Archery hunters being phased out...

[bobcat]

Just look at the increase in non-resident washington tags...($1800).  Who would ever pay that?

Not sure where you're getting the $1800 figure. I just looked and for a non-resident it's $674 to hunt both deer and elk, which is really not that high, considering we have over-the-counter tags that they can purchase at the last minute and then go hunt, pretty much anywhere in the state.

I also don't understand why you're so down on the archery opportunities in this state. They have the best seasons and the best units to hunt. Sometime you should look at the muzzleloader seasons and you'll see that archery hunters have it so much better.

[kramman]

im with bobcat on this one archery hunters for years have had great seasons hunting the rut for both elk and mule deer.As a muzzleloader we dont even get to hunt the Eniat at all no gen. season or permit season for deer.Your season in some parts of the state last 6 weeks including hunting during the peak rut.I talk to archer hunters at work about this and they just smile knowing that THEY have great seasons.Everyone is getting shafted by wdfw including archers.Plus if you really think your getting screwed take a good hard look at all the seasons, modern ,muzzy, and archery and honestly tell me your user group is the one getting the most shafted.If you look at straight #s of hunters and available quality tags the % highly favors archers.If i were just to hunt based on opportunity alone I would chose archery but I love guns so based on that i hunt muzzy.MY two cents if anyone gives a s@$t.

[TeacherMan]

But we get (bow hunters) GMU 346 cow or spike to hunt! First time in 20 years you can go in the early season and shoot a cow!!! Massacre!!! IT will more than make up for the cow tags...

[PolarBear]

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.  

Agree 100%
If you can't get it done in the 2+ full months that we have for archery (in one unit or another) then it is time to pick up a rifle.  Who needs a special archery permit for a stinking doe or cow?  

[wabow]

I dont really worry about it to much. You just have to find something else to kill. I can hunt from August up to the end of the year. If I'm not hunting deer or elk there is plenty of time to spend chasing bear.

Don

[haus]

I was going to say a lot of things that have already been said, I agree that we need to quit arguing about season disparity, and who uses what.
In my honest opinion, the reason for lack of "special permits", for Archery has more to do with $$$$$ than anything else, The largest percentage of licence buyers/permit applicants are modern firearm users, second comes archery (a change from the past) and Muzzle-loaders are the smallest user group.
Muzzle loaders have the shortest season, but they actually do get the better part of the rut (especially on the west side) and the main reason for their permits is to allow the WDFW to control WHAT they harvest, by controlling numbers of permit holders (kind of like a quota system)
The lack of special permits for archery has more to do with opportunity, I mean when we already have antlerless hunts in 3 point minimum areas, what kind of permit would we want ?
As far as East-side, and "quality" hunts...I think we are getting robbed, but again it is about $$$, the WDFW definitely takes into account HOW MANY SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS CAN THEY SELL, I mean, why sell a few hundred applications, when you can sell THOUSANDS ?
It is unfortunate that our WDFW is in the business of providing jobs, more than opportunity, but this is Washington, we have more hunters than game, more private land than public, and more restrictive rules than any other western state.
Things are probably going to get worse before they get better, but if you look at our historical harvests, as far as TOTALS, NOT PERCENTAGES, you will notice that it is pretty even, if not improving.

amen.

[haus]

iono I'm really looking forward to hunting deer in 652 for 10 weeks  I hope thats enough time to find a deer thats dumb enough to let me get within arrow range.   

[luvtohnt]

The biggest factor that I never saw mentioned is the game is managed by districts, so if they open a cow hunt in 346 then they have to give in another area. If you want your cow hunt opened in 356 again convince the WDFW to close 346 for cows!!

Brandon

[dreamingbig]

 
Agree 100%
If you can't get it done in the 2+ full months that we have for archery (in one unit or another) then it is time to pick up a rifle.  Who needs a special archery permit for a stinking doe or cow?  
[/quote]

How do you come up with two plus months to hunt for elk with a bow?

[dreamingbig]

But we get (bow hunters) GMU 346 cow or spike to hunt! First time in 20 years you can go in the early season and shoot a cow!!! Massacre!!! IT will more than make up for the cow tags...

I disagree.  The success rate will not be what you think it is.

[kramman]

actually the more i read the hunting regs. the more pissed i get.the arguement that the archers are getting screwed holds no water NONE!!!i.e for quality bull tags in the peaches ridge, observatory goose prairie bethel and rimrock hunts combined tags break down as follows:modern firearm total tags 5; archery total tags 337;muzzle 68.yes the rifle hunters get 360 bull permits but tell me how one user group who has less then 1/3 of the hunting public gets close to 44% of all bull tags combined in these units.Out of 770 bull elk tags in these units modern firearm get 365 archers 337 and muzzle 68.and your the one complaining.Its even worse for deer I dont even hunt elk.If you cant stand to archery hunt in this state then buy a modern or muzzy tag.To me it seems that archers have been spoiled for so long that now that they are feeling what the rest of us felt for years BEND OVER AND TAKE IT LIKE A MAN   

[WDFW-SUX]

The slob rifle hunters have spoken....

[kramman]

actually i muzzle hunt but thanks for the compliment.I would just like the archers to look at the whole picture just not what pertains to them.You dont see a thread on here about muzzle guys getting the shaft.wdfw is screwing ALL of us and whoring out our game animals for money.

As soon as the facts are brought to light the only thing left is  to throw insults

[rougheye]

actually the more i read the hunting regs. the more pissed i get.the arguement that the archers are getting screwed holds no water NONE!!!i.e for quality bull tags in the peaches ridge, observatory goose prairie bethel and rimrock hunts combined tags break down as follows:modern firearm total tags 5; archery total tags 337;muzzle 68.yes the rifle hunters get 360 bull permits but tell me how one user group who has less then 1/3 of the hunting public gets close to 44% of all bull tags combined in these units.Out of 770 bull elk tags in these units modern firearm get 365 archers 337 and muzzle 68.and your the one complaining.Its even worse for deer I dont even hunt elk.If you cant stand to archery hunt in this state then buy a modern or muzzy tag.To me it seems that archers have been spoiled for so long that now that they are feeling what the rest of us felt for years BEND OVER AND TAKE IT LIKE A MAN   

hmm   , not an archery hunter ?  Thanks for the insight , sorry your soooo pissed    Not sure why it matters to you but atleast we know where you stand .   Whew 

[dreamingbig]

If you cant stand to archery hunt in this state then buy a modern or muzzy tag.

I would buy a muzzy tag if they let you hunt with a bow during the season.