Comparison of 2009 Elk success rates

[dreamingbig]

Looks like the archery success rate is now once again lower than both modern and muzzleloader.  Olympia can now give themselves high fives since they have restored balance.

Also, it is my prediction that after the changes to the regs this year, it will fall even lower.

[bobcat]

It only makes sense that the archery success rates would be lower. I don't see the problem. Don't people hunt archery for the additional challenge, and not for a better chance of bringing home meat?

[Bob33]

Archery 2008, General Season Elk: 9.1% success.
Archery 2009, General Season Elk: 9.0% success.

Looks OK to me.

[dreamingbig]

The point was that in the last season setting process the game department was concerned with archery success rates being higher than modern firearm and muzzleloader.  I will post a copy of their previous statements if necessary.

They responded by shortening seasons and reducing permits for archery while increasing opportunities for the other user groups.

They have been successful so they need a new argument when they attempt to reduce them again next time.

[bobcat]

I don't know... it doesn't look out of line to me. Archery success is still higher than modern firearm, but lower than muzzleloader:

[Magnum_Willys]

It only makes sense that the archery success rates would be lower. I don't see the problem. Don't people hunt archery for the additional challenge, and not for a better chance of bringing home meat?

Everyone I know switched to archery because they felt their odds of getting an animal were better hunting during the rut or in december with a bow than during november with a rifle - plus many bow seasons allow either sex.  They were usually right.  As all the timberlands have grown over rifle advantages over close-range weapons have shrunk.  In many areas anything you can see is within modern bow range so why not hunt during the rut?  I have never met anyone recently who found it so easy to get an elk with a rifle that they switched to a bow for the challenge.  20 years ago maybe but not now.  Sure there must be lots of guys on here who have, but I don't think its a majority overall.  

[dreamingbig]

Here is some of the game department's reasoning from April 2009:

"As you can see from the previous response, archers are quite successful at harvesting elk. In fact, archers also tend to take a greater proportion of mature bulls than the other two groups as well as have higher success rates. It is likely that the greater harvest of mature bulls is because of the timing of the early season"

"Actually in recent years, archers have the highest success rate among the three user groups. In 2007 the elk harvest success rates were: Archers ll% Muzzleloaders 8% Modern Firearm 7%"

"Archers made up 22% of the elk hunters and took 31% of the mature bulls harvested; Muzzleloaders made up l4% of the elk hunters and took 15% of the mature bulls; and Modern Firearm hunters made up 64% of the elk hunters and took 54% of the mature bulls. A mature bull was considered greater than five points for this comparison. It was for these reasons that we are recommending an adjustment to archery season timingand length."

"Allowing archery elk hunting during the last two weeks of September would result in greater mature bull harvest during the peak of breeding. It would also exasperate the propofion of mature bulls taken by archers."

[dreamingbig]

I don't know... it doesn't look out of line to me. Archery success is still higher than modern firearm, but lower than muzzleloader:

Bobcat... I will post 2009 for your review.  I am not sure where you got those numbers but it is not 2009.  I know your style... you cherry pick the truth for your own point of view.

[bobcat]

So archery success was 11% in 2007 and in 2009 was 9%. Modern firearm was 7% and last year was 8%.

Archery dropped 2 percent and modern firearm came up 1 percent. Seems reasonable to me. Archers still have a higher success rate than modern firearm. What specifically is it that you have a problem with?

[dreamingbig]

Here is 2009...

[WDFW-SUX]

I think there are more slobs that hunt the rifle elk seasons and thats why there success is lower.   Also if cows are removed its a totally different story and Rifle hunters are not allowed OTC cows.

[dreamingbig]

And here is a link... http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2009/elk_general.html

Modern firearm was 10.7% in 2009.  Where did you get your numbers?

[Alan K]

WDFW-SUX nailed it.   The archers a far more hardcore and serious (IN GENERAL) than rifle hunters, plain and simple.  I see tons of rifle hunting camps that I swear at least half the hunters don't leave, probably too hung over from the party around the fire the night before.  And I'm not trying to slam them, the experience in camp is a huge part of the hunt, and probably a big reason why a lot of them go period.  That's my point.  The numbers are skewed because there are a lot more guys who buy rifle tags and aren't serious about it than archers.

[dreamingbig]

Guys, lets not get off topic.  The simple fact is that the 2009 results were posted and modern firearm and muzzleloader both had higher success rates than archery.   See the link above.

[Bob33]

What is your problem with success for Modern and Muzzleloader improving?