I sure wish we could use expandible broadheads on big game! (Poll added)

[Machias]

You guys do realize that the WDFW didn't just arbitraily make these restrictions, they have over the years asked for and received guidiance from the various user groups.

 I hear ya Fred and like I said I wouldn't use them if they were legal. To my point though, the "user groups" you are talking about have been giving their opinions to WDFW but its not always the popular opinion of the user group as a whole that is relayed to F&W but rather the opinion of the board members. They may tell you they are speaking for the group however its not always how the majority of that group would vote, thats the problem I have with it.

Understood, if the groups are relaying one thing and the leadership relays their own personal views which goes against the majority then I would think it would be time for new leadership.   

[Huntnphish]

Understood, if the groups are relaying one thing and the leadership relays their own personal views which goes against the majority then I would think it would be time for new leadership.   

Ah, there in lies the problem my friend, not all of the "user groups" board members are voted in by the members themselves, but rather voted in by other like minded board members.

[pianoman9701]

Just to put things into perspective.....  When looking nation wide, what are the states with the largest game industries?  Too include non resident hunting licenses, outfitters, animals taken, RECORD ANIMALS taken, etc etc etc.  In 30 years of traveling the US, I've never once had someone say - Man I want to go hunt Washington! 
Maybe some of you should take this to heart and realize that the "way things are here in Washington" aren't necessarily the best.  Maybe there is A LOT OF ROOM for improvement.  Maybe, just MAYBE, the states that produce Record Book animals almost yearly, that promote the hunting and fishing opportunities, and DONT REGULATE IT TO THE POINT OF MAKING IT A NUISANCE, have learned something.

I understand what you're saying, I just think you've missed the mark a bit. People decide where they'll hunt out of state based pretty much solely on how high their chance of success is. The rules mean squat and most people don't know them until after they buy their tags anyway. But we digress. The major reason people don't hunt WA more from out of state is that there are places to hunt that have higher success rates. We don't have near the herds of the other NW states. I wouldn't Choose WA over MT or CO, even OR.

I'm not under the impression that WA hunting laws are the way I'd like them. They're not. But some of them have been put in place for good reason and only after extensive study. I don't agree with the mechanical ban, but I understand it and why it was implemented, and it's no skin off my butt to shoot fixed broadheads.

Were I to go to the state about bad regs, I'd start with the shrinking muzzle and archery seasons right out of the shoot. Mechanicals is way down the list.

[Machias]

Were I to go to the state about bad regs, I'd start with the shrinking muzzle and archery seasons right out of the shoot. Mechanicals is way down the list.

You archery hunt?   And you want to shorten the already short seasons?  Purt near every other state in the Union is expanding archery and muzzle seasons and you want to shorten ours?      Please don't attend any of the meetings.   

[pianoman9701]

Were I to go to the state about bad regs, I'd start with the shrinking muzzle and archery seasons right out of the shoot. Mechanicals is way down the list.

You archery hunt?   And you want to shorten the already short seasons?  Purt near every other state in the Union is expanding archery and muzzle seasons and you want to shorten ours?      Please don't attend any of the meetings.   

You misunderstood my comment Machias. Take a breath. I was saying there are bigger fish to fry than mechanical broadheads. I was saying pick your fights. I would start with requesting that the archery and muzzle seasons be brought back to their original length from three years ago, or be even longer. You and I agree on this.

[Machias]

I didn't think I was breathing hard?   

Gotcha!

[Snapshot]

Quote: "If you don't want to use lumenoks then don't, but don't spew rhetoric, personal theory and lies just to suit your own ideal of what hunting should be, and your agenda."
 
This thread is about mechanical broadheads...what about keeping it real?
 
[Game time...later]

[Huntnphish]

 Modern seasons have been shortened and backed up as well, mostly in the name of revenue by attempting to give back with permit hunts.

[Lowedog]

Modern seasons have been shortened and backed up as well, mostly in the name of revenue by attempting to give back with permit hunts.

Cha Ching!  Same goes for archery and muzzy. 

[MDGrand]

I just want to point out the poll is getting VERY close!

.. I have learned a bit from this thread.. I did not consider the "barbed" aspect. Although, I am wondering at any rate how a fixed blade broad head would "work itself out." I bet that is pretty '"f"ing difficult and damn near impossible. BUT hell, if some one has seen it happen, cool.

All that being said, I am wondering from the "failure" arguement how new broadheads stack up? I know MT allows expandable broadheads.. that says a lot.

Overall, I feel the regs are influenced a bit too much when it comes to items such as these... it is a slippery slope either way, and I get the whole analogy of "well hell lets just use explosives then!..." But come'on somethings I think are just a bit too nit picky. i.e. luminocks and 209 ignitions.

If their is a fear that by allowing more technology then the seasons will shrink or more people will be in your honey hole then we really should be attacking the real issue and I humbly suggest that over-the-counter tags are the problem. I know some of you love them.. but this creats and opens the door to a lot of novice hunters that are there for the beer and the comaraderie as opposed to guys like us that are on the board whom are very passionate about it.

I know I opened the door to some other issues.. but that is just my 

[ribka]

I just want to point out the poll is getting VERY close!

.. I have learned a bit from this thread.. I did not consider the "barbed" aspect. Although, I am wondering at any rate how a fixed blade broad head would "work itself out." I bet that is pretty '"f"ing difficult and damn near impossible. BUT hell, if some one has seen it happen, cool.

All that being said, I am wondering from the "failure" arguement how new broadheads stack up? I know MT allows expandable broadheads.. that says a lot.

Overall, I feel the regs are influenced a bit too much when it comes to items such as these... it is a slippery slope either way, and I get the whole analogy of "well hell lets just use explosives then!..." But come'on somethings I think are just a bit too nit picky. i.e. luminocks and 209 ignitions.

If their is a fear that by allowing more technology then the seasons will shrink or more people will be in your honey hole then we really should be attacking the real issue and I humbly suggest that over-the-counter tags are the problem. I know some of you love them.. but this creats and opens the door to a lot of novice hunters that are there for the beer and the comaraderie as opposed to guys like us that are on the board whom are very passionate about it.

I know I opened the door to some other issues.. but that is just my 

So you're saying only self-proclaimed "Pro Hunters" like you should be allowed to hunt?

I am not a "pro " but only a "novice" with only 35 plus years experience in the field. Maybe someday I can be a "sponsored pro hunter"  I have always dreamt of being a sponsored pro hunter/shooter for the "butt-out" tool 


I think have a one week season deer elk where any weapon or technology is allowed. Maybe use some of the recent military research and technology in today's hunting.  The drone technology combined with an infra-red heart seeking arrow with scent block vanes might hold some promise. Maybe allow "hunters" to tag game animals in the off season with RFID's and use a GPS tracking device to find them when the one week season is open. Sometimes I am just too tired to pull back my bow during archery season. I think cocking devices should be allowed too on bows. And maybe I feel like taking the 300 mag out during archery elk season too.

Please do not attack me as I am expressing my opinion and think hunters should be allowed their freedom of choice of technology when hunting

[Lowedog]

This thread is getting dumber with each post.  Wish I would have never opened it.     

[jstone]

NOPE dont need them..

[MDGrand]

I consider you a pro ribka ;-)

What I mean is the Joe six pack hunter who buys a tag cuz he can. maybe if the  tag was a bit more selective I think we would get the caliber of hunter everyone (ikcluding you ribka) thinks they are. 

[JimmyHoffa]

I really don't think that mechanical broadheads (or a long line of technological improvements) would cause THAT many more people to join the ranks of archers.  Maybe if there was a really serious jump in allowable technology, i.e. crossbows with scopes, then more people would join (for the equipment reasons).  Kind of like I don't think archery would lose too many hunters unless you did something major like take away compound bows.  I think it's crowded roads, short seasons, and horror stories of MF general that are driving the people to archery/muzzy.  After doing muzzy for a few years (elk) and seeing how crowded it's become and all the angry people, I wouldn't care if they did allow 209s, closed breech, and scopes---I actually went back to MF for elk (seems the only difference is the weapon now).