WDFW-Why our Early Elk Season is Shorter

[buglebrush]

Nope.  3 total.  It is still a loss either way but not extreme.  I think that losing the last week of September deer effects more than anything.  We have a total of days 29 in the woods on the East side and 36 on the West for archery elk, that's more days than I have vacation time.  Do we really want to fight this battle for more or be happy with what we have.

I mentioned this earlier, but will again.  I grew up hunting elk in Idaho, and with the whole month of september to bowhunt the odds were much higher of picking a weekend to hunt my spot when nobody else was there.  Cram everyone into two weekends like WA. and it is twice as likely you will be sharing your spots   on any given weekend in season.   

[colockumelk]

We are the only western state that has a short early archey elk season but we also have a better late season than those other western states.

IMHO the late season sucks. You cant really call.  Also your above statement is slightly false since most western states you get to hunt with multiple weapons so you do get a late season, its called the rifle season.

[colockumelk]

Nope.  3 total.  It is still a loss either way but not extreme.  I think that losing the last week of September deer effects more than anything.  We have a total of days 29 in the woods on the East side and 36 on the West for archery elk, that's more days than I have vacation time.  Do we really want to fight this battle for more or be happy with what we have.

This is the type of attitude which will guarantee that we lose more and more hunting privileges.  This type of attitude led to the loss of hunting branch bulls on the east side forever (unless you draw a permit), the loss of hunting cows during the ML season on the east side, the loss of a late ML season on the east side, the shorter archery seasons, the loss of hunting cows in the Colockum during archery season, not being able to shoot cows in the Bumping an the Nile during archery season, and the Colockum going to true spike only.  I could continue for awhile. 

The point is, is that this type of attitude leads to less and less hunting for us.  Too many people say "Well it can't get anyworse, we should be thankfull for what we have."  Then what happens?  They take more hunting from us then what do people say. "Well it can't get any worse, we should be thankfull for what we have."  Then what happens?  They take more hunting from us, then what do people say........  You all get the idea. 

Its the attitude that me and Pianoman have that will hopefully stop the WDFW and hopefully get back some of our hunting our at the very least keep them from taking more opportunities.  I don't mean to single you out Matt.  You are definately not the only one who thinks like this.  Most people think like this.  You just happened to provide me with a really good quote that represents this type of attitude. 

[blacktail luv]

Late seasons are a joke, it's just the departments way to say " well you archery guys get a month."   Take away the late season completely and give me three more days tacked on to the end and I'll be happy.  I don't know what it will take to change things in this state but will someone please figure it out.

[bobcat]

I don't think it's people's attitudes, it's that we don't have the number of animals to justify the seasons you all are wishing we had. The WDFW doesn't give us shorter seasons because they don't like us- they do it to control the number of animals harvested. In the online survey, my comments were to do away with most antlerless deer and elk general seasons. And, to shorten or eliminate late archery and muzzleloader general seasons.

[colockumelk]

I don't think it's people's attitudes, it's that we don't have the number of animals to justify the seasons you all are wishing we had. The WDFW doesn't give us shorter seasons because they don't like us- they do it to control the number of animals harvested. In the online survey, my comments were to do away with most antlerless deer and elk general seasons. And, to shorten or eliminate late archery and muzzleloader general seasons.

Bobcat you know me I agree with you on why many seasons have been taken.  But... some of the things they have taken from us are BS and havn't helped at all.  Such as taking the antlerless hunts from the Bowhunters in the Colockum.  Hasn't done anything to help that herd out.  NADA!!  I understand why alot of seasons have been taken from us.  But....  at the same time we still need to fight the WDFW tooth and nail on stuff.  All they do is take, take, take and never give anything back.  If we just roll over and give in we take it in the shorts every time.  But.... I have seen it where the WDFW WILL give in to our requests if we yell loud enough. 

[buglebrush]

Pianoman we lost 1 day of elk hunting and we still get 2 weekends.  As for deer hunting the reason sighted was to make room for the muzzy's last week in September so they don't overlap with their elk season.

We are the only western state that has a short early archey elk season but we also have a better late season than those other western states.

I just can't quite let this rest    Idaho also has a great late season.  All of september to bowhunt.....some in october to gun hunt....and bowhunting again in December.

[Gamblin Guy]

Now colockumelk, that isn't entirely true...they gave us higher prices for licenses and tags, they gave us the discover pass, they give us the runaround all the time....

[bobcat]

The only thing I can think of that we really need is less predators, and it doesn't matter how loud we yell, I don't think they're gonna give that to us.

[JimmyHoffa]

If you showed up to their meeting in your helicopter, you'd probably get everything you ask for.

[colockumelk]

If you showed up to their meeting in your helicopter, you'd probably get everything you ask for.

That would be totally worth the 30 years I would spend in Leavenworth.  (The military's highest level prison.) 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Predators definitely. Bring dogs back and we can increase herd size.

[bullcanyon]

Any chance the harvest numbers are higher because we now have multi season permits?

[buckfvr]

everything they think about and do is heavily weighed against revenue gain or loss......that is the deciding factor....................they dont want to do anything to reduce revenue, but will jump all over something that will increase revenue, right or wrong. 

We are in an ongoing fight to maintain what we have, getting conditions restored likely wont happen.  Now hunting on the other hand, is cyclic....it will get better, and it will get worse at times.  Seeing what Ive seen in my time ( 57 yrs old ), I seriously doubt conditions will ever get appreciably better.  However, the fight rages on.....never stop hounding the commissioners....WDFW has to know they dont have us all duped.....many of us see the truth.  Weigh in with your displeasures with their decisions............give them your thoughts...all the time.

[huntnnw]

loss of cows and late muzzy season on eastside?? sorry I will take the first week of Oct any day over late muzzy we use to have here and we have any elk and any bull units over here