early season date changes

[wastickslinger]

I don't know if you're missing something, but I'll try to explain it again. You are right, one less day in 2011 than in 2010. But as I already said, it is not due to a "cut" by the WDFW. The archery season begins on September 1 and it ends on a Friday. This year that date happens to be the 24th, next year it is the 23rd. In 2012, if they keep everything the same, that date will be the 28th. So that will be a 5 day longer season than the 2011 season. But again that won't be due to the WDFW adding 5 days to it. It's just the way the dates fall on the calendar.

Yes that might be the case this year and next year, we lose a day because of the way the calandar falls. So why dont we get it open on a set Satuday every year like muzz and rifle? That prevent the "lost day". Keep a set amount of days.

Also you cannot argue that archery has continually lost days over the years. We always had he whole month of September and I can remember hunting December late archery as well. Now it ends Nov 31. 

[BULLBLASTER]

I don't know if you're missing something, but I'll try to explain it again. You are right, one less day in 2011 than in 2010. But as I already said, it is not due to a "cut" by the WDFW. The archery season begins on September 1 and it ends on a Friday. This year that date happens to be the 24th, next year it is the 23rd. In 2012, if they keep everything the same, that date will be the 28th. So that will be a 5 day longer season than the 2011 season. But again that won't be due to the WDFW adding 5 days to it. It's just the way the dates fall on the calendar.

there will still be at least 3 full weekends for the early archery deer season, and some years we will get 4 weekends.

[bobcat]

Yes that might be the case this year and next year, we lose a day because of the way the calandar falls. So why dont we get it open on a set Satuday every year like muzz and rifle? That prevent the "lost day". Keep a set amount of days.

That's a good question. The only reason, I guess, is that it would then have to open in August some years. I don't know why that would be a problem but apparently it is.    I know other states like Oregon and California have opening dates for archery in August. Maybe that's something that needs to be asked at the next Commissioner's meeting.

As for the late archery season, around here it goes to December 31st, and I see many good GMU's open on the eastside until December 15th. Archery hunters have it good no matter how you look at it.

[wastickslinger]

Yes that might be the case this year and next year, we lose a day because of the way the calandar falls. So why dont we get it open on a set Satuday every year like muzz and rifle? That prevent the "lost day". Keep a set amount of days.

That's a good question. The only reason, I guess, is that it would then have to open in August some years. I don't know why that would be a problem but apparently it is.    I know other states like Oregon and California have opening dates for archery in August. Maybe that's something that needs to be asked at the next Commissioner's meeting.

As for the late archery season, around here it goes to December 31st, and I see many good GMU's open on the eastside until December 15th. Archery hunters have it good no matter how you look at it.

They do your right. But if they keep nickle and diming the dates away like they want it will eventually suck. Give an inch and they take a mile. I know it sounds extreme and too early to see if this is the future, but I hate change.  Just like anything else in our society. You let someone take little and dont say anything about it what will they do? They will take more. Then its too late. Bowhunters need to stand up and fight for their seasons, if we show no interest in fighting for our dates then they will give them to the groups that have pull.

The late hunts I am talking about are North Central WA. 8 days for late archery? Come on? We use to hunt from Thanksgiving to New Years. But no one said anything about it when they took it away. So now we lose a few more days in September. Then we will lose a few more. It just appears to be a trend. 

[bobcat]

It is likely that a good reason for some of the reduced archery season is due to the improvements in archery equipment over the years. I could go to a bow shop August 1st with $1000 cash, get a new bow, arrows, broadheads, some lessons, and everything tuned up correctly, and be ready to hunt by September 1st. With a rangefinder I'd be able to take deer out to 50 yards. Archery just isn't as challenging as it used to be, and that is why the seasons will become more restrictive as time goes on.

[wastickslinger]

It is likely that a good reason for some of the reduced archery season is due to the improvements in archery equipment over the years. I could go to a bow shop August 1st with $1000 cash, get a new bow, arrows, broadheads, some lessons, and everything tuned up correctly, and be ready to hunt by September 1st. With a rangefinder I'd be able to take deer out to 50 yards. Archery just isn't as challenging as it used to be, and that is why the seasons will become more restrictive as time goes on.

Thats a good point.

[grundy53]

Yes that might be the case this year and next year, we lose a day because of the way the calandar falls. So why dont we get it open on a set Satuday every year like muzz and rifle? That prevent the "lost day". Keep a set amount of days.

That's a good question. The only reason, I guess, is that it would then have to open in August some years. I don't know why that would be a problem but apparently it is.    I know other states like Oregon and California have opening dates for archery in August. Maybe that's something that needs to be asked at the next Commissioner's meeting.

As for the late archery season, around here it goes to December 31st, and I see many good GMU's open on the eastside until December 15th. Archery hunters have it good no matter how you look at it.

They do your right. But if they keep nickle and diming the dates away like they want it will eventually suck. Give an inch and they take a mile. I know it sounds extreme and too early to see if this is the future, but I hate change.  Just like anything else in our society. You let someone take little and dont say anything about it what will they do? They will take more. Then its too late. Bowhunters need to stand up and fight for their seasons, if we show no interest in fighting for our dates then they will give them to the groups that have pull.

The late hunts I am talking about are North Central WA. 8 days for late archery? Come on? We use to hunt from Thanksgiving to New Years. But no one said anything about it when they took it away. So now we lose a few more days in September. Then we will lose a few more. It just appears to be a trend. 

or maybe cause the mule deer have took such a huge hit the last 5 years ....

[Curly]

or maybe cause the mule deer have took such a huge hit the last 5 years ....

And WDFW is trying to save some feed for the wolves....  

[grundy53]

or maybe cause the mule deer have took such a huge hit the last 5 years ....

And WDFW is trying to save some feed for the wolves....  

that too 

[gasman]

It is likely that a good reason for some of the reduced archery season is due to the improvements in archery equipment over the years. I could go to a bow shop August 1st with $1000 cash, get a new bow, arrows, broadheads, some lessons, and everything tuned up correctly, and be ready to hunt by September 1st. With a rangefinder I'd be able to take deer out to 50 yards. Archery just isn't as challenging as it used to be, and that is why the seasons will become more restrictive as time goes on.

What a Joke.........

[bobcat]

So you agree with that statement, or not

[gasman]

I do not agree.

There is a lot more to archery hunting then spending $1000 and flinging arrows in the woods. The effective range of a bow has not changed that much very the years. Yes they have gotten faster and more accurate, but the effective range is still about the same.


Ignorance will keep us divided 

[Sumpnneedskillin]

Yes that might be the case this year and next year, we lose a day because of the way the calandar falls. So why dont we get it open on a set Satuday every year like muzz and rifle? That prevent the "lost day". Keep a set amount of days.

That's a good question. The only reason, I guess, is that it would then have to open in August some years. I don't know why that would be a problem but apparently it is.    I know other states like Oregon and California have opening dates for archery in August. Maybe that's something that needs to be asked at the next Commissioner's meeting.

As for the late archery season, around here it goes to December 31st, and I see many good GMU's open on the eastside until December 15th. Archery hunters have it good no matter how you look at it.

San Diego I could bow hunt from Labor Day for about 45 days.  First half ended on Sunday, general season started the following Saturday and went for about a month.  Second half of bow season started on Saturday and general season ended on Sunday.  Bow season continued to the end of the year.  For example, this years dates are Bow 4 Sep - 17 Oct, General 23 Oct - 21 Nov, 2nd Half Bow 23 Oct - 31 Dec.  If you had a general season tag there are also archery opportunities ie general season guys can bow hunt 4-26 Sep.

Muzzleloading was the end of Dec.  There are also some anterless hunts during the general season.

CA is set up into zones similar to GMU's (most cover counties or several counties).  Your tag is by zone, archery was anterless or legal buck (2pt, CA doesn't count brow tines), general season guys were legal buck only.  You can also get two tags a year.

Archery isn't as challenging as it used to be?  You might as well say hunting isn't as challenging as it used to be.  Faster, flatter shooting loads, scopes, better optics, lighter gun, ATV's.  

[nw_bowhunter]

Obviously you don't bowhunt Bobcat, little more to it. Regardless of equipment still takes skill. Just because you grab a bow doesn't mean you fill the tag and be successful. Seems like you have a lot of opposition against archery...wonder why?
 

[bobcat]

I didn't say it was easy and I do have experience bow hunting. A month is about how long it took me to go from knowing nothing about shooting a bow to being confident out to 40 yards. I don't have any opposition to archery. Not sure why you would think that. 

I know many archery hunters would agree that technology has made it easier to get into bow hunting. You've got 85% let off bows, release aids, fiber optic sights, rangefinders, peep sights, lighter bows, lighter arrows, faster bows, more forviging bows, etc, etc.

You can't tell me it isn't easier now than it was 20 years ago, or even 10.