Possible changes to deer hunting in 2011

[coachcw]

I think the reallity of a guy hunting to feed his familly in this day and agr is bs. the amount of time and money that we averege hunts spend on deer hunting annually would buy a hell of alot of beef. I would like to see a draw only system in our state . I think this would inhance the hunting and would be a possitive experiance for familly hunts when drawn , maybe more hunters would take it more serioussly and weed out some of the weekend drinkers and road hunters. 

[deerslyr]

Why dont they make a 5 or 6 units OTC trophy units that are 4 point min. for whitetails and mulies and limit access by gating a good percentage of the roads and eliminating doe tags. Then making the majority of the other units any buck like they already are (but I still beleive they need to limit doe tags) for the average joe to hunt. All of the hard core trophy hunters will go to the 4 point or better units enjoying hunting mature animals and seeing less people while everyone else who just wants to shoot a buck can go to the majority of the other units that would be any buck. I think this would be the best way to do things for the greater good of the majority of hunters. Some of the average joes might be pissed about there normal stomping grounds being turned to 4 point min. but there will be alot more units that would be open to any buck.

[Tman]

I know several guys that all it costs is bullets and tags.  They hunt their own land, 49 bucks for 80-90lbs of meat isn't to shabby.

I also know several hunters that spend quite a bit for the hunt regardless of what kind of buck they tag.  They do it for the fun, to get out and enjoy our outdoors.. You don't have to shoot a trophy buck to say "I worked hard for my animal", a forkie in your eyes may be meat, but a forkie in the eyes of another hunter may be a trophy.. 

[Curly]

Okay, let's make 101 and 204 4 point or better and spike whitetail only, eliminate doe permits and put gates on all forrest service roads within those units.  Leave some of the other units to the "meat hunters".  I added spike whities into the mix to appease some of the "meat" hunters and because research has shown that on average, a first year spike usually will not have the genetics to grow to true "trophy" potential.

Good ideas there. 

I especially don't like the WDFW allowing general season archery for does.  If the deer population is hurting, why allow any does to be shot   One of the commissioners actually questioned the biologist at a meeting I went to last year about allowing does and the bio said something about wanting to provide "opportunity".  He used the word opportunity a lot and I figured it was really just  a code word for "more money" to the WDFW..........

[bobcat]

I think the reallity of a guy hunting to feed his familly in this day and agr is bs. the amount of time and money that we averege hunts spend on deer hunting annually would buy a hell of alot of beef. I would like to see a draw only system in our state . I think this would inhance the hunting and would be a possitive experiance for familly hunts when drawn , maybe more hunters would take it more serioussly and weed out some of the weekend drinkers and road hunters.  

And as for the idea of the WDFW gating the roads in several units and managing them for trophy hunters... the WDFW does not have the authority to gate roads that they do not own. They can't force the Forest Service to gate National Forest roads, or the DNR to gate state roads, or private timber companies to gate their roads. The best solution to this state's terrible deer hunting is to do away with the general seasons. Many people would still be able to hunt every year, if you applied for the less popular units.

[stumprat]

love it!! has nothing to do with seeing anything now, just a couple years and u will see the benefit and lots of branch antlered bucks. I just dont get the guys who bitch about it and are blasting spikes and forks, go get a damn doe tag if thats what your shooting, its quite obvious your not hunting for the challenge of the hunt.

So now a challenging hunt is measured in inches

If that is your preferance then best of luck to you. But why belittle others. For some a spike or forked horn can be a challenge. And rewarding.

[Whitelightning]

I will give you an example also, My brother in law works construction in eastern WA, work has been slim very slim this year. He bought his deer and elk tags. Tag soup for elk and on the last day he came up with a nice 4 point whitetail. Now he does NOT ROAD hunt and this Deer will virtually free up hundreds of dollars to pay other things he and his family will need this winter.

Anyone who thinks in this day and age that we don't have families that a Deer in the freezer wont make a HUGE difference to a family is so far out of touch with reality that well, maybe you should get off the high horse and take a look around!!!!!

[bobcat]

I think people who say they hunt because they can't afford to buy meat are the ones who are out of touch with reality. Most deer will only provide 50 to 75 pounds of meat. An elk will be substantially more but most people in this state will only get an elk one out of ten years so again you'd be better off to quit hunting and buy your meat, if that's the only reason you hunt.

[deerslyr]

I kno ALOT of people who fill there tags right off of there front porch and butcher there own meat...I can personally hunt in several places that are within 5 miles of my house and get a buck every year so it definately can be done.

[high country]

Okay, let's make 101 and 204 4 point or better and spike whitetail only, eliminate doe permits and put gates on all forrest service roads within those units.  Leave some of the other units to the "meat hunters".  I added spike whities into the mix to appease some of the "meat" hunters and because research has shown that on average, a first year spike usually will not have the genetics to grow to true "trophy" potential.

ferry county is the poorest and arguably toughest to live in counties in this state.....doubt it will happen. there are lots of folks there that NEED to whack a few deer to get by. logging is done and there is not a mc donalds in the county to earn minimum wage at.

[colockumelk]

Why dont they make a 5 or 6 units OTC trophy units that are 4 point min. for whitetails and mulies and limit access by gating a good percentage of the roads and eliminating doe tags. Then making the majority of the other units any buck like they already are (but I still beleive they need to limit doe tags) for the average joe to hunt. All of the hard core trophy hunters will go to the 4 point or better units enjoying hunting mature animals and seeing less people while everyone else who just wants to shoot a buck can go to the majority of the other units that would be any buck. I think this would be the best way to do things for the greater good of the majority of hunters. Some of the average joes might be pissed about there normal stomping grounds being turned to 4 point min. but there will be alot more units that would be open to any buck.

 

My thoughts exactly. 

[PolarBear]

Okay, let's make 101 and 204 4 point or better and spike whitetail only, eliminate doe permits and put gates on all forrest service roads within those units.  Leave some of the other units to the "meat hunters".  I added spike whities into the mix to appease some of the "meat" hunters and because research has shown that on average, a first year spike usually will not have the genetics to grow to true "trophy" potential.

ferry county is the poorest and arguably toughest to live in counties in this state.....doubt it will happen. there are lots of folks there that NEED to whack a few deer to get by. logging is done and there is not a mc donalds in the county to earn minimum wage at.

They reopened the mine.  Most of the residents don't hunt during regular seasons to begin with.

[coachcw]

If your out hunting to feed your familly maybe you should be working harder to provide for them , but I guess work is for beer and smokes . The idea of hunting to feed your familly is crap if you really need one deer to survive the winter your a dead beat .

[runamuk]

If your out hunting to feed your familly maybe you should be working harder to provide for them , but I guess work is for beer and smokes . The idea of hunting to feed your familly is crap if you really need one deer to survive the winter your a dead beat .

wow I had no idea people on here were so cruel...and so elitist ....

making me sadder and sadder ..... just like my last favorite forum it just became a nasty place and lost all the fun....oh well guess hunting is meant only for the rich elitists who have perfect lives and the rest of us should just stay home.....

[coachcw]

Are you for real ? Im not saying that you have to be rich to hunt , i'm far from it . I'm saying not enough hunters really respect the hunt and that hearing so many people justifying hunting to feed there family is bs. .I hunt because I love to hunt , If i get game thats a bonus . if we could have a higher qaullity of hunt and a chance to hunt a higher caliber of game with less preasure on a area , then I'm all for it . aswell if that means i'm not able to hunt mule deer every year then I'm ok with that to. Run If your just hunting to feed your familly then my feeling is your prioritys are a bit squeewed. I bet if you looked at the stats if there is such a sat that most hunters spend far more money hunting than they get out of it with meat. I'm sure there's a few exceptions to that but not many.