Late season Archery Cowiche GMU 368

[bowhuntin]

I was looking at the 2008 regs that are online and saw that archery lost late season in the Cowiche. Does anyone know why we lost this GMU? We didn't gain a GMU that I saw and there are always plenty of elk in there to hunt. After looking at it closer 3681 is a fraction of the cowiche, but it still doesn't make since to me why they are limiting us to what part of the unit we can hunt. That really sucks they did that.

[MIKEXRAY]

I don't know the reason, just sorry your losing some of your area and season. I worry every year about the early and late areas I hunt. I really like my areas, know them well and would hate to lose or be limited to a smaller area.

[bobcat]

It could be a mistake. That has been known to happen. They will have a list on the website of errors in the regs. Or you might just want to call and ask.

[boneaddict]

I believe it is not a mistake.  That was mentioned at the WSB meeting.  One reason why I was pushing for bowhunters to have a voice.

[bowhuntin]

I believe it is not a mistake.  That was mentioned at the WSB meeting.  One reason why I was pushing for bowhunters to have a voice.

Did they mention why at the WSB meeting? They essentially cut the unit in half by designating that we can only hunt 3681. At least there is still some good huntable land open. I wonder if it had anything to do with the guy that closed all his land last year.

[boneaddict]

Nope they didn't say, but I know some folks wanted compensation by opening up something else and that was part of the lobby I think...

[bowhuntin]

That would have been nice to get another unit opened as compensation to closing most of another unit. That time of year you can't get very far in most of the units because of snow any how, it makes it feel more crowded and it always seems to me that more people hunt the late season than the early too.

[Jackjr]

mayby its a mistake.  you never know with all there errors.   Maybe there will be a re-print instead of a re-draw

[Dick Cress]

Jackjr . . . you give them more credit than I would!   

[robodad]

I think that was one of the funnest units I have ever hunted during the late season !! Lots of elk in there at that time !!

[cackle]

ya all standing way out in the open cant even get close 

[robodad]

Dress like a snowman and stand still, and you will get close believe me !! 

[NoBark]

OR.........hang a tree stand on one of the power line towers

[bowsandhose]

the wdfw cut the cowiche unit in half for a few reasons
1) they want to start feeding the elk earlier (during late archery season) so they hold in the feeding station
2) fear of wounded game wandering into developed areas.
3) trespass issue most of the north end of the unit is private
4) prevent elk from being herded into fenced areas creating an ethical and hunter image problem

[NoBark]

I've never hunted the unit myself.  Will the reduction in size negatively increase hunter density?  Will this unit go permit to avoid overcrowding?

[Gobble]

This is too bad  , That is the only unit I hunted during the late hunt. I had taken some nice animals too.

[CJ-5]

i see part of the cowiche unit is open for late archery deer season.  how is the unit for deer hunting during that time?

[Gobble]

It can be really good. The animals can still be rutting and you run into Blacktails as well as Mulies, seen lots during the archery elk hunt
 

[bowhuntin]

I wouldn't waste my time deer hunting in the cowiche, the louse seemed to really wipe them out. I think that is pretty much true for most Yakima Units right now. They need some time to recover, I have seen less and less deer around the Yakima units in the past few years. Not much sign of them and only saw one deer last year while hunting that GMU. They are there but not in the numbers that there used to be.

[CJ-5]

thanks for the info.  it seemed like it might be a decent area to try.  i think you are right though bowhuntin, yakima units are not fairing too well for deer right now. 

[fairchaser]

Part of the Cowiche unit is still open for the late Elk Season.  It is now called Elk Area 3681.  The dividing line will be the power lines that run apx. East and West, bisecting GMU 368.   WSB and a few concerned bowhunters testified at the Pasco F and W commission meeting about using alternative boundaries to keep a little more of the unit open.  The commission voted to leave the boundaries as recommended by the WDFW for this year but requested that interested parties be consulted by the WDFW in the coming year, so that alternative recommendations could be considered.  At the meeting the WDFW agreed with the bowhunters recommendations for a boundary change which would preserve some of the Western part of GMU 368 for the late hunt.  There was not enough time to verify the bowhunter recommended  boundary prior to the regs going to print so we are stuck with the departments change for this year.
As development and agricultural crop complaints increase, we can expect more of this type of hunting area reduction, especially around urban areas.  The key will be to suggest alternatives so that we do not lose opportunity.   It may mean permits, limited entry or special urban bowhunting classes.  Some opportunity is better than none.   

On another note.....  for those of you applying for a second deer tag this year......It will cost you your preference points!  This is a change from previous years.