doe/cow tag only tag

[Hangfire]

What do people think about a sometimes discussed change to drawings. If you successfully draw a doe or cow tag. you then give up your buck or bull tag? One advantage would be a adjustment could be made so only buck or bull hunters are in the woods opening day as the doe/cow season would open a little later. The WDFW would have a little more control over the number of doe/cow kills. If they want 50 animals taken in a area, the chances are better that would be what would happened. There has been some talk in the past that if a person put in for a certain area and successfull, then that is your only hunt area, you could not hunt any other hunt. People that did not draw a special hunt would have state wide area as now. If you did not want restrictions don't put in for special hunts.

 I am wondering what the thought is. I can see the doe/cow change but not sure I would like the special tag thing, myself.I have had in the past, drawn a any elk tag in a late damage, muzzle loader season. I got my elk before the special hunt opened. One land owner I had been in contact with, for hunting his place in the late season, was very unhappy that I had taken a elk else where, before the late season opened. Like wise  have three times drawn a second doe tag. I have never filled one of them. I will not shoot a doe that has a fawn with her. I could not find a single doe. One of the times, I had about 50 white tail with in 100 yards and there was not a doe that did not have a fawn.This was the last evening of the 2nd doe season.

[lokidog]

One reason there are doe tags allotted for an area is for population control.  There is no reason to not take a doe with a fawn if you are looking for meat.  If you are worried about the fawn being predated upon afterwards, shoot the fawn and let the doe walk.

I think WDFW takes into account the percentage of special/doe tag holders that, on average, tag out early and do not use the special tag.  That is one of the rreasons for the days hunted and where questions in the hunter report.

[Hangfire]

I know that they will survive, it is just my personal feelings. A doe that has not had a fawn nursing all summer is better eating. When I was watching the group of 50 whitetail, many of the fawns were still nursing.

I became aware of the thinking of these changes when talking to some DFW employees.

[Hunterman]

Yep,,just what we need in this non hunting friendly state..More restrictions..I my self would like to see this states fishing and hunting ran by outdoor people instead of yuppie know nothings..Lets put the hunting seasons back like it was in the 60's, or 70's...

Hunterman(Tony)

[lokidog]

many of the fawns were still nursing.

They would nurse until next spring given the chance... even though they don't need to do so.  That's why you have to seperate mom from young for horses and other animals to wean them.

[Bob33]

I recently asked a similar question to a Region 3 WDFW biologist with respect to elk.  His reply:

"I asked the calf survival question when we started harvesting around Hanford in August.  Since the hunts are “damage” hunts, no one was too interested in the few calves that might be eaten by predators.  That is the cost of trying to limit damage.  A damage calf eaten by a cougar might save another calf.  Also, if we go after early damage hunts, what about early archery?  Bottom line is that the data is not solid enough to make a case."

[CP]

I’ll pass on a doe with a fawn.  Not for any noble or philosophical reasons, they just don’t taste as good and aren’t in as good a shape as dry doe.