Washington 2008 Modern Firearm Gereral Deer Season

[Ridinshotgun]

Moderan Rifle Season Opener Oct. 11th -  19th East side.

Lets hear what you think!

I was hoping they would open the season Oct. 18th through the 26th like they should have.

[jackelope]

its too early and it's my birthday.

you asked what i think.

[Armadillo]

A little too earlyyy. I'll still be in a t-shirt and shorts . If anything it should be a two week deal extending to later in the month but still before the rut and the major migrations. This past season is the only time in my entire life when Ive seen more bucks (not necessarily shooters) then doe's but that was in only one part of the unit I was in. My .02

[bobcat]

What exactly is the question?  It's not unusual to be that early. It's only two days earlier than last year. Doesn't that mean we get a longer blacktail season? Sounds good to me.

[huntnphool]

Well you guys must be meat hunters, and thats okay by me. The real question is not when the season starts its when does it end? My opinion on the entire season is 

Glad I drew Montana, at least I will have a chance at something other than a resident 3 point.

[bobcat]

Well you guys must be meat hunters, and thats okay by me. The real question is not when the season starts its when does it end? My opinion on the entire season is 

If you're talking mule deer, the season I would assume would be 9 days so it would end the 19th. Blacktail season generally goes to the 31st. Do you not like the season because it's not during the rut? 

[huntnphool]

Doesnt have to be during the rut, to the end of October would make me happy!!!

[ICEMAN]

Doesnt have to be during the rut, to the end of October would make me happy!!!

+1

[DOUBLELUNG]

Let's see.  165,000 deer hunters, over half of who hunt mule deer.  About 100,000 mule deer, of which perhaps 20,000 are antlered bucks at the beginning of the season, perhaps 10,000 of which are legal 3-point minimum bucks.  80,000 hunters, most of who hunt public land, who insist on hunting general seasons every year for less than 10,000 legal bucks.  We've already tried a 14-day modern firearm general deer season for mule deer in Chelan and Okanogan Counties, to the end of October, and showed we can HAMMER the legal bucks (2003-2005). 

There's a reason states that have more land, more PUBLIC land, less people, and more mule deer have gone limited entry (UT, OR, CO, AZ, NV).  It's a hunter population demand for more buck quality and better harvest opportunity.  Their hunters made the choice to NOT be guaranteed an opportunity to hunt every year.

WA hunters, as a group, prefer to hunt every year, over better seasons and higher success rates on older bucks.  We made that choice, about 65% of us versus the 35% who wanted limited entry for mule deer during the 06-08 3-year package scoping in 2005.  The result is less-than-optimal general modern firearm season dates, when mule deer are hardest to kill.  Same with 3-point, which results in less mature buck escapement in most areas, but does at least ensure total buck escapement.

WDFW does a lot of things badly (permit drawings, anyone?); but within the constraints of managing lots of hunters pursuing a very limited resource who insist on general season opportunity, that's about as good as it can be.  There's also a reason 35% of our big game hunters hunt out of state - those are the ones who insist on a higher quality experience, with better season timing, more animals, lower hunter densities, etc.  There's that 35% again ....

[boneaddict]

WELL SAID!

Quite frankly, looking at how the herd is up north, you're lucky Blacktails aren't the only thing you are hunting.

We are still suffereing from those late seasons from a couple years ago in regards to trophy animals in the state.  They were decimated.  A whole generation of deer.  Of course I'd rather be hunting in the rut, but this state just can't sustain that.  With that being said, two of the biggest bucks I saw last year were on opening morning October 13th and they were both rutting already.  I'm pretty sure you've noted the ersults of that encounter.  At least I got the smaller one.

[bobcat]

Yes, of course, everybody would like to have longer and later seasons, less hunters in the woods, more deer, and bigger bucks. As doublelung stated (very well btw,) it's just not possible to have all those things and still have the opportunity to hunt every year.

Oh, and Oregon's deer season starts October 4th and runs for 12 days. Idaho starts October 10th and runs for about 2 weeks. Pretty similar to our state.

[archery288]

I think I'll stick with archery hunting....   

[boneaddict]

[quoteI think I'll stick with archery hunting][/quote]

I've killed my two biggest whitetails and my biggest Muley within the first week of September, so thats not a bad idea.

[PacificNWhunter]

I'm ok with the opening date, just means I picked the right time off work  I'm off from the 9th to the 21st!!!

[Houndhunter]

[quoteI think I'll stick with archery hunting]

I've killed my two biggest whitetails and my biggest Muley within the first week of September, so thats not a bad idea.
[/quote]

i think most of you elk bow hunters will say some of the biggest bucks they've seen were out during september elk hunting. i'm still not convinced to hunt deer with bow, not my thing, but maybe if i see the monsters guys are talkin bout i might try it out

[PolarBear]

Don't try it, you won't like it!    
I prefer late archery for deer and elk after everyone is out of the woods and the dink bucks and bulls are thinned out leaving me with the big boys.   

[Armadillo]

well said 

[billythekidrock]

It's only two days earlier than last year. Doesn't that mean we get a longer blacktail season? Sounds good to me.

Every few years we get that extra couple days 

[MichaelJ]

I think it's great they moved the season back just a little bit...  Everybody on here was complaining (myself included) about the lack of mature bucks in the Chelan CO units (there were some there, but not typical of most years), saying we need to cut back tags and what not.  This earlier season I hope means atleast some of the more mature bucks are going to not get whacked...

Michael

[bobcat]

I think it's great they moved the season back just a little bit

They really didn't move the season. It opens the same Saturday as it always has. That Saturday just happens to fall a couple days earlier than it did last year.

[DOUBLELUNG]

First Saturday after October 10.  As early as the 11th, as late as the 17th.

[boneaddict]

MichaelJ has it figured out.

[Red Dawg]

Doesn't matter when they have the season anyway. If a guy knows where they live you will get one. I agree that it is a good thing to move it up. The big bucks will be higher and staying out of the rut during general season. Maybe it is just me but i think that they rutted really early last season. Seemed like the bucks were grouping back up second week in november. So yes it is good. Best thing that can happen besides making everyone draw for a buck tag during general season.

[boneaddict]

 

[SuperDave]

Doesn't matter when they have the season anyway. If a guy knows where they live you will get one. I agree that it is a good thing to move it up. The big bucks will be higher and staying out of the rut during general season. Maybe it is just me but i think that they rutted really early last season. Seemed like the bucks were grouping back up second week in november. So yes it is good. Best thing that can happen besides making everyone draw for a buck tag during general season.

  Can't agree with you more!  Can't please everyone, but hopefully this helps restore the herds.

[bobcat]

But guys, the season wasn't moved up. It just happens to fall a couple days earlier this year. You honestly think a two-day earlier season will make that much difference in the number of deer killed? I don't.

[boneaddict]

only in drastic years when its on the late end, the rut starts early and they have heavy early snows. 

[bobcat]

OK, yeah I see what you're saying and I agree with that. Like in '04 the general season guys slaughtered the big bucks in the Entiat. But of course that was when they had the extra 5 days. The season's only 9 days now. So even with a later season that probably won't happen again.

It just sounded like people were saying that the DFW had moved the season up, just for the reason of reducing harvest.

[boneaddict]

Nope, just like Easter seemed early this year I suppose.   I hope that never happens again.  We are still paying for it. (the extra long part coupled with ideal hunting conditions.)