early season date changes

[bowhiker]

So I reviewed the new regs for early deer season and found I am missing several days this year. I'm sure this has been hit, but why the change? Are bowhunters not hitting their quota and the muzzleloaders filling in the gap. For me the first part of September is used to prepare for elk season, then the remainder of the month I can focus on deer. Now that time just shrunk. Any explanation on this?

[jackelope]

the bowhunters on here will tell you that the state is phasing out archery hunting.
 

[gasman]

the bowhunters on here will tell you that the state is phasing out archery hunting.
 

I don't think they are phasing us out, just giving us the "shaft"........

[dreamingbig]

They still want your money, they just don't want you to be as successful or more successful than the other user groups so they taking care of that by reducing our days afield.  Success rates are dropping so they are accomplishing their goal.  Being phased out and getting the shaft both are summarizing the same end game; we are losing opportunities to other user groups in hopes for more revenue.

[Bob33]

So I reviewed the new regs for early deer season and found I am missing several days this year. I'm sure this has been hit, but why the change? Are bowhunters not hitting their quota and the muzzleloaders filling in the gap. For me the first part of September is used to prepare for elk season, then the remainder of the month I can focus on deer. Now that time just shrunk. Any explanation on this?

I don't understand.  In 2009 the early Western Washington archery season in the majority of GMUs was Sep 1-25.  In 2010 the early Western Washington archery season in the majority of GMUs is Sep 1-24.  Please explain what you mean by missing several days this year.

[wastickslinger]

Looks like we lost one day this year. But we lose more and more every year. Use to have the whole month. We have also lost more and more of the late general over the years.

Losing one day seems pitty but if we lost one every year it would hurt. And we will, just wait.

They are slowly picking away the archery seasons.

[BULLBLASTER]

it closes on the 24th this year so that the MZ can start the last saturday of september. it is part of the deal from last year to give them 2 weekends to hunt for deer before the rifle hunters get out there.

[bobcat]

That's why I decided to go back to muzzleloader hunting this year for deer... a 9 day early season which obviously includes 2 full weekends.

Bowhiker, I have the same question as Bob33. I'm not clear on which "several days" you are talking about that you have lost

[dreamingbig]

We have lost 6 days in two years.  5 days last year and 1 day this year.  2008 it was the full month of Sep.  I am sure that is his basis.  Bobcat, I know you know that.

[bobcat]

We have lost 6 days in two years.  5 days last year and 1 day this year.  2008 it was the full month of Sep.  I am sure that is his basis.  Bobcat, I know you know that.

Well, no, actually I don't know that. How could I? I'm going by what he wrote:  "I reviewed the new regs for early deer season and found I am missing several days this year." 

I can only assume he is comparing this year's new regulations to last year's. And there was no reduction in the season. If he is comparing to two years ago, then he should say so.

Anyway, I believe Bullblaster answered the question correctly.

[predatorpro]

i think they forget bowhunters take along time to get an animal last time i was up on the colockum on the four wheeler during openeing weekend i seen 8 bow hunters sitting in the trucks with them running...poor cold bow hunters....i felt bad for them while driving by in the cold on my four wheeler, lol i just have to give you guys a hard time its in my nature as a rifle hunter

[Bob33]

(Putting armor on now).

I have to ask the obvious: what is the problem with equalizing opportunity or harvest between the three primary hunting methods?  In 2009 there were about 20,000 archery deer hunters and about 106,000 modern deer hunters in the general seasons.  Is there something wrong with giving more opportunity to the 106,000 who pay about five times more in license fees?
 

[dreamingbig]

Bob,

It takes more days afield to be successful with archery than it does with modern firearm.  You simply can't dispute that.  Success rates for archery are falling and will continue to do so with each day lost.  If the length of archery season was equal to or less than the modern season then it wouldn't even be a contest.  Heck, I haven't taken a deer with my bow in the last five years so I must be a really terrible hunter.  I have had many bucks within 75 to 100 yrds but haven't been able to close the distance.

Btw, there were only 9,333 muzzleloaders for deer so why is the state tripping over themselves to improve their seasons?

[WDFW-SUX]

(Putting armor on now).

I have to ask the obvious: what is the problem with equalizing opportunity or harvest between the three primary hunting methods?  In 2009 there were about 20,000 archery deer hunters and about 106,000 modern deer hunters in the general seasons.  Is there something wrong with giving more opportunity to the 106,000 who pay about five times more in license fees?
 

 

[dreamingbig]

Bobcat,

You are a moderator.  I sure hope you can figure that out.  Given your knowledge of the seasons and regulations, witnessed in other posts, I know you know how things have changed from 2005 to 2008 until now (2010).  If you want to hide behind the literal meaning of an individual's post then I guess that is your right.