't know that most average rifles of today are that much better than most average rifles of 20 years ago.I admit that I know very little about muzzle loaders.I truly believe that an average compound bow of today is 10 times better and easier to shoot than a top of the line bow of 20 years ago
--- End quote ---
I completely agree that we are losing archery hunting opportunity due to advances in the harvest efficiency of modern archery tackle. 20 years ago, I shot every day all summer to consistently hit a paper plate at 50 yards. I can do the same with a properly tuned and equipped modern bow in a couple of hours, after a year w/o shooting.
dreamingbig:
--- Quote from: bobcat on April 15, 2010, 09:03:10 PM ---That's right. A 270, 30-06, 300 Mag, etc, from 20 years ago was just as good as what we have today. The average person and average rifle back then was good to 300 yards, same as today. I think spike is onto something.
--- End quote ---
Come on man! Are you serious? It is not easier to harvest an elk with a bow than a rifle and/or muzzleloader. Sure equipment is better for archery than it used to be but a muzzleloader isn't what it used to be either. Taking away antlerless harvest will make that success rate plummet (I will bet it will be less than 5%).
I agree with WDFW-Sux that we need to stick together but the changes in the past 3 years have been very one sided. I have written letters to the department but it is falling on deaf ears.
Your issue with the change in the permit system and how they handled the entire process is the same thing the archery user group has been dealing with for the past 3 years.
littlemac:
I am getting too old, I heard this argument (phase out) from rifle hunters when seasons were shortened many years ago and again when spike only rules instigated as well as three pt minimums for deer.
It does suck for sure (all around) and I too agree with the argument on the improvement of equipment on both sides. Before range finders, more powerful optics and proliferation of larger caliber rifles, not many hunters were skilled enough to make 300 yard plus shots. Now if you can't shot 300 in a lot of areas you may struggle to get a shot. The advent of the compound bow changed the archery hunts in that it allowed many more hunters to feel comfortable in their ability to use a bow and they chose to switch from modern to archery to improve their odds.
Now, the trend has gotten to a point that it has led to the greater success rates and that is with the larger number of archers. It may be that archery's success in drawing more people to the sport has led to this reduction of opportunity being managed by season length and tag availability.
Regardless, we are all getting regulated into a box. :twocents:
h2ofowlr:
With all the multi-season permit holders, the success rate and hunting may also be increasing. I know many guys that purchased bows and muzzle loaders to hunt this season. Several ended up getting nice elk during archery season and never had shot archery before. We turn in our tags at the end of the season, so the data can be logged into the system. Higher success rates = tighter seasons.
bobcat:
--- Quote from: dreamingbig on April 16, 2010, 06:41:28 AM ---
--- Quote from: bobcat on April 15, 2010, 09:03:10 PM ---That's right. A 270, 30-06, 300 Mag, etc, from 20 years ago was just as good as what we have today. The average person and average rifle back then was good to 300 yards, same as today. I think spike is onto something.
--- End quote ---
Come on man! Are you serious? It is not easier to harvest an elk with a bow than a rifle and/or muzzleloader. Sure equipment is better for archery than it used to be but a muzzleloader isn't what it used to be either. Taking away antlerless harvest will make that success rate plummet (I will bet it will be less than 5%).
--- End quote ---
I never said it was easier to get an elk with a bow. But obviously, it is. Higher success rates tell us that. If the seasons were at the same times then it would be a different story. But hunting during the rut makes all the difference. Plus the late archery season when snow pushes them down.
They only took away antlerless in two units. I don't think success rates are going to go down, overall. Most people will simply hunt a different unit.
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