Archers have lost some days and permits yet archery is the user group that has seen the largest increased in size (participation) and success rate over the past 10 years. As popularity and success increases something has got to give. It could have been a lot worse.
As far as equipment - archers used to be limited to 65% let-off and 400 grain arrow minimums. Both hurt many youth and lady hunters as well as aging bowhunters. Now we have no let-off restriction and minimum arrow weight is 300 with a 6 grain per pound minimum. Not ideal, but definitely getting better.
Muzzy hunters just a few short years ago could not use jacketed bullets and/or sabots. Both should greatly improve the efficiency (external and terminal) of most muzzy hunters now that they are legal. Again it's still not perfect for all of us (I myself would like to see 209 primer usage) but it's getting better.
The WDFW director has to balance revenue, stewardship and all three of our sport hunting groups. And everyone involved demands everything to be fair. To see the challenges and positive changes we have to look at the numbers...
Between 2000 and 2010 this state lost 12.5% of our deer hunters and 17% of our elk hunters. That is a loss of about 19,000 deer and 15,000 elk hunters that paid lots of tag, permit and license fees. This drop in hunters is consistent with the overall national averages so you really can not blame the state for that one. Blame entitlements and the progressive movement as history proves when one rises the other falls.
In 2000 archery deer hunters saw a 19% success rate and in 2010 the success rate improved 32% to 25.1%. During that same period archery deer hunting participation increased by about 2,250 bowhunters or 12.5%. Archery elk hunters in 2000 saw a success rate of 9.3% and in 2010 that improved 17% to 10.9%. During that same time bowhunters participation in elk hunting increased by 16% or 2,300 bowhunters. Archers may have lost some opportunities, but their success ratios increased at a greater rate than participation.
Similarly muzzy deer hunters in 2000 saw an 18.5% success rate and in 2010 the success rate improved 37% to 25.4%. Participation in muzzy deer hunting increased by 11% in that same time period. Between 2000 and 2010 muzzy elk hunting saw a decrease in participation of 9% while the success rate improved by 7%. In looking into year by year numbers it was clear that the additional modern rifle cow tag opportunities led to the decrease in muzzy elk participation.
Modern rifle deer hunters lost 22,000 or 18% participants between 2000 and 2010. They also lost 2% in success rate during that time falling to 25.5%. Modern rifle elk hunters lost 16,000 or 26% of participants in that time period. Success rate for these elk hunters improved by 29% in that 10 year span.
So I would say that fairness, if graded by success rate, has improved greatly in the past ten years. Especially for deer hunters where variation in success rate is less than 0.5% between all user groups. Elk hunters are not quite as close, but if one user group had a reason to complain it would be the modern rifle group as they experience a 5% lesser success rate under the more successful muzzy hunters. Though the state has made it clear they want to encourage more participation in muzzy seasons. That may be what we see reflected in those two success ratios.
If we narrow our view to just the past 5 years those numbers don't look quite as good. Success rates have been hit hard in all user groups since 2005 when there was a spike in success and the balances between groups was not nearly as even. There has been a lot of changes since then. Some worked and some did not. Though I do think it shows a definite attempt toward balance and fairness while keeping a conscious eye on stewardship and revenue.
I share the skepticism and negativity at times. Especially if I take a narrow view of certain trends. But working with a long term graph shows definite positive trending. I'd most certainly like to see a faster result and many changes for the better. However I have the luxury of worrying only about the archery user group and my personal enjoyment. The last thing I would want is the responsibility and political nightmare the WDFW director must endure.
As far as equipment changes - they definitely have been for the better for archers and muzzy hunters.
I do believe that pointed discussion and negative feedback are the essential tools needed to change course in a positive direction. I encourage everyone, whether you agree with me or not, to respectfully voice those to the state. It's far more productive than crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.
Of course I could be completely wrong. And, I am sure many if not most will be certain I am. But what can I do? That is my personal opinion.
