Tradition only unit

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Need is not very high on the relevance factor. For example - Archers don't need a lot of things - let off, drop away rests, rangefinders, lumenocks... etc

Again, there is no split. That's just hogwash talk.

Ray,

 I wil agree with you that Archers don't "need" those things. However, the difference is an Archer using a let-off, drop away rests, rangefinders etc... have a near ZERO impact on you. It certainly isn't taking away anything from you. Making a whole unit Trad Only is taking away from others who choose not to hunt Trad Only (or if disabled may not be able to hunt Trad only)

As far as their not being a split amongst different user groups....you must be seeing something completely different than me becasue I think it is rampant...and I think this would only make it worse.

Yes, and a trad opening will have zero impact on you. You're simply skeptical and have not provided good reasoning how it would negatively impact you or anyone else other than hyperbole.  For example you have taken one idea in your head and decided that is how I think and how the entire idea would work. Yet you have not asked any details. You are simply reactionary to the idea as far as I can tell. Why do I say this? Look at your response. It talks about a unit and cutting off archers and a lot of assumptions. You know what they say about assumptions.

Ray,

You are right. I just went back and read the original question again. I am way off target on this one. I kept staring at the title of the post "Traditional only unit"... I felt safe making certain assumptions when I was thinking along those lines (like the fact other user groups wold have an entire unit closed to them). Please disregard my prior rhetoric.

I can definitely support more opportunities for hunters of any user group. Especially one with as many self imposed limits as Trad Archery.

I really wish we didn't have "choose your weapon". There are advantages to it but I do it divides hunters because everyone wants the best possible seasons. I think we could get a lot more done as a group if it wasn't for those types of game laws.

[Tony 270]

Unless I'm mistaken, I'm only seeing one portion of a unit used for that traditional only hunt in Oregon, and that is part of unit 68. Has unlimited tags for the traditional guys. Ray, you keep saying it works in Oregon, but in all reality how many people want to drive from the west coast, or even Portland, just to go all the way across the state to the SE corner of it? I'll tell you, it is 29. I don't see how that is a success. For 2010, there were a total of 29 first-choice applicants. That works? A whole 29 traditional archers took advantage of it? I don't see how anyone can say it works down there because that is one tiny section of the whole state, without even enough people to make it worth it. May be little to no argument over it because it is where it is, but put it closer to metro areas and I doubt it will work because it is dividing archers and limiting opportunity.

If you think it should be a draw option for a few extra days, an extension as you put it, is it really necessary with the near two months you already have? Do you really need more time?

I don't know where you hunt, but like I said, in five years of bowhunting I've come across less than 10 people total. If you count those parked at the gate, you could probably call it 15 to 20. Total.

Maybe I missed over it in the six pages here, but I just don't see what the advantage really is. There is a lot of opportunity for archers and you want more for the traditional hunters. What more do you need?

[Wenatcheejay]

More wounded animals?

How about a unit where we run whole herds over a cliff?

[remington300mag]

     I am sooooo in on this one!!! 

[jstone]

Ya know i hunt with both and i love the challenge of hunting archery, to the comment about more wounded animals. That works for all. Rifle , Muzzy and archery. There are animals that get wounded at close range when things go wrong. But the reason there are more wounded animals is cause people make stooped long shots with a rifle and or a bow. Just cause there would be a traditional hunt doesn't mean more wounded animals. Plenty are lost to the rifle hunter making a long shot just like the archer. THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

[argali]

I would love traditional only unit, because I'm a traditional bowhunter and long for more time in the field to hunt mule deer. Years ago early archery season lasted 6wks, than there was a 2-4 wk late season and 3wk season dec 24 to jan 8. I think we all want more time field regardless of our user group.

[Wa hunter]

If you are serous about a traditional only season go to the game dept and tell them you are willing to start a primitive enhancement stamp for 50-100 bucks.  I bet it would be in the regs next year.

[Ray]

If you are serous about a traditional only season go to the game dept and tell them you are willing to start a primitive enhancement stamp for 50-100 bucks.  I bet it would be in the regs next year.

I agree.

[rasbo]

split the early elk season down the middle for trads and machine bows

[WDFW-SUX]

Sounds great as long as its GMU 290...

[NoBark]

Interesting discussion.   I'm split on this.  I elk hunt with my compound and deer hunt with my recurve. Really mixed up kinda guy.  However, my two sons hunt deer with compound and no way would I not hunt with them, so for me, I wouldn't use such a unit UNLESS, it was an extention beyond the compound season.

I think there would have to be certain requirements for this to happen fairly.  It CAN'T take away any time from the modern archery hunts. Can't take away any modern archery units. So, either an extention beyond in a modern unit OR open in a now closed unit. 

As far as it affecting modern or modern affecting traditional,  all I can say is our late seasons are alot shorter than they used to be and I am assuming it's because we are reaching our success level sooner now than before. Therefore, I would say that increasing range and willingness to shoot at further distances over the last 20 years has reduced our season length in Washington.
I hate to think it would split the hunting community up. I just don't understand why people get riled up over it.  Think about it for a second. As it is currently administered, it doesn't matter what weopon you choose, your group success is approximately the same.  No group has a 'leg up' on any other.  So, why complain???  Besides, if you do complain we could all end up in the same season again!  Can you imagin that?  Remember those days?     There really is an advantage to choosing weapons in this state.   


 

[quadrafire]

I really wish we didn't have "choose your weapon". There are advantages to it but I do it divides hunters because everyone wants the best possible seasons. I think we could get a lot more done as a group if it wasn't for those types of game laws.

I have read every page of this discussion and this is the most relevant to our hunting as a whole!!IMO

Say we can only kill one deer in this state during a season. Why does it matter which weapon we use? I think it is absolutely bogus that we have to declare a weapon. The state has us over a barrel and we think it is GREAT if we draw a multi season tag (WE PAY FOR IT OUT THE A$$)
Granted I grew up in a state that we could hunt all three weapons in one year (kill more deer as well), BUT one deer is one deer. Who cares how it is harvested??
I do not want to see the archery season reduced, but I don't see why it would be so hard for us to "ALL" draw multi and not have to pay extra. We quit hunting when we harvest our animal. PERIOD!!

[bobcat]

quadrafire,  Each person is only allowed one deer but that doesn't mean everybody kills a deer every year. It's around 1 deer killed for every 5 hunters. To allow everyone to hunt all the seasons would no doubt increase that percentage by a lot. That is why it matters. They regulate the number of deer harvested by limiting the time that each hunter gets to hunt. What would happen if they were to allow every person to hunt archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons is that each of those season would have to be drastically reduced in length to account for all the additional hunters.

[quadrafire]

quadrafire,  Each person is only allowed one deer but that doesn't mean everybody kills a deer every year. It's around 1 deer killed for every 5 hunters. To allow everyone to hunt all the seasons would no doubt increase that percentage by a lot. That is why it matters. They regulate the number of deer harvested by limiting the time that each hunter gets to hunt. What would happen if they were to allow every person to hunt archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons is that each of those season would have to be drastically reduced in length to account for all the additional hunters.

Guess I hadn't thought it through that much. I started hunting in Missouri (lots of deer) I hadn't figured in the added success rate in my thinking. Do we really not have that many deer here?? Am I just that nieve in my thinking? Probably!

[DBHAWTHORNE]

quadrafire,  Each person is only allowed one deer but that doesn't mean everybody kills a deer every year. It's around 1 deer killed for every 5 hunters. To allow everyone to hunt all the seasons would no doubt increase that percentage by a lot. That is why it matters. They regulate the number of deer harvested by limiting the time that each hunter gets to hunt. What would happen if they were to allow every person to hunt archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons is that each of those season would have to be drastically reduced in length to account for all the additional hunters.

I can see your point on this. I know WA has issues that are unique to WA but I do find it interesting that nearly every other state can find a way to make it work. It would be interesting to see how much they would need to shorten the overall seasons to meet and not exceed the harvest goals.