let's get wfg to extend our archery season

[bobcat]

Just cause they came into a call doesn't mean the rut is on.

Huh?  What's your definition of the rut then? If they're bugling and coming in to bugles, I don't care what you want to call it, that's a good time to hunt!

[Tony 270]

There is a lot more to calling than just bugles. I have heard one single bugle so far this season. Haven't had anything respond to a cow call so far either. Cows or bulls. Some people are having luck in the areas they're in, but know of many more that aren't hearing anything still.

Going back out Tuesday, hopefully they're more vocal. Would be better if the weather would help us out. I just know last year, late September, I saw the bulls with the cows and heard many bulls bugling all over the place. And no, they weren't just other hunters    So far have seen solo cows and solo bulls.

[PolarBear]

Let's make it simple and easier on the animals, eliminate all rut hunts for deer and elk.

[bobcat]

I've gone scouting during the last week of archery elk season and heard and seen them bugling, then gone to the same area a week later muzzleloader hunting and haven't heard a thing.

I think I agree with Polarbear- I'd like to see no general season hunts during the rut for deer or elk.

[Goldeneye]

I think I agree with Polarbear- I'd like to see no general season hunts during the rut for deer or elk.

X2

[Tony 270]

Personally I'd like to see nothing before September 1st and nothing after Dec 15th. They're pressured long enough 

[PolarBear]

Personally I'd like to see nothing before September 1st and nothing after Dec 15th. They're pressured long enough 

[bullcanyon]

Truth be told lets just keep the dates we had.  Can't figure out why we are losing opportunity. Plenty happy with the season I get.  Just not too excited to see a day taken away and on top of that sliding us back closer to labor day:(. Seems like there must of been some heavy pull on the muzzy side, cause they are sliding closer to the rut and archery farther away. I'm in no way upset with the muzzleloader hunters.  They get the shaft as it is with the amount of gmus open to hunt. Just looks like someone did a better job of lobbying for seasons.

[rasbo]

Do all bow hunters live on Crymea River.
 We need a new thread.  Why do you bow hunt?  For the challenge or for the 2 month season?

Sounds like most want a 3 month season. 

now thats a truth be told LOL

[bobcat]

Seems like there must of been some heavy pull on the muzzy side, cause they are sliding closer to the rut and archery farther away.

Muzzleloader elk seasons have not been moved closer to the rut. The starting date has been the same for many years. It is the first Saturday in October. This year that date happens to be the 2nd, next year it will be the 1st, and the following year it will fall on the 6th.

[Curly]

I think I agree with Polarbear- I'd like to see no general season hunts during the rut for deer or elk.

X2

X3

[bullcanyon]

Hmm.  Guess you'e right.  My bad.  I apologize. So since archery elk starts on a tuesday.  Ya think they will start us on the 4th or 11th in 2012? Bet we get the 4th.

We don't live any closer to the river than any other user group.  Tally up the whine posts about lack of gmus for muzzleloader hunters and you will see that cry babies are everywhere. Personally I'm just happy that seattle hasn't taken away my right to hunt period. The season we got now is better than what we had a few years ago.  The sept 1-15 wasn't that good.  The 8-21 was real nice.  Love to have that back.

I can't see our season being extended anymore than it is unless other user groups are going to get a bone thrown their way, and that isn't going to happen with our current hunter-herd status.  Some guys are just going to have to work harder than they are willing to punch their tags. I've ate tag soup in the past, but I wouldn't blame my season dates on that.  Lack of time put in usually creates an empty freezer.  Not always ones fault, but we create our own luck.

[AKBowman]

I think a lot of the problem with the different user groups (arhcery and muzzle) feeling that they arent getting a fair shake with the rut is that they hunt the same couple of areas year after year. I know I am this way. Unfortunately when people state that the "elk were not talking on the w side this year" that is kind of a rediculous statement.  The bulls talk when the cows come into heat, they dont rut on a calendar date.

Lat year in my area in 4-1/2 days of hunting I heard two soft bugles, this year they were bugling really well throughout the early season. It made me think that if the elk arent bugling in my area than I should probably find another area where they are bugling. Unless you know the area really well and can kill a silent bull (i'm not that good) than run and gun until you find an area where they are talking. Most likely that area will be a ways behind a locked gate or in some thick nasty hole.

Also I think this is true for muzzle as well the big difference is they have fewer units to hunt but lets be realistic, the units in SW WA are gigantic and I guarantee you there are rutting elk somewhere in the unit so there is plenty of areas to hunt muzzle. I'd like to try it out one of these years.

[Viszla]

I say screw all the multiple hunting seasons and just have one general season.  Feel free to hunt with whatever weapon you want.  Problem solved.

[archery288]

Hmm.  Guess you'e right.  My bad.  I apologize. So since archery elk starts on a tuesday.  Ya think they will start us on the 4th or 11th in 2012? Bet we get the 4th.

We don't live any closer to the river than any other user group.  Tally up the whine posts about lack of gmus for muzzleloader hunters and you will see that cry babies are everywhere. Personally I'm just happy that seattle hasn't taken away my right to hunt period. The season we got now is better than what we had a few years ago.  The sept 1-15 wasn't that good.  The 8-21 was real nice.  Love to have that back.

I can't see our season being extended anymore than it is unless other user groups are going to get a bone thrown their way, and that isn't going to happen with our current hunter-herd status.  Some guys are just going to have to work harder than they are willing to punch their tags. I've ate tag soup in the past, but I wouldn't blame my season dates on that.  Lack of time put in usually creates an empty freezer.  Not always ones fault, but we create our own luck.

I couldn't agree more!  I am not saying I want our season extended another week, just moved back another week. We don't need more time - just better timing..  But with the other weapon selections out there, I realize this would be an extremely tough feat to achieve..  I am not saying I have not called in elk or seen elk without them bugling, infact out of all the elk I have called in, in Washington, about 90% of them came in silent.  It's one thing to sit here and complain about our season dates as archery hunters, however, as with myself and realizing the areas I hunt produce bulls, you will just have to learn to hunt them silent and they are just harder to get without them bugling... I intend on going out of state to hunt year after year from now on to get in to bugling bulls and hunt them in the true rut.. My train of thought on our state - if you can't live with or don't like what we are given, do something about it and find alternative solutions..