Archery hunters being phased out...

[dreamingbig]

As we all know, GMU 356 has been switched to a spike only unit for early archery.  Now on top of that the amount of bull permits was slashed to 60 for this year!

While upsetting, it would be a lot more tolerable if the other user groups felt the same.  However there are now more opportunities for muzzleloader and modern firearm than archery.  Please explain???

Modern firearm has a spike only season, plus 55 bull tags, 1 special rut tag and 15 anterless tags; total special permit is 71

Muzzleloader has a spike only season, plus 10 bull tags and 25 anterless tags; total special permit is 35.

Where are the Archery anterless permit opportunities?  I understand that rifle and muzzleloader hunters are probably high fiving each other but bowhunters better take notice.  This is just the beginning!

[WDFW-SUX]

they dont want to disturb the rifle hunters in september with all of us stick flingers...

[DRENALINJUNKIE]

I just read about the new changes...Have you looked at the deer seasons?  We are getting it from every direction.  They are cutting tags for archery everywhere.  Whats the Deal.

[hirshey]

Is my math incorrect or is 60 not greater than 35? 

I know perhaps an antlerless tag or two would be grand... but still sounds like there are opportunites to be had. I think there will always be a place for archers here in WA.

[nw_bowhunter]

In general I noticed less archery special permits in the 2010 regs. It seems like there was not a lot of areas to apply for...

[bobcat]

Archery hunters still have the best units and the best seasons. If you have an archery tag, you don't need a special permit. Just hunt the general seasons. If you don't agree, then buy a rifle tag instead. 

[Crunchy]

I wish they would cut 3-4 from the start of the seaon and put them on the end.  Rutt really kicks into gear when the season is bout over.  For elk that is.

[dreamingbig]

Is my math incorrect or is 60 not greater than 35? 

I know perhaps an antlerless tag or two would be grand... but still sounds like there are opportunites to be had. I think there will always be a place for archers here in WA.

Not sure why I bother but 71 > 60 and shooting a spike with a bow is just a little bit more difficult.  Oh and muzzleloaders cow permits at 25 is greater than zero.  I would buy a muzzleloader tag if I could hunt with my bow.

[dreamingbig]

Archery hunters still have the best units and the best seasons. If you have an archery tag, you don't need a special permit. Just hunt the general seasons. If you don't agree, then buy a rifle tag instead. 

The general archery season for 356 is now spike only because too many cows were being taken yet they are still giving out 40 cow permits?  That doesn't add up.  Harvesting a spike with a bow is much more difficult than with a rifle or muzzleloader in my opinion.

[dreamingbig]

I wish they would cut 3-4 from the start of the seaon and put them on the end.  Rutt really kicks into gear when the season is bout over.  For elk that is.

Agreed Crunchy but as Bobcat points out, most already think our season timing is too good.  This is likely to never happen.  Also from past conversations with biologists, hunting the last 10 days of September would be too hard on the elk and prohibit proper breeding.  However they ignored their own logic by introducing the rifle tag from Sept 20 to the 24th.

[spike]

Has anyone given any thought to how much more efficient archery equipment has become in recent years? A compound bow from the early 90's is junk compaired to today's arrow flinging devices.Archery seasons are the most liberal because bows are the most primitive.It used to take a ton of skill and practice to get good with a bow now all you need is about a grand and a couple weeks of practice.If we really want to see longer and better seasons, at some point we might need to go back to traditional archery.Just my 2 cents worth.

[Ray]

spike, I agree.

[bobcat]

That's a good point spike. The latest harvest report (2008) shows archery hunters with a 9.1% success rate on elk, versus a 6.2% success rate for modern firearm elk hunters.

[nw_bowhunter]

Spike that arugment can also be applied to hunters using rifles and muzzleloaders

[spike]

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