Comparison of 2009 Elk success rates

[bobcat]

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?

Same place you did. Only thing is I'm looking at "General Season."  The numbers you are looking at are general season and special permit hunts combined.

[kirkl]

ya i dont see the problem here. so a few more rifle and ML hunters got lucky this year, next year it could go the other way, then what will you say. You already get an early and late season and can shoot spikes or cows in some GMU's. we get 9 days for spikes. again i dont see a problem.  

[dreamingbig]

Thanks for clarifying.  Why shouldn't we be looking at combined?

[dreamingbig]

ya i dont see the problem here. so a few more rifle and ML hunters got lucky this year, next year it could go the other way, then what will you say. You already get an early and late season and can shoot spikes or cows in some GMU's. we get 9 days for spikes. again i dont see a problem.  

I wanted to point out that the game department achieved their objective!  It will go even lower after this years changes.  In 2012, I hope that they will make adjustments to rebalance once again but I am not counting on it.

[Magnum_Willys]

 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.

You are supposed to leave camp ? 

[RUTNBULL1]

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?

Same place you did. Only thing is I'm looking at "General Season."  The numbers you are looking at are general season and special permit hunts combined.

We should be looking at the all numbers and all seasons it say's 2009 ELK Comparison Rates, which means all seasons, all weapons, and all animals taken period! And yes for the majority Archery hunters are more dedicated and serious about there hunting. Ok new topic!

[bobcat]

All I care about is the general season as that is all I can count on hunting every single year. So that's what I look at. The average success rates of the permits is meaningless. If I want to look at success rates for permits, I look at each permit hunt individually. But maybe that's just me.

Anyway, the archery season gives archers plenty of opportunity and more than enough time and areas to hunt. Archery hunters have no reason to complain about their success rates. 

[belkaholic]

i say that all of us bow hunters just hunt a little harder this year and make our own odds.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I guess i look at it the wrong way, i look at days spent afield chasing game. How many days does an archer spend afield? As i like to think i make my own success. Some years it works out and some it doesn't but i enjoy every day in the field.
Most of the people i see typing on websites complain if they don't kill something, some of my favorite hunts have been where i didn't even pull the trigger. Yes, my goal is to fill the freezer every year, but if i don't that doesn't mean i didn't enjoy doing it.

Modern east-9 days
Modern West- 11 days
Archery east- 13 days early and between 15 and 17 days late
Archery west- 13 days early and 22 days late
Muzzy east- 7 days early and 15 late
Muzzy west- 7 days early and 22 days late

If you hunt archery on the west side you could spend 35 days in the field chasing elk. Sounds like fun to me...

[ELKBURGER]

I started archery hunting for the longer seasons and an opportunity to hunt the rut. Not the odds. I've yet to kill a bull in the early season. I've been close to many but the right angle and distance has'nt presented itself. That is the challenge I signed up for when I chose archery. In 16 yrs of bowhunting I've bagged 2 cows and 1 bull, all westside. Nothing to brag about but like WDFW said, its about the experience afield.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Right, wrong or indifferent - the WDFW's goal is to equalize success rates between user groups.  One reason archers' success climbed over the past years has been technological advances that increase harvest rate.  The closer our weapons get to rifle harvest efficiency, the more like rifle seasons archery seasons will become.  It is great, on an individual level, to pick up a bow you haven't shot in months and make a clean kill shot at 30-50 yards, but collectively as a group our opportunities decrease as our harvest efficiency increases.

I personally don't archery hunt to maximize success, I want the days in the field.  But success is the name of the game when it comes to allocating opportunity. 

[ICEMAN]

Guys keep arguing about it and someone will start comparing loss rates, griping about unfair season lengths between the groups etc.... All I have wanted for years is more opportunity to hunt. My hunt type choice has always been modern firearm. For many years I too griped about the unfair treatment each different hunter type receives. All I have asked for is equality.

Anymore, I have just learned to bite my lip about it, and try to encourage all of the user groups to join forces and fight as one.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Right on ICEMAN, we should all get along, and everybody used to. But now it is a me first world and i am not concerned about what you want, it is about me. What do you think the anti's want and the WDFW wants, if we are fighting amongst ourselves we are not fighting them.

[fishwhackin]

Same kind of jealousy and selfishness that drives all of the shed hunters to go out and cross fences illegally that undoubtedly causes the deaths of a handful more of elk due to being ran out of the feed stations and important wintering range!  As far as people complaining?  I agree, let's all get along and try to make things better for hunters in general, that being said however, I will be the hypocrite and ask the question:  Wasn't it the modern firearms hunters complaining and waving fingers that got my archery season shortened to start with.  Well, eye for an eye.  Shorten your season or do not shorten mine this year.  The numbers go to show you that the playing field has been leveled pretty dang good.  I archery hunt for the days afield and due to my work schedule, not to mention for my own safety and well being.  I hunted L.T. Murray during modern firearm season 8 years ago and thanks to my sanity, I am happy with life and do not feel suicidal enough to go out and brave the odds against hungover road hunters!  Good on you all that make a good honest effort to get out in the woods and off of the roads away from the campfire overflowing from booze.  I appreciate a great party, but keep the hungover roadhunters at camp and off of the roads.  In return we will all see our odds increase.  Take the hunters that never leave their vehicle or camp out of the equation and I think we would see a huge turn around on the success rate of modern firearms season that archery hunters would all be kicking and screaming "Unfair"  But hey, we need the license sales to fund the feed and everything else that our taxes and license plate donations seem to fall short of covering by the millions according to WDFW!

[elksnout]

I used to bow hunt for elk but things changed in my life and now for the past decade I have been rifle hunting. And my plan is to get back into bow hunting in the near future. That's my personnel plan. Now as always I do not give a rats ass how many archers or smoke pole rs get their elk. We all are allowed one tag, who gives a flying rip what weapon we choose ?? 7%, 9% or 12 % success. Who cares ? I say enjoy your weapon and hunt of choice, hunt wisely and safely and let me do the same. I'll give you a thumbs up for the elk you called in and shot cleanly with your bow or smoke pole and give me the same courtesy when I out smart a timber bull that's out foxed you guys during the early seasons. Let 'er rip !!