Antlerless moose hunt?

[180-GRAIN]

I understand you are only supposed to be able to harvest one bull moose in washington in your lifetime and once you take that moose you cant apply for antlerless hunts or any moose hunts in washington for that matter. I was reading the new regs on line and it states under antlerless hunts anybody may apply, I guess I am wondering if that includes people that have taken a bull moose in a previous year. Anybody know?

[nw_bowhunter]

I could be wrong but if you have already harvested a antler moose than no you can't apply for anterless moose permit.

You have to shoot an anterless 1st than

[180-GRAIN]

That is what I think to but I am kinda unsure right now because they made the antlerless hunt a new category this year and it says anybody can apply. The bull tags stiil say only one can be harvested in a lifetime though

[carpsniperg2]

it has always been that anyone is anyone that has not had a bull tag, not that you have killed a moose once you draw a bull tag you are done in the special apps. but you can still kill moose by raffel tags and auction tags. you can kill unlimted cows if you can draw the tags untill you get the bull tag. that is what i learned from last year. i talked to fish and wildlife when my cousins little bro drew a cow moose tag. he can still draw another cow tag or bull tag.

[jackelope]

I believe 180-Grain is right in his thinking. Pretty sure you can put in for antlerless tags now even if you have killed a bull.
This would be as of this year.

[Bob33]

I believe you can apply for an antlerless permit this year, even if you killed a bull previously.  I do not believe that was the case in the past: if you killed a bull first, you were done.  If you killed a cow first, you could apply for a bull.  I killed a bull in 1999 and have not applied since.

You've got to remember: this is all about money now.  They want your $6.50 per application. Come one, come all: "Anyone can apply!"

[carpsniperg2]

yeah not sure i knew how it was last year but who knows this year

[littlemac]

Any Moose:
Category/Special Hunt Application Required: Any Moose
Who May Apply: Anyone, EXCEPT those who have previously harvested a moose in Washington under the authorty of an Any Moose special permit. An
individual may only harvest one moose during their lifetime, except this restriction is waived for hunters who have harvested a moose in an antlerless only hunt
or raffle and auction hunts.

Category/Special Hunt Application Required: Antlerless Moose
Who May Apply: Anyone may apply.

Sure looks like this year with the seperate draw for any moose and antlerless moose that "anyone" means anyone for the antlerless hunt.


Here's the 2009 Reg when the draws were not divided up.

Who May Apply:
Anyone with the EXCEPTION of those who have harvested a moose in
Washington. An individual may only harvest one moose during their lifetime
(waived for hunters who have harvested a moose in an antlerless only hunt,
master hunter hunts, and raffle and auction hunts). See pages 70-71 for
application instructions.

[bobcat]

Yes, it seems to have changed this year, so that the WDFW can sell more applications.  

They should have left it the way it was... if someone draws an "any moose" permit, they should not be able to apply for a moose permit ever again. Even if they draw an antlerless permit, I think they should be out of the running for moose permits. There's already enough competition for those permits as it is.

Another part of the rule that I don't agree with, is that if a person draws an "any moose" permit, and does not kill a moose, they can continue to apply for permits. I don't believe it used to be that way, they changed it just a few years back, I think. Again, probably so they can sell more applications.    

It should be enough that a person had the opportunity to hunt moose. If they are unsuccessful, that is too bad, they should be done hunting moose in Washington.

[Bob33]

It appears to have changed in 2003 to allow those who drew antlerless permits to apply for an "any moose" permit.  Also note that "drawn" in 2002 is changed to "harvested" in 2003.

2002:
Who May Apply: Anyone with the EXCEPTION of those who have drawn a moose permit in Washington State. Only ONE moose permit will be issued during an individual’s lifetime (waived for Mt. Spokane-Youth Hunt, raffle, and auction hunts).

2003:
Who May Apply: Anyone with the EXCEPTION of those who have harvested a moose in Washington State. An individual may only harvest one moose during their lifetime (waived for antlerless only hunts, and raffle and auction hunts).

For many years there has been inconsistency between moose and sheep.  Anyone who killed a ram could still apply for an "ewe only" hunt.  For moose it did not work that way: if you killed a bull first you were done.  If you killed a cow first, you could still apply for an "any moose" permit.  

[bobcat]

We can stop calling the moose permits "Once in a Lifetime" now. 

Even if a person were to draw an any moose permit and kill a moose with that permit, all he has to do is report that he was unsuccessful and he can continue to apply for moose permits. 

And a person could draw an antlerless moose permit every year for 100 years, if they were that lucky (and lived that long)   

So please everybody, stop referring to moose hunts as "OIL."

[Bob33]

I'm not following how you could kill a moose and not report it? 

[jackelope]

I'm not following how you could kill a moose and not report it? 

You would be  breaking the law...kill a moose, when you file your harvest report report unsuccesful...it would be lying essentially.

[bobcat]

Yes, jackelope got it. I'm not saying that anybody should do that, but just pointing out one reason why it should not be that way. As I said, just having the opportunity to hunt moose should be enough. Harvest success rates are close enough to 100% in all units, that somebody who is not successful, either just didn't put in enough time, or was too picky with what they were willing to take.

[Bob33]

I suppose you could do that, but it would be risky.  The biologists in an area have a pretty good handle on who is hunting and what they harvest.  When I drew my moose tag in 1999 the biologist offered to take me out if I needed help.  Locals got to know me and offered assistance.  Anyone who doesn't report success would raise suspicion in most instances.

I would still consider the "any moose" tags once in a lifetime.  If you break the law, then of course you could harvest more.  You wouldn't even need a tag to do that.